Brian Boucher

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Brian Boucher : biography

January 2, 1977 –

In the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs, Boucher beat Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils in the first round by a margin of 4–1. The national media remarked that he was the surprise of the playoffs after the first round with his outstanding play in net. The Flyers defeated the Boston Bruins in the second round by overcoming an 0-3 game deficit, but Boucher was injured in Game 5 of that series with knee injuries. Boucher returned from his injuries to serve as a backup to Michael Leighton in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks. He saw game action in Game 1 and Game 5 in relief of Leighton, but the Flyers lost in 6 games to the Blackhawks.

In the 2010–11 season, he split time in goal with standout rookie Sergei Bobrovsky after Leighton was demoted to the AHL, in part for hiding an injury. Bobrovsky started most of the games, and was named the Flyers playoff starter. After game 2 of the conference quarterfinals against the Buffalo Sabres, in which Boucher relieved Bobrovsky, and earned the win, Boucher started the next three games, but was pulled in Game 5 for Leighton, who was called up as a 3rd goaltender. Leighton played well, but lost Game 5 in overtime, nonetheless earning the start for Game 6. However, in Game 6, Leighton allowed 3 goals in the opening period, but once again Boucher was able to earn the win in relief, making Boucher became the only goaltender in NHL history to record two wins in a playoff series when coming in relief. Boucher went on to start Game 7, as the Flyers defeated Buffalo. Boucher started the first 3 games in the next round against Boston, but played poorly, allowing for the deposed starter Bobrovsky to return in Game 4, as the Flyers were swept.

Carolina Hurricanes

After the Flyers acquired goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov and decided to keep Bobrovsky as backup, Boucher was the odd man out. On July 1, 2011, Boucher was signed by the Carolina Hurricanes to a two-year deal worth $950,000 per season. He played sparingly as the backup to Cam Ward, and his season ended early due to injury.

Back to the Flyers

On January 13, 2013, after the end of the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Boucher began his fourth stint in the Flyers’ organization when he and defenseman Mark Alt were traded from Carolina to Philadelphia in exchange for Luke Pither.http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=650126 Three days later, Boucher was waived and sent down to Adirondack, the new home of the AHL Phantoms. Boucher was named the team’s starting goaltender, relegating previous starter Scott Munroe to backup duty and sending Phantoms backup Cal Heeter to the Trenton Titans, the Flyers’ ECHL affiliate. On February 10, 2013, Boucher was recalled by the Flyers, after Michael Leighton suffered a lower body injury. Boucher was sent back down to Adirondack on March 9, 2013, after Leighton returned to health.

Career statistics

Regular season

Season Team League GP W L T OTL MIN GA SO GAA SV%
1993–94 Mount St. Charles Mounties RIIL 15 14 0 1 504 8 9 0.57
1994–95 Wexford Raiders MTJHL 8 425 23 0 3.25
1994–95 Tri-City Americans WHL 35 17 11 2 1969 108 1 3.29
1995–96 Tri-City Americans WHL 55 33 19 2 3183 181 1 3.41 .913
1996–97 Tri-City Americans WHL 41 10 24 6 2458 149 1 3.64 .901
1997–98 Philadelphia Phantoms AHL 34 16 12 3 1901 101 0 3.19 .888
1998–99 Philadelphia Phantoms AHL 36 20 8 5 2061 89 2 2.59 .911
1999–00 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 35 20 10 3 2038 65 4 1.91 .918
1999–00 Philadelphia Phantoms AHL 1 0 0 1 65 3 0 2.77 .903
2000–01 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 27 8 12 5 1470 80 1 3.27 .876
2001–02 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 41 18 16 4 2295 92 2 2.41 .905
2002–03 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 45 15 20 8 2544 128 0 3.02 .894
2003–04 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 40 10 19 10 2364 108 5 2.74 .906
2004–05 HV71 SEL 4 0 4 0 235 13 0 3.32 .884
2005–06 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 11 3 6 0 512 33 0 3.87 .877
2005–06 San Antonio Rampage AHL 6 2 3 0 345 8 0 1.39 .950
2005–06 Calgary Flames NHL 3 1 2 0 182 15 0 4.95 .854
2006–07 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 15 1 10 3 827 45 1 3.26 .884
2006–07 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 3 1 1 0 142 9 0 3.80 .866
2007–08 Philadelphia Phantoms AHL 42 23 16 1 2288 94 4 2.47 .917
2007–08 San Jose Sharks NHL 5 3 1 1 238 7 1 1.76 .932
2008–09 San Jose Sharks NHL 22 12 6 3 1291 47 2 2.18 .917
2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 33 9 18 3 1742 80 1 2.76 .899
2009–10 Adirondack Phantoms AHL 1 1 0 0 60 2 0 2.00 .935
2010–11 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 34 18 10 4 1885 76 0 2.42 .916
2011–12 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 10 1 6 1 546 31 0 3.41 .881
2012–13 Adirondack Phantoms AHL 16 6 8 1 910 39 0 2.57 .905
2012–13 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 4 0 2 0 144 6 0 2.50 .891
NHL totals 328 120 139 30 15 18219 822 17 2.71 .901
AHL totals 136 68 47 9 2 7630 336 6 2.64 .915
SEL totals 4 0 4 0 235 13 0 3.32 .884
WHL totals 131 60 54 10 7610 438 3 3.45