Ilya Bryzgalov Named NHL First Star of the Month

Look at those stars. So bright. So pretty. So… Russian?

The NHL named Ilya Bryzgalov their first star of March, which is, obviously, perfect timing for getting hot for the playoffs (you know, minus him fracturing a bone in his foot).

Bryzgalov went 10-2-1 with a 1.43 goals-against average, .947 save

percentage and League-high four shutouts as the Flyers (46-24-9, 101

points) moved within one point of the Pittsburgh Penguins for the fourth

seed, and home-ice advantage, in the Eastern Conference. He won his first

seven starts of the month and became the first Flyer to pick up four

shutouts in a five-game span. Bryzgalov recorded three consecutive blank

sheets March 8-13 and set a franchise record with a 249:43 shutout streak.

In total, he allowed two goals or fewer in 11 of 13 starts. The Togliatti,

Russia native is 32-15-7 with a 2.46 goals-against average, .910 save

percentage and six shutouts in 57 appearances. 

The Pens’ Evgeni Malkin was named the second star, and Sabres goaltender and female Ryan Miller was third star.

Wayne Simmonds was also named NHL player of the week for, well, this: 

Simmonds scored in four straight games, totaling five goals and one

assist as the Flyers (46-24-9, 101 points) moved within one point of the

Pittsburgh Penguins for the fourth seed, and home-ice advantage, in the

Eastern Conference. He scored once in a 5-3 loss against the Tampa Bay

Lightning March 26, recorded two goals and an assist in a 7-1 victory at

the Toronto Maple Leafs March 29, deflected a shot in off his face in a 4-3

shootout loss against the Ottawa Senators March 31 and closed the week with

a goal in a 6-4 triumph at the Pittsburgh Penguins April 1. In his first

season with the Flyers, the 23-year-old has established career highs in

goals (27) and points (48) in 79 games.

Carry on.