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3-21-06, 1:54 PM
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Antero Niittymaki became the fifth first-year goalie in team history to record 20 wins.
Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Posted: Monday March 20, 2006 6:45PM; Updated: Monday March 20, 2006 6:45PM
VOORHEES, N.J. (AP) -- Antero Niittymaki is putting together a rookie season that could earn him the starting role for the Philadelphia Flyers in the playoffs.
Coach Ken Hitchcock maintains he won't make a decision about his playoff goalie until the eve of the postseason. In the meantime, both Niittymaki and Robert Esche will split playing time.
Niittymaki became just the fifth first-year goalie in team history to record 20 wins in Saturday's 4-2 win at Atlanta. That effort earned him a start in Tuesday night's home against the New Jersey Devils.
The 25-year-old Niittymaki began the season as the designated backup to Esche. But when Esche was injured at midseason, Niittymaki responded with a brilliant stretch of play during a span of 17 straight starts. He followed that up by leading Finland to the silver medal at last month's Olympics.
"It feels good, 20 wins, still some games left," Niittymaki said. "I wouldn't mind a couple more. I really didn't think about it (20 wins). I didn't know how many games I was going to play. Didn't know what to expect."
The list of freshman goalies to reach or break the 20-win mark includes Ron Hextall (37 in 1986-87), Pete Peeters (29, 1979-80), Pelle Lindbergh (23, 1982-83) and Brian Boucher (20, 1999-2000).
Niittymaki doesn't worry about who might get the playoff nod.
"I don't think that way," Niittymaki said. "Every time I play I just try to do my best. Just win games and see what happens."
Hitchcock knew at the start of the season he was getting a talented player in Niittymaki, the MVP when the Philadelphia Phantoms won the AHL's Calder Cup last June. But the jump from the minors to the NHL always leaves some room for doubt.
"You never know about a first-year player at the NHL level until he's thrust into the spotlight," Hitchcock said. "He got thrust into the spotlight, gained a lot of confidence from having to play all those games and he's been able to build on it since. I think the Olympic experience was a product of the confidence he had from the regular season."
Notes: Peter Forsberg, who sat out the Atlanta game with a mildly sprained right knee, practiced Monday and said he should be ready to play against New Jersey.
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CNNSI.com (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/hockey/nhl/03/20/bc.hkn.flyers.niittymaki.ap/index.html)
Antero Niittymaki became the fifth first-year goalie in team history to record 20 wins.
Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Posted: Monday March 20, 2006 6:45PM; Updated: Monday March 20, 2006 6:45PM
VOORHEES, N.J. (AP) -- Antero Niittymaki is putting together a rookie season that could earn him the starting role for the Philadelphia Flyers in the playoffs.
Coach Ken Hitchcock maintains he won't make a decision about his playoff goalie until the eve of the postseason. In the meantime, both Niittymaki and Robert Esche will split playing time.
Niittymaki became just the fifth first-year goalie in team history to record 20 wins in Saturday's 4-2 win at Atlanta. That effort earned him a start in Tuesday night's home against the New Jersey Devils.
The 25-year-old Niittymaki began the season as the designated backup to Esche. But when Esche was injured at midseason, Niittymaki responded with a brilliant stretch of play during a span of 17 straight starts. He followed that up by leading Finland to the silver medal at last month's Olympics.
"It feels good, 20 wins, still some games left," Niittymaki said. "I wouldn't mind a couple more. I really didn't think about it (20 wins). I didn't know how many games I was going to play. Didn't know what to expect."
The list of freshman goalies to reach or break the 20-win mark includes Ron Hextall (37 in 1986-87), Pete Peeters (29, 1979-80), Pelle Lindbergh (23, 1982-83) and Brian Boucher (20, 1999-2000).
Niittymaki doesn't worry about who might get the playoff nod.
"I don't think that way," Niittymaki said. "Every time I play I just try to do my best. Just win games and see what happens."
Hitchcock knew at the start of the season he was getting a talented player in Niittymaki, the MVP when the Philadelphia Phantoms won the AHL's Calder Cup last June. But the jump from the minors to the NHL always leaves some room for doubt.
"You never know about a first-year player at the NHL level until he's thrust into the spotlight," Hitchcock said. "He got thrust into the spotlight, gained a lot of confidence from having to play all those games and he's been able to build on it since. I think the Olympic experience was a product of the confidence he had from the regular season."
Notes: Peter Forsberg, who sat out the Atlanta game with a mildly sprained right knee, practiced Monday and said he should be ready to play against New Jersey.
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CNNSI.com (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/hockey/nhl/03/20/bc.hkn.flyers.niittymaki.ap/index.html)