Martin Jones Getting Cozy in the Crease- By: Jessica Hess

Photo Credit: BrotherlyPuck.com

When it comes to the Philadelphia Flyers, finding a semi-permanent backup goalkeeper has been a struggle in recent years. We’re only going to dive in since the 2009-2010 season. Having a goalie tandem that stays for more than a few years together has been a rarity since then.

·      2009-10: Ray Emery and Brian Boucher

·      2010-11: Sergei Bobrovsky and Brian Boucher

·      2011-12: Ilya Bryzgalov and Sergei Bobrovsky

·      2012-13 (the lockout): Ilya Bryzgalov and Brian Boucher (Steve Mason was signed at the end of the season, but he would see more starts than Booch)

·      2013-14 (Bryz gets bought out of his nine-year contract after only two years): Steve Mason and Ray Emery

·      2014-15: Steve Mason and Ray Emery (we see the Flyers first more-than-one season pair of goalies in five years!)

·      2015-16: Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth (well, that was short-lived)

·      2016-17: Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth (oh, here we go again!)

In the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, in the second round (48th overall pick) the Philadelphia Flyers select… CARTER HART! Finally, the franchise goalie Philly has been looking for.

·      2017-18: Brian Elliott and Michal Neuvirth

·      2018-19: Carter Hart and Brian Elliott (Hart’s first year. EIGHT DIFFERENT GOALIES WOULD START GAMES DURING THE SEASON)

·      2019-20 (COVID): Carter Hart and Brian Elliott

·      2020-21: Carter Hart and Brian Elliott

The future of the Flyers goalie tandem looked bright, even though Brian Elliott’s contract would be over. Many people, including myself, thought that Elliott might sign an extension with Philadelphia, but that wouldn’t hold true, and the Flyers would be in the market for yet another backup goaltender.

One of Chuck Fletcher’s strong off-season signings had veteran Martin Jones sent to Philly from the San Jose Sharks; an acquisition fans didn’t feel so strongly about. His preseason numbers looked nothing short of atrocious, which sent the Flyers Twitter-verse into a hate frenzy. As per Fox Sports, in three games played, Jones had a save percentage of .727 and his goals against average tallied at 5.81. Fans were already ready to give up on him.

Enter the regular season. And oh boy, did Martin Jones do a complete one-eighty! As of now, our backup goalie has started in four games and has taken home the “W” in three out of those four games. Recording a .931 save percentage and 2.27 goals against average, Jones is finally looking like he feels at home filling the space between the pipes when Carter Hart needs a little break.

So whaddya say, Philly? Is Martin Jones the backup we’ve been waiting for? Have we finally found a tandem that works? Stick around for the rest of the season to find out. So, buckle up Philadelphia, because it’s going to be a wild ride!

-Jessica Hess- Flyers Alley/Olde City Sports Network