Ilya Bryzgalov says he was tired during playoffs

Ilya Bryzgalov is saying all the right things about joining the Philadelphia Flyers.

Yet, what he is saying about his effort as a member of the Phoenix Coyotes may not be what Valley fans had hoped to hear.

“I want to be the guy who can carry this team,” Bryzgalov said on a conference call with Philadelphia-area reporters Monday. “I don’t know what else to say. I want to help this team win the Stanley Cup because people in Philadelphia and the whole organization have waited long enough.”

There is nothing wrong with Bryzgalov wanting to win a title, but in order to do so he will need to have energy and not be as “tired” as he was with the Coyotes.

“Definitely I can play better,” Bryzgalov said about his playoff struggles. “I thought I should play better, but maybe I was tired, too. Probably, that’s why I make mistakes once in a while. It’s hard. I expect from myself much better. I gave Phoenix everything I could in that moment. I expect from myself much, much better.”

While Bryzgalov does admit to giving the Coyotes his maximum effort, the excuse of being tired should rub fans the wrong way.

At the end of the season, everyone is tired. On both teams.

However, those with mental toughness are able to execute and fight through the natural fatigue.

Saying mistakes were made because you were tired is a lame excuse by all standards. Bryzgalov should admit he struggled in the playoffs and accept responsibility rather than deflecting the blame to his lack of rest.

The former Coyote says he will play 82 games if the Flyers need him to, however Philadelphia should be sure to avoid overusing him if they want him to perform late in the year, when the games are the most important.

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