Ilya Bryzgalov already made an impact in Minnesota, but he hasn’t played for the Wild yet. That will change on Sunday, as he’ll debut for his new team against the red-hot St. Louis Blues.
The Blues take their 17-0-1 record against Central Division teams into Sunday’s game, but they’ll give Ryan Miller a breather after their new No.1 rattled off four straight wins. Brian Elliott gets a chance to prove that he can at least spell Miller here and there if he can get this win.
Bryzgalov, 33, experienced ups and downs in his 20 games with the Edmonton Oilers, going 5-8-5 with a .908 save percentage and 3.01 GAA. Much like Tim Thomas in Dallas, those highs and lows with a team failing to contend don’t mean nearly as much as what he may do for a team battling for positioning.
It’s a crowded situation in the Wild net, so Bryzgalov has a lot to prove beginning tonight.
