Bryz is better

Chicago –

If you squint enough, and forget enough of the recent past, and focus on the last two games, you can see Ilya Bryzgalov imitating a playoff goalie.

As they prepare to drop the puck in Game 5, Bryzgalov, in the first four games of this series, is 2-2 with a 2.26 goals-against average.

Now, his save percentage is a mediocre .889. so he's not exactly inspiring confidence, but he isn't the flopping mess he so often looked to be in the Colorado series.

Corey Crawford, who has looked increasingly shaky, is 2-2 with a 2.53 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage.

Through four games, this is not the mismatch it was considered to be going in.

Bryzgalov has benefited from the Wild's effective defense, but also his team's ability to hold the puck in the offensive end for long stretches.

In Round 1, I think the series turned in the Wild's favor when coach Mike Yeo didn't panic over bad calls in Game 5. HIs team remained composed and won the next two games.

In Round 2, the series turned, at least momentarily, when Yeo defended Bryzgalov after his poor performance in Game 2, saying ``This is our guy." Bryzgalov has played better since, although he has played better in part because of the Wild's improved play at home.

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