Konecny: ‘Vladar stood on his head again for us’

PHILADELPHIA – They announced the three finalists for this year’s Vezina Trophy on Wednesday and the Flyers’ Dan Vladar wasn’t one of them.
But maybe if they were to include the Stanley Cup playoffs in the nomination process, Vladar might be one of the top trio.
All Vladar has done in the first round of postseason action is shut out the Pittsburgh Penguins twice and allowed them only 11 goals in six games, which is less than two goals per game.
Vladar was the Flyers’ runaway MVP, finished fourth in the NHL regular season stats for goals-against average and was a leader on and off the ice.
He topped it off on Wednesday night by stopping all 42 Pittsburgh shots in a thrilling 1-0 sudden-death overtime win at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
“I love the guy,” coach Rick Tocchet said. “He’s like ‘Ah, I should have had that goal,’ he blames himself. Even when it’s not his fault. That’s what he does. Taking a bullet for some guys.”
He was taking a lot of bullets from Sidney Crosby & Co. but on this night, he brushed them all away.
“You love the guy for that effort,” Tocchet said. “He’s been great all series, great all year. But he was phenomenal tonight for us.”
No matter how well he plays, Vladar is his usual modest self.
“For me, it was just about the belief,” he said. “I had the belief. There was never a doubt (in Game 6). I can speak for the whole locker room.”
Players had plenty of good things to say about Vladar.
“The amount of Grade-A, point-blank saves he made was just crazy,” Jamie Drysdale said. “Big-time player. He was unbelievable tonight.”
Travis Konecny appreciates how Vladar keeps his composure. That sort of thing can be contagious.
“He (Vladar) stood on his head again for us tonight,” Konecny said. “I was sitting on the bus with ‘Willie’ (Garrett Wilson) and he said, ‘I think ‘Vlady’ is going to steal one for us tonight at home.’
“I mean that’s exactly what he did. They had some great chances and he gave us a chance to stay in it.”
Konecny also had good things to say about overtime goal-scorer Cam York, who’s gone through a lot the past couple seasons, including the infamous shouting match with former coach John Tortorella that reportedly help lead to the ex-bench boss’s firing.
“He plays so hard, he blocks shots,” Konecny said. “He does the little things for us that when he can get recognized like that and advance us to the next round it’s awesome.”
Noah Cates, who won the faceoff which led to the York goal, held court for a good five minutes in the upbeat postgame locker room.
He offered his two cents on Vladar’s valuable role to this team.
“Leadership,” Cates said. “Timing, everything with him. He’s obviously a special person. Can’t say enough good things about him. Probably motivates us, how he gets us going. He talks to us between periods, just believe in each other.”