The Flyers wanted Brian Boucher to be the starting goalie, right?

As if the Flyers haven't had enough problems during a very inconsistent season, now they're going to be without their starting goalie for quite some time. Michael Leighton, who stepped in and has played quite well for Ray Emery, is going to be out for 8-10 weeks with a severe high ankle sprain. The injury couldn't have come at a worse time for the Flyers, who now have to put the load on Brian Boucher's back to get this team into the playoffs.

I'm not saying that the season is over because Leighton is hurt, but there's a reason why he ended up starting once Emery got hurt instead of Boucher. In his 27 games with the Flyers this year, Leighton was 16-5, with a 2.48 Goals Against Average and a .918 save percentage. Those are solid numbers, especially for someone that the Flyers were able to claim off of waivers in the early part of the season. Though Boucher put up similar numbers last season when he played for the San Jose Sharks, you have to remember that San Jose was the best regular season team in hockey last year. Having an offense to back up your goaltending is a very important thing. This year, Boucher is just 5-12-2, with a 2.72 GAA and a .901 save percentage.

I already said, this doesn't mean that the season is over, but the Flyers have been anything but consistent this season, and they looked like they were finding their way with Leighton in goal. Of course, Boucher did his job last night, stopping 27 of 29 shots as the Flyers beat the Dallas Stars to move them into the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference standings, but the gap between fifth and being out of the playoffs is just eight points, and with the Flyers taking on the ninth seeded Atlanta Thrashers in their next two games, wins are going to be important.

You do have to feel bad for Leighton, too. The man is living out of a hotel room, finally got himself a starting goaltending job in the NHL, and was more than likely going to be able to sign with the Flyers longterm, and now he's hurt. I still think the Flyers will sign him to a long term contract, because the way he's played this year, I'd be happy to see him as either a starter or a backup on this team next season. As for now, it's time to put faith in Brian Boucher. God help us all.

ESPN.com: Leighton out with high ankle sprain