Hockey writers long ago cracked Peter Laviolette's code and were able to figure out who he'd planned to use as his next-day's goaltender. Simply, the last of the goalies to leave the ice after the final practice before the game would be the backup.

Thursday, Laviolette had both Sergei Bobrovsky and Brian Boucher leave the TD Garden rink simultaneously, then played his little post-practice game of not revealing his starter.

He was acting like he was Charlie Manuel choosing between Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.

It's comical. Really, it is. Laviolette is acting as if the Boston Bruins care much who is in the Flyers net.

A suggestion: Start Bobrovsky. Why? Boucher deserves the break now. To continue to run him out there is only to make him look foolish. There is no reason for that now. He has been professional for too long (the spontaneous Bill Barber roast notwithstanding.) Give him a rest.

And check out my column Friday in the Daily Times and on delcotimes.com about the Flyers, a team in free-fall.