Luke Judge

With one foot in the frying pan and the other one in the pressure cooker, the Flyers will turn to goaltender Johan Backlund today to try to stop the bleeding in Pittsburgh.

Backlund will make his NHL debut today against the Penguins in the Flyers’ final regular-season game at Mellon Arena.

Coach Peter Laviolette did not reveal his lineup changes yesterday after practice, but Backlund’s name was penciled in at No. 1 on the Flyers’ posted depth chart in the locker room.

“I feel like I’m ready,” Backlund said. “It’s a big step to play here, but I felt good in practice. It would be a great chance to play my first game and try to help the team. We have to win games here to [stay] in the playoffs.”

He will replace Brian Boucher, who allowed three unanswered goals – including the game-winner, which he kicked into his own net – in the Flyers’ 4-3 overtime loss to Minnesota on Thursday. It was the Flyers’ fourth consecutive loss.

General manager Paul Holmgren said before Thursday’s loss that he would be comfortable with Backlund in net.

“I’d actually relish the opportunity to watch him,” Holmgren said. “He’s done everything we’ve asked in the American League, and he’s won games single-handedly down there.”

Backlund, 28, is far from a rookie – even though this is his first professional season in North America. He started more than 50 games each of the past four seasons in the Swedish Elite League.

He posted a 2.79 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage in 41 starts with the Phantoms this season. *

For more news and analysis, read Frank Seravalli’s blog, Frequent Flyers, at go.philly.com/frequentflyers.

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