“I sent him to hell. A Russian forcibly conscripted into the army has finally captured the NHL

The 27-year-old goalie, who was forcibly conscripted into the Russian army instead of going to the USA in 2022, started for Philadelphia on Monday from the second period in the game against the New York Islanders with an unfavorable score of 1:2.

With nineteen saves, he helped the home team to a point for a 3:4 defeat in overtime.

“I’m not a young guy. I already have some experience and I know how it goes,” said Fedotov, who joined the Flyers on Friday after his contract with CSKA was abruptly terminated. He played 49 games for the Moscow club in the KHL this season, including the playoffs.

“I don’t care if I play from the first minute or go on the ice during the game. I need to play, so it doesn’t matter. I want to help the team,” declared the Russian goalkeeper, who replaced Samuel Ersson in goal, who conceded two of six shots.

After the game, Fedotov earned the praise of demanding coach John Tortorella mainly for his performance in the second period, in which the Islanders outshot their opponents 17:3.

“He was the only one playing. It was overwhelming. I kind of sent him to hell,” Tortorella said of the 201-centimeter native of Lappeenranta, Finland, who is the tallest goaltender in NHL history along with former goaltender Ben Bishop, who is the same height.

Fedotov was already headed to Philadelphia, which drafted him nine years ago, the year before last July. However, five months after the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the police detained him in St. Petersburg because, according to the prosecutor’s office, he was avoiding military service.

The goalkeeper was sent beyond the Arctic Circle, even though he had a contract with the Flyers after a successful season in the KHL and winning the title with CSKA.

In January, Philadelphia lost their No. 1 goalkeeper Carter Hart, who was accused of sexual assault in the case of a Canadian junior.

He was replaced by Ersson, who caught 46 games this season with an average of 2.81 goals per game and a save success rate of 89.1 percent.

The Flyers are fighting to maintain their position in the playoffs, they are now seventh in the Eastern Conference.