Ilya Bryzgalov returns to space, criticizes monkeys for their shortcomings as astronauts

Ilya Bryzgalov was the best player on the ice for the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 2, thwarting New Jersey Devils chances in the second period before his defense faltered in the third for a 4-1 Jersey win. It was the kind of performance that stands in contrast with his reputation as a flaky liability in the postseason.

Please keep that in mind as you consider the fact that he was back to opining about monkeys in space on Wednesday:

Bryzgalov was asked what his job would be had he not been a hockey player. He said "astronaut," and there was much smiling because it syncs up with his "universe is huMANGous beeg" speech from "HBO 24/7". Haha, hoho, Bryz in space.

As John Gonzalez of CSN Philly:

Bryzgalov began a long dissertation about the American space program versus the Soviet/Russian space program and which was superior. He noted that the first two animals in space were Russian dogs, which led to a strange exchange between Bryzgalov and a reporter about who had lost more monkeys in space -- the Americans or the Soviets/Russians. Bryzgalov conceded that too many monkeys had lost their lives in that vocation.

"The problem with monkeys," Bryzgalov quipped, "they push the wrong buttons."

Sadly, Bryzgalov declined to continue this theorizing on camera. Sadly for us … probably best for the Flyers.