Last year, Flyers goalie Brian Boucher came out of nowhere to lead Philly to within one win of the Stanley Cup finals.

	Boucher, left, will get plenty of chances to shine for Philly this season.

No, wait a minute. He didn't come from nowhere. He was planning all along on becoming a No. 1 goalie. And he's happy to tell you that.

"I always believed in myself," he said recently. "In a way, the media in Philly made it look like I came out of nowhere. ... What other people perceive and what I perceive are two different things."

Just two years ago, Boucher wasn't even considered the top goalie prospect in Philly's system. Jean-Marc Pelletier was considered the goalie of the future, but Boucher found time to shine on his own in the minors, and the Flyers eventually shipped Pelletier to Carolina in the Rod Brind'Amour deal.

End of debate on that one.

"I always thought that I was next in line and not Pelletier," Boucher said. "I never knew people thought he was next in line." That's because Boucher is one of those rare athletes who is telling the truth when he says he avoids the newspapers. In the case of Pelletier and Boucher's rlative positioning in the Flyers' system, Boucher only paid attention to himself and his coaches.

And it all paid off last year. Boucher took over for John Vanbiesbrouck, amid all the controversies surrounding the Flyers -- whether it be Eric Lindros, Roger Neilson or GM Bob Clarke. In the end, Boucher was the team's best and most consistent performer.

Some Boucher Bio

Last movie: "Almost Famous" Siskel & Ebert: "It was average. Not my type of show. Kind of slow." Favorite movie: "Slapshot" Siskel & Ebert: None needed. Best team practical jokes: "None G-Rated enough to share. Some good ones but not for the audience to know." Pregame rituals: "I'm not a fruitcake or anything like that. I take a two-hour nap every game day. That's about it." Favorite player: Patrick Roy "I was a big-time Canadiens fan growing up."

He finished the year with a sub-2.00 GAA (1.91) and a stellar .918 save percentage. Boucher won 20 of 33 starts. Not bad for a rookie who wasn't on anyone's radar just over a year ago.

But that was then, and this is a new season. Already, Boucher has learned that following up last year won't be easy. In three starts, Boucher is 1-1-1 with a mortal 3.93 GAA and .843 save percentage. Obviously, two starts is nothing -- and one stellar performance easily will equalize things. But Boucher knows complacency can't be an issue, and he'll do whatever is necessary to avoid the cliché sophomore slump.

"I believe in myself and that I am capable of playing in this league," he said.

In fact, despite having a sub-standard start, Boucher feels much more a part of the Flyer fabric this season.

"I just feel much more comfortable. Last year being my rookie year, you feel a little uncomfortable around the guys," he said. "Now, I feel like I can go in and be myself. That alone helps a lot."

Flyers fans hope that his comfort will help the Flyers get one step farther this year and make it to the Cup finals.

Brian A. Shactman is the NHL Editor for ESPN.com.