Flyers' Andreas Nodl goes from "nogoal" to scoring

It's amazing what a shot of confidence has done for Andreas Nodl, the Flyers' blossoming 23-year-old winger.

In his first two stints with the Flyers, Nodl played 58 games, including the playoffs, and scored one goal. One. Fans began referring to him as Andreas Nogoal.

Not anymore.

In 11 games this season, Nodl has scored five goals - none prettier, or more important, than the spin-around backhander that gave the Flyers a 4-3 lead with 6 minutes, 7 seconds left in regulation Saturday in Washington. The goal would have been the winner if not for a late power-play score by the Capitals.

The Flyers survived, winning in a shoot-out, 5-4.

Before this season, the 6-foot-1, 198-pound Nodl wouldn't have tried such a shot. He was timid in the offensive end, looking out of place.

But his early-season success has given him confidence, and, like Ville Leino's in the 2010 playoffs, his creativity on the ice seems to be growing.

Nodl, who opened eyes as a penalty killer last year, said he was "a lot more comfortable" than last season. "The playoffs helped me out a lot last year. Coach really believes in me, and for a young player that's huge," he said after Sunday's practice in Voorhees.

The Flyers drafted the Austrian in the second round in 2006. His emergence has caused coach Peter Laviollete to play him on a line centered by captain Mike Richards.

"He's playing with a lot more confidence, and I think he earned his way in here by the way he played in the playoffs last year," Laviolette said. "He's big and he's strong and he protects the puck well, and when you play with Mike Richards, you're going to get some chances offensively."

Syvret returns. Defenseman Danny Syvret is back in the Flyers' organization.

In a deal involving four AHL minor-leaguers, left winger Patrick Maroon and right winger David Laliberte were dealt to Anaheim for Syvret and center/winger Rob Bordson.

Adirondack dismissed Maroon, a 6-4, 225-pounder, last month because of what were termed "behavior" issues.

Syvret, 25, played in six games with the Ducks this season and had a goal and an assist. The 6-2, 190-pound Bordson had a goal and two assists in 15 games for Syracuse, Anaheim's AHL affiliate.

"We're comfortable with Danny. We know him, and he brings depth to the organization," general manager Paul Holmgren said, adding that the Flyers had coveted Bordson, 22, since he played at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he had 12 goals and 28 assists in 40 games as a junior.

The Flyers appear headed for salary-cap problems in 2011-12 and may have to deal a high-priced defenseman in the off-season. If so, Syvret gives them another option.

Syvret and Bordson will report to the struggling Phantoms.

Syvret played two years in the Flyers' organization before signing with Anaheim as a free agent in the off-season.

Breakaways. Will the war of words that escalated between Richards and Montreal rookie P.K. Subban after the host Habs' 3-0 win Tuesday carry into Monday's meeting at the Wells Fargo Center? "We'll see," Flyers enforcer Jody Shelley said. "When there are penalties, it gets real emotional, and that's probably what happened in Montreal. You get frustrated when you get down and you take penalties. We can't let that happen. It starts with being disciplined and sticking to our game plan, and then we deal with everything else." . . . Flyers rookie Sergei Bobrovsky is expected to return to the net Monday.