Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Was something lost in translation, or is Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov feeling lost in the woods again?
Bryzgalov gave a lengthy interview with the Russian sports site Championat, and it was translated onto Deadspin on Wednesday, with several “highlights.”
It should be known that, in the past, Bryzgalov has claimed some of his Russian comments have been translated incorrectly into English.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Former Flyer Sergei Bobrovsky on Wednesday was named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the NHL's top goaltender.
Last June, the Flyers sent Bobrovsky to Columbus for second- (promising goalie Anthony Stolarz) and fourth-round (left winger Taylor Leier) selections in the 2012 draft. They also acquired a fourth-rounder in the 2013 draft.
The Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist and San Jose's Antti Niemi were also named finalists on Wednesday.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Flyers are not in the playoffs for the first time since 2007, but 10 of their players - and prospects - will be playing in the IIHF World Championships, which start Saturday.
In Saturday's first game, Jake Voracek, who led the Flyers with 22 goals this year, will help lead the Czech Republic against Belarus.
Defenseman Erik Gustafsson, who played well in the latter stages of the Flyers' season, will compete for Sweden on Saturday, and prospect Marcel Noebels will play for Germany.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Forget about defenseman Seth Jones being a member of the Flyers.
The Flyers did not win the draft lottery _ a.k.a. the Jones Sweepstakes_ Monday night and will still select 11th on June 30.
The last time the Flyers had the 11th overall pick was in 2003, when they chose Jeff Carter.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Peter Laviolette will remain as the Flyers coach, GM Paul Holmgren announced on Sunday.
Holmgren had said he would evaluate the coach after the season. He announced at an end-of-year news conference that Laviolette will be back.
Laviolette has two years remaining on his contract.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
OTTAWA _ There were lots of feel-good elements to the Flyers’ season-ending 2-1 win in Ottawa on Saturday night.
At the top of the list: Jason Akeson scored in his NHL debut and afterward said his mother, who has overcome cancer, was his inspiration.
Akeson, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound winger who was the Phantoms’ top scorer the last two seasons, happened to grow up not too far from Ottawa, in Orleans, where Claude Giroux lived a few blocks away.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
OTTAWA - The Flyers will end their disappointing season Saturday night in Ottawa.
The question is, will it also be the end of the Peter Laviolette era?
General manager Paul Holmgren would not say definitively, but again hinted strongly that the coach will return.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Maybe it's because they are hungrier and playing with more passion than their predecessors.
Or maybe it's partly because their recent opponents - most of which have already clinched playoff spots - seemed to be going through the motions.
Whatever the reason, the Flyers' young, no-name defense has keyed a late-season surge that has produced five wins in their last six games.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
By winning four of their last five games, the Flyers have decreased their odds of winning the draft lottery and getting the No. 1 overall pick.
The lottery will be held Monday and televised on the NBC Sports Network at 8.p.m.
The Flyers (21-22-3) now have the NHL’s eighth-worst record with two games left, including Thursday’s home finale against the New York Islanders. They conclude the season Saturday in Ottawa.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
If Danny Briere is emotional about the possibility of playing his last home game in a Flyers uniform on Thursday night, he isn’t showing it.
Because of his high cap hit _ $6.5 million per year _ the Flyers’ 35-year-old forward is expected to be bought out or traded after the season. If that happens, that would make Thursday’s game against the New York Islanders his finale at the Wells Fargo Center as a member of the Flyers.
“I’m not thinking about that….Things change fast in the hockey world,” the always-classy Briere said after Wednesday’s practice at the Skate Zone in Voorhees. “For me, it’s just another game. Nobody knows what’s going to happen. I can’t start thinking about all those rumors. It’s just like at the trade deadline. If you start getting into that trap, it gets you off your game.”
