Archive: December, 2010
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
MONTREAL _ Looking for players to shut down the Penguins’ Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, Peter Laviolette did some line-tinkering on Tuesday.
The Flyers’ coach had Mike Richards centering Claude Giroux and Andreas Nodl _ and had them face the Crosby unit for much of his team’s 3-2 win.
Giroux had been centering a line with Jeff Carter as his right wing.
On Wednesday in Montreal, Laviolette stayed with his two new units _ Richards’ line, and Carter centering James van Riemsdyk and Nik Zherdev.
JVR and Giroux were flip-flopped, and Carter moved to his natural position _ center _ while Giroux was shifted to RW on the other unit.
The switch paid major dividends in the Flyers’ 5-3 win over Montreal at the always-electric Bell Centre on Wednesday.
Carter’s unit combined for four goals, seven points and 15 shots _ and was a combined plus-8.
JVR (three points, six shots) had the second two-goal game of his young career, while Carter (three points, seven shots) and Zherdev (two points) each added goals.
“Carter was flying, Z was flying, JVR looked like he had great legs under him,” Laviolette said after the Flyers’ fourth straight victory. “I thought that line was terrific all night. It seemed like they generated a lot of speed and a lot of offensive opportunities with the puck. I thought they dominated a lot of their shifts.”
After Montreal scored two late goals to make it 3-3, JVR scored on a rebound to give the Flyers the lead for good with 5:33 left.
Montreal was rested, while the Flyers were playing their second game in as many nights; they looked fatigued before finding a way to pull out the win.
“I don’t think we were at our best tonight, but we kept at it and kept working and didn’t give in,” Laviolette said. “When you’re playing big teams _ Montreal and Pittsburgh _ you want to play them fresh. We had an emotional game last night (against Pittsburgh), a physical game, and traveled and had to get up here. Sometimes, teams learn how to win in situations like that. It wasn’t our best, but they were willing to fight for it.”
* * * *
Chris Pronger suffered what the team called a lower-body injury in the second period and did not play in the final period. He will be re-evaluated Thursday.
The team did not know if the injury was severe, but a spokesman said Pronger was not in a lot of pain. Pronger declined comment.
New post goes here
Get exclusive videos and analysis in our new app for iPhone and Android. Download it here.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Flyers are understandably proud of being the NHL’s overall points leader after their 3-2 win over Pittsburgh Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Center.
But they are not getting carried away with their position _ and that’s a good sign.
“It’s December. It was a big test for us, a challenge to see where we were at, obviously, but I don’t think we can put too much into it,” defenseman Chris Pronger said. “We’ve got to continue to look at the bigger picture, understand they’ve got a good hockey team over there.”
The Penguins had won 12 straight, which was tied for the eighth-longest streak in NHL history.
“We’re at home, we have the last line change, everything is stacked in our favor and we took advantage of it,” Pronger said. “Again, as I said, it’s mid December. We’ve got a long way to go yet.”
Captain Mike Richards wasn’t happy with the two power-play goals the Flyers allowed _ or the fact they gave the Penguins a power play in the waning minutes.
“That’s an awful trademark to have,” he said of the team’s penchant for late penalties. “It’s something that has to stop, and I think we stress this every game, before the game, during the game and after.”
During even-strength situations, the Flyers allowed only 14 shots.
“We made them come through us,” Richards said. “I don’t think they had many chances where they gained the line with possession, and they’re obviously a team that’s great off the rush and in transition.”
Sidney Crosby took the loss in stride.
“Sometimes you need that,” said the Penguins superstar after a two-assist night. “It’s not like you go into games hoping to lose, but there were a few times where we didn’t play great and we ended up finding a way to win. Tonight, we played a good team that made us pay for not starting well.
“Luckily for us, we have a game (Wednesday against the Rangers), so we can look to respond and rebound.”
The Flyers also play Wednesday, facing the Canadiens in Montreal.
“Last time we went in there, we felt like we played two pretty good periods,” Pronger said of the Flyers’ 3-0 loss to Carey Price and Co. on Nov. 16. “For whatever reason, the third we threw up a stinker and didn’t rally or rebound as well as we could have. We know they’re playing well right now, so we’ve got to be prepared.”
* * * * *
Breakaways. The Flyers outshot the Penguins, 37-23, despite being outshot 8-0 in the first 9:13 of the second period. From that point, the Flyers outshot the Penguins 25-8…..Sean O’Donnell and Andrej Meszaros were each plus-1. Meszaros took over the league lead at plus-19 and O’Donnell (plus-18) jumped into a tie for second…..Brian Boucher is 5-0-1 in his last six starts with a 1.76 GAA and a .940 save percentage…..Claude Giroux’s goal gave him points in five of his last six games (3-3-6). It was his 15th goal in his 32nd game. He finished last year with 16 goals.
* * * *
For constant Flyers updates, follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BroadStBull.
Get exclusive videos and analysis in our new app for iPhone and Android. Download it here.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Flyers coach Peter Laviolette is staying with the hot goaltender.
Brian Boucher will start Tuesday's intriguing matchup against visiting Pittsburgh, Laviolette announced after the morning skate.
It will be the third straight start for Boucher, who is 5-3-2 with a 2.23 goals against average and .919 save percentage this year. Marc-Andre Fleury, whose strong play has keyed the Penguins' 12-game winning streak, is 14-6-1 with a 2.31 GAA and .914 save percentage.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Evgeni Malkin returned to Pittsburgh's practice Monday and could return to the sizzling Penguins' lineup Tuesday when they face the Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center.
Malkin (8 goals), who has missed the last four games with a knee injury, replaced the injured Chris Kunitz on a line with Sidney Crosby (26 goals) and Pascal Dupuis at the Pens' practice.
The Flyers will be trying to end Pittsburgh's 12-game winning streak. The Penguins have a league-high 44 points.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Flyers winger Jody Shelley was suspended by the NHL for two games Monday because of his hit Saturday on Boston's Adam McQuaid.
The fouth-line forward will miss games against Pittsburgh and Montreal.
Get exclusive videos and analysis in our new app for iPhone and Android. Download it here.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
BOSTON _ My, isn’t this turning into an interesting stretch of games for the Flyers.
For those who think the NHL’s regular season is a waste of time, you should have tuned into the Flyers’ pulsating 2-1 overtime win in Boston on Saturday night. If the game didn’t get you excited, well, you just don’t enjoy hockey.
And, now, comes this: The streaking Flyers, who are 7-1-3 in their last 11 games, against the out-of-this-world Pittsburgh Penguins, winners of 12 straight. The teams will meet Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Center, which, we suspect, won’t have a difficult time matching the electric atmosphere that filled TD Garden here on Saturday.
Rookie goalie Sergei Bobrovky is 2-1 against the Penguins this season and was expected to start on Tuesday.
But Brian Boucher, who was brilliant in Saturday’s win over the Bruins, is making a strong case to get the nod. In his last four starts (3-0-1), Boucher has a 1.21 goals-against average and a .960 save percentage.
“I thought he was in control of the game tonight,” coach Peter Laviolette said, echoing his sentiments following the Flyers’ 4-1 win in Toronto Thursday.
For the season, Boucher has a 2.23 goals-against average and .919 save percentage, while Bobrovsky has a 2.29 GAA and .922 save percentage.
Lavvy will have a few days before deciding on Tuesday’s goalie against Sidney Crosby and Co.
Crosby has scored in 18 straight games for the Pens, who have dropped a pair of 3-2 decisions this season to the Flyers in Pittsburgh. The Penguins beat the Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center, 5-1.
Crosby is having a sick-sick-sick season _ 26 goals, 25 assists and 51 points in 31 games.
When the Flyers have contained Crosby, they have beaten the Penguins. Crosby was scoreless in the teams’ opener and he managed just an assist in the Flyers’ other 3-2 win.
In the Penguins’ 5-1 triumph, Crosby had two goals and an assist.
Tuesday’s game will be a battle for first place in the Atlantic Division. The Penguins (21-8-2) have 44 points _ one more than the Flyers (19-7-5).
It’s not only the battle of Pennsylvania, but it will decide who has the best overall record in the NHL.
* * * * *
Breakaways. Kimmo Timonen was a team-best plus-2 and blocked five shots…..Chris Pronger took a game-high six shots…..Boston won 58 percent of the face-offs….After being outshot by a 34-26 margin in regulation, the Flyers had a 7-2 edge in OT....Laviolette's parents were in the crowd.
* * * *
For constant Flyers updates, follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BroadStBull.
Get exclusive videos and analysis in our new app for iPhone and Android. Download it here.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
BOSTON _ Flyers goalie Brian Boucher will start Saturday night in Boston.
Coach Peter Laviolette confirmed the decision after the morning skate, saying he liked the way Boucher played in Thursday's 4-1 victory in Toronto.
It will be Boucher's first appearance in Boiston since he injured both knees and was removed from Game 5 of last season's historic conference semifinals.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
BOSTON _ As a byproduct of being the NHL's highest-scoring team _ and having the league's best goal differential, at plus-28 _ the Flyers are dominating the plus-minus stats.
For the first time this season, five Flyers are in the league's top 10 in that category.
Andrej Meszaros and Sean O'Donnell, who compose the team's third defensive pairing, share the NHL lead at plus-18 each. Danny Briere (plus-16) has moved into a tie for fourth, and Ville Leino and Scott Hartnell are tied for ninth with plus-14 ratings.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Flyers blew a three-goal, third-period lead and dropped a 5-4 shoot-out to visiting San Jose on Wednesday night, but the most alarming development may have been this: Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, the rookie sensation, is starting to show some flaws in his game.
Teams have had some success when they shoot high on “Bob,” and the Sharks exposed that weakness several times.
It looks like opponents are getting the word: If you are going to beat Bobrovsky, shoot upstairs.
Bobrovsky, 22, was very passive in the shoot-out. He needs to come out of the net more and challenge the shooters. San Jose was 2 for 2 in the shoot-out and scored with ease.
Something to keep an eye on: Bobrovsky, who is among the league leaders in several categories, has lost his last four starts against teams with a winning record.
Meanwhile, impressive 21-year-old San Jose center Logan Couture notched his 13th goal _ tops among NHL rookies _ and the game-winner in the shoot-out. Couture is a leg up on “Bob” in the rookie-of-the-year race.
Brian Boucher will get the start Thursday night in Toronto. “Bob” has started four straight and six of the last seven _ and looks like he could use a break.
Bobrovsky is athletic and a very good student of the game. He and goalie coach Jeff Reese will make a few adjustments that can be carried into future games.
* * * *
Winger Dan Carcillo will remain a healthy scratch Thursday in Toronto.
* * * * *
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Winger Ville Leino missed practice Tuesday because of a slight fever and stomach cramps, but he is expected to play Wednesday against visiting San Jose, GM Paul Holmgren said.
Several players have recently had the same symptoms as Leino and have played through it, Holmgren added.
During Tuesday's practice in Voorhees, Nik Zherdev replaced Leino on the line with Danny Briere and Scott Hartnell. Dan Carcillo was on the fourth line with Blair Betts and Jody Shelley.
