Archive: February, 2010
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Flyers made two moves Monday to free cap space for a possible deal before Wednesday's 3 p.m. trade deadline.
By placing goalie Ray Emery ($1.5 million salary) on the long-term injured list and putting seldom-used winger Riley Cote ($550,000) on waivers, the Flyers cleared a little over $2 million in cap space.
They now have about $2.8 million of space to try to make a deal. They will also get some more room, of course, if they trade a player on the current roster.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Flyers winger Ian Laperriere is rooting hard for his homeland _ Canada _ in Sunday afternoon's Olympic gold-medal game against Team USA.
But whatever happens, Laperriere has been impressed by the Americans.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Flyers coach Peter Laviolette is a former USA Olympian who later coached the team. Here, courtesy of the Flyers, are his thoughts on this year's team:
Q: How does win over Canada help Team USA in confidence level?
PL: "I think everybody had Canada picked to go very deep in the tournament, and obviously USA was unknown with so many first-time Olympians and a young squad. Anytime you can win big games like that it breeds confidence and you take that with you as you move on in the tournament or as you are trying to reach a goal....They (USA) are still going to have to beat a couple very good teams down the stretch in order to continue to chase their dream.
"Really, along with the confidence came the seeding and the match-up that they were looking for. They stayed away from the road that Canada now has to take where Canada has to play this extra game with Germany. And if they are successful against them, they have this date with Russia. Just to avoid that scenario, to play the team that they want in that crossover game, I think is really important. It sets up for them what might be the easiest road now to get to the medal round."
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Bitter rivals in the NHL, the Flyers' Mike Richards was shifted to left wing on Sidney Crosby's Team Canada line in practice Saturday.
The line for Sunday night's intriguing matchup with Team USA will include Richards, the Penguins' Crosby and Columbus' Rick Nash.
Richards and Crosby were teammates in the World Juniors and World Championships but never played on the same line except on the power play.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Based on Thursday’s action, Team USA might not be such a big underdog against mighty Canada in Sunday night’s Olympic showdown.
Fact is, host Canada was fortunate to get past lowly Switzerland Thursday night.
Switzerland defenseman Luca Sbisa, a former Flyer, was sensational, and his goalie, Jonas Hiller, was even better.
But it couldn’t prevent Switzerland from dropping a 3-2 shoot-out to heavily favored Canada.
Sidney Crosby scored the deciding goal in the shoot-out, giving Team Canada two of a possible three points.
Canada will meet Team USA Sunday night to decide the Group A title, with the winner earning a quarterfinal bye.
Team Canada dominated Thursday’s game, but Hiller, the Anaheim Ducks’ standout, kept the Swiss in the game. Canada was 1 for 7 on the power play.
The Flyers’ Chris Pronger and Mike Richards did not figure in the scoring. Richards was used sparingly.
Switzerland had dropped a 3-1 decision to Team USA Tuesday.
Team USA, primarily composed of young energetic players, wasn’t overly sharp in its 6-1 win over Norway Thursday; it scored three late goals to pull away from a 3-1 lead.
Canada had defeated Norway, 8-0.
As for Sunday, I'll go with Canada in a 3-2 nailbiter. How do you see the game unfolding?
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Team Canada, looking for redemption after a disatrous showing in 2006, scored an impressive 8-0 win over Norway in a preliminary-round game Tuesday.
Two Flyers _ Mike Richards and Chris Pronger _ helped trigger the win for the Redeem Team.
Richards had a goal and was plus-two, while Pronger contributed an assist and was plus-three.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Flyers goalie Michael Leighton, a waiver-wire pickup whose stunning rise has become one of the league's feel-good stories, was honored as the NHL's second star Monday for his performance last week.
In effect, it was an honor for the Flyers' entire defense, which has allowed two or fewer goals in 11 of the last 12 games.
"This is unexpected," an excited Leighton said. "I am very proud of the way things have gone and very proud of my teammates. This week, we accomplimshed a lot with getting four wins and climbing the standings a bit over two really good teams."
Leighton, playing because of an injury to Ray Emery, was 4-0 with a 1.98 goals-against average and .925 save percentage during the week, helping the Flyers sweep consecutive home-and-home series with New Jersey and Montreal.
Leighton, 28, has posted spectacular numbers since the Flyers claimed off re-entry waivers from Carolina on Dec. 15. He is 12-3-1 with a 2.19 goals-against average and .925 save percentage with the Flyers.
Tampa Bay center Steven Stamkos, who had an NHL-high nine points in four games last week, was named the league’s No. 1 star, while Dallas goalie Marty Turco was selected as the No. 3 star. Turco was 2-0-1 with a 1.30 goals-against average and .965 save percentage during the week. For the season, he has a 2.63 GAA and .915 save percentage.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
MONTREAL _ The Flyers have been thriving lately because of their defense.
On Saturday, they put it all together _ offense, defense, special teams.
In one of their best all-around performances since Peter Laviolette became the head coach, the Flyers defeated the Montreal Canadiens, 6-2, behind Danny Briere's fourth career hat trick.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Blair Betts is the Flyers' fourth-line center, but if you don't think he's important, consider this: With him in the lineup, the team is 25-12-1.
Without him, they are 5-13-1.
Case closed.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Ten nights ago, the Flyers' Ray Emery blanked Calgary, 3-0, and was starting to look like the goalie who led Ottawa to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2007.
Now his season is in jeopardy.
Emery will be shut down for at least three more weeks and, based on medical information provided by the Flyers Thursday, no one is certain if he will return this season.
