After scoring his team-high fourth goal of the preseason in Tuesday night's 5-4 shootout loss to visiting Minnesota, Flyers veteran forward Danny Briere took a look into the future.

    He likes what he sees.

    "I think the mentality is probably different than last year," he said. "Last year, we were maybe a little overconfident, a little too loosey-goosey. Where, this year, there's a little bit of an attitude change."

     Was that caused by getting eliminated by Pittsburgh in the first-round of last season's playoffs?

     That was part of it, he acknowldeged.

     Briere elaborated on the other part.

     "I think we were just too comfortable last year with all the taps on the shoulders we got all over Canada and the U.S. about our play and making it to the third round" the previous season," said Briere, who seems fully recovered from groin and abdominal injuries that limited him to 29 games in 2008-09. "I think we got a little too comfortable.

     "As a team, you have got to learn from that. I've been part of teams before that kind of the same thing happened. So you have to learn and come back strong. I think this year we'll definitely be ready."

     Asked if the Flyers _ who finished the preseason with a 2-3-2 record _ were ready to take the next step to get past the Stanley Cup champion Penguins, Briere was blunt.

     "Oh, there's no doubt in my mind that we're there," Briere said. "It's going to be a process; it's not something that's going to happen overnight. We believe we have the tools to build on that this year, but it's going to be up to us, the way we come together. But definitely we have the elements to make it happen."

    The camp was highlighted by the emergence of three youngsters _ forwards Mika Pyorala and James van Riemsdyk and defenseman Danny Syvret _ and the brilliance of new goalie Ray "Razor" Emery (1.78 GAA; .943 save percentage).

     .Breakaways. In last night's shootout loss, Johan Backlund (three goals on 13 shots) looked shaky in relief of Emery.....The Flyers' special teams were ragged; they were 0 for 4 on the PP, while Minnesota was 2 for 5...... Pyorala scored his third goal of the preseason and was the biggest surprise of camp. Pyorala, Mike Richards and Simon Gagne were each plus-two Tuesday.....The Flyers open the regular season in Carolina Friday. 

   Backup goalie Brian Boucher will go on the injured-reserve list, which will open a spot on the Flyers' opening-night roster.

   A player must sit out seven days from his last game _ in Boucher's case, it was last Saturday in New Jersey _ after he is placed on injured reserve. Boucher has a lower-body injury and figures to miss Friday's game in Carolina and Saturday's game in New Jersey. Beyond that, his status is unknown.

    When a player goes on the injured-reserve list (as opposed to the long-term injury list), his salary counts against the cap but his roster spot does not.

    Without Boucher, the Flyers will have 24 players; they could get down to 23 players (the maximum allowed) if they send Randy Jones to the AHL Phantoms, though the team is concerned by Ole-Kristian Tollefsen's troublesome hip.

    Center Blair Betts is expected to be among the 23. GM Paul Holmgren and Betts' agent are still trying to finalize a deal. That should get done by 3 p.m. Wednesday, when teams must submit their NHL rosters.

    The Flyers play host to Minnesota Tuesday night in their final preseason game. Goalie Ray Emery, who was testy in the locker room this morning when asked a question about his past, will play the first half of tonight's game. Johan Backlund will be his replacement.

   The Flyers open the regular season Friday in Carolina.

 

 

   The Flyers' four lines appear set for Tuesday's final preseason game, a matchup against Minnesota at the Wachovia Center.

   The lines should look like this:

   Gagne-Richards-Pyorala.

   Hartnell-Carter-Briere.

   JVR-Giroux-Asham.

  Carcillo-Powe/Betts-Laperriere.

     Those lines also figure to be together for Friday's season opener in Carolina.

    On defense Tuesday, it should look like this: Pronger-Carle; Timonen-Coburn; Parent-Syvret. Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, who has been hindered by preseason injuries, could replace one of the D-men and get some much-needed work.

    Ray Emery and Johan Backlund will divide the goalie duties Tuesday.

     * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

    At today's practice, Emery unveiled his second "tribute" mask. This one has the likenesses of former Flyers goalies Bernie Parent, Pelle Lindbergh and Rox Hextall painted in it. The other one is composed of boxers Joe Frazier, Bernard Hopkins and the fictitious Rocky Balboa.

    Emery, who celebrtaed his 27th birthday today, said he will alternate the masks during the season.

   In the preseason, Emery has been brilliant, compiling a 1.76 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage.

   Yes, he is ready for Friday's opener.

  * * * * * * * * * * * 

   Defenseman Randy Jones cleared waivers today and is expected to be sent to the AHL Adirondack Phantoms.

 

 

 

   Johan Backlund called it "a dream" to reach the NHL.

   That dream will be realized Friday, when Backlund dresses for the Flyers' season opener in Carolina.

    Because of an injury to Brian Boucher, Backlund will start the season as the Flyers’ backup goalie, general manager Paul Holmgren said Sunday.

    Boucher suffered a lower-body injury in the first period of Saturday’s 1-0 exhibition loss in New Jersey and is expected to miss seven to 10 days. Holmgren said.
    Signed as a free agent in March, the 6-foot-2, 198-pound Backlund excelled in the Swedish Elite League last season, compiling a 2.56 goals-against average and four shutouts. He had a 2.32 GAA in his last three seasons.
    “It’s a faster game here because of the smaller rinks, and you have to be a little more prepared as a goalie,” said Backlund, 28, who made 27 saves as the Adirondack Phantoms scored a 2-1 shootout win over Albany Friday in an AHL exhibition. “There’s more scoring chances.”
     The Flyers had recently sent Backlund to the Phantoms to give him some work, but he will rejoin the team at Monday's practice and see some action in Tuesday's exhibition against visiting Minnesota.
    Originally, the Flyers had wanted starting goalie Ray Emery to play tomorrow’s entire game, the final exhibition before Friday’s opener in Carolina. Now, Emery will probably play half of Tuesday's game to get Backlund some work, Holmgren said.
    In his only preseason game with the Flyers, Backlund allowed two goals in 29 minutes against Toronto. He made 12 saves in the Flyers' 4-0 loss in London, Ontario.

    Asked about the severity of Boucher’s injury, Holmgren said, “Right now, we believe it’s just minor, a little tweak, and we’ll monitor it closely. He’ll spend a lot of time with (trainer) Jimmy McCrossin rehabilitating it.”
   The Flyers must submit their opening roster by 3 p.m. Wednesday. They probably will keep 23 players, and rookie wingers James van Riemsdyk and Mika Pyorala figure to be included.
    Holmgren acknowledged that if he had to submit the roster Monday, both would be on it.
    The GM will talk with Blair Betts’ agent Monday, attempting to finalize a contract for the fourth-line center.
   Breakaways. Emery’s flashy preseason numbers: 1.76 GAA and a .944 save percentage…. Holmgren on the 28-year-old Pyorala, who has spent eight-plus seasons in Europe: “He’s played very well. He’s an older guy who’s very adaptable to lot of different roles and shown he can kill penalties. He’s capable of playing with offensive guys and he’s also a defensive guy.”
Contact staff writer Sam Carchidi at 215-854-5181 or scarchidi@phillynews.com.

 

  As expected, the Flyers Saturday placed high-priced defenseman Randy Jones on waivers, opening cap space that will enable them to keep some other young players on their opening-night roster.
    Jones, 28, who had off-season hip surgery and struggled in the preseason, earns $3 million and has a $2.75 cap hit.
   Should Jones clear waivers and be sent to the AHL Adirondack Phantoms, the Flyers would still be responsible for his salary but it would not count against the $56.8 million cap.
   With the move, the Flyers should be able to keep both James van Riemsdyk and Mika Pyorala _ two impressive rookie wingers _ on their roster. Blair Betts is also expected to make the team.
    The decision also means defenseman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen and Danny Syvret figure to be on the roster. Tollefsen will likely be paired with Ryan Parent as the third defensive duo.

   If Jones is sent to the Phantoms and the Flyers attempt to recall him, another team can claim him on re-entry waivers. If that happened, the new team and the Flyers would split the cap hit ($1.375 million apiece).

   The Flyers play a preseason game in New Jersey tonight (WIP radio).

  

  With a week left before the season starts, the Flyers have some tricky roster decisions.

   Foremost: Do they waive defenseman Randy Jones?

   That appears imminent, a club source said Friday.

    If they don't waive him, the Flyers might deal the 28-year-old Jones to the New York Rangers, who are searching for a defenseman.

    If they waive Jones, the Flyers would free up $2.75 million of cap space _ and open spots for defensemen Ole-Kristian Tollefsen and Danny Syvret.

    It would probably also enable them to keep both James van Riemsdyk and Mika Pyorala, wingers who have had impressive training camps.

    GM Paul Holmgren seemed miffed at the Jones speculation after Friday's practice in Voorhees, but another club source said Jones could be waived as early as Saturday.

    If Jones clears waivers and is sent to the AHL Adirondack Phantoms, he would have to go through re-entry waivers before rejoing the Flyers. If a team claimed him on re-entry waivers, they would equally share the cap hit _ $1.375 million _ with the Flyers. 

   The Flyers play their sixth preseason game Saturday night in New Jersey. Brian Boucher, who has struggled in the preseason (4.39 GAA), is slated to play the entire game for the Flyers, while Ray Emery (2.20 GAA) gets the call in Tuesday's preseason finale against visiting Minnesota.

    The Flyers' season begins next Friday in Carolina.

 

 

The Flyers' 2-1 preseason win over the visiting New Jersey Devils Thursday night featured another strong performance by new goalie Ray Emery, an overtime goal by winger Mika Pyorala and two pretty assists from Danny Briere. Emery looked like he was in midseason form as he made 31 saves _ including several acrobatic ones _ and lowered his preseason GAA to 2.20. He also has a .930 save percentage. Pyorala converted a slick feed from Briere and scored from the slot after 1:45 of OT to give the Flyers (2-2-1) the win. The Finn is having a strong preseason and making it difficult for the Flyers to send him to the AHL Adirondack Phantoms. It appears that Blair Betts has made the team as a fourth-line center. That leaves Pyorala _ a 28-year-old who has played eight-plus seasons in Europe _ and talented rookie James van Riemsdyk in a battle for what could be the final available forward spot. The Flyers could keep both of them if they decided to send popular enforcer Riley Cote to the Phantoms. But GM Paul Holmgren said Cote will start the season as part of the Flyers' roster. Cote is a warrior and a great team player. That said, the Flyers would be better served by keeping JVR and Pyorala. The Flyers already have enough hard-nosed players (see Dan Carcillo, Arron Asham, Ian Laperriere, Chris Pronger et al). Keeping Cote becomes a luxury.

    Mark Bell, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound left winger, was released by the Flyers Monday. Bell, who has played in parts of seven NHL seasons, was in camp on a tryout contract.
   He had a pretty assist in Saturday's 5-4 loss in Toronto.

   Earlier in camp, Bell said he would not accept a two-way contract. That ruled out sending him to the AHL Adirondack Phantoms.
    “We didn’t see enough from Mark,” general manager Paul Holmgren said.
     It appears that former Ranger Blair Betts will land a spot on the Flyers’ roster.
     The Flyers trimmed their roster from 59 to 29 Monday by demoting several players to the Phantoms and releasing a handful of players.
    Jared Ross, Jon Kalinski and Andreas Nodl, three players who spent some time with the Flyers last year, were among the forwards sent to the Phantoms.
     The Flyers have 18 forwards, eight defensemen and three goalies left in camp. They will likely carry 22 players on their roster when the season starts Oct. 2.
     The Flyers will host the Detroit Red Wings at the Wachovia Center Tuesday. Simon Gagne, who has been sidelined by hip and groin injuries, will make his preseason debut for the Flyers, and winger James van Riemsdyk will continue his quest for a roster spot.
 

TORONTO _ Flyers coach John Stevens preferred to talk about the Flyers' strong second period Saturday night, but that solid 20-minute performance _ which included two Danny Briere goals _ was wasted because of some poor late-game decisions. More to the point: The Flyers committed two late penalties that led to the tying goal and they eventually dropped a 5-4 OT decision in Toronto. The Flyers, who blew a late 4-2 lead, are 0-2-1 in the preseason. They committed an alarming 20 penalties for 60 minutes Saturday and allowed two power-play goals. Yes, it's only the preseason, but if this team is going to be a Stanley Cup contender, it better start showing a more disciplined style that it can carry into the regular season. * * * * In the stats dept., Briere, who seems to have regained the speed he possessed two years ago, was a plus-2. Randy Jones, Mike Richards and JVR were each a minus-2....Chris Pronger, who scored his first goal as a Flyer (power play), played a whopping 29:24. Matt Carle, his defensive partner, played 27:44....The Flyers won just 43 percent of the faceoffs. Faceoffs and penalties killed the Flyers last year and they don't look improved in those areas in the first three preseason games.....Briere won just 4 of 17 faceoffs; Richards won 12 of 21....Saturday's scratches included Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne, Kimmo Timonen and Ryan Parent.