Flyers try to regroup in Carolina
The Flyers, trying to rebound from a disastrous finish in Ottawa, will reach the halfway mark Tuesday when they play their 41st game of the season in Carolina.
Flyers try to regroup in Carolina
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Flyers, trying to rebound from a disastrous finish in Ottawa, will reach the halfway mark Tuesday when they play their 41st game of the season in Carolina.
The Flyers coughed up a 4-2 third-period lead and lost in Ottawa on Sunday, 6-4.
Tuesday will be their third game in four nights.
So who does coach Peter Laviolette start? Ilya Bryzgalov, who has a 3.07 GAA and .891 save percentage? Or Sergei Bobrovsky, who allowed a bad goal in the Winter Classic but has been more consistent this season than Bryzgalov?
Bobrovsky has a 2.56 GAA and .914 save percentage.
The lowly Hurricanes, who are without standout sophomore forward Jeff Skinner (concussion), have points in six of their last seven home games (5-1-1) but are just 10-10-3 at the RBC Center this season. Carolina, 14th in the 15-team East, has scored 24 goals in its last six home games.
The Flyers, fourth in the East and tied with the New York Rangers for the league’s best road record (14-6-2), are 2-1 against Carolina this season, scoring 5-1 and 5-3 wins, and dropping a 4-2 decision at the Wells Fargo Center.
Breakaways. The Flyers, who did not practice Monday, are 16-9-2 without Chris Pronger this season and 8-3-2 with him…..Heading into Monday’s action, the Flyers were eighth in the 30-team league on the power play, clicking at 19.3 percent; they were tied for 15th on the penalty kill (82.5 percent)…..Matt Read entered Monday tied for the NHL lead among rookies with 13 goals……Sean Couturier’s goal in Sunday’s loss in Ottawa was his first in 22 games…Claude Giroux, who entered Monday tied for second in the NHL with 48 points, is pointless in the last two games; he has not gone three straight games without a point this season….Carolina’s Brian Boucher (lower-body injury) and Joni Pitkanen (concussion), a pair of ex-Flyers, have missed 15 and 14 games, respectively.
* * *
A fan who threw a banana at the Flyers' Wayne Simmonds during an NHL exhibition game has been fined $200, according to the Associated Press.
Christopher Moorhouse lobbed a banana at Simmonds, the Flyers' only black player, as he was approaching Detroit goalie Jordan Pearce during a shootout in the Sept. 22 game in London, Ontario.
The 26-year-old Moorhouse pleaded guilty Monday but did not appear in court. Moorhouse was charged charged with a provincial trespassing and given 90 days to pay the fine. Police said there wasn't enough evidence to charge Moorhouse with a hate crime.
Moorhouse's lawyer, Faisal Joseph, has said his client didn't know hurling bananas at black athletes could be seen as hateful, AP reported.
* * *
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
He didn't know hurling a banana would be deemed as racial? If it weren't so pathetic, it could almost be funny. But, it isn't. Ridiculous.— NYluvsPhylers- All I hear in my sleep is Jim Jackson's voice echoing..."Flyers fail to clear." Every game is a heart attack. With their offense, I never feel like they're out of a game. With the defense and Bryz, no lead seems safe. The Flyers used to OWN the 3rd period. What the @$#! is going on? I realize sometimes it's hard to match the intensity of a team that is playing from behind but I sure as hell would give it a try...and I'd only charge Mr. Snider 300K. Whether it's a 1 goal or 4 goal lead, they should be neck stompers and hope killers. Physical mistakes happen, but there is no excuse for mental breakdowns or loss of heart. Does anybody know if Tebow can skate?
- When is Lavy going to be held responsible for the disorganized defense and lethargic and lackluster performances we've seen for 2 years now. We've changed 10 players and still the defense plays no decernable system I can see. They hang the goalie out to dry on a regular basis and simply allow teams to freewheel through center ice. Coburn & Carle wouldn't hit a free buffet, Lilja belongs in a beer league and Pronger's best days are long gone if not over. We've given up goals in the 1st minute or 2 of a game so many times I've lost count. It must be the same amount of times we've blown 2 goal leads simply because we've stropped skating. And there doesn't seem to be any overall urgency in their game because 1/2 the time look like their skating in sand compared to their opponents. It appears that on the PP they're encouraged to pass for 60 seconds and not shoot and won't simply throw the puck at the net. Let's not even talk about their face off win %.
But all of these issues have been going on for over 2 years and a change in personnel. Last year it might have been Carter or rchards, this year Lavy is directly responsible and now needs to be held accountable.— dedhed - oh shut up— drenner
- First off......chill! The Flyers top 5 defense (Kimmo, Coburn, Meszaros, Carle, Bourdon) is as good as any top 5 in the league as far as skating and puck movement. That said, the D does have a problem without Pronger in there clearing the crease at critical times (pp, end of close games) and generally making it miserable to play in front of the flyers net.... the D lacks a physical edge without Pronger..... Also lacks a top tier power play point shot and quarterback.. Kimmo is good QB but mediocre shot.... Meszaros has a big shot, but he's mostly inaccurate and not a QB..... what the Flyers could use (short of a better goalie, which aint happening this year) is a guy like Shea Weber, buts its gonna cost them some young talent and draft picks....— beachlawyr
- The Flyers will address the Pronger situation in the summer and will trade for a number 3 to 4 defenseman at the deadline. I agree there is a lack of physicality on the current top 5, that's why we are lucky so far to have Bourdon in there right now. Gustafsson isn't physical either, he moves the puck well but doesn't clear the crease. Pronger is irreplacable, let's face it.— flyerdommo
- ILO of Shea Weber....what about Dustin Byfuglien, once his knee heals...big, strong and has won a Cup...heck, I still would settle for Luca Brasi Sbisa, instead of Lilja.— Romus
- Weber is the whole deal-- big, physical, huge point shot, big offensive numbers from the blue lin . Most important, a "presence" that provides leadership and backbone. Don't get that with Dustin Byfuglien etc. Weber is as close as you're gonna get to replacing Chris Pronger short of Chara. BTW, hope all those Pronger bashers out there now appreciate just how valuable he is, now that he's gone.— beachlawyr
- Buff was catalyst in winning a Cup....Weber has won nada. — Romus
- Gustafsson is meant to replace Timmonen after next year. Byfuglien would be a great fit here but, he has a big salary. We only get a prorated portion of Pronger's salary in long term injury relief on the cap. The hope for the Pronger situation is that the new CBA will include an exception for 35+ contracts when a player suffers a career ending injury like Lappy and perhaps Pronger.
- Oh yeah, your'e right beachbum, Pronger's presence was something, I was always intimidated when Pronger was in the box for some stupid penalty. The best thing about Pronger is that he's gone, stop living in the past man! Surf's up dude!— NCFLYER
- Now we got the nitwits wanting Lavy fired. I wonder how they would feel if we all called for their jobs in a public forum?
I am surprised you Philly guys allow that. I havent seen a Flyers team with this much SPEED, EVER. The season don't start till MARCH!!
Calm down, maintain low tones. If you watched 24/7 you would see Lavy is just the kind of coach the Flyers need.— Hatfield_ham 
Comment removed.- robynk....it was a minor league hockey rink in London, Ontario...they must have a fresh produce outlet in the concourse. — Romus
- Ya everyone needs to simmer,all we need is some consistent goaltending and some better outlet passes from our end and the cup is ours.Play Bob as #1 give some confidince heading thru the second half and he will be the one we have wanted for years in nets.trust in me i know what i see in Bob.if not we are f&$@ed.— Gullysflyers
