Posted: Thursday, March 26, 2009, 11:06 PM | 7 comments |
 

Flyers' magic number still at 8
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    The Flyers played well enough to win Thursday, but ran into a hot goalie and dropped a 4-2 decision to Florida at the Wachovia Center.

   For all intents and purposes, the loss almost assures that the Flyers won't catch Atlantic Division-leading New Jersey, which has a seven-point lead over Philadelphia with nine games left.

   In Thursday's game, Scott Hartnell, Jeff Carter and Danny Briere were each a plus-two to lead the Flyers, who had their three-game winning streak snapped because backup goalie Craig Anderson made 40 saves, including several outstanding ones.

    Another factor: Florida blocked 23 shots _ 16 more than the Flyers.

    The Flyers' fourth line _ Riley Cote, Darroll Powe and Arron Asham _ was a combined minus-six. Those players were on the ice for both of Florida's even-strength goals.

    Anderson was playing because Tomas Vokoun, Florida's usual starting goalie, blew a 3-1 lead in the third period of Wednesday's 5-3 loss in Buffalo.

   "We haven't been winning games and the other guy (Vokoun) hadn't been getting it done for us," Florida coach Pete DeBoer said. "We'd been in this position earlier in the year and made a change. The team responded, and Craig responded. So I give Craig Anderson credit. He's been sitting for a long time. To come in and give a performance like that was great from a confidence point for our team and also personally for himself."

    Florida, which iced the win with an empty-net goal, remained two points out of the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

    The Flyers, who visit the New York Islanders on Saturday, are still the No. 4 seed, and their magic number for clinching a playoff spot is eight points.

    * * * * * * * * 

    Notes. Florida's Jay Bouwmeester was a minus-2.....On Scott Hartnell Wig Night, Hartnell was all over the ice. The left winger scored his 28th goal and had seven shots on goal _ and another shot that hit the post......The Flyers had 22 hits _ nine more than Florida.....The Flyers also had a huge edge in faceoffs, winning 62 percent of the 55 draws.

 
Posted by Sam Carchidi @ 11:06 PM  Permalink | 7 comments
7
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:02 AM, 03/27/2009
    the flyers will lose all their remaining games, Holmgren has destroyed this team
    — BHite15
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:04 AM, 03/27/2009
    DO YOU WANT TO PUT YOUR MONEY WERE YOUR MOUTH IS B HITE 15!!!!
    — flip77
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:32 AM, 03/27/2009
    Im confused, how did Homer destroy this team? They are 4th place in the east. Made it to the ECF last year. The only trade i didnt like was getting rid of Upshall, but even that I think was a cap issue and unavoidable. So, again now? destroyed?
    — Inchon
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:32 AM, 03/27/2009
    Im confused, how did Homer destroy this team? They are 4th place in the east. Made it to the ECF last year. The only trade i didnt like was getting rid of Upshall, but even that I think was a cap issue and unavoidable. So, again now? destroyed?
    — Inchon
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:24 PM, 03/27/2009
    If the Flyers lose all their remaining games, you can have my Moe Mantha rookie card. Keep your fingers crossed.
    — toccheyhockey
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:29 PM, 03/27/2009
    Why isn't Rick Tocchet in the Flyers Hall of fame yet?
    — Tocchetrules
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:42 PM, 03/28/2009
    Maybe cause Tocchet is a convicted felon?
    — Hatfield_ham


7 comments
About Sam Carchidi
Sam Carchidi is in his fourth year as the Flyers' beat reporter. He became an Inquirer staff writer in 1984 and covered mostly South Jersey high school sports and the Phillies before taking the Flyers beat.

Carchidi has written three books _ the nationally acclaimed Miracle in the Making: The Adam Taliaferro Story, which he co-authored with Scott Brown; Bill Campbell: The Voice of Philadelphia Sports; and Standing Tall: The Kevin Everett Story, which was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show. He also contributed to a 1993 Inquirer book on the Phillies.

A lifelong South Jersey resident, Carchidi lives in Wenonah with his wife, JoAnn, and their two children, Sara and Sammy.

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