Posted: Friday, October 2, 2009, 1:15 PM | 27 comments |
 

Flyers set lineup for tonight's opener
options
 

     RALEIGH _ Just got back from the morning skate, where coach John Stevens confirmed that he will use Darroll Powe on the third line against Carolina tonight instead of Arron Asham.

     Stevens said Powe matches up better against the fleet Hurricanes because of his speed. He will be at right wing on a line with Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk.

    Asham, Riley Cote and Marc-Andre Bourdon will be scratches in tonight's season opener.

   In the future, Asham will see lots of action, Stevens said. "It depends on performance and matchups," he said.

   * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

    Chris Pronger on tonight's opener: "You spend the whole summer recharging and using training camp to kind of get your feet wet, and the beginning of the season is always an exciting time of year. Expectations on pretty much every team are high and we're no different. We obvioulsy feel we have a very good team and it's just a matter of continuing to get better and continuing to develop."

    Getting off to a good start, he added, "doesn't make or break your season, but it goes a long way to get that confidence and feeling good about ourselves. With new line combinations and new (defensive) partners, there's always going to be a learning curve, but at the end of the day we have to go out and compete hard and play hard within our structure."

    Danny Briere, another veteran, also was antsy to play tonight's opener.

    "It's always an easy game to get up for," he said, smiling. "The adrenaline is always flowing and you're excited about the new year. Every team thinks they're winning the Stanley Cup on the first night of the season."

   * * * * * * * * * 

   Van Riemsdyk said four of his childhood friends are driving to Raleigh to attend his NHL debut tonight. He added that he now expects at least 100 family members and friends to be at the game Saturday against the New Jersey Devils in Newark _ an easy drive from his hometown of Middletown South.

* * * * *  * * * * *

   Carolina, which reached the conference finals last season, has four former Flyers on its roster: Rod Brind'Amour, Joni Pitkanen (battling a knee injury), Andrew Alberts and backup goalie Michael Leighton. 

***********

  The Flyers' lines for toinight:

Hartnell-Carter-Briere; Gagne-Richards-Pyorala; JVR-Giroux-Powe; and Carcillo-Betts-Laperriere.

The D: Pronger-Carle; Timonen-Coburn; and Parent-Syvret. Ray Emery is in the nets.

 

 
Posted by Sam Carchidi @ 1:15 PM  Permalink | 27 comments
27
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:29 PM, 10/02/2009
    i'm not a big fan of scratching asham
    — theroe2.0
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:38 PM, 10/02/2009
    Go Flyers !
    — Joe R.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:45 PM, 10/02/2009
    I like the lines. I would like Briere with Giroux however if JVR continues to get in front of the net Giroux will get the puck to him. Getting pumped for 7!!!
    — kingback
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:45 PM, 10/02/2009
    been waiting months for the start of the season and they scratch my favorite player (aa). :(
    — SD doug
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:51 PM, 10/02/2009
    Finals.
    — dscott
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:03 PM, 10/02/2009
    AAAAAHHHHH....sookah-sooky now!!!!
    — MTbelly
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:04 PM, 10/02/2009
    I just hope this team is not as thin at right wing as it seems they are looking at those lines. That's pretty scary.
    — ant8817
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:08 PM, 10/02/2009
    Asham shouldn't be benched. He can flat out play.
    — ChrisM
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:18 PM, 10/02/2009
    ant8817, I see where that could be a concern but I think they will be fine, can't remember last time I thought the D was as good as it is now, first two pairings are pretty stout and I think that third pair will bring a lot of excitement with them, looking forward to Syvret
    — tsump
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:25 PM, 10/02/2009
    Scratching Asham for Powe? Why? There are 10 Powes and Betts on the Phantoms. I actually think Asham is a better player than Powe anyway. Hope this doesn't become a trend. I'd have scratched Carcillo before Asham.
    — guerislives
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:26 PM, 10/02/2009
    Let's see what Pronger & Co. do before we get all hot & heavy. Every year begins with the usual hype and it ends being hot air and a bunch of excuses. Show me the cup! Go Flyers!
    — DennyP
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:39 PM, 10/02/2009
    If our defense can stay healthy, this team can be awesome. Tough stretch of games to start the season-Carolina, Jersey, Caps. Man just like last year where it seemed every game in the beginning of year was against a pretty good team, remember the back to back against the Sharks last year, when they got 2 ties? Let's go Flyers! All other sports pale in comparison to the great sport of Hockey!
    — flyfantx
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:05 PM, 10/02/2009
    I like the Timonen-Coburn reunion. Cote > Carcillo.
    — buzzkiller23
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:10 PM, 10/02/2009
    I'm pumped! Tonights like New years eve, but better! I'm 28 and been watching the Flyers for about 18 years and don't remember a Flyers defenseman that has as many different skills as Pronger! He can score/pass/fight/check/lead! I guess thats where the term 5 tooled defenseman comes from?
    — stxprowl
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:13 PM, 10/02/2009
    I don't know if there are another 10 Powes and Betts on the Phantoms. But I agree with guerislives that I would play AA before Carcillo. I think Carcillo has a lot to prove. I think he can play and provide some offense. But he's too much of a knucklehead and hurts the team more than helps.
    — JimmyFledPhilly


27 comments | View All Comments | View All By Latest
View comments: 1  |  2
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.

Follow on Twitter

Advertise Here
Latest Flyers Videos