Posted: Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 5:18 PM | 5 comments |
 

Flyers show faceoff gain; Bodrov signed
options
 

  

    Goaltending and special teams' performances are considered major components of a team's success.

    Faceoffs?

    They fly under the radar. But the fact is, faceoffs are vital _ they trigger a team's offense and help sway a game's momentum.

    It's no coincience that the three NHL teams with the most points _ San Jose, Chicago and Washington _ are also in the top four in faceoff percentage.

   The Flyers have quietly made strides in faceoffs this year. They are tied for 12th in the 30-team NHL with a 50.2 success rate; a year ago, they finished 22d at 48.3 percent.

     Among the players who take most of their faceoffs, Blair Betts leads the Flyers at 52.7 percent, followed by Jeff Carter at 52 percent, Mike Richards at 50.5 percent, Claude Giroux at 49.4 percent and Darroll Powe at 46.7 percent.

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

    Defenseman Denis Bodrov stuggled while playing in Russia this season, but the Flyers are hoping he improves his game in the AHL.

     The Adirondack Phantoms, the Flyers' the top minor-league affiliate, anounced Tuesday they had signed Bodrov to a standard AHL contract for the remainder of the 2009-2010 season.

    Bodrov, 23, began the season playing for Atlant Mytishchi in the Russian Kontinental Hockey League. Flyers goalie Ray Emery played for Atlant last year.

     In 12 games this season for Atlant, Bodrov scored one goal and had six penalty minutes. The Moscow, Russia native has spent his entire playing career in Russia, including 13 points in 45 career KHL games for Atlant and Lada Togliatti. He was released by Atlant at the end of November.

    Bodrov, a 6-foot, 215-pounder, was chosen by the Flyers in the second round (55th overall) of the 2006 draft. The Flyers had three second-round selections that year, including Andreas Nodl (39th) and Michael Ratchuk (42nd).

 

 
Posted by Sam Carchidi @ 5:18 PM  Permalink | 5 comments
5
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:30 PM, 01/26/2010
    betts has been the most important pick-up this offseason with the exception of pronger. if betts can stay healthy we ought to give him a huge contract he is so integral to this team great find homie!
    — Stanley Cup
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:06 PM, 01/26/2010
    I dont know about he "huge contract" part, but Betts definitely needs to be resigned.
    — MBFlyerfan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:14 PM, 01/26/2010
    I'm sure Betts would gladly re-sign for a 2 year deal worth $1 million a season. That almost doubles his salary and gives him stability in his life. That being said the Flyers need to be smart with cap and make sure they have money for players like Coburn etc who are RFA's after this season.
    — Buts
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:40 PM, 01/26/2010
    Buts, losing Coburn would be a good thing. He's no better than Bartulis right now. It seems like every year, we have a defenseman in crisis. For years it was non-Jagr Therien, then Pitkanen, then Randy Jones, now Coburn
    — duffers
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:54 PM, 01/27/2010
    interestign face off stat---I watch ALL the games and never noticed...good work.....would like more articles like this...ands as the posters before noted.....lots of credit to Betts...Homer resign this guy
    — LongtimeFan3


5 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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