Flyers tinker with PP units
The Flyers made some changes on their struggling power play during Wednesday’s practice in Voorhees. One unit had Danny Briere with Scott Hartnell and Jeff Carter, along with defensemen Kimmo Timonen and Chris Pronger. Mike Richards, not Pronger, had been on that unit when Briere scored a PP goal against Pittsburgh Saturday. Richards did replace Hartnell during some PP shifts later in Wednesday’s practice. In essence, Pronger has replaced Richards on the top unit. The other PP unit had Ville Leino and Nik Zherdev dividing time on a line with Richards and Claude Giroux up front. Matt Carle and Andrej Meszaros were on the back end. Coach Peter Laviolette hinted that Meszaros, owner of a powerful shot, will be getting more PP time than he has received in the first five games. Laviolette was pleased with the way the PP worked on Wednesday. “I thought they moved it around well today,” said Laviolette, whose team will host penalty-happy Anaheim on Thursday. “We’re just trying to find different things. I thought Briere, Carter and Hartnell did a good job when they were on the PP. They got some opportunities and got some shots on net. “We’re just trying to find the right combinations; trying to find some consistency with both units.” The Flyers (2-2-1) even had Pronger up front on some of the power plays, a move they employed during some of last season’s playoff games. The Flyers’ power play is 2 for 22 (9.1 percent), which is 24th in the 30-team NHL. * * * * * * * *
Flyers tinker with PP units
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Flyers made some changes on their struggling power play during Wednesday’s practice in Voorhees.
One unit had Danny Briere with Scott Hartnell and Jeff Carter, along with defensemen Kimmo Timonen and Chris Pronger. Mike Richards, not Pronger, had been on that unit when Briere scored a PP goal against Pittsburgh Saturday.
Richards did replace Hartnell during some PP shifts later in Wednesday’s practice.
In essence, Pronger has replaced Richards on the top unit.
The other PP unit had Ville Leino and Nik Zherdev dividing time on a line with Richards and Claude Giroux up front. Matt Carle and Andrej Meszaros were on the back end.
Coach Peter Laviolette hinted that Meszaros, owner of a powerful shot, will be getting more PP time than he has received in the first five games.
Laviolette was pleased with the way the PP worked on Wednesday.
“I thought they moved it around well today,” said Laviolette, whose team will host penalty-happy Anaheim on Thursday. “We’re just trying to find different things. I thought Briere, Carter and Hartnell did a good job when they were on the PP. They got some opportunities and got some shots on net.
“We’re just trying to find the right combinations; trying to find some consistency with both units.”
The Flyers (2-2-1) even had Pronger up front on some of the power plays, a move they employed during some of last season’s playoff games.
The Flyers’ power play is 2 for 22 (9.1 percent), which is 24th in the 30-team NHL.
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Laviolette would not commit to his goalie for Thursday.
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why is hartnell on the number one power play unit???
tough to score goals while lying in the corner or along the boards because he fell down...again!!!— canflyfan
i agree, he can't stand up. he had a good playoff run, but now might be the time to trade him while value is up. Get some picks and free up cap space. Atleast it will give Villie more ice time.— azguz- Hint: Putting your worst 2 passers (Hartnell, Carter) on the top PP line is not a recipe for success.— sla6yer
- 4 offensive guys on PP!!!!!! Hartnell is the most overrated flyer— fman727
- Giroux needs more ice time....after Pronger, he is our best player.
I think they need to stop putting JVR on the power play. He has shown nothing that leads one to believe he will live up to the # 2 overall pick. I hope he improves and brings more to the table, but this far I have not seen it. As for Hartnell, he is what he is. He can get in front of the net and provide a screen, but that's about it.
Trade Carter while he still has some value.....vastly overrated.— Tar Heel 1 - Tar Heel don't be an idiot. Carter is a 30 goal scorer who was injured last year. You don't just trade those guys like it's nothing and expect things to get better. Remember last year?? Traded Lupul/ let Knuble leave and what happened?? Playoffs aside...WE COULDN'T SCORE!!! Only guy named above who should be dumped is HARTNELL. He's WAY past his sell-by date and if we could get anything at all for him, I'd be thrilled. Canflyfan is right - the fact that Hartnell's on the #1 PP unit is so disturbing I can't even put into words how I feel.— thomaspfoolery
Hartnell stands in the front of the net, causes havoc and creates space for the other four plays to pass around. he should be there, I also think JVR should be in the same place on the 2nd unit. My PP#1 would be JVR, G-Man and Briere up front with Pronger and Carle on the back. #2 would be Harts, Carters and Richy with Mezzy and Kimotherapy on the back end.— Inchon- TarHeel, your comments seem to be on the level of SupremeOne, or TheGeneral..etc. JVR's size and speed is a rarity in this world. He has been flying and is going to progress each year. Compare him to Kyle Turris in PHX, Sam Gagner in EDM, or Voracek in CLB..the next 3 forwards drafted after him. He is leaps ahead of them...but on a serious note, only in hockey can you "tinker with your PP unit" and people don't laugh.— Hexy4GM
- I agree that Giroux needs more time on PP. Richards needs to stop being cute with the puck on start shooting good shots and making crisp passes. Hartnell will provide some screens...hopefully. If anything else, I'm with the rest of you.
