Posted: Sunday, March 22, 2009, 9:27 PM | 8 comments |
 

Flyers' win may be season's best
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The Flyers' 3-1 win in Pittsburgh today was arguably their most impressive victory of the season.

For several reasons:

** It was registered in a hostile environment against a team that was 10-0-2 in its previous 12 games.

** It moved the fourth-seeded Flyers two points ahead of the Penguins _ and Philadelphia has three games in hand.

* * The Flyers did a much better job defensively than in recent games. They had allowed an average of 40-plus shots on goal in their previous four games; today they allowed 28 shots, including just seven in the final period.

* * Unlike Tuesday in Detroit, the Flyers were able to play a strong third period and close out the win. They also sent a message that they can beat the Penguins if they meet in the playoffs. Pittsburgh had won eight of 10 against Philly since last year's playoffs.

* * The power play clicked. In their previous 12 games against current playoff qualifiers, the Flyers were 4 for 56 on the PP (7 percent). Today, they were 2 for 7, thanks to goals by Simon Gagne (29th) and the irrepressible Scott Hartnell (27th).

* * Goalie Marty Biron, the fans' whipping boy for most of the season, continued his remarkably strong March. It has become clear that Biron, who was primarily a backup in Buffalo, has problems pacing himself in the regular season. It has also become clear he gains extra focus and raises his game in the stretch run.

* * Mike Richards Jeff Carter and the defensive pairing of Ryan "Bernie" Parent and Kimmo Timonen shut down superstars Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, who combined to have zero shots on goal. Zero! (They also combined to have six giveaways.) During one sequence, Parent saved a goal after the puck got past Biron and was headed into the net.

* * The Flyers showed great restraint and discipline (really), committing three fewer penalties than the Pens.

This win ranks up there with the consecutive early-season victories over New Jersey, along with the the 4-3 and 4-2 wins in Boston.

* * * *

After missing two games with a hip injury, Randy Jones retuned to the lineup. Danny Syvret was scratched.....The Flyers have scored two PP goals in each of the last two games. Before yesterday, the last time they had at least two PP goals in consecutive games was Dec. 13 (four PP goals vs. Pittsburgh) and Dec. 16 (two PP goals vs. Colorado).....The Flyers host New Jersey on Monday and Florida on Thursday.
 
Posted by Sam Carchidi @ 9:27 PM  Permalink | 8 comments
8
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:46 PM, 03/22/2009
    Keep it rolling tomorrow against NJ. I'll be impressed if they take four points from these two games.
    — toccheyhockey
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:17 PM, 03/22/2009
    Crosby registered a shot that Biron made a diving stick save on.
    — Pixote Andolini
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:41 PM, 03/22/2009
    Crosby may not have been credited with a shot on goal, despite "shooting" the puck. The Flyers shot total in many games is often deceptively low; shot attempts that are deflected or blocked, those that miss the net, and shots that pass through the crease are not counted as shots on goal. Even if the goalie stops it, it doesn't always count as a shot on goal.
    — Pelti
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:03 AM, 03/23/2009
    I like how Giroux is making plays in the defensive zone now. He's showing that he's not a one-dimensional player, which is a pleasant surprise to me. A win against Jersey just might sew up fourth place, especially since the schedule eases up a bit from now on. Still, the games against the Leafs, Isles and Sens won't be easy.
    — Snap Crackle Propp
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:47 AM, 03/23/2009
    "It has become clear that Biron, who was primarily a backup in Buffalo, has problems pacing himself in the regular season. It has also become clear he gains extra focus and raises his game in the stretch run." That is the best analysis provided on this page...so true.
    — tokar
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:38 AM, 03/23/2009
    Why do I see more hitting from Richards and Giroux than Carcillo? (Giroux made a great hit and takeaway to get the puck back to the defenseman). I mean, I like Richie and Claude playing aggresive like that, but wasn't Carcillo supposed to be banging bodies and making it difficult on the opposition? Holmgren said the fans would love this guy and his style. When is that going to happen, exactly? Another question: Was it his reputation that drew the 2 minute dive call? What a joke that was - what game was the ref watching? So, my only complaint really from a great win, the rest of the team played great.
    — mikemcnhl
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:14 PM, 03/23/2009
    Giroux good....Carcillo bad.
    — rockinrob
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:53 PM, 03/23/2009
    As the new-comer with a reputation, maybe Carcillo is just being smart and trying to keep his head down for awhile. Flyers already take a pile of penalties as it is. If he shows up and starts adding even more, he's going to wind up in the minors. He showed some surprising speed yesterday on a couple breaks. In any case, Cote is gone next season. Carcillo just needs to bide his time and play smart.
    — element_104


8 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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