Posted: Monday, October 26, 2009, 11:16 PM | 3 comments |
 

Gagne sidelined; Caps eye revenge
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  When the Flyers play the host Washington Capitals Tuesday, veteran left winger Simon Gagne is not expected to be in the lineup.

   Gagne missed practice Monday because of lower-body discomfort. He had an ultrasound _ results will be available Tuesday, the Flyers said _ to figure out why he has been having pain.

  GM Paul Holmgren said the Flyers want to learn if Gagne's problem is related to his off-season hip surgery _ or to a groin injury he suffered in the summer and re-aggravated at Team Canada workouts.

   Gagne is off to the worst start of his 10-year career _ one goal in nine games.

   In recent games, Gane has been on a line with Mike Richards and Arron Asham. In Monday's practice, Richards centered Scott Hartnell and Mika Pyorala.

   * * * * * * * * * 

  In case you missed it, Anaheim sent former Flyer Luca Sbisa to Lethbridge of the Wetsern Hockey League. Acquired from the Flyers in the Chris Pronger deal, Sbisa was scoreless in eight games with the Ducks and was minus-1.

* * * * * * * * * * 

 The Flyers' power play (11 for 44) has been clicking at a 25 percent rate, while the Caps are only 8 for 48 (16.7 percent). Both teams are among the NHL's elite in penalty killing _ the Flyers are at 85.4 percent, the Caps at 83.7 percent.

   Alex Ovechkin, the game's best all-around player, already has nine goals and eight assists for the 6-2-2 Capitals.

    The Flyers (5-3-1) scored a 6-5 overtime win over Washington on Oct. 6. In that game,Richards had a hat trick and Matt Carle equaled an NHL record for defensemen with four assists in one period.

    Richards, by the way, has ended his silent treatment of the media.

 
Posted by Sam Carchidi @ 11:16 PM  Permalink | 3 comments
3
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:46 AM, 10/27/2009
    Gagne hurt, Richards talking, Giroux to center Asham & Carcillo, Coburn planning on remembering how to play defense, Kimmo promises to use his stick more and not try to emulate Pronger, Boucher promises to try harder, Pronger agrees team needs to stop taking periods off and play harder, Carter promises to convert on a breakaway soon, Hartnell promises to try and remember how he scored thirty goals last year, Forwards promise that someone will step up and replace Knuble in front of the net, centers promise they will learn how to win a faceoff without Betts, Stevens promises to speak up, Holmgren & Snider promise that if these promises aren't delivered soon changes will be in order " NEWS @ ELEVEN "
    — Tonyazucar
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:21 AM, 10/27/2009
    nice summary.
    — DCExpat
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:20 PM, 10/27/2009
    One thing's for sure, it's going to be an interesting night at the Phone Booth! I popped on over here out of curiosity to see what was being said on the blogs, and to read comments; so far, this entry's been pretty quiet. While I am not a Flyers fan, I am not here to troll, or to insult Flyers fans or the Flyers team. I will, however, be honest. Sorry to hear about Gagne's issues, and I hope he's feeling better and back in the lineup soon. Hip surgery and its aftermath is no joke. Hopefully, they will figure out what's going on and get him all patched up.
    — irockthered


3 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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