Gagne's return will balance Flyers' lines
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Gagne's return will balance Flyers' lines
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Left winger Simon Gagne, sidelined since April 20 with a broken bone in his right foot, plans to play Friday night in the Flyers' win-or-go-home contest against Boston.
The Bruins lead the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal, three games to none.
Gagne, who had an MRI Thursday afternoon that showed the bone was healing nicely, is expected to play on a line with Mike Richards and Dan Carcillo. He will probably also spend time on the team's struggling power play _ which is 0 for 8 over the last two games _ but not on the penalty kill.
Getting Gagne back should knock Scott Hartnell (0 goals in the last 20 games) off the Richards line, and give the Flyers more balance on their four units. Jarred Ross will probably be a healthy scratch.
Here's an educated guess on how the lines will look Friday night:
Gagne-Richards-Carcillo.
Leino-Briere-Hartnell.
JVR-Giroux-Asham.
Powe-Betts-Nodl.
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Prediction: Flyers 4, Bruins 2 _ and Southwest Airlines, whose prices to the Boston area are nearly five times cheaper than US Airways', gets swamped by media requests for flights back to Beantown.
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For continual updates, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BroadStBull.
Comments (19)
I hope they can generate some goals! Any word on Carter coming back?— Ohmy
Carters done why is hartnell on the 2nd line? he is so awful. Put Giroux at center move Briere to the wing— robbnthahood- somebody lock Hartnell in a dunk tank
- I hate Hartnell, not the man, but the player. The line combinations are horrible, because Hartnell is a waste of space at best. Briere is talented at center, but not defensively responsible, so in this game, do we really want him to be working down low etc. etc.? I want to believe, it's up to the Flyers to make me believe. Gagne-Richards-Carcillo. Leino-Giroux-Briere. JVR-Powe-Hartnell. Asham-Betts-Nodl.— ruggeral
- Any line with Hartnell on it (no matter what number they assign it) is the fourth line. I've never been one to jump on the bandwagon and trash a player but my god....what has this organization been watching all year??? He should have been benched mid-year yet they just keep sending him out there. I'd just assume they play a man down on his shifts.— ebow
- Ridiculous! Gags is a decent player, but he's certainly no savior. Let the man recover.— BigShow
- what if we find out Hartnell is hurt, like Richards last year?— birdfannnj
- "Hartnell (0 points in the last 20 games)" ... AND a team WORST -6 in the playoffs. People keep calling out the 5th and 6th D, but they only get 1/2 the minutes of this 4.2 millon dollar player. This guy should be a healthy scratch, look at his body language on the ice. He gave up on the season a month ago.— jcu123
- Gagne should play if he is able. Your paid to play and your team needs you NOW. Not in July. Hartnell should be playing for Great Falls or Hersey or Grand Rapids next season. What a joke.— keith7470
- if we find out he's hurt and they didn't pull him out, then I blame Hartnell, Holmgren and Lavy for that.
- on the contrary, i don't think hartnell has given up. he tries pretty hard and just isn't very good. plus he can't skate for his life. the guy didn't score 30 last year by accident, but surely, something is amiss this year. here's to hoping homer does all he can to move him and briere in this rapidly approaching off season.— thrilladelf
- Top 6 forwards should play together and let everyone else fall into place -- Gagne, Richards, Leino (only top 6 in this current line-up)...Briere, Giroux, JVR -- Bottom 6 play together. Have to sacrifice spreading talent across four lines and spread to two and hope they keep the puck out of their own net.— Captain
- Ruggeral, I agree with your assessment of Briere's defensive issues and Hartnell. But Sam's "educated guess" at least presents three lines that should generate some scoring chances, and I expect Lavi to go with these lines. The JVR-Giroux-Asham line had the only goal in game three and were quite a productive unit in the first round. Briere has been very good offensively in this series and he and Leino seem to have had some moments of chemistry. I worry that Leino-Giroux-Briere might get pushed around a bit, and JVR-Powe-Hartnell wouldn't strike much fear in the hearts of Rask and the Boston blueliners.— Raggamonkey
- Scott Hartnell was the featured player in one episode of the NHL's "Day In The Life" series. After seeing it I immediately liked Hartnell, but he's not the same player he was last year. Why he falls so often is a mystery, but the way he runs around, seemingly unguided, may be a factor. I hope that he at least does not take any dumb penalties out of personal frustration. If there is a run on seats to Boston it will be to cover Boston-Montreal.— rjsmith
- Raggamonkey, I don't think that a L-G-B line will get pushed around cause they're all deft with the puck, and surprisingly, Grioux is a very physical player who uses leverage to the max. Him creating those shorthanded chances last game? I forgot they were on the penalty kill he was that good along the wall. And while no line with Hartnell on it will strike fear into a team, that line did score a goal against NJ during the regular season. I only know cause I was at the game and mocked that the Flyers weren't trying to score obviously- then the three of them put the puck in the net (Asham, cause he's the one with the hands.) If anything, I agree with Captain, just switching Leino and Briere, but keep the top 6 guys all together. Can anyone intelligently explain why Leino had been previously scratched for Hartnell?— ruggeral
ruggeral, I basically agree with your lines. More specifically, bringing up Leino to the 2nd line, and that was honestly before I read any of these posts. It's a safe bet that Hartnell is not going to get on track anytime soon, ya need to limit his playing time. I'm thinking Laviolette will make the necessary adjustments tonight, (crossing my fingers)...Let's Go Flyers!!!!!- What is the matter with Hartnell? Did he have a concussion? How can a player who scored thirty goals in a NHL season look so bad? There has to be a reason. I hope he gets a complete physical after this season. He may have some kind of disease, such as diabeites, possibly a thyroid issue? I have never seen a player turn this bad over the course of one season. I mean last year I wasn't impressed but I didn't think he stunk. This year all I can say is peeyew, boy get it togeather.— brickhead
- Can't wait for the game tonight. Not to look past the playoffs too much, but next season I would like the Flyers to go after another offensive player to add to the mix. Next year, I think our lines would be best used like this: 1. Gagne Richards Carter 2. Leino Giroux Briere 3. JVR Powe Hartnell (Hartnell needs to go) 4. Carcillo Betts Laperriere with Asham as a reserve. Our 1st line needs to be a dominant line - putting snipers like Gagne and Carter with a hardworking 2way Center in Richards makes sense. Giroux is ready to dominate and can form a highly skilled 2nd line with Briere and Leino (or get a FA to play the wing). JVR needs more seasoning on the 3rd line with Powe and Hartnell - he needs to be the player that he is and that's a grinder, im sorry but he is not talented. Carcillo returning to the 4th line makes sense, with Betts and Laps making life difficult for opposing teams (with Asham filling in when needed). Pronger, Carle - Timonen, Coburn - Parent, Syvret/Bartulis/Kriejec could still work. Need a goalie, although I do like Leighton.— dsh129
- Can't wait for the game tonight. Not to look past the playoffs too much, but next season I would like the Flyers to go after another offensive player to add to the mix. Next year, I think our lines would be best used like this: 1. Gagne Richards Carter 2. Leino Giroux Briere 3. JVR Powe Hartnell (Hartnell needs to go) 4. Carcillo Betts Laperriere with Asham as a reserve. Our 1st line needs to be a dominant line - putting snipers like Gagne and Carter with a hardworking 2way Center in Richards makes sense. Giroux is ready to dominate and can form a highly skilled 2nd line with Briere and Leino (or get a FA to play the wing). JVR needs more seasoning on the 3rd line with Powe and Hartnell - he needs to be the player that he is and that's a grinder, im sorry but he is not talented. Carcillo returning to the 4th line makes sense, with Betts and Laps making life difficult for opposing teams (with Asham filling in when needed). Pronger, Carle - Timonen, Coburn - Parent, Syvret/Bartulis/Kriejec could still work. Need a goalie, although I do like Leighton.— dsh129
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Broad Street Bull is the Inquirer's blog covering the Philadelphia Flyers and the National Hockey League.
Reach Sam at scarchidi@phillynews.com.
Sam Carchidi
Inquirer Staff Writer
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