Hartnell headed for all-star spot?
RALEIGH, N.C. _ When the NHL names the remaining 36 all-stars on Thursday, Flyers center Claude Giroux will undoubtedly be selected to the team.
Hartnell headed for all-star spot?
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
RALEIGH, N.C. _ When the NHL names the remaining 36 all-stars on Thursday, Flyers center Claude Giroux will undoubtedly be selected to the team.
But coach Peter Laviolette made a passionate case on Tuesday for another member of Giroux’s high-scoring line.
“I’m not lobbying, but it would be criminal for Scott Hartnell not to be on there,” Laviolette said after the Flyers’ morning skate in Carolina. “In my opinion, he’s the top power forward in the league right now. Based on numbers, based on this season, based on plus-minus, hits, physical play, goals and assists,” you’d be hard-pressed “to come up with somebody who has had a better year than Scott. End of story.”
Hartnell, 29, is having a career season. The left winger entered Tuesday tied with Giroux for the team lead in goals with 18, and he topped the Flyers at plus-19 and was tied for third with 19 assists.
He was tied for 11th in the NHL in goals, tied for seventh in the league with seven power-play tallies, and 14th in plus-minus.
In his 11-year career, Hartnell has never played in an All-Star Game.
“It would be awesome,” Hartnell said. “You think about it…and it would be a thrill. I’ve never really considered myself an all-star, but I’ve had a pretty good season thus far. The role I play isn’t as flash as Giroux or Eric Staal or (Martin) St. Louis and those guys. But at the same time, I get the job done and it’s not pretty.”
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Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (8-3-1, 2.56 GAA, .914 save percentage) will get the start in Carolina on Tuesday. Ilya Bryzgalov (16-9-3, 3.07, .891) started the previous three games.
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Veteran winger Jaromir Jagr said he was tentative and “scared” to push off on his strained groin in Sunday’s game in Ottawa. He said the groin is improving and he is ready to play Tuesday.
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Danny Briere has picked up the pace after a recent meeting with Laviolette in which the coach told him he needed to play with more emotion.
"He was right," Briere said.
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Move over, Ashton Kutcher: In less than one day after he rejoined Twitter to "connect with fans," Giroux (@28CGiroux) has 50,000 followers. Amazing.
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Sam Carchidi, who is only 42,000 followers behind Giroux, can be followed on Twitter @BroadStBull.
Harts absolutely deserves to be in the ASG.
I see we are starting Bob against another offensive powerhouse (without Skinner no less!). Maybe he will crack the top 20 in save percentage now, albeit against mostly weak opponents.— snipesmorris- Gotta hand it to Scotty this year. Me and I'm sure 75% of flyer nation wanted him out of town due to his lack of production and extremely high salary. Whether it's Lav, Giroux, or his preseason heart scare, he has played inspired hockey every shift this year.— 420Phillie
- I personally bashed him bad at the beginning of the season. I never actually liked him but this season he is on fire.— Nitroglycerin
His behind the back assist to JVR the other night was sweet— jamarder- Spell check Sam...TENTATIVE— FlyerFan21
- Never saw this coming from Hartnell. Good to see he's more than just stupid penalties. Although I guess we shoulc have, he's usually on the top line (or 2nd) for a reason, eh?— AEPi71
I still never understood why hartsy was bashed for years, like he said himself, he's not a flashy player, hes a power forward who gets in peoples faces and does the dirtywork at the right times. He is a great player and apparently all he needed was some crazy passers who are threats to score so he can bust up in front of the goalie and put in those tough goals. I always liked him and im really glad he's become one of our top contributors
Comment removed.- Maybe the trading away of Richards & Carter was a wake up call. Has Hartsy sobered up literally and figuratively?— TongueWagger
- It's pretty easy to understand the criticism, Hank. Just go back and look at the last two years. 44 pts/-6, 49 pts/+14, way too many penalties resulting from getting depantsed on the backcheck, constantly falling down on the ice, etc. He's elevated his game considerably this year, and of course a big reason is that he's playing alongside a guy who just can't help but make his linemates better. I give him a lot of credit for the fine season he's having, but to call him a "great player" is overstating it. He's a pretty good player who's having a very good season so far. Borderline all-star, in my opinion.— 1980
- The easy answer to explain his season is that he has been playing with G and Jagr all year but since Lavy has come on board he has been playing stronger and smarter hockey.— MH
- Always liked his gritty play. Also liked the fact he called Ruff out about the Jagr imitation salute.— dogman5
- Comment removed.
- Hey guys all stars score forty to fifty goals a year. Jagr is what is propelling what scoring there is. Next!!— quigly46
- No brainer. Dude's on pace for something like 38 goals this season. Tons of heart, hitting, physical play, filthy in front of the net, sticking up for his teammates all the time, and seems like a great guy on and off the ice, including in the room. Even nice to ignorant Pens fans who call him names. Stand-up dude, except sometimes when skating #hartnelldown Definite All-Star.— Americanitis
