Posted: Wednesday, October 7, 2009, 1:19 PM | 11 comments |
 

JVR out; Asham, Cote, Tollefsen in vs. Pens
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   As expected, Flyers rookie left winger James van Riemsdyk will not play Thursday night against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins.

   Van Riemsdyk, who played just two shifts after being pushed into the boards midway through the second period Tuesday, did not practice Wednesday or skate Thursday morning, and while he says all concussion tests were negative, the team is taking the cautious approach.

   And while he will not play Thursday, there is a good chance JVR (three assists in three games) will return to the lineup Saturday against visiting Anaheim.

     Blair Betts, who suffered a dislocated right shoulder Tuesday, will also be missing from Thursday's lineup; he is expected to be sidelined at least a month.

     The fourth-line center had been reducing Mike Richards' time on the penalty kill, keeping Richards more fresh in other situations. Richards has five goals, tied for the NHL lead.

    In Betts' absence, Claude Giroux, Darroll Powe and Mika Pyorala will probably see more time on the PK.

    This is how the lines will probably look Thursday:

   First line: Scott Hartnell-Jeff Carter-Danny Briere.

   Second line: Simon Gagne-Richards-Pyorala.

   Third line: Powe-Giroux-Arron Asham.

   Fourth line: Riley Cote-Ian Laperiiere-Dan Carcillo.

   D pairings: Chris Pronger-Matt Carle; Kimmo Timonen (quietly off to a strong start)-Braydon Coburn; Ryan Parent-Ole-Kristian Tollefsen.

    Goalie: Ray Emery.

    Asham and Cote, each of whom were healthy scratches in the first three games, will see their first action Thursday. Ditto Tollefsen, who will replace Danny Syvret because coach John Stevens wants a more physical presence against the Penguins.

    The Flyers will have extra motivation; they are facing a Pittsburgh team that erased a 3-0 deficit and scored a stunning 5-3 win in the sixth and final game of last season's playoffs.

   It made it a long, hard summer, Carle said, a statement echoed by his teammates.

   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

    About 700 tickets remain for Thursday.......Fans who attend Thursday afternoon's Phillies game can present their tickets at the Wachovia Center box office that night to purchase a $25 ticket to the Flyers-Penguins contest.....The Flyers will be trying to go to 4-0 for the first time since 1995.....Surpisngly, Carle leads the Flyers with six points (one goal, five assists).

 
Posted by Sam Carchidi @ 1:19 PM  Permalink | 11 comments
11
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:30 PM, 10/07/2009
    I hope JVR is alright, we don't need the human punching bad in the line up(Cote). Fonzie be Praised
    — JohnnyN
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:42 PM, 10/07/2009
    Flyers concussion test: "Do you have a concussion?"
    — ItsOnLikeDK
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:20 PM, 10/07/2009
    This team is deep. Just sux to get the injury so early on
    — Inchon
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:39 PM, 10/07/2009
    Please no Cote...Please no Cote...I don't think we yet have a need for someone that can take 30 punches to the face in an attempt to tire the opponents fists!
    — knight
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:49 PM, 10/07/2009
    Asham will do fine, but if JVR is out, they need to keep Cote in the press box and recall either Kalinski or Nodl to play with Giroux and have Asham on the 4th line with Lappy and Carcillo.
    — bsbullie
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:28 PM, 10/07/2009
    Oh God. Please, no more Betts are off cliches. Please.
    — hallux
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:35 PM, 10/07/2009
    I can see Carhidi's "All Betts are off" article already. Such witty prose.
    — hallux
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:43 PM, 10/08/2009
    ryno, Gagne is quite overrated. Everyone always says he's a great 2 way forward, but it's easier when he doesn't go lower than the slot in either end and avoids physical contact like the plague
    — duffers
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:52 PM, 10/08/2009
    So we can count on 0 points from the 4th line tonight, but at least two useless minors.
    — HandNik
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:49 PM, 10/08/2009
    Maybe Coburn should have sat out tonight? He was awful! And Gagne, someone want to tell him the season has started??
    — Tar Heel 1


11 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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