Leighton deserves Winter Classic start; snow forecast at Fenway
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Leighton deserves Winter Classic start; snow forecast at Fenway
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
NEW YORK _ A sizzling Michael Leigthon notched his first shutout in six years Wednesday, continuing his strong pitch to start Friday's Winter Classic in Boston.
He deserves it.
Leighton was forced to make just 22 saves, but he stood tall when needed as the Flyers routed the host New York Rangers, 6-0, and captured their fourth straight victory _ all on the road.
Simon Gagne's third hat trick of his career sparked the Flyers, who moved from 13th to a tie for No. 8 in the Eastern Conference.
Leighton is on a certfied roll. In the last four games, he is 4-0 with a 1.48 goals-against average and .952 save percentage. If he continues to post those numbers, Ray Emery can take as long as he wants before returning from abdominal surgery.
"The shutout was just a bonus, but we played a great game tonight and that's what counts," said Leighton, who was claimed off re-entry waivers from Carolina on Dec. 15. "I definitely feel more comfortable with the more games I play. I haven't gotten this opportunity in the NHL in a long time."
After Wednesday's game, coach Peter Laviolette would not commit to his goalie against Boston at Fenway Park Friday.
But it would be shocking if he went with Brian Boucher, who is recovering from a lacerated right ring finger.
Nothing against Boucher _ a New England native who would love to start at Fenway _ but Leighton is in a zone and Laviolette should stay with the hot hand.
"I don't know if I'm playing (Friday), but it's definitely going to be exciting being out there in that atmosphere," Leighton said. "It'll be quite an experience. I have the Winter Classic symbol painted on my mask just to show it is a big deal."
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WINTER CLASSIC UPDATE: The Boston weather forecasters have changed their predictions for Friday. (Shocking, eh?) For most of the week, they were calling for rain on Friday, then yesterday they changed it to a rain-snow mix.
Now they're saying there's a 70 percent chance of morning snow before the Flyers meet the Bruins at 1 p.m.
I'm on a train in New York _ it's 9:40 a.m. on Thursday _ heading to Boston. It's snowing in NYC and apparently it's headed to Beantown. That would make it a perfect setting for the Winter Classic.
The Flyers will practice at Fenway at 2 p.m. Thursday.
If it snows Friday, the game will be played, officials say _ unless it's a downright blizzard. Rain, however, could cause a postponement to Saturday.
Philly fans are invading Boston today _ and the West End (Little Italy) will be hoisting a glass or two of lemoncello tonight.
The Flyers were alotted 5,000 tickets for season-ticket holders and they were all gobbled up. Quickly. Some Philly fans purchased tickets from other outlets, so it wouldn't be surprising if 8,000 to 10,000 Flyers jerseys were among the 40,000 spectators at Fenway Friday.
Ike Richman, a Wachovia Center executive, arrived in Boston Wednesday.
Bruins and Flyers signs "are up everywhere," he said. "It's like being at the Super Bowl."
"Noway" and "Lativia"? Are you making up countries now?— mikegdj- Perhaps if Jeff Carter concentrated on scoring and being a leader instead of a womanizer, he may have made the squad. His gloves have been cemented on too.— Ferrell31
- What! No Carter??!! You mean Team Canada isn't looking for someone to flip wrist shots at bad angles from 35'?? Yzerman must not have seen the Islanders game, Carter completed a pass in that one...— sla6yer
- Sam, F7 (Spell check in Word) is your friend— max-power
- Nah, it's not my spelling; it's my driver! That's what I get for trying to type a blog while my son turned corners on one wheel as he took me to the train station. _ Sam Carchidi— wenonah
- Isn't "lativia" the poop pill drug that jamie lee curtis does commercials for?— scottmellanbyatemybaby
- I said b4 n I'll say it again, None of them should go!!, stay here and practice the system!!!....Show us that u do indeed care about winning the stanley cup, or at the very least show that you deserve the paychecks you get!!..btw- if we end up having 5 guys playing defense in the Olympics why do we suck defensively?!?!?!!?!— CROSSI
- Good Call CROSSI. Out side of the last few games defense has been gross, sometimes making the goaltending look worse than it is. The Olympics are not at all like the Stanley Cup playoffs. The games are pretty soft in general. Outside of Can-US, a no hitting event. Richards is the 13th forward so he will be well rested after the games.— CanadianPhilly
- I will only watch/support Olympic events that do not feature paid-professional athletes.— BigShow
- Who cares.— Anthony77
- Two out of our five defensemen play for countries that do not have all star rosters, Bartoulis for Latvia and O-Tollefson for Norway. Carle probably will be an alternate, and not see much action unless there's an injury. So, in reality, only two of our defenseman will have a siginficant role in the Olympics - which makes sense, the two that are considered top tier (Kimmo and Pronger).— Danno
- they just traded Jeff Carter and Claude Giroux— BHite15
Comment removed.- Frank--Toronto Sun posted a rumor Holmgren is shopping Carter; says he turned down an offer of G Jaroslav Halak. Is that some kind of joke? Any truth to this? We need to hold on to the young guys and not panic.— tas16
sorry Boosh, put on your winter classic knit cap and enjoy the great view from the end of the bench.— potus- I'd like to see Gagne score a natural hat trick when Flyers are down 2-0 in a game instead of when they are already up 3-0.— BobbyD
- Good luck in the "West End", but to help with your sense of direction, Little Italy in Boston is the "North End"--Salute!— mikeydee1020
- I wanted to see Boucher in this game, but I have to admit Leighton looked great last night and deserves the start. Plus Boosh would be a little rusty. Watching Bruins practice now on NHL Network...very cool. Flyers practice later.— mikemcnhl
You, know I keep reading that they alotted tickets to season ticket holders, but we couldnt' get any info on it from our season ticket rep, did they only give the tickets to the corporate scum on the lower deck?— Pelti- Tas....I would scream if Holmgren made a trade at a time when the team was winning...Carter will find his way back.....I've said it before and will say it again....that tall...good hands......good shot...would not trade him— hospodar
- Leighton stated on the NHL Network today that he's starting.— RoastPork
