Posted: Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 10:21 AM | 21 comments |
 

Let the (second-half) games begin
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   SUNRISE, Fla. _ As the Flyers begin the unofficial second-half of the season tonight against Florida, here are a few observations, free of charge::

   1. The power play needs to start being productive on the road.

    The Flyers are having spectacular power-play success at home (35.1 percent, best in the NHL), but are a dreadful 15.6 percent on the road.

   2. If the Flyers aren't going to play him, it's time to send defenseman Luca Sbisa to juniors

   Personally, I think Sbisa is one of the Flyers' top-six defensemen and should be playing. But he has been a healthy scratch in the last four games (and in eight of the last 14 games) and that's not good for the development of a soon-to-be-19-year-old player. The all-star break seemed like a perfect time to send him back to Lethbridge _ in fact, a Quebec newspaper reported, incorrectly, that he WAS sent back. (Did I score a goal?" Sbissa quipped.) It'll be interesting to see if Sbisa dresses tonight.

  3. Don't sign Peter Forsberg. Too much baggage. Too much of a distraction. Too many injuries. 

    If Danny Briere is back in four weeks (I know. I know. Considering Briere's injury problems this year, that's a very big "if.") the Flyers will have enough firepower for the playoffs.

   4. The Flyers need to shoot for the Eastern Conference's No. 2 seed, which might be accomplished by winning the Atlantic Division, and a favorable first-round playoff matchup. (But if Pittsburgh finished seventh, it wouldn't be a picnic.) Last year, the Flyers lost 10 straight shortly after the all-star break and had to huff and puff just to make the playoffs. They need to use this year's second half to improve their seeding position so they don't have such a difficult first-round matchup _ theoretically, at least.

_ Sam Carchidi
Posted by Sam Carchidi @ 10:21 AM  Permalink | 21 comments
21
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:26 PM, 01/27/2009
    Right on Sam. Gotta win the division to have any shot at the Cup. A first round matchup vs Boston or Montreal or Washington or NYR, and its sayonara for the summer.
    — UncleEddie
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:39 PM, 01/27/2009
    Uncle Eddie...you basically mention the rest of the Eastern Conference playoff teams. Early summer for sure according to you.
    — shadow451
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:01 PM, 01/27/2009
    Why would you fear a first round match-up with any one of those teams? Besides Boston of whom the FLyers have yet to play. Every game is gritty and would make no difference amounst any team in the playoffs.
    — Flyers2001
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:15 PM, 01/27/2009
    there is an easy solution to the salary cap woes when briere gets back. TRADE RANDY JONES! this guy is not a top 4 defenseman in the nhl, makes more than he is worth and really showed me nothing in last year's playoffs. they have sbisa and ryan parent healthy in the minors, and some team will surely want a young d-man like jones. i'd hate to see them send sbisa to juniors and powe to the phantoms in order to make room for briere.
    — jazztafari
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:35 PM, 01/27/2009
    If the flyers can fit Forsberg in under the cap without having to make any significant moves to do so.. why wouldn't they? 1. Hes going to come at a cheap price, with his injuries and failed attempts to come back his asking price can't be too much. 2. Do you really think he would come back if he wasn't fully ready to compete for the rest of the season? I highly doubt he would come back and do the same thing he did for the AVS last year. 3. Do you really think we can beat the Sharks or Red Wings with our current roster? No way, if and when Briere comes back and stays healthy and with a healthy Forsberg in the lineup, don't you suddenly like our chances alot better? I can only dream of what the power play would be or how about our first 2 lines. 4. Do you propose the Flyers trade for someone instead? I've recently heard rumors such as Upshall, Knuble and Lupul in recent trade talks, why not keep the team the way it is without having to subtract any players via a trade, signing Forsberg and hoping it works out to me seems like the best option. Homer is one of the best GM's in the NHL, I trust his decision.
    — davesavestheday
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:36 PM, 01/27/2009
    shadow, I think Eddie was insinuating that he didn't want a first round road matchup against any of those teams, which I tend to agree with. Boston is playing awesome right now and are 17-3-2 at home, although a lot would have to happen to us to have to play them in a road series. Washington, which could be possible if we end up with the 6th or 7th seed, is just at good at home if not better than Boston sitting at 19-3-1. The Rags and Devils also are pretty good home teams and with our rivalries with them, any of those games, whether it be home or away, are going to be tough to win for both teams. These are not matchups you would want to see in the first round, after that it's anyone's game. I would feel much better playing any of those teams in home series, but don't want to touch them in a road series, which is why getting a 2 or 3 spot is vital to us going far.
    — robm0202
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:36 PM, 01/27/2009
    and please god no forsberg
    — robm0202
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:39 PM, 01/27/2009
    I really wonder what Tim Panaccio thinks of the Forsberg Saga, Sam is a sham
    — BHite15
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:42 PM, 01/27/2009
    Don't worry about playoff seeding, Sam. The hockey playoffs are all about who is playing great as a team when the playoffs start. Just ask the Red Wings how many times they have been knocked out of the playoffs in the first or second round as the #1 seed. I'd much rather have them going in winning 9 of their last 10 as the #6 seed than going 4-5-1 as the #2 seed. The real key is to be playing great hockey when the playoffs start.
    — mish798798
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:48 PM, 01/27/2009
    Seriously, whats up w/ all the Forsberg hate? I agree I wouldn't have him back with the role of 'team savior' again. But if he can become just another threat at a reasonable price and t6he boys can avoid becoming dependant on him then I don't see why7 you don't do it. Even if it's only for a few games.
    — djembe323
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:49 PM, 01/27/2009
    BHite15, yf you want to know what Panaccio thinks about Forsberg, go read his columns. He's on csnphilly.com now.
    — kprimo25
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:49 PM, 01/27/2009
    I agree. Jones must go. Can anyone tell me what he brings? I am at a loss.
    — hockeyfan00
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:59 PM, 01/27/2009
    Apart from the obvious (items 1 and 4), this is a solid analysis, especially with respect to Forsberg. About time the light was seen in public that going after a superannuated has-been with as much game-to-game reliability as an mid-'80s K car has an astronomical risk-to-reward ratio (in fact, that ratio approaches infinity, as does any ratio with a divisor that approaches zero).
    — 1940LaSalle


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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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