Schenns make presence felt
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Schenns make presence felt
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
SUNRISE, Fla. -- The Schenn brothers, Luke and Brayden, made their presence felt in the Flyers’ 7-1 wipeout of the awful Florida Panthers on Saturday night.
The most eye-opening stat: They combined for 16 of the Flyers’ 38 hits.
“It’s just part of our game; we both like to be physical,” said Brayden Schenn, a 21-year-old forward.
Luke Schenn, a 23-year-old defenseman, had 11 hits, a goal and an assist. Brayden Schenn had an assist on Matt Read’s third goal, delivered five hits and won five of seven face-offs.
It was the second straight strong game for Luke Schenn.
“He’s a real dependable guy for us,” coach Peter Laviolette said after the Flyers improved to 2-3. “He’s playing a lot of minutes, and I think he could play more if we needed him to.
“He’s gotten better every game.”
Brayden Schenn sat out the previous game, a 2-1 win over the Rangers, because of an NHL-imposed suspension for a head hit in New Jersey.
Schenn disagreed with the suspension, but didn’t dwell on it.
“You turn the page,” he said earlier on Saturday.
Briere’s debut
Flyers center Danny Briere, who missed the first four games because of a hairline fracture of his left wrist, made his first appearance of the year and helped set up the team’s early power-play goal, though he didn’t get an assist.
Briere buzzed around the net throughout the game and fired one shot off the left post.
“It was nice just to get back,” he said.
Briere said the wrist felt good “and I expect it will get better and better and get more strength, so I can battle a little bit (more).”
Knuble returns
Veteran right winger Mike Knuble, who returned to the Flyers by signing a free-agent deal Friday, skated mostly on a line with Brayden Schenn and Scott Laughton. Knuble, 40, who wore No. 9, was on the Flyers' second power-play unit.
Knuble is one year older than the combined ages of Schenn (21) and Laugthon (18).
On Wednesday, Knuble played for AHL Grand Rapids _ his hometown _ and it figures to take him a few games to get his condition up to speed.
“It’ll be a little bit of a work in progress,” he said before the game.
In Saturday’s blowout win, he finished with an assist, three hits and two near goals in 14:23.
Laughton decision
I wouldn't be surprised either way, but my gut feeling is that Laughton returns to juniors.
Saturday was Laughton's fifth game with the Flyers. If the center plays his sixth game Sunday against Tampa Bay, the clock will start on his entry-level contract.
Coach Peter Laviolette gave the 18-year-old Laughton high marks before the game.
"I think he's looked strong. He certainly hasn't looked out of place," Laviolette said. "Defensively, he's been in the right position. He's physical, smart. He's gotten some scoring chances. He hasn't hurt himself defensively at all. He's a nice kid. He fits in the locker room. Quiet."
Laughton has a very bright future and he has been impressive, but with Briere back in the lineup, the Flyers are strong again up the middle _ Claude Giroux, Briere/Schenn, Sean Couturier and Max Talbot.
The kid needs to play, and another year of seasoning will help his development.
Breakaways
For the first time in eons, the Flyers had three RH defensemen in the lineup: Luke Schenn, Bruno Gervais and Kurtis Foster. They were each on a different pairing…..Winger Zac Rinaldo, recovering from a lacerated leg, skated Saturday morning….Erik Gustafsson has recovered from a foot injury and returned to the Phantoms’ lineup….Hunch: Goalie Michael Leighton gets Sunday’s start against the Lightning.
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
After a rough start of the season, the team has something rather youthfully magical about it. Cannot belive how important a right-handed defensemen can be in a pairing!— Romus- Send Laughton back and add Langkow. Kid is good but not ready.— Nitroglycerin
- Hold still Sam, notice anything here?
Matt Read 3
Claude Giroux 2
Wayne Simmonds 2
Sean Couturier 1
Jakub Voracek 1
Ruslan Fedotenko 1
Tye McGinn 1
Brayden Schenn 0
He played with Giroux, he played on the PP, he got 17 mins against a terrible Panther's team...
If he doesn't score, doesn't set up, can't shut down, can't win a fight to save his life, what does he do? If they keep Laughton and McGinn up, don't be shocked if they move this stiff.— Dangler9 - Brayden did have an assist on Matt Read's 3rd goal. What game are you watching? He played a strong game. This kid is a player and is ONLY 20 years old and you are ready to give up on him? Flyer's aren't trading him, he is the future. Your expectations for this kid this season are unrealistic. He isn't going to come in and put up Giroux numbers. G is 25, that is 5 more years of experience. You have to give your young players time to grow. They are going to struggle at times, but eventually when they get closer to their mid 20s they will hit their stride. The Schenn's are young, neither will hit their prime for another 3 years, but they are still good players and will only get better. You DON'T trade them. — ChrisM
- Wow, Dangler i guess you are one of those guys who also said Carter and Richards can never win a cup either. Great idea who do you think we should trade Schenn for? I would like the Flyers to stop trading away young talent for aging players, that approach hasn't won us any Cups in my lifetime. I think it is time to change the way the Flyers do business and develop our young players.— phillies09
- I still remember how New Jersey dominated the Flyers in the playoffs, making our slow and aging defense look foolish, I make the deal with Montreal for PK Subban, if they ask for Courturier thats fine, we have plenty of good fowards— maryannsphills
- brayden schenn is a lot like dominic brown....they liht up the minor leagues, but not so much in the pros— philly thug
