Some (free) advice for Flyers
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Some (free) advice for Flyers
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
CHICAGO _ A few observations/suggestions before boarding a plane and heading back home, where the Flyers face a deficit of three games to two in the Stanley Cup Finals against Chicago:
1. Michael Leighton should start Wednesday. Leighton has rebounded nicely from poor performances throughout the playoffs. Besides, Brian Boucher doesn't look 100 percent healthy yet.
2. The Flyers need Mike Richards and Jeff Carter to step up. Excluding an empty-net score by Carter, they have combined for one goal and a minus-11 rating in the Finals. Carter won't admit it, but he doesn't seem to be himself and is undoubtedly bothered by his still-healing foot. The Danny Briere line has been spectacular, but it needs some support.
3. Insert Dan Carcillo into the lineup in Game 6. The Flyers didn't play with an edge in their 7-4 loss Sunday night in Game 5. Carcillo's energy was needed. JVR (goal) should stay in the lineup. Arron Asham had a team-high seven hits, so Peter Laviolette may be reluctant to sit him. Darroll Powe is a candidate to sit, but only if Ian Laperriere takes his spot on the penalty kill. Laperriere has only been used sparing on the PK since returning from a head injury.
The best solution: Dress five defensemen and 13 forwards. Oskars Bartulis played just 1:58, so a sixth D-man isn't really needed. Yes, it's risky if a game goes into overtime and the defensemen are dragging. But it's worth the risk to have Carcillo available when a jolt of energy is needed.
4. Chicago goalie Antti Niemi has looked extremely pedestrian. The Flyers need to swarm the net early in Game 6 _ like the Hawks did at the start of Game 5. The Flyers cannot play passively at the start. They need to set the tone, need to play with desperation. Think the last four games against Boston.
5. Yes, Chris Pronger had an awful game (career-worst minus-5) on Sunday, but special teams decided Game 5 _ Chicago was 2 for 4 on the power play, the Flyers were 0 for 3.
6. Give Chicago coach Joel Quenneville credit. His line changes ignited his offense. That said, the Hawks' new No. 1 line _ Jonathan Toews, Tomas Kopecky and Marian Hossa _ was still a minus-6. It was the other lines that stepped up _ and, with the Flyers having the last line change on Wednesday, Laviolette will get more favorable matchups.
7. For what it's worth, the Hawks have lost 10 straight in Philly since 1996, and the Flyers have an NHL-best 9-1 home record during this year's playoffs.
8. Crank up Journey's "Don't Stop Believin' " _ and watch a replay of Game 7 in Boston.
9. Repeat No. 8, as needed.
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For continual Flyers updates, follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BroadStBull.
Buy tickets to Flyers-Blackhawks Game 6 
`Neimi Mr. rebound pounce the net and stick the rebounds and lets not miss any open nets this time!!— sawgrass- Sam, I agree with you about Boucher. I don't think he is fully healthy, but i give him credit for coming back the way he did. I don't agree about dressing 5 defensemen unless you have a Kaponen type willing to go back there. The Briere line has been great; kudos to Danny for coming back as quickly as he did. Flyers fans need to give him his due.— 76erfn
- Rutgers, you make GREAT points about Carter, but how often do Snider and Clarke admit they were wrong about a high draft pick like him? Let's hope Carter plays a lot better in Games 6 and 7. He helped get 2 coaches fired; he owes the fans a much better effort in big games.— 76erfn
- Journey? Sucked then. Sucks now. Get this to a game 7 and it's anybody's Cup. Should be great.— Alpheratz
Here's some advice: just give up. The Hawks will own the Cup this year.— PA Voter
Carter sits. Lappy sits. Carcillo gets his chance for another contract. Richards, Gagne, and JVR get a major earful from the man. Pronger will take care of himself. Wade into them.. Spill their blood....Soldiers Of The Frost, stand up and be counted.— ColKurtz- keenan was on 950 am. he said he would've pulled leights earlier. he expects leights to be back for game 6. he also said peter is an experienced coach. leights can do this! so can boosh.— liberty_bell
- hey eagle1971, Leighton also hasn't lost a playoff game at home. Sitting him would be as stupid as your post
- The Broad street broads will not win another game until next season.— It will be over soon
- Dan, you deep thinker, what will you say when Leighton gets torched again, if god forbid he plays again?— eagle1971
- Some (free) advice for Flyers...get your tee times for Thursday a.m. GO BLACKHAWKS!! It will be so sweet to see the hawks skate around the Wachovia Center with the cup....go home second place losers and punk flyers, your time is done!— cohdab16
Sit Carter and move somebody up to his line to fit Carcillo in. Carter, although he earned the right to play, needs to face reality that he's not firing on all cylinders. Heck, he's firing on less than half of his cylinders. Laviolette needs to be pragmatic and do what's best for the team. If he can do it with his goaltenders, why not with his top forwards? There ain't nobody more important than the team is as a whole. Carter will get his name on the cup along with everyone else who has played.- Richards blew an open net shot in Game 5, Leino or Giroux would have scored on that opportunity. Richards should NOT be captain - he's a bit of a control freak from what I heard in the audio when he was making comments to Leino near the bench. I think Richards is jealous of other Flyer players. Carter is useless, and Carcillo is more of an offensive threat than a guy with 2 broken feet............— Liberty4All
- Follow up shots on goal, misdirected shots, and screens are most successful.— Liberty4All
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