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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Buy tickets to Flyers-Blackhawks Game 6 
Blaming the refs is s losers excuse........ did the refs miss open nets?.... did the refs let in soft goals? the refs are calling the series fair, the flyers did not have one penalty called against them in the first game and they still lost....... don't be a whiner......— kramer65- Carcillo is a joke..... if you want to commit more penalties by all means give that clown a regular shift......— kramer65
- Exploit Chicago's weaknesses; they are much better at hitting and going into the corners (as they proved last night) and are weak at covering playmakers in the middle of the ice. The best defense is a good offense: Use Geroux, Richards, Gagne and Leino, Briere and Van Riemsdyk on the top two lines. Also, Leino and Geroux should be on the Power Play - drop down Carter and Hartnell;— NorthJersey-Philly Guy
- Blaming officiating? Come'on, Pronger has gotten enough non-calls himself in this series to total the entire Blackhawks team! You saw a desparate Chicago team and what and how they can devistate their opponent at any given time. The Flyers have been impressive this post season, enjoy this while you can, this is our last week of hockey. World Cup baby! Meanwhile, you have 48 hours to be optimistic and hope for the best. GO HAWKS!!— Redlights
- PS, please insert Carcillo! Our power play is finally clicking. He will be good for 2 or 3 penaltys! PS, gotta go to youtube and watch the licking that Pronger took from Big Buff. THe Hawks cans see their reflection in the cup, they smell victory, you still have not seen the best of this team.— Redlights
PS, where were you after the last two losses to your faithful hawks? PS, you'll be gone again after wednesday. PS, we're saving our best game for 7, your s bag hawks spent it on 5.— azguz- Carter and Gagne have been non existant in this series. Flyers need everybody to step it up for gods sake, this is for the Cup!— BobbyD
- Get Carter off the wing and back to center the 3rd line. move Asham with Richards and Gagne (or Carcillo up again). Carter with Claude G and JVR— Jnico
- I agree with getting Carter off of the Richards line, it's hampering his ability to make plays without having somebody else out there to help do something, hitting, passing, scoring, whatever. Mike is out there on his line trying to do it all, i.e his goal in game 4. I think they can still win it all, just keep taking it one game at a time. Focus on winning the 1st period of game 6, and keep winning each period there on out. Pronger is too good not to rebound in game 6, and hopefully game 7 as well.— Bleue
- We got into the playoffs with a shootout win and now its time to bring back that goalie who won that game. Leighton just looks too shakey. Put Boosch in watch magic happen again.— Howard32
dont stop believing is the song for the red wings..maybe we can put kolb in goal..my man.— wolf 4- Carter is only more comfortable at C because in this system he can be just as lazy as he was under Stevens. Dress (can't believe I'm say this) Carcillo and spot Carter ... Boston was able to get TWO 1st round picks and a 2nd for Phil Kessel, We could get a real good D man or two with 5 Mil in the offseason.— jcu123
- It's over, Niemi is better than whoever the Flyers use. Go Hawks— Happy Hawks Fan
- Put Leighton on the Richards line— Happy Hawks Fan
- the difference has been, and will be unless corrected by the coach and implemented by the players, to STOP halting forward progress into the circles by attempting to pass it back to the point. When moving forward, they should pass side to side to get Niemi moving, but NOT back to the point. Though Chicago is clogging up the middle, our forwards can penetrate traffic and go forward, straight to the net. Chicago is too fast for us to risk passing backwards so much; when the pass misses or is picked off, Chi breaks into our zone with speed and often odd-man rushes. The Flyers have not played like this throughout the playoffs, even when losing. It's new to the Final series with the Blackhawks and it has a lot to do with their speed (on top of size) in the middle. Crash, pass east/west, but STOP going backwards with the puck. Niemi has very little experience in his career and despite where he's gotten the Hawks, there is no reason the Flyers can't score 4-6 goals on him and win. None.— MichaelZoe
