Time for Richards to earn his 'C'; Carter surgery Fri.
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Time for Richards to earn his 'C'; Carter surgery Fri.
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
After the Flyers’ 2-0 loss in Ottawa Tuesday, Mike Richards said his team didn’t play with enough urgency.
As the Flyers’ captain, it’s time for Richards to get into the faces of the players he thinks are guilty.
This is Richards’ second year as captain; it’s also the second year the Flyers have folded down the stretch.
A year ago, the Flyers went 7-7-1 in their final 15 regular-season games and slipped to fifth in the Eastern Conference, losing the home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. It was a recipe for disaster, and the Flyers fell to the Penguins in six games.
Tuesday’s loss was the Flyers’ fifth in six games. They are tied for sixth, but are only four points ahead of ninth-place Atlanta.
Richards said the Flyers “had a little bit of a lack of motivation and a lack of urgency, which shouldn’t be there. It’s frustrating and it has to change.”
The Flyers, who are without injured star Jeff Carter for the rest of the regular season, have scored two goals or fewer in five of their last eight games.
Most of the players on the top three lines have been unproductive recently. Consider:
** Darroll Powe hasn’t scored a goal in his last 25 games.
** James van Riemsdyk and Arron Asham each haven’t scored in their last 12 games.
** Dan Carcillo has one goal in his last 12 games.
** Danny Briere has one goal in his last nine games.
** Claude Giroux, who took Carter’s spot on the second line Tuesday, has two goals in the last 19 games.
** Richards has two goals in his last 10 games.
** Scott Hartnell has three goals in his last 27 games.
To make matters worse, the Flyers are 0 for 13 on the power play in their last four games.
They will try to regroup Thursday against visiting Minnesota. It’s a proverbial “must” game for the Flyers, who have been outscored in the first periods of their last five games, 10-3. They have trailed at the end of the first period in each of those five games.
Yep, another recipe for disaster.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Center Jeff Carter will have surgery on his broken left foot Friday, but is still expected to return in the same time as the original prognosis _ three to four weeks, the Flyers announced.
Carter, who leads the team in goals (33) and points (60), broke a bone in the foot on Sunday. The surgery, in which a screw is inserted, will aid the healing process, GM Paul Holmgren said.
The Flyers hope Carter can return for the first round of the playoffs _ if they get there. They host Minnesota Thursday, and the new lines are expected to look like this:
Hartnell-Richards-Carcillo; Gagne-Briere-Leino; van Riemsdyk-Giroux-Powe;
Laperriere-Betts-Asham.
I still vote for a French Connection line of Briere, Giroux and Gagne. Hey, the way things are going, it's worth a look.
You know, all of a sudden this 18 captain talk is back again. This is the same conversation that was out there when we questioned why he was at the Frat parties with Jeff and the team was horrible in December. Now, the team is horrible again in March, and here's the Captain Richie stuff again. Watch the games on TV, notice how Pronger is constantly doing the chatting with the referees. Notice how Pronger is controlling the game. Where's Richie??? Making the statements that he made yesterday shows everyone that he is not the true captain of this team. The Olympics did nothing for his captain training. Leading by example means that he straps it on, scores the necessary goals, makes the retalitory hits and gets this very below average team into the playoffs. Homer needs a giant mirror at practice, cause all these guys that can't find the net need to take a big look in the mirror and be honest with themselves. A total team of underachievers. Name one player that has stepped up big in adversity. Not one darn guy. What a shame!— RJM16- I agree with everyone. Pronger should be captain. He's constantly in the refs' faces when there is a penalty or a blown call and he's a wise vet who's won cups wherever he's played. Last night showed this team has no heart. Yes the game was one-sided on the calls, but at least send someone out to take out the A-Train or whatever that defenseman's name is when he took his run at gagne. For Gagne to drop the gloves for himself shows this team does not back each other. What's the point of having Asham, Hartnell or Carcillo on the team if they're not gonna defend their stars. They could've at least had a little fire in them for next game if they at least did that. It seems like Lappy is the only one willing to give this team a spark and drop the gloves when needed.— the sichee-ation
Comment removed.- I think the no trade clauses are a joke. There's no motivation for a player with a NTC.— ginoscheeser
- Gerry, are you serious? Carter has missed 1 game. They got swept by Atlanta this weekend. ATLANTA!!!!— johnnews
- I'm so tired of Briere. Get him out of town already.— Downie27
- Seeing the whiney pout on Richards' face after the 2nd goal last night says it all about his ability to be captain - he needs to grow up first. I question whether a leader on the verge of tears can fire up teammates.— raoool
- Gus, you've been a fan for 40 years and you don't know the 1st name of their captain? His name is Mike. Brad Richards plays for dallas. Other comments like People don't know that we traded our 1st round pick for pronger. Richards is "Slowish". Captains don't get called for penalties. Give me a break.If you don't know this team or the game of hockey, Do not comment. You sound like a moron. Show me a team playing with their 3rd string goalie and with out their leading goal scorer that is raging into the playoffs. If you don't know hockey, don't comment.— TheCaptain18
- Time to sit Powe and Carcillo and dress Cote. Trust me, this team needs a spark.— Ferrell31
- It's really not hard to comprehend we have no offensive punch when out leading scorer has 60 stinking points. It's pretty obvious. Nothing more than poor personnel decisions. Gags is hurt every stinking season. Should have shipped him off 5 years ago. This team sits on their young talent and waits for them to develop into stars...it's just not going to happen with this bunch.— ant8817
- The only place they should move JVR is to the phantoms. He is like a deer in the headlights once he enters the offensive zone. He just rides the boards and throws the puck away. Coburn is no where near the player he was last year. Lets face it, overrated talent and no guts or heart.— Texas flyers
- First of all it is not Richards who sets these crappy lines for the team, it is the Coach. It is not Richards who can bench players for poor performance, it is the Coach. It was not Richards decision to not go after a semi good goalie or pick the penalty nightmare players they are handcuffed to, it was the GM. I see Richards out there doing his part, I see Carcillo out there doing his part and Kimmo has been by far been their best defenseman. I guess now Richards is supposed to do the Coach's job??? Hartnell and Coburn should have been keeping Cote company in the press box but no that did not happen but what did happen? That idiot Hartnell gets rewarded for poor play by being moved up to the 1st line and Coburn who gets punk'd around by even the smallest players, is he benched? No he gets rewarded by being put on a line with Kimmo, I have to ask what the hell did Kimmo do to deserve that? No one gets called out for their poor performance, they all just get lumped in together which is not fair to those who are doing their job. Sam you need to lay off of Richards, just because you have beef with him does not mean the rest of us do. And by the way jmanship16: Pronger should not be captain he is as slow as an old lady with a walker and he seems to be as easy to knock over as a clown on stilts. If there is ever going to be a change in Captain it should be Kimmo, if Pronger was so valuable he would still be with the Ducks. I have not seen one of those monster hits since he came to the Philly.— jacdjc1
- Ferrell, you should never post again. Cote is worthless. Jac, I like kimmo too, but Pronger has been our best D-man all year. He does not have to accelerate quickly because he is in the right position and has a huge reach. Plus, once he gets moving he's fast enough. He is not as physical as he used to be, i'll give you that. But, still the best on this team.— TheCaptain18
- Richards doesn't have the make-up of a captain. Every year since '95 we have the same problem: No goal tending and poor chemistry. We talk about the Eagles giving us the same show and unsatisfying ending each year. The Flyers have been doing this for almost two decades. This team has the make-up of a loser. Go Phils.— farside37
Pronger, despite playing well, has been a disappointment. He doesn't do what he was brought here to do, he doesn't clear the porch or make opponents accountable near the net. I think the problem with this team is that he, and some of the other new guys are in conflict with the guys who've been with the team longer.— Pelti
