Carcillo is what playoffs are all about
Up to the minute Philadelphia sports news, Phillies, 76ers, Eagles, Flyers, college sports and more from Philly.com
Carcillo is what playoffs are all about
MONTRÉAL – Dan Carcillo is a lot of things.
He is a pest, an agitator and as Peter Laviolette has proven this season – a pretty decent hockey player.
Most surprising of all, to some, is the fact that Carcillo is a good teammate. Carcillo, believe it or not, represents exactly what the Stanley Cup Playoffs are all about.
Yesterday, before the Flyers’ 3-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens, Laviolette was forced to scratch Carcillo and third-liner Andreas Nodl, who filled-in admirably, to make room for Jeff Carter and Ian Laperriere.
To Carcillo’s credit, Laviolette called the move “one of the toughest” he’s had to make since he arrived as the Flyers’ bench boss in December.
“Danny’s a valuable part of the team,” Laviolette said. “And I love Danny Carcillo and the way he plays the game.”
After the game, Carcillo said he had no problem with the move.
“It’s tough to not play,” Carcillo said. “But you’ve just got to look at the bigger picture. Jeff played great and Lappy played physical. It’s a great team win. The guys had a lot of jump. It’s great to see. We’re up 3-1.”
Clearly, it came down to a numbers game. Besides Nodl, Carcillo was the only piece that could be pulled out of the puzzle without breaking up the Flyers’ second and third lines and all the chemistry they created.
Laviolette moved Carter to the wing with Simon Gagne and Mike Richards.
“There’s just not enough numbers to go around,” Laviolette said. “It’s just one of those tough decisions. You’ve got people who have sacrificed to bring you this far. I had to make a decision because those are tough one’s because he’s a good kid.”
Up until he started skating on the Flyers’ top line with Richards, Carcillo had always been viewed negatively – and part of that could be because he was traded for a popular play in Scottie Upshall. He couldn’t control that.
In Laviolette’s coaching debut with the Flyers, Carcillo – the NHL’s penalty minute leader in 2008-09 – gave the Capitals a nine-minute power play. Washington scored 4 times on that power play and the Flyers lost 8-2. Remember that? Carcillo was suspended the next day.
He has come a long way since then. Carcillo went from goon to 12-goal scorer. He is one of the most well-liked guys in the Flyers’ dressing room. He made a believer out of Laviolette and the entire Flyers fan base, who now wear “Fear the ‘Stache” shirts to games and jerseys with his name and number on the back.
The fact that it was such a tough call says more about Dan Carcillo than anyone would have believed six months ago.
Now, one win away from the Stanley Cup Finals, he is just one reason why this Flyers team is way more of a "team" than a lot of us thought six weeks ago.
Nervous Laperriere?
Ian Laperriere did not know how his brain would react.
Exactly four weeks and two days after sustaining one of the most vicious injuries in the storied tradition in playoff annals, Laperriere knew that all of the practice in the world could not have prepared him for the first bump his noggin would take on Saturday.
How would it feel? Would he be dizzy? Would he have a pounding headache? Would his eye hurt?
“I won’t lie to anybody,” Laperriere said. “I was nervous all night [Friday] and [Saturday] just to take that first hit.”
He did. Early. Just 5:32 into the game, Laperriere tangled with Roman Hamrlik on the boards in front of the penalty box and came down on the wrong end of Hamrlik’s blows.
Both players wrestled and traded a few punches. Both received two minutes for roughing.
But that answered Laperriere’s question.
“I got bumped around like I usually do,” said Laperriere, a Montreal native. “That first penalty, that roughing, I took a couple of punches to the face and that kind of got me going. I knew I could take a hit.
“If I don’t play that way, I’m not effective for my team.”
Laperriere said he was “tired” but had fun being back on the ice with his teammates, picking up a win in front of his family and friends at the Bell Centre.
“I’m tired but I’m excited,” Laperriere said. “It was just great to be with the boys for a big win.”
Slap shots
The Flyers will practice Sunday at noon at the Skate Zone …Yesterday was just the second time in the Canadiens’ 101-year history that they were held to one shot in a period, when the Flyers kept them away from Michael Leighton for the first 13:32 of the second period … Leighton has not allowed a goal in 15 of the 20 periods he has played for the Flyers in the playoffs … No team has ever won three Game 7s in one playoff season. That’s all the Canadiens have to look forward to … The Flyers are 18-2 in series when leading 3-1 but are just 13-7 in Game 5 with a two-game lead.
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter (http://twitter.com/DNFlyers).
Buy Flyers playoff tickets 
Frog season is open - Let's get them- Go FLyers!— OldSchoolG- ok, everyone calm down on carcillo, he has a role and some skill, asham is a better player and skater and plays just as physical his line with betts and lappy were huge in shutting down montreal yesterday. JVR needs to play, he is gaining huge playoff experience during this run and even though he is not scoring he skates well gets a lot of chances, (good wraparound at the net yesterday) and is a physical presence, sorry but dan really is at the bottom of the depth chart right now.— shmeds1
- I love Carcillo's heart, but I think one of the reasons it might make sense to sit him is that, in games like these, power plays are trouble when the other team gets them - and Carcillo gets calls against him sometimes just because he's Carcillo. I'm not necessarily one of those ref-conspiracy theorists, but the penalties called against him in this series have been calls due in no small part to his reputation.— elpel
- Carcillo is a rat. He's more than willing to fight smaller guys. Won't take on big name tough players, either. How about the three or four times this playoffs that he has fallen to his knees in agony after "phantom" high sticks. The one against New Jersey comes to mind. Don Cherry even hates his guts. That tells you something.
- Carcillo is a rat. He's more than willing to fight smaller guys. Won't take on big name tough players, either. How about the three or four times this playoffs that he has fallen to his knees in agony after "phantom" high sticks. The one against New Jersey comes to mind. Don Cherry even hates his guts. That tells you something.
- Love Danny. Toughest guy around. Plays a good solid honorable game. I hope he's back playing soon. But Asham has been one of my fav role players since he was on the Isles. He'll impress soon, maybe on Tuesday night. He is a very good puck handler, and smart with it. He can be a beast when he has to fight too. Great all around player to have. Go Flyers.— LuckyDog
- asham hasn't looked great, and I'm his biggest fan, but no way could you drop carbomb into that line and have the same results. asham and jvr have some beautiful chemistry, and it will click eventually. i think he's more snake bit then anything, the goals will come. Plus, who did they double shift at the end of game 3 in case it got ugly, especially after G took a cheap shot in the grilled cheese eater? AA. not the pertiest, but one of the best teamates.— arcadegm
- I think Asham has played fine for his role. He skates pretty good and has worked the corners well, which is where the Flyers need to be to keep Montreal form getting their speed going. As for the record of 13 - 7 in game 5, it's not a concern to me. Game 5 used to be the one where the Bullies would lose as they beat the snot out of the other team, then finish off the series in 6. My favorite game of each series.— DMo
- There are way too many people on here talking about Game 1 against CHI-town....i think we all know because of our own history and the RECENT history of others, most specifically the Habs coming back from the same deficit against the best team in the regular season, that we haven't won anything yet. Let's put them away in Game 5 and not let this get exciting for the rest of the world. Plus, making it to the finals is a wonderful achievement, but I am pretty sure that everyone on here isn't looking for that. We want the CUP! GO FLYERS!— markhowe
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- After the Flyers eliminate the Habs, @Big Tom, @Tonka, and the other "oracles" that post here will predict that Chicago will sweep the Flyers. After the Flyers eliminate the Blackhawks and win The Cup, those same seers will predict that the Flyers will not make the playoffs next year. How hard IS it to be all-negative, all the time? Anyone want to sell playoff tickets for the final?— rjsmith
- Obviously Laviolette is just trying to be a diplomat. Sitting Carcillo is a no-brainer. Carcillos days are numbered in Philly. He won't get a chance next year to embarrass the organization.— petemagoop
- both the Flyers and Chicago are playing top hockey right now.. Our ability to play smart and stay out of the box will be the key. As much as its a shame for Carcillo to sit, he has been hampered some since his knee injury against Boston and has not skated like he did against NJ. Keeping Byfuglien away from our crease is going to be key as well. He has created a ton of havoc in the last 2 series and we must keep him off the scoresheet.— bradco
Carcillo was benched because he was outplayed by Leino.— ej610
