Posted: Friday, March 12, 2010, 2:15 PM | 20 comments |
 

Flyers shaking up lines vs. Blackhawks
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   Flyers coach Peter Laviolette changed two of his four lines at Friday's practice, and here are the expected units for Saturday's 1 p.m. matinee against the powerful Chicago Blackhawks:

Simon Gagne-Mike Richards-Dan Carcillo.

James van Riemsdyk-Jeff Carter-Ville Leino.

Scott Hartnell-Claude Giroux-Danny Briere.

Darroll Powe-Blair Betts-Ian Laperriere.

   Leino, who performed admirably in the only two games he played since being acquired from Detroit, will return to the lineup, and it appears Arron Asham will be a healthy scratch. Scott Hartnell, who has not scored in 13 straight games _ and in just three of his last 39 contests _ played sparingly in the third period against Boston Thursday but will likely play Saturday.

   Carter, the Flyers' hottest player, will get two new wingers: Leino and van Riemsdyk. Carter has 10 goals in his last 10 games. Hartnell and Briere had been on Carter's line, but those two wingers will be moved to Claude Giroux's unit.

   Laviolette would not name his goalie. With back-to-back games over the weekened (Sunday in New York against the Rangers), it wouldn't be surprising if Brian Boucher started Saturday and Michael Leighton started Sunday. Since the Rangers are in the same conference as the Flyers, Sunday's game is more important.

    Leighton has made 12 straight starts.

   Boucher hasn't started since Dec. 21.

 

 
Posted by Sam Carchidi @ 2:15 PM  Permalink | 20 comments
20
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:30 PM, 03/12/2010
    why wont they try carter with richards and gagne for a couple games. it seems like every team has 2 great players on the first line regardless if they have depth or not. we have carcillo. not that hes playing bad, but he's not a first line guy. richy/carter would make alot of sense. and we have plenty of depth up the middle to move carts over to wing. thoughts?? its about time we have a 1st line and 2nd line. not 2 second lines and no first line.
    — pop pop
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:30 PM, 03/12/2010
    Sit Sideshow Bob (Hartnell.)He gave up the first goal against Boston because he was loafing. CUT THAT STUPID HAIR GOOFBALL!
    — Klambake
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:32 PM, 03/12/2010
    Not bad, but not sure why you put 2 new guys on your hottest scorer's line. Should just be Carter with Leino and Briere and Hartnell with JVR and Giroux. Tell Hartnell his job is to go to the front of the net and wait for pucks, and stay out of JVR and Giroux's way. Also loved the chemistry those 2 have, so it is a shame to see them split up. Though Giroux and Briere seemed to have a connection towards the end of last year, so we'll see.
    — richards4captain18
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:33 PM, 03/12/2010
    Will be nice to have an NHL goalie in the nets for a change on Saturday, even if he's only a backup-caliber guy. At least Boucher has reflexes, lateral movement, and a glove hand, requirements when not playing the leafs or isles...
    — eagle1971
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:36 PM, 03/12/2010
    He should leave Asham in and get Hartnell out.
    — HandNik
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:36 PM, 03/12/2010
    Wouldn't be opposed to that, have a line with Carter, Richards, and Gagne, then Giroux, JVR, and Briere as your 2nd line. Problem is after that you have one checking line and another line that god knows what their talent is. I'd move Powe up to play with Leino and Hartnell/Asham and reconnect the LCB 4th line. Hartnell needs to sit a few games to get his act together. He has the talent, I think he's just in a whirlwind right now.
    — richards4captain18
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:39 PM, 03/12/2010
    Leights has been ok, but next year, send an offer sheet to Josh Harding. The Wild gave Backstrom a long term 6 mil a year deal, and Harding wants to start. Make it worth his while and I doubt Minn would match the offer.
    — richards4captain18
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:39 PM, 03/12/2010
    Please bench Hartnell. Any chance the Flyers keep sending Hartnell out there in the hopes that he gets injured?
    — psuflyers
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:48 PM, 03/12/2010
    psu, my guess is Hartnell is injured and playing thru it poorly
    — playboy
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:57 PM, 03/12/2010
    I bet Brier would rather play with Powe....Harts should cut his hair might help his attitude - I think trying to make Scott into Knuble has failed miserably - he might not have that in tight hand eye coordination - isn't their a way to drill that during practice - sit him in the crease and shoot pucks low at his feet all day - some guys can slow the game down and pounce on the rebounds and are strong on their skates - Scotts been flopping down like a rag doll all year
    — JourneyHome
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:08 PM, 03/12/2010
    right eagle, I guess Leighton won 13 of 16 starts in the AHL earlier this year? Moron. He got hung out to dry last night.
    — seaonasdad
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:37 PM, 03/12/2010
    Ok,seaonasdad, you stick with your hero Lumbering Leighton. LOL. (he looked great against Fl too). Boucher would have done as well or better in the games Leighton played, and I'm no Boucher fan. They were team wins, mostly against weak or slumping teams.
    — eagle1971
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:55 PM, 03/12/2010
    I am glad to see that other people are annoyed with Hartnell's hair too. I would bump Powe up to the line with Giroux and Briere. Powe and Giroux tend to play well together. I like the JVR-Carter-Leino line. They need a line that can get some offense going. I would just make sure Pronger-Carle is playing with them though. Boucher is 4-12 this year, Leighton is 16-8.
    — AreaMan


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About Sam Carchidi
Sam Carchidi is in his fourth year as the Flyers' beat reporter. He became an Inquirer staff writer in 1984 and covered mostly South Jersey high school sports and the Phillies before taking the Flyers beat.

Carchidi has written three books _ the nationally acclaimed Miracle in the Making: The Adam Taliaferro Story, which he co-authored with Scott Brown; Bill Campbell: The Voice of Philadelphia Sports; and Standing Tall: The Kevin Everett Story, which was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show. He also contributed to a 1993 Inquirer book on the Phillies.

A lifelong South Jersey resident, Carchidi lives in Wenonah with his wife, JoAnn, and their two children, Sara and Sammy.

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