As Bruins raise Stanley Cup banner, Flyers want revenge for loss in conference semifinal

BOSTON - In each of the last three seasons, the Flyers have lost in the playoffs to the team that eventually won the Stanley Cup.

When they open the season Thursday night at TD Garden, they will face the latest of their playoff conquerors, the Boston Bruins, who will raise the Stanley Cup banner to the rafters in a pregame ceremony.

"It's always kind of a shot in the groin when you're in the building for something like that," defenseman Matt Carle said.

"We want to ruin their night, obviously," winger James van Riemsdyk said. "Emotions are going to be running high for them; they'll be all amped up with that banner going up. . . . We're going to be revved up as well."

The Flyers, who were swept in four games by the Bruins in last year's conference semifinals, won't be watching when the championship banner is raised. They'll be in the locker room.

"We'll let them enjoy their time; they've earned it," coach Peter Laviolette said of the Bruins. "We'll get ourselves ready to play hockey."

Roster moves. Defenseman Matt Walker, who had a strong preseason, cleared waivers and earned a spot on the roster. He gives the Flyers some physicality and a righthanded shot from the blue line - and is expected to be paired with Braydon Coburn in the opener.

"After last season, life's pretty good right now," said Walker, who underwent surgeries to both hips last year. "Last year, every morning I got up I didn't know if I'd be able to put my shoes on or pull my socks up."

The Flyers will start the season about $65,000 under the cap, but they could get more relief if Ian Laperriere ($1.16 million cap hit) is placed on the long-term injured list.

Blair Betts was claimed off waivers by Montreal. That means the Flyers have 49 players on their 50-man contract limit. Sean Couturier would be the 50th if he plays his 11th game.

Oskars Bartulis cleared waivers and was sent to the AHL Phantoms.

 Lineup. Here are the lines and pairings the Flyers are expected to use in the opener:

Claude Giroux centering van Riemsdyk and Jaromir Jagr.

Danny Briere centering Jakub Voracek and Wayne Simmonds.

Couturier centering Scott Hartnell and Matt Read.

Max Talbot centering Zac Rinaldo and Andreas Nodl.

Defensive pairings: Chris Pronger and Carle; Kimmo Timonen and Andrej Meszaros; Coburn and Walker.