Flyers rookies see youth as edge
The Flyers have a lot more inexperience than the Pittsburgh Penguins, but they don't see that as a detriment in their forthcoming best-of-seven series.
The Flyers have a lot more inexperience than the Pittsburgh Penguins, but they don't see that as a detriment in their forthcoming best-of-seven series.
Flyers rookies played 445 games this season, compared with 63 for the Penguins.
"It's an advantage," rookie winger Zac Rinaldo claimed after Tuesday's practice in Voorhees. "We're youthful, and the young guys bring a little more energy than some of the older guys might, so I think it's an advantage, for sure."
"I'm excited. It's the best time of the year," said defenseman Marc-Andre Bourdon, one of six rookies expected to play in Wednesday's series opener in Pittsburgh.
Rinaldo, Bourdon, Matt Read (24 goals), Sean Couturier (13), Brayden Schenn (12), and Eric Wellwood are rookies who figure to play key roles against the Penguins.
"They've answered the bell every time," Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said.
Brian Strait is the only Penguins rookie expected to play in the series. He played in just nine regular-season games and was minus-2.
Couturier may be the Flyers' most important rookie in the series because he figures to be responsible for trying to shut down either Evgeni Malkin or Sidney Crosby.
"I just try not to give those types of players time and space - try to take it away," Couturier said.
The Flyers led the NHL in goals (64) and points (128) by rookies this season.
That said, there's nothing like players who have playoff experience, especially those who have played on a Stanley Cup winner. The Penguins have 11 players who were on their 2009 team that won the Cup - the Flyers have four players who have captured a title - and some think that might sway the series in Pittsburgh's favor.
Briere looks ready
Veteran center Danny Briere said he felt good after his second consecutive practice, and it appears he will play Wednesday.
The veteran center sat out the last three games after absorbing a hit from Pittsburgh's Joe Vitale and suffering back spasms.
At Tuesday's practice, Briere returned to a line with Schenn and Wayne Simmonds. The other lines: Claude Giroux centering Scott Hartnell and Jaromir Jagr; Wellwood centering Jakub Voracek and Read; and Couturier centering Max Talbot and Rinaldo.
Kubina sitting?
Pavel Kubina, who has struggled recently, was not among the top six defensemen for the second straight practice. The defensive pairings: Nick Grossmann and Braydon Coburn; Matt Carle and Kimmo Timonen; and Bourdon and Andreas Lilja.
In 17 games with the Flyers since being acquired from Tampa Bay on Feb. 18, the slow-moving, 6-foot-4, 258-pound Kubina has four assists and is minus-3.
Laviolette said Kubina has been "really good," but he added, "We've been fortunate to get some health now, so we have good defensemen available for the playoffs."
Why the Flyers?
Jagr said again that he chose to return to the NHL with the Flyers rather than his former team, the Penguins, because he expected more playing time with the Flyers.
Playoff party
Flyers' public-address announcer Lou Nolan will give the goal calls and Lauren Hart will sing "God Bless America" as the road playoff games are televised at Xfinity Live!