Flyers allow first power-play goal at home

THE STRANGE statistical anomaly was bound to end.

It did last night with the Flyers allowing their first goal of the season at home on the penalty kill, snapping a perfect 19-for-19 start at Wells Fargo Center in seven games.

Before that, no Flyer - not even coach Craig Berube - could explain the stark difference in the team's penalty kill at home vs. on the road.

Heading into last night's 4-1 win over the Panthers, the Flyers were tied for the NHL's penalty-killing lead at home (17-for-17) with Detroit (20-for-20). On the road, the Flyers were dead last, having stopped the man advantage just 12 times on 20 tries (60 percent).

"I think there has been difference in the 'kill at home vs. on the road," Berube said. "Who knows? It's hard to explain. Look at our power play last year at home and on the road."

Last year, the Flyers were the NHL's top power-play team on the road (25.2 percent) and an inexplicable 25th at home (15.1 percent). Luckily for them, they scored enough on the road to finish eighth in the NHL overall on the power play.

That hasn't happened yet this year, with the Flyers entering last night ranked 23rd on the penalty kill at 78.4 percent. They were 3-for-4 last night before Florida's Nick Bjugstad killed their streak when he deposited a juicy rebound past Steve Mason in the second period.

Overall, Berube doesn't seem concerned with the penalty kill, knowing that special teams are usually cyclical throughout the year with ebbs and flows.

"I just go back to the Dallas game [on Oct. 18], there were a couple breakdowns on the PK. We just got caught out of position," Berube said of the one game that stood out. "Other than that we've been fine. The difference has been that we don't take many penalties."

Through 13 games, the Flyers remain one of the least penalized teams in the NHL at 8.7 minutes per game.

Defenseman Andrew MacDonald resumed skating yesterday morning for the first time since suffering a right knee injury on Oct. 22 in Pittsburgh.

MacDonald, 28, was originally projected to miss 4 weeks of action. He said yesterday he is still "on par" with that time frame, but even a pregame skate was a step in the right direction.

For much of the last 2 weeks, MacDonald was limited to upper-body workouts and cardio conditioning using only a hand bike.

"I felt pretty good," MacDonald said. "I'm still a little stiff at this point. I only just started riding a bike a couple days ago. I think this is [one of those injuries] where you feel it out. You know your body better than everyone else. I felt good, it's just going to take a little time to come back."

Now 2-0 on their homestand and climbing in the standings, there was a definite sense of optimism in the Flyers' locker room. Braydon Coburn could be back as soon as tomorrow night against Colorado and MacDonald has an outside chance to return next Friday when Columbus visits.

Coburn, out since the Oct. 8 opener with a left foot injury, has skated every day since Monday.

"I'm sure they're excited about those guys being close to ready to play," Berube said. "I know I am. They're two really good players."

Last night was "Military Appreciation Night" at Wells Fargo Center and yet another example of how sports can be an important diversion. For the first time, the Flyers wore camouflage jerseys during warmups as a nod to the military. Each player then signed and presented them to 20-plus active military members and veterans in the "Shirts Off Our Backs" campaign.

Egg Harbor, N.J., native Ed Afanador and his son, Anthony, were presented with Luke Schenn's jersey. Afanador, 44, served in three branches of the military but was injured while working with the Army National Guard on Sept. 26, 2001, when his respirator failed while helping to sort through the rubble and put out fires at the World Trade Center.

"We were in World Financial Center Two when my respirator canister failed in the building," Afanador said. "The canister stopped working and severely damaged my lungs, deteriorating down to my legs and hips. I ended up staying on site through October in 2001."

Afanador, who is part of the Wounded Warrior Project, now needs a wheelchair to get around. He was discharged from the Army National Guard in 2004 as a result of his injuries.

The night was filled with rousing tributes, including a pregame montage filled with photos of Flyers fans in the military representing the orange and black around the world. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Timothy A. Brusstar, a Quarryville, Pa., native, reupped with his Oath of Enlistment during the first period.

Special operations Army Ranger Justin Radbill, from West Chester, was also honored with a rousing standing ovation in the second period. In his third tour of duty in Iraq with the 75th Ranger Regiment, Radbill was severely wounded when a roadside bomb exploded under his platoon's humvee. For his service and valor, Radbill has been awarded the Army Accommodation Medal and the distinguished Purple Heart.

Both the Flyers and Panthers saluted Radbill and Brusstar by tapping their sticks on the boards at their respective benches during the game's television timeout.

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