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Flyers' Bellemare becoming shutdown defender

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare has been given more defensive responsibility this season. In fact, by the way he and defensive specialist Sean Couturier have been used, it's difficult to tell who is the Flyers' No. 1 shutdown center.

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare has been given more defensive responsibility this season.

In fact, by the way he and defensive specialist Sean Couturier have been used, it's difficult to tell who is the Flyers' No. 1 shutdown center.

"Belly is a guy who checks well, who takes pride in it," Flyers coach Dave Hakstol said before Bellemare and his linemates were expected to spend time Wednesday against the Capitals' top line of Alex Ovechkin (31 goals in 43 games vs. the Flyers entering the night), Nicklas Backstrom, and T.J. Oshie. ". . . There have been times we've matched him against other teams' top units. I don't know that we did that a whole lot last year."

Bellemare, 31, relishes being a shutdown defender, especially against the Capitals.

"They have so much speed and have quite a few offensive weapons," he said. "Ovechkin is one of the top weapons in the league, so any time you have a chance to play against that line, it's exciting."

Entering Wednesday, Bellemare had a minus-2 rating. That may not sound like much, but it was second best among Flyers regulars.

Bellemare, a France native who can become an unrestricted free agent after the season, takes pride in his defensive reputation.

"It's not maybe the role that some fans think is the most important because you don't put up the [offensive] numbers," he said. "But for the team, it's [critical]. When you're on a guy that scores 100 points a year, it's a humble job. It makes me feel like I'm a real part of the team. You have a role. If at the end of our shift, our top line comes on the ice and they're fresh against their fourth line and we have the momentum from our shift, then we did our job."

Outdoor game

Paul Holmgren, the club's president, said the Flyers and Pittsburgh were "hopeful" of playing the outdoor game Saturday night at Heinz Field at 8 o'clock.

Rain is in the forecast for Saturday morning and afternoon, but it's supposed to be clear and around 40 degrees (and dropping) by game time.

If the game is postponed, it would be played Sunday at a time to be determined, Holmgren said.

Back from Russia

The Flyers alumni team came home from Russia with a 1-1-1 record in its goodwill tour. Lindsay Carson, 56, scored in all three games for the Flyers, who may tour China next year.

The last game, in Moscow's Red Square, was the lead sports story in the Russian newspapers.

Sergei Gimayev, a hulking defenseman who was a rookie on the 1976 Red Army team that lost to the Flyers at the Spectrum, played in all three games for the Flyers' alumni team because it needed players.

Breakaways

Andrew MacDonald returned to the lineup after a one-game benching. Michael Del Zotto was a healthy scratch. . . . Thirteen Flyers have participated in an outdoor game on the pro or collegiate level.