Flyers Notes: Flyers switch Coburn to left
Flyers Notes
It was a subtle move, but one the Flyers hope will jump-start struggling defenseman Braydon Coburn.
Steven M. Falk/Staff Photographer
Braydon Coburn chases the puck between Boston's Steve Begin (left) and Blake Wheeler during the first period.
In last night's game against Boston, coach John Stevens flip-flopped the positions of Coburn and defensive partner Kimmo Timonen, a pair of lefty shooters.
Timonen went to the right, Coburn to the left - which is where they were primarily stationed when they excelled as a duo two years ago.
Stevens said Coburn seems to play better on the left.
"Sometimes, guys are just more comfortable on one side," Stevens said before the game. "I'm not saying he can't play there [on the right side]; he's just played his best hockey on the left."
On the left, Coburn "pushes everyone to the boards," Stevens said. "We just want to make things better. I keep going back to the year we went to the conference final: They weren't just a good pair, they were a great pair."
Coburn and Timonen were both minus-4 heading into last night.
Winter Classic tune-up
Last night was a preview of the Winter Classic, the Jan. 1 matchup between the Flyers and Bruins at historic Fenway Park.
"The reaction of the fans has been great," said Peter Luukko, president of Comcast-Spectacor, the Flyers' parent company. "I think we could sell 42,000 seats with just Flyers fans, and it makes us think that maybe we can get a game in Pennsylvania at some point."
Luukko said the game "in a sense, has become our Super Bowl."
The Flyers were allotted 5,000 tickets, which they will sell to their season-ticket holders in a lottery. Winners will be notified next month.
Penn State and Heinz Field in Pittsburgh have been mentioned as possible future sites for the Winter Classic. The weather pattern in Philadelphia (read: the threat of rain) makes a game in this city unlikely, although Luukko is pushing for a Flyers-Penguins matchup.
Phantoms update
Wingers Krys Kolanos and Jason Ward lead the AHL Adirondack Phantoms (3-3) with four points each, while goalie Johan Backlund is 2-2 with a 2.97 goals-against average and .901 save percentage.
Defenseman Joey Mormina (plus-4), a 6-foot-6, 220-pounder, and center Jon Kalinski (plus-3) are the plus-minus leaders.
Breakaways
The Flyers were 1-3-3 at a similar point last season. . . . Danny Briere, who recently turned 32, needs two more games to reach 600 in his career. . . . The Flyers will host Cancer Awareness Night, benefiting the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, during their game against visiting Florida tomorrow. To raise awareness for the cause, lemonade stands will be set up at all entrances.
- Sam Carchidi
