Posted: Monday, December 28, 2009, 1:43 PM | 17 comments |
 

Will Boucher be ready for Winter Classic?
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   Flyers goalie Brian Boucher would love to start Friday's Winter Classic at Fenway Park in Boston.

   A New Englander who grew up in Rhode Island and attended Red Sox games at Fenway, Boucher has missed the last three games with a lacerated right ring finger. He was at practice Monday and, if all goes well, will return to action Wednesday in New York against the Rangers.

   But Boucher said he still felt painful "vibrations" in his finger when he made a stick save Monday; he said he needs a couple more practices before he feels he is ready.

    It seems imperative that Boucher gets one game under his belt before playing on a national stage Friday in Boston.

    Last year's Winter Classic between Detroit and Chicago at Wrigley Field was the most-viewed NHL regular-season game in almost 34 years. More than 4.4 million Americans watched the game.

    Ray Emery also practiced Monday, but he isn't expected to return for a few weeks, at the earliest. Emery has been sidelined after undergoing abdominal surgery. Emery took shots for the first time since his injury and said he was "ahead of schedule." He was originally expected to return in late January or early February.

    Boucher filled in admirably for Emery before being injured, and Michael Leighton has been excellent in his three games as Boucher's replacement. In four games, including three starts, Leighton is 3-0 with a 2.15 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage since the Flyers claimed him from Carolina off re-entry waivers on Dec. 15.

   After Monday's practice, coach Peter Laviolette said he was undecided if Leighton or Boucher would face the Rangers Wednesday.

    The Flyers (18-18-2) will take a three-game winning streak into New York. Their longest winning streak was five games, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 12.

    Notes. Defenseman Ryan Parent, who missed the last game with back spasms, will visit a doctor later Monday.....Legendary singer James Taylor will perform the national anthem before the Winter Classic matchup.

.

   
Posted by Sam Carchidi @ 1:43 PM  Permalink | 17 comments
17
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:28 PM, 12/28/2009
    As well as Leighton has played, I'd feel better with Boucher in the net on Friday for the Winter Classic. Odd, but each Winter Classic has featured a backup goalie for the visiting team because of injury. And each time....
    — mikemcnhl
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:57 PM, 12/28/2009
    Who cares
    — jibberjabber
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:56 PM, 12/28/2009
    Irony - taking the time to read an article and post "Who cares" to an article you supposedly don't care about
    — Pelti
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:06 PM, 12/28/2009
    Lavliolette better dress Riley Cote for the Winter Classic. This is Philadelphia. That Cammi Granato style hockey may fly in Carolina, but not here. We have too many middlewheights on this team. I want Cote dressing.
    — Ferrell31
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:27 PM, 12/28/2009
    mikemcnhl -- and each time the visiting team lost in the Cup Finals. Great.
    — UncleEddie
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:42 PM, 12/28/2009
    Who cares
    — jibberjabber
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:48 PM, 12/28/2009
    Get a life, jibberjabber.
    — UncleEddie
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:49 PM, 12/28/2009
    Is there an echo in here?
    — pizano13
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:58 PM, 12/28/2009
    Who cares
    — jibberjabber
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:34 PM, 12/28/2009
    Play Leighton he's earned his dues over the years in the minors... and can play in this league when given the regular chance. I gotta ask, are we really banking on Ray Emery to lead us in goal in the 2nd half of the season?
    — Chattanooga
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:38 PM, 12/28/2009
    Hey Ferrell, Im all for the rough stuff, but Riley Cote is the worst fighter in the history of the Flyers since Shawn Antoski, and Carolina has won a cup much more recently then we have, get a clue, I actually hope the Canes have a fire-sale and we pluck a couple more of Laviolette's former players.
    — Chattanooga
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:49 AM, 12/29/2009
    Why won't this team spend money on a goalie? Tons of money to guys like Briere, Pronger, Forsberg, Lindros. But no goalie worth a dime for the last 20 years. Its painful to watch.
    — NYFlyerfan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:28 AM, 12/29/2009
    I Hope So........The All Important Winter Classic...... If We WIN Is The Parade The 2nd or The 3rd ?
    — Smartest Rat In The Sewer


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About Sam Carchidi
Sam Carchidi is in his fourth year as the Flyers' beat reporter. He became an Inquirer staff writer in 1984 and covered mostly South Jersey high school sports and the Phillies before taking the Flyers beat.

Carchidi has written three books _ the nationally acclaimed Miracle in the Making: The Adam Taliaferro Story, which he co-authored with Scott Brown; Bill Campbell: The Voice of Philadelphia Sports; and Standing Tall: The Kevin Everett Story, which was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show. He also contributed to a 1993 Inquirer book on the Phillies.

A lifelong South Jersey resident, Carchidi lives in Wenonah with his wife, JoAnn, and their two children, Sara and Sammy.

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