Well the Flyers capped off a perfect 4-0 week by going into the Belle Center and annihilating the Canadiens 6-2 to go into the Olympic break holding down the sixth place spot in the conference. Entering this week I would have said the break could not come any sooner, but now I am almost upset it is here since they are playing so well. The schedule after the break is demanding and grueling, but the Flyers will have to take it one step at a time. The first game is against a young and full of potential Tampa Bay team lead by Steven Stamkos (a fine fantasy selection on my part).
Found out today that Jeff Carter will not play for Team Canada after Ryan Getzlaf proved to the team he was ready to play after putting on a four point display yesterday against the Oilers. However, there are still several Flyers in Vancouver so it should be a couple of exciting weeks to see everyone playing for pride and country. Let's hope Ryan Miller is as dominant as he has been up to this point and the US wins it for Brian Burke.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Habs Postgame and Pregame
Anyone else tired of these home and home's? I am not because it gets the blood boiling and the Flyers are taking advantage of them. A dominant first two periods last night. They took the first half of the third off last night, but then finished strong. Michael Leighton was outstanding once again? By the way is it just me, or does a Flyer score for the other team on him once per game? It is maddening how many bad bounces they have gotten lately.
Anyway onto tonight, I was surprised Carey Price got the front end of the two games since he played so poorly against the Capitals. I am intrigued to see if Halak gets a final Olympic tuneup tonight or if they go back to Price. It certainly should be a good game with the way the game ended last night.
Anyway onto tonight, I was surprised Carey Price got the front end of the two games since he played so poorly against the Capitals. I am intrigued to see if Halak gets a final Olympic tuneup tonight or if they go back to Price. It certainly should be a good game with the way the game ended last night.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Devils Postgame II/Habs Pregame
I think I'm experiencing deja vu. Did the Flyers seriously two games in a row erase a two goal deficit then win it? Yes they did and despite playing poorly most of the game, the Flyers dug deep and found a way to get the two points. The key moment was when the Flyers killed off a 5 on 3 in the 3rd period to give themselves a chance to at least salvage one point. For all the Chris Pronger skeptics, Ilya Kovalchuk once again did not score and was kept in check the whole night. The emotion displayed on the bench after Simon Gagne fired a wrist shot past Martin Brodeur is something the fans have been looking for all year. It is obvious that this is a reflection of Peter Laviolette's influence. Laviolette's passion and relentless pursuit of perfection is what is motivating this team right now.
Which leads into the final two games before the Olympic break. The Flyers face a critical home and home with the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs are one point ahead of the Flyers for sixth place and are coming off a circus win against the Washington Capitals last night, ending their 14-game winning streak. With both teams coming off huge wins, it is critical to not fall behind a third game in a row. Expect Slovakian Olympian Jaroslav Halak to be back in the net after Carey Price's performance last night. Halak has been solid in net this season despite the Habs' scoring troubles. Michael Leighton should be back in net and has earned the start since Ray Emery's MRI is still not available. Emery's situation is difficult. When healthy, he has demonstrated a phenomenal work ethic, gotten the job done, and behaved himself. Check out how he gave his time to some Haitian children on philly.com. However, it is going to be difficult negotiating a long term contract if he cannot stay healthy. It will certainly be interesting to see how it folds out.
According to philly.com, Blair Betts has just signed a 2-year extension, well deserved and a good move by the Flyers. Betts is not exactly an offensive threat, but provides quality shifts and is invaluable as a penalty killer along with Ian Laperriere.
Which leads into the final two games before the Olympic break. The Flyers face a critical home and home with the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs are one point ahead of the Flyers for sixth place and are coming off a circus win against the Washington Capitals last night, ending their 14-game winning streak. With both teams coming off huge wins, it is critical to not fall behind a third game in a row. Expect Slovakian Olympian Jaroslav Halak to be back in the net after Carey Price's performance last night. Halak has been solid in net this season despite the Habs' scoring troubles. Michael Leighton should be back in net and has earned the start since Ray Emery's MRI is still not available. Emery's situation is difficult. When healthy, he has demonstrated a phenomenal work ethic, gotten the job done, and behaved himself. Check out how he gave his time to some Haitian children on philly.com. However, it is going to be difficult negotiating a long term contract if he cannot stay healthy. It will certainly be interesting to see how it folds out.
According to philly.com, Blair Betts has just signed a 2-year extension, well deserved and a good move by the Flyers. Betts is not exactly an offensive threat, but provides quality shifts and is invaluable as a penalty killer along with Ian Laperriere.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Devils Postgame and Pregame
Well, that certainly is something we have not seen that often this season. A Flyers comeback win. It was great to see the energy and momentum they kept gaining during the second half of the game. They started setting up shop in front of the net where they belong and were burying their chances.
Tonight they have to come out with that second half of the game effort for 60 minutes. The Devils are in the middle of a tough stretch right now and the Flyers need to capitalize on it especially with only two more games before the break after tonight. Expect Leighton back in net since it takes the Flyers physicians a week to get the result of an MRI and announce it. I think it's not looking good for Emery unless he does cortisone shots the rest of the year. Finally, kudos to Rex Ryan sporting the Dave Schultz retro jersey at the Hurricanes game last night, that was awesome.
Tonight they have to come out with that second half of the game effort for 60 minutes. The Devils are in the middle of a tough stretch right now and the Flyers need to capitalize on it especially with only two more games before the break after tonight. Expect Leighton back in net since it takes the Flyers physicians a week to get the result of an MRI and announce it. I think it's not looking good for Emery unless he does cortisone shots the rest of the year. Finally, kudos to Rex Ryan sporting the Dave Schultz retro jersey at the Hurricanes game last night, that was awesome.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Wild Postgame/Devils Preview
I've taken a couple days to alleviate my frustration from the Wild game. The Flyers let a goalie making his NHL debut hold them to just one goal, and Michael Leighton had perhaps his toughest game since becoming a Flyer. And yet he still only gave up two goals! Now one of the two Flyers beat writers for philly.com in his divine wisdom blamed Leighton for gift-wrapping the game for the Wild. Last I checked, if it was not for Michael Leighton, the Flyers would already be packing their golf bags. Leighton is 8-3-1 with a 2.25 GAA and .920 save percentage. Not to mention the Flyers have scored less than two goals in every game he has lost. So I guess the Flyers' streaky, anemic, and overpaid offense was too easy for this writer to blame.
Turning to tonight. The Flyers have a lot to prove and technically salvage in this game. Ilya Kovalchuk makes his first trip to Philadelphia as a Devil and a national television audience will be witnessing it. The Flyers need to come out and make a statement and show some life to give their fans some reason to keep believing in them. Don't be surprised if Leighton is back in net. He's played well enough to start and now that rushed-back-too-quickly Emery has a hip problem, it's likely he'll get more rest. Regardless of who is in net, if the Flyers can't score, the game will be over before it begins.
Just watched Laviolette pregame, Leighton is in net tonight! Emery apparently practiced, but still not ready to go.
Turning to tonight. The Flyers have a lot to prove and technically salvage in this game. Ilya Kovalchuk makes his first trip to Philadelphia as a Devil and a national television audience will be witnessing it. The Flyers need to come out and make a statement and show some life to give their fans some reason to keep believing in them. Don't be surprised if Leighton is back in net. He's played well enough to start and now that rushed-back-too-quickly Emery has a hip problem, it's likely he'll get more rest. Regardless of who is in net, if the Flyers can't score, the game will be over before it begins.
Just watched Laviolette pregame, Leighton is in net tonight! Emery apparently practiced, but still not ready to go.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Kovalchuk Impact and Minnesota Preview
Well the deal is done, the sweepstakes are over. Ilya Kovalchuk will be a Devil the rest of this season. Lou Lamoriello pulled off an ingenious trade and the Devils will now have a threatening sniper every night in the lineup. Not to mention one of the top ten goalies to ever play the game still at very good form. I still don't believe the Devils are the team to beat in the East since their trap system always gets matched up against rather than teams taking a risk to one of their stars in a regular season game. I am interested to see how Kovalchuk fits into the system. He most likely will hang up high to unload his lethal shot off turnovers. Next week's home and home certainly has much more flare to it.
However, the more pressing matter at hand is going into a very tough Minnesota building and getting two points. Minnesota is a very defensive minded team with a phenomenal goaltender in Backstrom, but he has been battling an illness and placed on IR. As of now it looks like Anton Khudobin will start and Ray Emery for the Flyers despite a very solid performance by Michael Leighton against the Oilers. This is a big game to win going back to Philadelphia and having to face the new version of the Devils twice in a row. While they cannot look past this game, next week will be a real indication on where this team stands.
However, the more pressing matter at hand is going into a very tough Minnesota building and getting two points. Minnesota is a very defensive minded team with a phenomenal goaltender in Backstrom, but he has been battling an illness and placed on IR. As of now it looks like Anton Khudobin will start and Ray Emery for the Flyers despite a very solid performance by Michael Leighton against the Oilers. This is a big game to win going back to Philadelphia and having to face the new version of the Devils twice in a row. While they cannot look past this game, next week will be a real indication on where this team stands.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Edmonton Postgame
There's really no other way to dissect this one. Tonight's loss to Edmonton was gut-wrenching. The Flyers had all the opportunities in the world to take two points easily in this game and they let it get away. Darroll Powe was called for a pretty weak penalty with less than two minutes to play. However, Powe should have known he cannot just be waving his stick around it should have been on the ice. The Oilers took advantage of the ensuing powerplay and scored with 16.1 seconds remaining.
Once again the Flyers have found ways to create tremendous scoring chances, but inexplicably cannot bury them. The forecheck was strong in the 2nd period and the first half of the 3rd period. The Oilers were showing their youth by turning the puck over and not executing the breakout. Yet, they and former Flyer Ryan Potulny, who scored the goal, came out with a victory.
The positive was that goaltender Michael Leighton played outstanding in his first start in eight games. He was caught a little deep in the crease on the goal, but he cannot be faulted for this let down. And give the Oilers credit, they are now 2-0 in February after not winning once last month. They grinded it out and took advantage when it mattered most.
Look for Emery to be back in the net against the Wild. It seems every time this team looks to be moving forward, it takes a monumental step backwards. The Wild are a very good defensive team and if Backstrom is unable to play yet again, it could certainly help the Flyers chances.
Once again the Flyers have found ways to create tremendous scoring chances, but inexplicably cannot bury them. The forecheck was strong in the 2nd period and the first half of the 3rd period. The Oilers were showing their youth by turning the puck over and not executing the breakout. Yet, they and former Flyer Ryan Potulny, who scored the goal, came out with a victory.
The positive was that goaltender Michael Leighton played outstanding in his first start in eight games. He was caught a little deep in the crease on the goal, but he cannot be faulted for this let down. And give the Oilers credit, they are now 2-0 in February after not winning once last month. They grinded it out and took advantage when it mattered most.
Look for Emery to be back in the net against the Wild. It seems every time this team looks to be moving forward, it takes a monumental step backwards. The Wild are a very good defensive team and if Backstrom is unable to play yet again, it could certainly help the Flyers chances.
Edmonton Tomorrow Night!
Tomorrow night, the Flyers visit an atrocious Edmonton Oilers franchise on their second game of this current road trip. Even a coach as good as Pat Quinn has been unable to revive a once proud franchise. The Flyers cannot get arrogant and think this will be a cakewalk after they cruised Monday night against a Flames team in complete disarray. They need to come out hard, establish the forecheck, and never let Edmonton sniff at a chance to gain momentum. I'll go into specific aspects postgame.
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