Flyers/Habs Preview

Tonight the Philadelphia Flyers will take on the Montreal Canadiens in their last game before the All-Star break at the Wells Fargo Center. Fans are much more eager to watch this match up after the Flyers dominated the Habs in the Eastern Conference Finals last year.

This is the fourth and final meeting of the season with the Flyers holding a 2-1 series edge in this year's contests. The Habs are looking to rebound after a 4-3 shootout loss to Anaheim on Saturday, on an emotional night that saw the return of former captain Saku Koivu, his first return to Montreal since leaving the team via free agency.

The Flyers meanwhile are coming off a strong 4-1 win in Chicago to get at least some revenge and satisfaction from last year's loss in the Stanley Cup. Regardless, both teams despise one another and as Danny Briere said, these are the kinds of games that motivation is not really needed, it's already there. With that here are tonight's keys:

-Bob: It may be getting redundant, but Bob had possibly his best game of the season Sunday in Chicago. He can really take a stranglehold of the starting job by putting into the coaches minds' throughout the break that he is the Flyers best and consistent option for the remainder of the season.

-Powerplay: I would have laughed if someone told me going into this year that the Flyers powerplay would be in the bottom third of the league. There are certain nights where the Flyers have relentless pressure, are getting clean and smart shots off, but the bounces aren't going their way. Then there are nights when they just dump the puck in, don't outwork the defense, and never set up let alone get off a shot. The powerplay is the biggest area I think the Flyers can improve on going into the final stretch before the playoffs.

-JVR's Absence: Dan Carcillo did an admirable job stepping in Sunday and filling his role. The fact of the matter is, JVR is a needed presence on the ice. Even when he's not scoring he has been involved and much more physical. However, it is the last game before the break so I cannot disagree with the Flyers holding him back so he can rest and be ready to go next week. Also, I believe a personal matter came up for JVR this week along with his groin so hopefully he can take care of that by next week as well.

The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. due to the game being on VS tonight. Good luck to Briere, Claude Giroux, and Coach Laviolette at the ASG, represent the organization well and do not get hurt!

Caps/Rangers Preview

The Washington Capitals host the New York Rangers tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Verizon Center. The teams are only separated by three points in the standings (The Capitals are 5th with 62 points while the Rangers are in 7th with 59 points).

With the Tampa Bay Lightning winning last night and the game being televised nationally (to people who have quality cable at least), the Caps need to look no further than these two factors for motivation to take two points from tonight's game. Both teams have played well of late so it should be a great tilt. Here are the keys to tonight's game:

-Ovechkin: It seems cliche to have Ovi as one of the keys to tonight's game. However, considering the year he's having, one we are not accustomed to seeing, he needs to build off his hat trick from Saturday night's contest. If the Caps are going to go anywhere in the playoffs, Ovi is going to have to keep playing at this pace. I'm not saying he needs a hat trick every game, but he needs to be involved and producing.

-Goaltending: I'm expecting Henrik Lundqvist and Semyon Varlamov in the net, respectively. Both have good numbers, but Varly is starting to play to the potential that the Caps' front office keep telling us about. We know what to expect out of Lundqvist, he's a quality goaltender, but when Varly is on his game he is virtually unbeatable.

-Caps D vs. Gaborik: Marian Gaborik is the Rangers' most potent scorer. He can use power coming down the wing, or maneuver his way to the slot to bury the puck in the smallest opening between the goalie and the net just to rub salt in the wound. Washington's defense corps is far improved from last year and it will be interesting to see which pair is matched up against him.

It will be interesting to see how the game unfolds tonight. Will the pace be tentative or will the Capitals come at the Rangers with a fury after being torched by them in their last meeting? I like the Caps at home, 4-2 final.

Video Blog 1/21

Click here for my video blog.

Flyers/Sens Preview

While Chris Pronger's return is stealing the headlines after missing 13 games, the Flyers as a team have to weary about this game against the Ottawa Senators tonight at the Wells Fargo Center.

The Flyers are coming off an emotional overtime win against the Washington Capitals and are about to play three games in the next four days. This is a classic trap game and here is why:

-Spezza: Jason Spezza, arguably Ottawa's best player is out with an injury. A team that already struggles to score now know they have to work even harder to get production. The Flyers cannot take for granted that Spezza is out of the lineup or they will pay dearly for it.

-Bob: Sergei Bobrovsky has reverted back to his strong play from the beginning of the year and has had three strong starts in a row. He made 28 saves in an earlier 5-1 win over the Senators this season. Bob has to continue proving his consistency especially against basement dwellers like the Senators.

-Clouston: It's been no secret that the Senators head coach Cory Clouston's job security is in question. Despite how bad the Senators are statistically, they continue to go out and plug away for their blue-collar coach. This will be no different as nothing would make the Senators happier than to go into the best team in the Eastern Conference's building and beat them.

Look for how Pronger moves out on the ice tonight. He's looked good in the clips I've seen him in in practice, but this is real-time game speed now. I'll be at practice tomorrow and should have a video up by mid-afternoon. Until then, the puck drops in 45 minutes so in the words of the legendary Gene Hart, "Good night, and good hockey."

Flyers/Thrashers notes, NYR Preview

Quick video blog, click here.

Flyers Look to Bounce Back at Atlanta

The Philadelphia Flyers will look to bounce back after last night's loss in Boston tonight at Philips Arena in Atlanta against the Thrashers.

Sergei (Bob) Bobrovsky will be in the net after Brian Boucher conceded six goals last night. Bobrovsky is coming off a strong start Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres. Skepticism still surrounds Bob's consistency since he's never played a full NHL season.

While Bobrovsky does have his flaws (he is vulnerable on high shots as a butterfly goaltender and not consistent cutting down the shooter's angle) his athleticism and superb skill set are no mirage and his stats reflect that (16-6-3, 2.55 GAA, .917 save pct).

Here are the keys to tonight's game:

Bobrovsky/Pavalec-This is such an intriguing goaltender matchup because of the youth and parallel success of these both goalies. Ondrej Pavalec has a similar record to Bobrovsky (15-9-5) along with a better GAA (2.33) and save percentage (.930). After a horrific, inexplicable collapse on the ice in the beginning of the year, Pavalec has emerged as a solid young goaltender this team can try to build around.

Dustin Byfuglien-Byfuglien was a force for the Chicago Blackhawks in their championship run last year. He has gotten more attention because of it, but is still underrated for his ability to play at both ends of the ice whether he is on offense or defense. He is the anchor for the powerplay. Look for him to be at the top of the umbrella on the powerplay or at the top of the left circle to unload his shot.

Defensive Zone Play-The Flyers were atrocious in their defensive zone last night. A blind wrap around the boards led to the game-winning goal. Yes the absence of Chris Pronger has played a part in the Flyers overall problems in their own zone, but it's doing the simple things by chipping the puck off the glass or taking an icing if necessary because it temporary haults momentum despite the same players having to stay on the ice. It all starts with a tape to tape breakout pass, then getting the puck deep to unleash their devastating forecheck. These little things make the difference in the NHL.

I probably will video blog tomorrow stay tuned, good night and good hockey!

Flyers/Sabres Recap, Boston Preview

Click here for my take on last night's game and preview of tomorrow's game.

Flyers End Trip With Win Over Devils

The Flyers just completed their annual post Christmas road trip compiling a record of 3-2. It was a very inconsistent road trip to say the least. One game the Flyers looked like the team they have been all season dominating all phases of the game, while in others looking like the team they were at this point last year.

The Western Conference is always a big test for a juggernaut team in the Eastern Conference to go out on the road and perform since the west is a more superior conference (Five points separate the fourth seed from the 13th seed). Here's a quick game by game breakdown:

-Vancouver: The Canucks dominated this game from the start. The Flyers were coming off eight days of rest and having to fly all the way out to Vancouver. Not to mention Vancouver is the hottest team in the league compiling a 16-1-2 record in their last 19 games. Ryan Kessler continues to quietly rise to superstardom and showed it with two incredible goals in the game.

-Los Angeles: This was Michael Leighton's first game back since surgery and possibly his last as a Flyer. Thankfully, the Flyers caught the Kings in their worst slump of the season. Leighton looked shaky at best and while GM Paul Holmgren would not admit it, it certainly did not help Leighton's cause to justify his being waived to the AHL last week.

-Anaheim: The Ducks have talent, but without captain Ryan Getzlaf, it was an atrocity how the Ducks annihilated the Flyers 5-2. It's too early to say teams have figured out rookie sensation Sergei Bobrovsky, but he now has to start making adjustments to keep improving his dynamic skill set.

-Detroit: Winning for the first time in Detroit since 1988 (and in my lifetime) the Flyers responded with a strong defensive effort in beating a constant elite in the west, the Red Wings. Jimmy Howard continues to have up and down outings so despite the Red Wings return as an offensive powerhouse they have to be able to keep the puck out of the net.

-New Jersey: This was the story of two teams going in opposite directions. Even though the Flyers did not bring their best game, they still were able to erase two deficits and pull away in the third period. It shows the difference in a very good team such as the Flyers and an awful team such as the Devils.

Overall I'd give the Flyers a B for the road trip. They competed well against some of the west's elite, but also were exposed by another west elite and a west contender. I would like to see how the Flyers would have played Vancouver had they been on normal rest and that game be for example the third of a five game road trip rather than the first. The rust would have worn off and it likely would have been a much more competitive game.

The Flyers will complete the back end of a home and home with the Devils tomorrow at the Wells Fargo Center. The puck drops at 1 p.m.