The Flyers quickly dispelled concerns about stumbling out of the gate and needing time to jell. Through three games, they’ve amassed six points and a league-best +5 goal differential. So what trends are starting to form? Claude Giroux is proving me wrong for saying that his offensive output might drop from last season. He has three goals in as many games, which leads the league, and he also leads all forwards with five points (Kris Letang has six points through four games). Defensive stalwarts, Chris Pronger and Kimmo Timonen lead the team in ice time, averaging 23:44 and 23:30, respectively. I …
Flyers Finish Frantically In Win Against The Canucks
A win is a win. It doesn’t matter if the opening goal was due to a lucky bounce or if the Flyers played undisciplined in the third period, the Flyers won their home opener 5-4 against the Vancouver Canucks Wednesday night. Andrej Meszaros scored the game-winner early in the third period as the Flyers also received goals from Claude Giroux, Chris Pronger, James van Riemsdyk, and Jakub Voracek. Despite two-point nights from Alexandre Burrows, Mikael Samuelsson, Alex Edler, and Daniel Sedin, the Flyers managed to outscore the most potent offense in the league last season. In one of those rare …
Atlantic Watch: 10/6-10/11
Philly started off the season with a 2-1 win against the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Boston Bruins in Beantown, then recorded a dominant 3-0 shutout in New Jersey to end a 101-game drought during the regular season and playoffs combined. After giving up the first goal of the NHL season to Brad Marchand, the Flyers scored two goals in the final minute of the first period. Claude Giroux dangled his way to a goal with 50 seconds left, while Jakub Voracek scored with only three seconds to go on a turn around shot in the slot. Fortunately for Philly, this would be all they needed as Ilya …
A minor proposal
If all goes according to plan, the Flyers may very well have top prospects Brayden Schenn, Sean Couturier, and Matt Read on the big club for the 2012 season. This might be a promising sign for the Flyers but it certainly impacts the depth of their AHL affiliate Adirondack Phantoms. Without Schenn and Read (Couturier is too young to play in the AHL), the Phantoms would be paper thing down the middle and lacking on offense. Certainly, the Phantoms are off to a promising start with a 6-3 win in their season opener but this is also a team that …
Considering Hartnell as a trade candidate
The Flyers currently have a logjam on offense and will likely look to shed both a contract and salary in the near future. As a result, Scott Hartnell’s name has once again popped up as a possible trade candidate. Should he be on the block, though? First of all, let’s state the obvious: Nobody is untouchable and, if the return is good enough, anyone could be traded. Let’s take a look at the positives and negatives of trading Hartnell. The Good Hartnell is the second-highest paid forward behind only Daniel Briere. The Flyers could alleviate a lot of cap headaches …
The Flyers Win, WITH A SHUTOUT
The Flyers won their second straight game to open this 2011-12 season, with a 3-0 shutout of the New Jersey Devils at the Rock. Ilya Bryzgalov provided the magic so many had hoped he would, saving all 20 of the Devils’ shots and providing the Flyers first shutout since the 2010 playoffs. Claude Giroux opened the scoring with a goal in the first while both Matt Read and Wayne Simmonds scored in the third period to extend the Flyers’ lead. Both teams power-play units failed to score a goal despite having a combined 13 man advantage opportunities. The Flyers had the first several chances of …
Bruins Hang a Banner, Flyers Win a Hockey Game
On Thursday night, the Flyers returned to the site where their Stanley Cup dreams ended last season. This time, the Flyers had a new goalie, several new players, and a desire for revenge. The result was a 2-1 victory on a night the Boston Bruins raised their 2011 Stanley Cup banner to the rafters. After Brad Marchand scored the first goal of the NHL season, Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek each scored for Philly within a 42-second span late in the first period. Ilya Bryzgalov, fresh from his $51 million, nine-year deal, made quite the impression in his first regular-season …
Welcome back, regular season
It’s back, people. Hockey is bleepin’ back. I couldn’t be more excited for it, either. Granted, the Flyers look nothing like they did last season but we’ve beaten that horse to death. There’s no use covering it anymore. Instead of providing you with the lengthy post about what you should expect from this team, how we should temper our expectations, yadda yadda yadda, I say that we just sit back and enjoy the ride. It’s time to get pumped up, people, because the regular season is here and it isn’t going away any time soon (Relatively speaking. Who knows what …
Great Expectations: Wayne Simmonds
When Wayne Simmonds was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, numerous fans of the Los Angeles Kings mentioned how he would become a fan favorite. It didn’t take long. A couple of hits, a few good shifts, a goal or two later and Simmer officially won over many Philadelphians. The gritty winger scored four goals in five games, enough to tie for the league lead in the preseason. He won over the hearts of his coaches too and has been penciled in to the second line, alongside Daniel Briere and Jakub Voracek. Meanwhile, Scott Hartnell, who had great chemistry with Briere, appears …
Flyers waive three, some thoughts
TSN confirms that the Flyers placed forward Blair Betts and defensemen Matt Walker and Oskars Bartulis on waivers today. Paul Holmgren confirmed that Brayden Schenn was sent to the Phantoms as well. Cap reasons aside, there’s no reason to rush Schenn. Giving him some time in the AHL where he can play more minutes per game until he completely dominates the league is a worthwhile decision for such a precious investment. It worked wonders for Claude Giroux and should do the same for Schenn. It’s a surprise to see Betts waived, as his $700k salary made him the most affordable …