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Draft Eligibles: Is Darnell Nurse (OHL), Donovan McNabb’s nephew, the next Chris Pronger?

One player who has climbed up the draft boards this season is Sault. Ste. Marie Greyhounds defenseman Darnell Nurse. Nurse is currently ranked 10th overall by ISS in its January rankings and is listed as the number one OHL defenseman draft prospect, and number two overall OHL player behind Ottawa 67’s forward Sean Monahan. While Nurse’s talent is already present, he will most likely be drafted on future potential. At 6’5 190 pounds, Nurse certainly has room on his frame to add muscle and size. Nurse can also play quite physically, using his 6’5″ frame to his advantage, as indicated …

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Around the Net 02.19.13: Flyers blank Isles, Claude Giroux leads the way; Cam Ward has a bad day and more

Welcome to Around the Net, a weekly look through linkage at the Philadelphia Flyers and other news from around the NHL. Seventh heaven Flyers captain Claude Giroux scored early and the rout was on: [Broad Street Hockey] [The Checking Line] [The 700 Level] In case you missed it… Even good goalies let in a softy every now and then: [Puck Daddy] NHL linesmen still get offsides wrong. Kids, google “Leon Stickle”, 1980 Stanley Cup Finals and you’ll see what I mean: [The Hockey News] Need hockey tickets?Get your Philadelphia Flyers tickets here. That’s all for today, join me Friday for more links …

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Five-on-five numbers indicate the Flyers just aren’t very good

It’s been a schedule full of disappointments through 16 games in this 2013 NHL season. The Flyers sit in last place in the Atlantic Division, and 12th in the Eastern Conference; but they are only two points out of the eight spot. It’s no secret that the special teams have, and should, receive their fair share of the blame.  The power play comes in at eighteenth in the league, while the penalty kill ranks sixteenth. All of that, while the Flyers lead the league in minor penalties, and have had the seventh most power play opportunities. It’s not exactly a recipe for success. …

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Future Flyers Report: Zolnierczyk and Gustafsson in the NHL

During the 2011-2012 campaign, the tandem of Harry Zolnierczyk and Erik Gustafsson saw their fair share of action with the Philadelphia Flyers. The pair, who are both in the top six for points with the Adirondack Phantoms this season, each played a game for the Orange and Black over the last several days, as the two participated in at least 30 contests last season. Zolnierczyk suited up for the Flyers in their 3-2 win against the Winnipeg Jets at the MTS Centre on Tuesday. Harry Z had two shots on net, two hits, and two blocked shots in 9:50 TOI, as …

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Flight Plan: Atlantic Away Southeast at Home

The Philadelphia Flyers have just one win through four games of a six game road trip. To say that the Flyers aren’t very good on the road is an understatement at this point, as they have the worst record in the NHL away from home at 2-8-0. They’ve also been away more than any team in the Eastern Conference, so there is some comfort in that at least, that they will eventually get even this schedule out with some games within the familiar confines of the Wells Fargo Center. Unfortunately for this struggling, inconsistent, and seemingly apathetic team, they still …

jan-hlavac01_gal

Czechoslovaks in a Flyers uniform – Jan Hlavac

Filip Strych is our Czech correspondent who contributes to philadelphiaflyers.cz, the following is an article from that site. This week we are going to continue our Czechoslovakian blog with Jan Hlavac, another Kladno-born player who played for the Philadelphia Flyers. Despite his short tenure with the team he will be remembered as a part of the Lindros trade to the Rangers. Jan was born on September 20, 1976 in Prague where he started his career with one of the best teams HC Sparta Prague during the 1993/1994 season. The following year, the New York Islanders chose Hlavac in the second round, 28th overall. …

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Around The Net 02.15.13: Giroux is ready for the “C”; Nick Cousins backlash; Flyers-Devils preview and more

Welcome to Around the Net, a weekly look through linkage at the Philadelphia Flyers and other news from around the NHL. The case for Claude Why Claude Giroux is a good captain: [Philly.com] What we have here is a failure to communicate Ian Laperriere’s comments about Nick Cousins cause an uproar: [Broad Street Hockey] Zac attack Zac Rinaldo is maturing, go figure: [The Hockey Writers] Help on the blueline is coming soon Andrej Meszaros returned to practice yesterday: [CSNPhilly-Tim Panaccio] Flyers-Devils previews A look at tonight’s Atlantic division showdown in Newark: [Hockeybuzz- Bill Meltzer] [CSNPhilly-Tim Riday] Maybe you aren’t busy …

Ilya Bryzgalov #30 of the Philadelphia Flyers stops a shot by Chad LaRose #59 of the Carolina Hurricanes on February 2, 2013 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3. Image courtesy of Elsa/Getty Images North America.

Crashing the Crease: Has Bryzgalov Really Been Better This Season?

As we sit here in the midst of two days without Flyers hockey, let us take pause to reminisce about the old NHL: The forgotten, hazy days of yesteryear, in which teams had more than 21 hours between games, players skated on sharpened butter knives and, in one small corner of the league, an eccentric Russian goalie named Ilya Bryzgalov hitchhiked from Phoenix to Philadelphia and found a new providence, playing hockey for our boys in orange and black. This was a hopeful and optimistic time, one in which that entire City of Brotherly Love ever so quietly gazed with …

Kimmo

Breaking Down the Bullies: Is this the .500 life?

The Flyers have played 14 games to this point, but if we have learned anything, it is that we know nothing. A mere seven points separate fourth place (Toronto) and last place (Washington). The team has scored less than two goals on TEN separate occasions, while compiling 19 in the other four. Claude Giroux trails Kimmo Timonen in points, and Tye McGinn has the same amount of goals. They feel like a team that is struggling, but they boast a 4-1-1 record over their last six contests. Now sitting at 6-7-1 overall, is this lack of consistency going to keep …

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Atlantic Watch: Devils top the East, Rangers on winning streak, Islanders on losing streak

The Philadelphia Flyers were able to extend their point streak to four games this week, as they earned a shootout loss to the Florida Panthers and an overtime win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Although they were dominated in Toronto, the Orange and Black did a good job of rebounding to earn their second road win of the year last night in Winnipeg. The Flyers continue their road trip with three of their six games away from the Wells Fargo Center coming in the next seven days. Philadelphia had a lead after 40 minutes on Thursday, but they only came away …