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Atlantic Watch: Season Preview

After a painful 3 1/2 months, the NHL will finally return to action this weekend. That being said, the schedule is much shorter, which makes every game that much more important. If you want to make the playoffs, you most likely won’t be able to afford any losing streak of severe length. Since no games have taken place yet, let’s take a look at the Flyers’ schedule for the next week and recent news related to the team, as well as what the rest of the division has done lately. For the Flyers, several stories have occurred this week that …

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Flyers’ season ends with 3-1 loss at home

Although they came out with more energy and effort, the Philadelphia Flyers fell to the Devils for a fourth straight game with a 3-1 defeat at the Wells Fargo Center tonight in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, ending one of the most interesting playoffs in recent memory. New Jersey now awaits the winner of the Rangers/Caps series and will begin the Eastern Conference Finals some time next week. Peter DeBoer’s club reached the third round for the first time since 2003, when the Devils won the last of their three Stanley Cups. The head coach echoed some key …

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Flyers outworked again, lose 4-2, trail 3-1 in series

In a pivotal Game 4, the Philadelphia Flyers showed signs of frustration and were out shot 43-22 in a 4-2 loss to the Devils at the Prudential Center tonight. Dainius Zubrus registered a two-goal night, while Petr Sykora and Marek Zidlicky both had a goal and an assist in New Jersey’s third straight win in the series. Martin Brodeur made 20 saves on his 40th birthday to give Jersey a commanding 3-1 series lead. Claude Giroux assisted on Scott Hartnell’s opening goal and potted a short-handed tally for a two-point night. Kimmo Timonen and Max Talbot were the only other …

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Ponikarovsky Beats Bryzgalov In Overtime, Gives Devils 4-3 Win

After a pair of failed power-play attempts in overtime, the Flyers let Alexei Ponikarovsky’s first goal of the 2012 playoffs be the game-winner in the Devils’ 4-3 victory tonight at the Prudential Center. The win gives Jersey a 2-1 series lead. Ilya Kovalchuk jumped on the Flyers’ clear in the neutral zone and caught Philly’s skaters in a line change when he hit Ponikarovsky with a pass at the Orange and Black’s blue line. With only one defender back, the Devils’ forward decided to shoot rather than pass. After Ilya Bryzgalov denied his first shot, the former Los Angeles King jumped on …

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Devils outwork Flyers, Even Series With 4-1 Win

In Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals series, the Philadelphia Flyers mysteriously showed little to no desire to win tonight’s affair, and the New Jersey Devils muscled their way to a 4-1 road victory. David Clarkson scored his first of the 2012 playoffs with 8:43 left in regulation to give the Devils a 2-1 edge. New Jersey’s #23 found Zach Parise alone in the slot, but couldn’t beat Ilya Bryzgalov due to a poke check from the Flyers’ goaltender. After Bryzgalov broke up the play, Clarkson gained control of the disc at the bottom of the circle and beat Philly’s …

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Read snubbed for Calder consideration

The National Hockey League released its finalists for the Calder Trophy this morning, and Matt Read isn’t on the list. Instead, Colorado’s Gabriel Landeskog, Adam Henrique of the New Jersey Devils and #1 overall pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of Edmonton garnered the top three slots. Like they used to say in Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Court: Fair or unfair…UNFAIR!!! Our own Nick D laid down the case for the 25-year-old Bemidji State product last week, and while it may be true that his age was a contributing factor in being left off the ballot, there are several more factors which he still believes …

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Atlantic Watch: 3/28-4/3

In their four-game schedule this week, the Flyers posted a record of 2-1-1 and picked up what might be there most intense victory of the 2011-2012 regular season with their win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday. It’s those same Pens that the Flyers trail by three points for fourth in the conference and the chance for home-ice advantage in the clubs’ first-round playoff series. The Orange and Black still have a shot for fourth, but they’ll need to beat a team fighting for their playoff lives along with the Pens this week. The Broad Street Bullies started off the week with …

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Atlantic Watch: 3/21-3/27

In their three home games this week, the Flyers were able to clinch a playoff spot with a pair of wins over teams currently sitting outside the postseason scenario. Unfortunately, Ilya Bryzgalov suffered a chip fracture in his right foot. Hopefully for Philly, Bryzgalov will be back by the end of next week when the club takes on the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers as part of their four-game schedule over the next few days. On Thursday, the Orange and Black earned two points against the Washington Capitals with a 2-1 shootout win at the Wells Fargo Center. Wayne Simmonds potted …

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Atlantic Watch: 2/29-3/6

For the first time in awhile, the Flyers put together a string of wins this week, as they won all three of their contests. Ilya Bryzgalov played a big part in the team’s success, as he won all three games with a save percentage of .948. With a four-game schedule ahead for the next seven days, hopefully Bryzgalov can keep Philly’s winning ways intact against some strong opponents. In their first game of the week, the Flyers beat the visiting New York Islanders by a score of 6-3. It looked like Bryzgalov was back to his usual ways, as Josh …

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Atlantic Watch: 2/15-2/21

The Flyers won two of their three games this week, as the club is still trying to turn things around before the playoffs. Although they are 4-5-2 since the All-Star break, Philly won two of their last three games. Fortunately for the Flyers, their next three games are away from the Wells Fargo Center, a scenario they are 19-9-2 in this season. In their first contest, the Flyers pounded the visiting Buffalo Sabres by a score of 7-2. After Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek tallied in the first for Buffalo, the Flyers rattled off seven straight goals. The performance of …

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