Scott Hartnell recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick, while Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 24 shots in the Flyers’ 4-3 win over the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs tonight. Brayden Schenn scored his sixth goal of the season late in the second period for his first game-winning goal in the NHL, as the Flyers ended their season-high three-game losing streak. Max Talbot and Claude Giroux were the other two Flyers to score in the second period. Talbot’s redirection gave the Flyers’ a 2-1 lead, while Giroux gave the Flyers’ a 3-2 lead during the later stages of the middle stanza. Tyler Bozak was the …
On fighting, defense, and more
Hartnell (drop ‘em) down Over the previous four seasons, Scott Hartnell had a combined 26 fights. This season, he has one. That is it. One. While that is admirable, it is important that he maintain his edge. The way he drops the gloves to energize the team or to protect his teammate(s) is integral to the success of the Flyers. His newfound scoring touch and chemistry on the top line is great but there needs to be more to his game right now. The team is struggling to churn out consecutive wins and someone needs to breathe more life into …
Nabokov Stops 45 Shots, Islanders Hand Flyers 1-0 Shootout Loss
Evgeni Nabokov denied 45 shots in regulation and overtime before he stopped both of the Flyers’ shootout attempts to give the Islanders a 1-0 shootout win tonight at the Wells Fargo Center. Frans Nielsen, who signed a four-year extension worth a reported $11 million with New York earlier on Tuesday, had the decisive goal in the shootout, as John Tavares also scored on his shootout attempt to keep Ilya Bryzgalov’s shootout woes this season intact. Claude Giroux may have not produced a single point tonight, but it was one of his better performances of the season, as his line with …
Point/Counterpoint: Trade deadline moves
Point: Tweak the roster By Steve J The Flyers miss the hell out of Chris Pronger. You know it, I know it, Trent Klatt knows it. The trade rumors that have circulated for the past couple of months have revolved around the defense. Ryan Suter, Shea Weber, Tim Gleason, and Luke Schenn’s names have been floated as potential candidates. The cost for most of these guys would be at least one young forward, which happens to be the Flyers’ greatest asset. Well, in the words of the immortal sage Admiral Ackbar, it’s a trap! It is absolutely not worth it …
Flyers’ Monster Third Period Too Little, Too Late In 6-4 Loss To NJ
Thanks to a huge third period, the Flyers turned a six-goal deficit after two periods into a 6-4 loss at home to the New Jersey Devils this afternoon. Alexei Ponikarovsky recorded his 300th NHL point with an assist in the first period before he put home the game-winner less than two minutes into the second period for his second two-point game as a Devil. Kurtis Foster had two goals and an assist for his first three-point performance since December 29th, 2006, while Ilya Kovalchuk had a goal and two assists in addition to a decision over Brayden Schenn in a …
Atlantic Watch: 1/25-1/31
In their only game this week, the Flyers took part in yet another shootout. Unfortunately for Philly, it was unable to pull out a win. The Orange and Black did, however, keep up with the Rangers, who also lost in a shootout this week. The Flyers look forward to a difficult week ahead, as three of their four opponents are currently in the playoff picture. For a third time this season, the Flyers lost to the Winnipeg Jets. This time, however, the game was very defensive, as the Jets picked up a 2-1 shootout win in Philadelphia on Tuesday night. Chris …
Snapshots
1. Laud Bob, learn from Bob When Dmitry Chesnokov interviewed Sergei Bobrovsky for Puck Daddy this offseason, he asked him about Ilya Bryzgalov’s contract. “What I understood from last season is that if you play well, show the result, then you play for the first team,” said Bobrovsky. “If not, you are benched. A contract is not playing, a person is.” Bobrovsky put his head down, kept quiet, and played hard. The presence of Bryzgalov did not intimidate him. That alone speaks volumes about just how much the young goalie matured from the previous postseason. While Bob may not get …
Atlantic Watch: 1/18-1/24
The Flyers went 2-1-1 in a week that featured a lot of ups and downs for the guys in Orange and Black. After a week that featured a loss to the Islanders, a Scott Hartnell record a natural hat trick, and their first shootout win of the season, the Flyers are still trailing the Rangers for the top spot in the division. With one game this week, the Flyers look to gain ground in the division as well as beat a team they have already lost to twice this season. The Flyers started the week off with a 4-1 loss to …
Flyers Win First Shootout Of Season, Beat Panthers 3-2 in Florida
The Philadelphia Flyers finally proved they don’t need to practice the shootout, as they beat the Florida Panthers tonight 3-2 in a shootout in Sunrise. Claude Giroux, who saw his goal drought extended to 11 games, nonetheless came through with the decisive goal in the shootout, while Brayden Schenn and Jakub Voracek both scored in the first period for Philly. With their first shootout victory of the season, the Flyers enter the All-Star break at 29-14-5, good enough for second place in the Atlantic Division. On the Flyers’ second shot, Giroux picked up the puck at center with a full …
Hartnell’s Natural Hat Trick And Talbot’s Two-Goal Game Not Enough Against Bruins
Scott Hartnell’s natural hat trick in the second period wasn’t enough for the Philadelphia Flyers, as they put up a great fight but fell to the Boston Bruins by a 6-5 count on Sunday evening thanks to Tyler Seguin’s shootout winner. Milan Lucic, Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci and Seguin each registered a goal and an assist, while Adam McQuaid had two assists for Boston. Tim Thomas stopped 33 of the Flyers’ 38 shots and picked up an atypical win in the process. Seguin notched the decisive goal in the shootout, as he undressed Ilya Bryzgalov before he slid the puck …