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Atlantic Watch: Flyers aren’t out yet, Pens clinch the division, Islanders sit in seventh, Devils endure long losing streak

The Philadelphia Flyers entered this week on a winning streak, but they left it on a losing skid and can now only hope they receive some help to make the postseason. With four of their final nine games coming up in the next week, the Orange and Black will likely find out if they will be heading to the playoffs by April 17th. The Flyers won their third straight game on Wednesday night with a 5-3 comeback decision over the Montreal Canadiens in Philly. Wayne Simmonds tied the game with a little over five minutes left before Erik Gustafsson’s first …

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Atlantic Watch: Flyers’ long break, Penguins extend lengthy winning streak, Rangers grab eighth place, Brodeur returns

The Philadelphia Flyers didn’t help their case to make the 2013 postseason this week, as they only earned two points over three games. To make matters worse, the Orange and Black will endure a five-day break to let the other teams in the Eastern Conference catch up with them in games played. After their lengthy break, the Flyers play a game in Pittsburgh before starting a five-game homestand against another Atlantic Division club fighting to make the playoffs. The Flyers’ week started with a 5-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on Wednesday. In the first game …

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Atlantic Watch: Flyers Respond to Giroux, Penguins’ Three-Game Winning Streak, Rangers and Islanders Deal With Injuries

Although the Philadelphia Flyers lost two of their three games this week, the Orange and Black finished the week with a resounding 7-0 victory over a divisional opponent. Philly will look to gain ground in the Eastern Conference this week with four games over the next seven days, one of which is against the Pittsburgh Penguins and another two against a pair of the teams at the bottom of the standings. The Flyers started the week with a 5-3 defeat on Friday to the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center. Travis Zajac opened the scoring with his third of …

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Then and Now: Joe Sacco

Joe Sacco played for four different teams in the NHL over 12 seasons before he signed a contract with the Philadelphia Flyers’ organization in January of 2003. Sacco split time with the Flyers and the Philadelphia Phantoms during the 2002-2003 campaign. After producing four goals and three assists in six games in the AHL, Sacco was called up to the Flyers and spent the rest of the season in the NHL. He had a total of six points in 34 games for the Flyers with five assists along with 20 PIMs and an even plus/minus rating. The right winger’s only …

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Then and Now: Josh Gratton

Tim Ramholt never played a game for the Philadelphia Flyers. In fact, the only NHL game Ramholt ever took part in was as a member of the Calgary Flames in the club’s  4-1 defeat to the Anaheim Ducks on November 29, 2007. In the 2008-09 season, Ramholt was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers organization, taking part in seven games for the Philadelphia Phantoms before being shipped to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Chris Gratton’s cousin, winger Josh Gratton. Potting two goals and three assists in seven contests to start that season with the Milwaukee Admirals, Gratton split time between …

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Fleury Comes Up Big In Third Period, Flyers Lose 3-2

In the first game of the series that produced less than seven goals total, the Pens held on for a 3-2 victory in Pittsburgh tonight. After they fell into a 3-0 hole in the series, the Pens have rattled off two straight wins to force Game 6 after their first win in a game of importance against the Flyers at the CONSOL Energy Center since it opened. Marc-Andre Fleury didn’t let the Flyers even the score in the third period despite the fact Philly out shot Pittsburgh 14-8 in the final frame. With several crucial saves throughout the contest, Fleury has seemed to …

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Penguins Avoid Sweep Emphatically, Destroy Flyers, 10-3

Although much of the media assumed the series was over, the Pittsburgh Penguins came out and reminded everyone they’re still alive with an impressive 10-3 victory over the Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center tonight. Jordan Staal recorded a hat trick including the game-winner, which came late in the first period, while Evgeni Malkin had two goals and an assist for a three-point performance. Sidney Crosby followed up Sunday’s cowardly display with a three-point night that featured a goal and two assists. The 10-goal outburst came without the services of James Neal, Arron Asham, Craig Adams, and Paul Martin. “I just …

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At long last: Asham banned four games, Neal for one

Following an interminable wait, the National Hockey League on Monday suspended Penguins forward Arron Asham four games — the balance of the current best-of-seven Eastern Quarterfinal — and James Neal has drawn a one-game ban for actions taken during Sunday’s 8-4 loss to the Flyers in Game 3. Interestingly, Neal was only issued one decision for a pair of hearings today — both of which ended around 10 a.m. (et). He was not punished for his original misdeed — an open-ice blind-side hit to Sean Couturier after the 19-year-old had gotten rid of the puck — but rather for his …

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Flyers Dominate Disgraceful Penguins, 8-4, Lead Series 3-0

The Philadelphia Flyers came out and beat the Pittsburgh Penguins today at the Wells Fargo Center 8-4 to move to within one victory of an Eastern Conference Semifinals’ appearance. After Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier stepped up for the Flyers in Games 1 and 2, it was Matt Read in Game 3, as the rookie put home his first two playoff goals in the NHL. His power-play goal late in the second period was the game-winner for Philly. “You look at a guy like Matt Read stepping up with the goals,” veteran Max Talbot said about Read before he commented …

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Penguins Get Calls, Flyers Win 6-4 In Pitt

In a game of importance for home-ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs, the Philadelphia Flyers walked into Pittsburgh today and left with a 6-4 victory. “We haven’t talked about home-ice or the Rangers, or the Penguins or the Senators. We talked about the two points. That’s really all we can control right now,” said Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette. “Eventually we’ll either have home-ice or we won’t.” Not only did they move to within one point of the Pens in the standings, the visitors overcame numerous non-calls from the officials and drew an end-of-the-game line brawl and hissy …

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