The last two games for the Flyers haven’t been pretty, but there is good news related to the team’s point-leader. Claude Giroux is expected to make a return in the near future, the earliest being tonight’s game against the Dallas Stars, from his concussion. This is good news considering the status of Chris Pronger, who will not take part in another game at any point this season or for the playoffs. With his team going 2-2-0 in his absence, Giroux’s return will hopefully turn things around for the Orange and Black. As for Philly’s games this week, the Flyers extended their winning …
Flight Plan Week of 11.20.2011
The Philadelphia Flyers were on a pretty good run, collecting points in eight straight games. That streak dated all the way back to October 27 when they played the Winnipeg Jets in a wild game where 17 goals were scored and the Flyers ended up losing 9-8. As fate would have it, their most recent loss in regulation would also come at the hands of the Jets, by a score of 6-4 on Saturday. For some reason, Peter Laviolette cannot win games against either the Jets or the Atlanta Thrashers, doing so only once in his tenure as the head …
Atlantic Watch: 10/26-11/1
The week opened up roughly, but it ended smoothly as the Flyers seem to be moving towards playing better after a 5-1 win at home against the Carolina Hurricanes. Giving up 14 goals in back-to-back nights, the Flyers lost in inexplicable fashion to two currently horrendous teams, who are both experiencing difficulties in play and personnel. Rebounding back from those two horrific losses, the Flyers spanked Carolina with both Danny Briere and Chris Pronger out of the lineup. The Flyers began the real Halloween horror show by suffering a 5-1 defeat in Montreal last Wednesday, giving the lowly Habs their first road win …
Atlantic Watch: 10/12-10/18
Three more games for the Flyers this week resulted in five more points in the standings. Losing their first game of the year in overtime to the Kings, the Flyers are no longer perfect on the season. However, since they won their other games in the week, the Flyers still haven’t lost in regulation this season. Sure, it’s upsetting to lose a game like Saturday’s to Los Angeles, a team featuring former Philly teammates Mike Richards and Simon Gagne, but it’s important to earn points early in the year. It’s also important to see many of the young players stepping …
Was trading for Bryzgalov’s rights a worthwhile risk?
To answer this question, we must first ask another one: What benefits are there to trading for the rights of a pending unrestricted free agent? Ideally, negotiating rights will allow you work out a reasonable deal before a player hits free agency. If this is the intent of a general manager, then he had better be sure that the player is willing to take a discount to sign now in lieu of testing the market. Also, he should be sure that the player wants to play in that city. In the case of Ilya Bryzgalov, his actions suggest that he …
What goaltending decision will the Flyers make?
The names of various goaltenders have popped up in conjunction with the Flyers recently. With the trade deadline a few weeks away, will Philadelphia make a move?
A couple of quick thoughts on the Nabokov situation
I know this story has already been beaten to death and that we usually do not make it a point to write about situations that are not related to the Flyers but I feel compelled to comment on the Evgeni Nabokov/Garth Snow showdown. The Islanders are not doing themselves any favors by suspending the 35-year-old goaltender who outrightly stated that he wants a shot at helping a team in the playoffs. The Islanders are not a playoff team and it is likely that they won’t be one next season either, when they could still retain his rights. The organization is …
Looking at the impact of the Halak trade
Jaroslav Halak, the 25-year-old Slovakian netminder, was the arguably the best available goaltending asset this offseason. His stock skyrocketed after an unprecedented playoff run where he backstopped the 8th seed Montreal Canadiens to victories over the top team in the East and the defending Stanley Cup champions while boasting the best save percentage in the playoffs. GMs were apparently told a while ago that he was on the block but the trade of Halak to St. Louis for Lars Eller and Ian Schultz came as a shock to the rest of us. Carey Price was supposed to be Montreal’s next …