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Flyers Finally Beat Lightning

February 16, 2011

Through all the success the Philadelphia Flyers have had this season, there was one thing that they hadn’t achieved before Tuesday night. They had beaten every Eastern Conference team at least once this season except the Tampa Bay Lightning. Now, they’ve cleared that hurdle as well. With their 4-3 shootout victory at St. Pete Forum, the Flyers extended their lead in the Eastern Conference to five points over the Lightning. Things didn’t look great for the Orange and Black early on, however. They started very slowly out of the gate against the hard-charging Bolts, and could hardly mount a shot on goal through the first 13 minutes of the game. But the player that was adamantly d...

Flyers Bolt To Tampa, Versteeg To Play

February 15, 2011

Larry DAngelo

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The Philadelphia Flyers (36-14-5) will travel to Florida for their fourth and final chance to grab a win against the Tampa Bay Lightning (34-17-5) this season. With the Lightning breathing down the Flyers necks, the Flyers could pull six points a head of the Lightning giving them some breathing room. A loss tonight would put the Bolts just two points behind the conference leading Flyers, a four point swing from a possible Flyers win. The Flyers are 3-2 with book-end shutouts by the Lightning and the Kings in their last five games, netting just eight goals during that stretch. Those shutouts moved the Flyers out of the top spot for goals per game to third behind Vancouver and Detroit ...

Flyers Go 'All In', Grab Versteeg

February 14, 2011

Mark Trible

3 Comments

The Philadelphia Flyers have shown in the past few years that they are willing to improve their team before the NHL trade deadline. But for a team that looked primed for a repeat Stanley Cup appearance, many wondered if the trend would hold true this season. It did. General Manager Paul Holmgren made a move on Monday evening that sent a first round and third round pick in the 2011 draft to Toronto for Kris Versteeg. Although there had been speculation recently hovering around the Flyers and their interest in Versteeg, many thought James van Riemsdyk would have to go the other way. Holmgren’s move prevented the movement of JVR, and in doing so it added to an already extremely...

Kings Too Quick For Flyers

February 13, 2011

Larry DAngelo

8 Comments

The Philadelphia Flyers welcomed home some familiar faces in an afternoon reunion game of sorts with the Los Angeles Kings. On that plane home for the reunion was Ron Hextall, Dean Lombardi, Michal Handzus, Justin Williams, John Stevens and Terry Murray. They are a good group of guys and is no wonder the Kings are having success throughout their organization. Coach Peter Laviolette made some changes to start the game as he scratched Zherdev and had Giroux centering Carter and Richards on the first line. The real surprise move was Nodl centering Carcillo and JVR. The Flyers started Sergei Bobrovsky who has not played in ten games. Bobrovsky was 7-1 with a 2.18 GAA and .926 SV% i...

Flyers Turn Up The Power

February 11, 2011

Larry DAngelo

1 Comment

Power Play goals by Jeff Carter and Danny Briere lead the Flyers past the Hurricanes 2-1 tonight at the Wells Fargo Center. Jeff Carter opened the scoring in the first minute of the third on a power play that was carried over from the end of the second period. With Ruutu in the box for slashing at the end of the second period, Carter skated down the right wing snapped a wrist shot which seemed to be misplayed by Cam Ward. The puck hit the top of the thumb on the glove hand bent it back and went into the net for the 1-0 lead, a goal Ward would sure like to have back. Eleven minutes later as the Flyers were on another power play Briere would give the Flyers some breathing room. W...

Game Day: Flyers / Hurricanes

February 10, 2011

Larry DAngelo

0 Comments

The Philadelphia Flyers (35-13-5) fresh off a four day break take to the ice tonight against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes (26-21-7). The Flyers are coming off a 3-1 home victory versus the Dallas Stars Saturday night. The Flyers would score a goal a period with Darrol Powe's shorthanded goal the eventual game winner. If you missed the game or want a recap look here. The Hurricanes are coming off a 3-2 over time loss in New Jersey on Tuesday night and are currently sitting in the eight spot in the Eastern Conference, if the season ended today they would be the Flyers first round opponent. Matchup Tonight's game is the third matchup of the season for these two teams, i...

Flyers POWEr Past The Stars 3-1

February 5, 2011

Larry DAngelo

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The Philadelphia Flyers entered tonight's game with the Dallas Stars just four points behind the Vancouver Canucks in the race for the President's trophy. The Flyers came out strong in the beginning of the game but struggled to finish with their shots on goal and passes. The Flyers would get the first opportunity on the power play when Dan Carcillo charged the crease and was pushed into Kari Lehtonen who punched Carcillo in the face, picking up a two minute roughing minor. The Flyers would get some pressure on net but not enough to put the puck by Lehtonen. The Stars would get their shot on the power play when Matt Carle was called for a tripping minor at 9:24 of the first period. B...

Why an Emery Return Makes Sense

February 4, 2011

Mark Trible

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When TSN’s Darren Dreger wrote that Ray Emery was ready to make his comeback, he acknowledged two teams with interest in the goaltender. Those two teams were Anaheim and Philadelphia. Of course, with goaltending being at the pinnacle of ‘touchy’ subjects in Philadelphia, there was a mixed reaction towards the scoop. There’s no right or wrong answer in reaction to the prospect of Emery in Orange and Black. However, it seemed like much of the support or outrage was based in Emery playing for the team this season. That doesn’t make very much sense. But what does make sense is the prospect of having Emery for next season. The facts are fairly simple, Emery is trying to att...

Flyers Win On Late Leino Rama

February 3, 2011

Larry DAngelo

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On a night the Flyers organization retired Bob Clarke's number 16 for a second time,the Flyers earned a win on a late Ville Leino Spin-o-rama. For Leino it was the game winner, his second of the evening and 13th for the season. With Ville Leino hovering around the slot in front the the Predators net, Claude Giroux threw a pass that hit Leino on the forehand with his back to the net. With his only option to spin towards his backhand, as he had a D-man defending any forehand move, Leino spun and lifted a backhand shot over the glove of Lindback for the game winner. Leino's first goal, his 12th, came on the power play earlier in the third and that put the Flyers up 2-1. The Flye...

Game Day: Flyers / Predators

February 3, 2011

Larry DAngelo

0 Comments

The Philadelphia Flyers (33-13-5) look to rebound from their lethargic effort in Tampa Bay, where they were out hustled and out scored 4-0. Tonight the Flyers kick off a four game homestand when they face the Nashville Predators (27-17-7) at the Wells Fargo Center. This homestand could be just what they need to get this team back to form as they went 4-1 in their last five home games. Matchup This is the first and only time these two teams will meet in the regular season this year. Last season was the first time in four years these two teams met. The Flyers would lose in Nashville 4-3 in a shootout. The Flyers and Preds seem to be at .500 versus one and other with the Flyers...