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Flyers gameday: 2/5/08 vs. Atlanta Thrashers |
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It wasn't exactly artistic, but the Flyers' 3-2 win over the Thrashers tonight provided the two points Philly needed to re-take sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division with one of their games in hand on the Devils and Penguins.
Meanwhile, the Flyers edged out to a five-point lead with four games in hand on the Rangers, who lost 4-2 to the Kings tonight. Philly holds a nine-point edge with two games in hand on the Islanders, who got blanked 3-0 by Anaheim. In the Eastern Conference race, the Flyers have pulled to within three points of Ottawa for the top seed, with a game in hand.
Even though the Flyers never trailed in tonight's game, it was one of those nights where the game never really felt under control until the final horn sounded. The Flyers played just well enough to win, which is all that matters.
First, the good news:
* The Flyers had the edge in territorial play for the majority of the game, and got off to a good start in the first period.
* They got a lot of rubber on Kari Lehtonen and had people going to the net.
* Their league leading powerplay clicked for two powerplay goals .
* They looked strong on the penalty kill.
* After a shaky start -- and some help from his goalposts on several ocassions-- Antero Niittymäki settled in and preserved the win in a hairy third period. He remains unbeaten by Kari Lehtonen and the Thrashers.
* Mike Knuble scored his sixth goal in the last six games.
* Steve Downie stepped up in the clutch to put the Flyers ahead to stay.
* Jeff Carter played another strong defensive game, more than offsetting an offensive mini-slump (one goal, two points in his last six games).
* Scottie Upshall was OK after getting his leg or knee twisted initiating a hit near the player bench in the third period.
On the flip side:
* The Flyer were often sloppy in taking care of the puck. I have no idea how the Flyers were only officially charged with nine giveaways tonight, because it seemed like they had about a half dozen in the third period alone.
* Philly consistently lost faceoffs (34% for the night), several times cleanly in the defensive zone. They also got outhit (15-14) by a club that is not especially physical. In particular, Bobby Holik was taking runs at Flyers players without the Flyers consistently stepping up their hitting game to match.
* Among others, it was a rough night for Derian Hatcher and forward R.J. Umberger.
Lastly, I 'm going to momentarily break a vow not to mention Peter Forsberg in another blog until he makes up his mind about if/where he's going to play. The Flyers have lived up to the promise they made to Forsberg when they were trying to re-sign him last year right up until the day he was traded: Paul Holmgren has done what it takes to make the Flyers a solid contender once again.
Also, in all due respect to Brian Engblom, anyone who watches the Daniel Briere line play at even strength on an everygame basis knowns that Peter Forsberg would be a huge improvement to both the chemistry and execution of that line in all three zones. There's an obvious place for him in Philadelphia if he chooses to come back.
****
Now in a three-way tie for first place in the Atlantic Division, the Flyers (29-17-2-3, 63 points) travel to Atlanta to take on the Thrashers (26-25-0-4, 56 points) tonight.
Regardless of the standings, there are some teams you just seem to match up well against and others you struggle to beat. For Atlanta, the Flyers have always fallen into the latter category. Even last year, when the Flyers had the worst record in the NHL, Philly managed to sweep the season series.
Antero Niittymäki gets the call in goal. He is is 7-0-0 lifetime against the Thrashers and beat countryman Kari Lehtonen four straight times in the 2005 Calder Cup Finals between the Philadelphia Phantoms and Chicago Wolves. However, Niittymäki has been pulled from each of his last two starts. In his last start against Atlanta (January 8), the Finn made 27 saves in a 4-1 Flyers victory.
Martin Biron, who has been extremely sharp in all three appearances (two starts, one mid-game switch), will play tomorrow night at home against Washington on Ron Hextall Night.
The streaky Thrashers have won three in a row after dropping five straight (three in regulation). Atlanta may be without the services of Ilya Kovalchuk (knee), who has 13 goals and 23 points in 22 career games against the Flyers. He will be a game time decision. Lehtonen is coming off a 36-save shutout and Marian Hossa (10 goals, 23 points in 33 games against Philly) has points in four straight games.
Probable lines and scratches
Gagne - Briere - Upshall
Hartnell - Richards - Downie
Umberger - Carter - Knuble
Cote - Dowd - Kapanen
Timonen - Vandermeer
Coburn - Hatcher
Jones - Smith
Niittymäki
[Biron]
Scratches:
Kukkonen (healthy)
Lupul (IR, spinal bruising; return delayed)
Fitzpatrick (IR, sports hernia)
Rathje (LTI)
Notes:
Here's a look at the individual point and plus-minus totals of the Flyers skaters over their last five games, dating back to the home loss against the Devils on January 22.
Centers
Daniel Briere (1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points, -3, 51.4% faceoff percentage)
Mike Richards (0 goals, 4 assists, 4 points, -3, 57.5% faceoff percentage)
Jeff Carter (1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points, +4, 38.6% faceoff percentage)
Jim Dowd (0 points, +1, 62.9% faceoff percentage)
Wings
Mike Knuble (5 goals, 1 assist, 6 points, +3)
R.J. Umberger (1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points, -1)
Scott Hartnell (1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points, -2)
Scottie Upshall (0 goals, 2 asssists, 2 points, +2)
Simon Gagne (1 goal, 0 assists, 1 point, -3)
Steve Downie (0 points, -3)
Sami Kapanen (0 points, E)
Riley Cote (0 points, +1, 25 PIM)
Defense
Kimmo Timonen (0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point, -4)
Jim Vandermeer (1 goal, 0 asssits, 1 point, -4)
Braydon Coburn (1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points, +4)
Derian Hatcher (0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point, +1)
Randy Jones (1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points, E)
Jason Smith (0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point, E)
Postgame commentary to follow
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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