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Flyers Gameday: 2/17/08 vs. Habs

February 17, 2008, 10:51 AM ET [ Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Tonight's formula for losing:

Giving up the game's first goal + giving up a goal in the final seconds of a period = chasing the game.

Chasing the game X inability to convert on numerous powerplay chances in the second period X 19 shot attempts blocked X more defensive miscues = seventh straight loss.

Notes:

* Flyers fans were booing Daniel Briere and Jim Vandermeer tonight, especially Briere.
* Vandermeer made a boneheaded decision that cost the Flyers a critical goal, standing around to engage in a confrontation with Josh Gorges while play carried on behind him and the Habs scored.
* Derian Hatcher will be out up to three more weeks.


***

To say the Flyers' need to turn around their slide in a hurry is the understatement of the year. Unfortunately, they're going to have to do it with a banged-up lineup and a beleaguered team defense that has resembled the Keystone Kops since the All-Star break.

On the first front, the situation got worse yesterday, as Joffrey Lupul -- one of the few Flyers forwards who has looked good over the last week -- is once again on the injury list. It looks as though Braydon Coburn and/or Derian Hatcher will be back in the lineup tonight for the back-end of the home-and-home set with the Canadiens.

In terms of team defense, the Flyers' played better yesterday in Montreal, partially due to improved focus and execution, partially due to a stellar game from Antero Niittymäki and partially as a result of some good luck early in the game when the Habs missed a couple wide open nets.

Assuming Coburn and Hatcher are back tonight and Jason Smith doesn't get a night off to rest a nagging leg injury, two of Lasse Kukkonen, Ryan Parent and Jim Vandermeer are likely to sit out tonight (with Kukkonen the most likely to get scratched). Kukkonen, Parent and Vandermeer all turned in strong games last night in Montreal.

Offensively, the Flyers are scuffling right now. Five-on-five scoring is hard to come by. Even the team's powerplay has not looked as effective of late. The Flyers have often had trouble getting set up and then getting shots through.

Here are the ugly trends among the Flyers' "core" group of players:

* Daniel Briere - one goal in the last 11 games, two in the last 14, four in the last 16 (including an ENG)
* Mike Richards- no goals in six games, one in the last 13, four in the last 24
* Jeff Carter: one goal in the last 11 games, two in the last 16
* R.J. Umberger- two goals (both in one game) since the All-Star break (10 GP); excluding games against Pittsburgh, two goals in his last 33 games.
* Mike Knuble- no goals in five games
* Kimmo Timonen- no goals, three assists, minus-seven in his last 14 games.
* Derian Hatcher- minus-six in his last five games (all-purpose minus-seven)
* Jason Smith - minus-three in his last four games (all-purpose minus-six)


Potential lines and scratches (based on last night's starting lineup; Denis Tolpeko was recalled and Kyle Greentree returned to the Phantoms):

Hartnell - Richards- Briere
Upshall - Carter- Kapanen
Tolpeko - Umberger - Knuble
Cote - Dowd - (Seven D?)

Timonen - Vandermeer
Smith - Coburn
Parent - Jones
Kukkonen??

Biron
[Niittymäki]

Scratches:
Hatcher (knee)
Downie (upper body injury)
Lupul (high ankle sprain)
Gagne (IR, concussion)
Fitzpatrick (IR, sports hernia)
Rathje (LTI)


****

If you've ever been to the Wachovia Center for a 7 PM game, you know that a large segment of the crowd doesn't arrive until late in the first period -- some time around 7:30 to 7:45.

That's why the Flyers held the Ron Hextall Night ceremonies during the first intermission of their Feb. 6 game against the Capitals. It was a way to give the maximum number of fans a chance to witness the ceremony and pay tribute to one of the most popular players in team history. It was also a way to give the honoree a chance to hear the cheers of a packed house instead of one that's at least one-third empty.

The Flyers should be applauded by the league for showing their fans and Hextall that type of consideration. It's part of the reason why the fans and the ex-players feel such a close connection to the club.

It should be held up as a model for one of the many simple ways teams can make the game fan-friendlier. Instead, the Flyers got fined $25,000 because the intermission went on 14 extra minutes. The Capitals filed a complaint, but the league itself too punitive action.
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