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Meltzer's Musings: 11-13-09

November 13, 2009, 1:48 AM ET [ Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Last night's game between the Flyers and Senators was hardly the most riveting hockey you will ever see, but Philly played efficient defense and took advantage of some mediocre defense and goaltending from Ottawa.

The Emery vs. Ottawa storyline never really unfolded last night, because the Flyers' keeper was rarely tested. But Emery did what he needed to do. On today's Daily Drop at Versus.com, I took an in-depth look at Emery's performance in the game and how Paul Holmgren's gamble on him as the Flyers' starter has paid off in a big way so far.

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I don't think that the Flyers' improvements on team defense so far this season will prove to be a fluke. I think the team -- if it stays healthy -- finally has a lineup in place that is better suited to protecting leads. I have always preferred two scoring lines, a primary checking line and a secondary checking/energy line to the "three scoring lines and a sparsely used fourth line" arrangement.

The performance of the third line (Dan Carcillo- Blair Betts- Ian Laperriere) and the fourth line with Darroll Powe, Mika Pyorala and Arron Asham has been a major key to the club's five-game winning streak. They've been tone setters for the team and can be used in a variety of situations.

Related note: Have you noticed there hasn't been much talk lately about the Flyers taking undisciplined penalties? After the first couple of games this season, Philly has really done a good job at following through on its pledge to minimize something that was a major problem last season. In particular, Carcillo deserves praise for his recent efforts to avoid taking himself off the ice without taking someone else.

If you are going to criticize the team during the stretches when they fail to perform or seem to lack accountability, you should also give credit where it's due when it follows through and corrects its weaknesses.

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The NHL schedule is an absolute joke -- for all teams, not just the Flyers. I won't gripe about the open days in October anymore since that month is over. Let's gripe about November instead. How the hell could the Flyers have just had another four days off and then face a crunch of 10 games in 17 days?

Related note: When do you think Brian Boucher gets his second start of the season? My prediction is that it will be Saturday, Nov 21 when the Flyers take on Phoenix (one of Boosh's ex-clubs) the night after taking on the Sharks (another of his ex-teams) in San Jose.

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I was pleased and honored to be asked to speak at the annual Flyers Fan Club Q&A session at the SkateZone next Tuesday. I look forward to it.

Next Thursday, I will be a guest on Daily News Live on Comcast Sports Net to talk about the Flyers and the Pelle Lindbergh book.

I will be doing book signings for the Pelle book on the following dates:

December 4th 7 PM
Chester County Book Company
975 Paoli Pike
West Chester, PA 19380
610-616-1661

December 12th, 2pm
Barnes and Noble Booksellers
1553 Almonesson Road
Deptford, NJ 08096
856-232-3123

December 13th, 1 PM
Barnes and Noble Booksellers
2300 Chemical Road
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
610-567-2900


December 16th, 7PM
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
150 W. Swedesford Road
Devon, PA
610-695-6612
Devon, PA 19333

You can order Pelle Lindbergh: Behind the White Mask online at Barnes & Noble, via Amazon or through Middle Atlantic Press.
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