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Flyers Gameday: 3/11/12 @ Devils

March 11, 2012, 9:03 AM ET [556 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
PREVIEW 8:00 AM EDT

Looking for their sixth win in a row and seventh in the last eight games, the Philadelphia Flyers (39-21-7) are back in action for the third time in four nights as they head to Newark to take on the New Jersey Devils (39-24-5) tonight in the front end of a home-and-home set. The game starts at 7 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast locally on CSN Philly.

This is the fifth of six meetings between the Atlantic Division rivals this season; the third and final one at the Prudential Center. Each of the teams has won two games on the other's home ice.

Ilya Bryzgalov recorded his first Flyers' shutout in a 2-0 road victory in the second game of the 2011-12 regular season. Two Scott Hartnell power play goals and 30 saves by Bryzgalov led the way to a 4-1 win in New Jersey on Jan. 21. New Jersey captured a 4-3 shootout win in Philadelphia on Nov. 3 and then took a 6-4 decision on Feb. 4.

It will be interesting to see if Peter Laviolette gives Bryzgalov the start for the 12th straight game. On the one hand, Bryzgalov has recorded back-to-back shutouts and three in his last four games. A shoo-in for NHL Player of the Week honors, Bryzgalov's stellar play has been the single biggest factor in Philly's current run.

On the other hand, Sergei Bobrovsky is going to need some work this month to stay sharp if needed. The Flyers' schedule this week is brutal. After tonight, the Flyers face the back end of the New Jersey home-and-home on Tuesday, a road match on Long Island on Thursday and then successive weekend matinee games in Boston on Saturday and at home against Pittsburgh next Sunday afternoon.

I suspect Bryzgalov will start again today. From there, we'll see. Bobrovsky will certainly get at least one of the upcoming games, and he has played well against the Islanders this season. So as long as Bryz feels up to playing back-to-back and three-in-four, Laviolette may very well try to just keep rolling with him.

Last night in Toronto, Bryzgalov faced tougher chances on the whole than Toronto counterpart Jonas Gustavsson. Bryz stoned Phil Kessel several times, including the shootout. In total, Bryzgalov made 29 regulation/overtime saves and then went 3-for-3 in the skills competition. He became the winning goalie as a result of Claude Giroux's dazzling east-west moves executed with blinding speed, followed by a perfect finish against a helpless Gustavsson.

The Flyers, who did not receive a single power play opportunity, battled hard last night despite being severely depleted by injuries. Despite not registering a point, Jaromir Jagr had an often-spectacular performance while continuing to fight through a hip injury. The team is likely to remain without Jakub Voracek (head/neck, facial stitches) tonight, while James van Riemsdyk (broken foot) and Tom Sestito (groin tear) are on IR until the playoffs.

The defense corps -- Matt Carle, Braydon Coburn, Nicklas Grossmann, Andreas Lilja and rookies Erik Gustafsson and Brandon Manning -- collectively stepped up their games in the absence of Kimmo Timonen, Andrej Meszaros and Pavel Kubina. From the early sound of things, they'll have to do it again tonight.

Despite Philly's run of excellent play, the Devils remain right on their heels in the standings. New Jersey, which has won 10 games via shootout (a disadvantage when it comes to point tiebreakers), enters the home-and-home clash two points behind the Flyers. Philadelphia has one game in hand.

New Jersey has won three games in a row and four of five coming into tonight. Yesterday, the Devils trailed 1-0 late in regulation until goals by David Clarkson and Marek Zidlicky (spaced just 14 seconds apart) suddenly gave New Jersey the lead with 1:39 left on the clock.

Alexei Ponikarovsky has racked up four goals and six points in six games -- four while a member of the Hurricanes, two with the Devils -- this season. Longtime Flyers-killer Patrik Elias has three points in four games plus a shootout winner against Philly this season to bring his career matchup totals to 73 points (32 goals, 41 assists) in 74 games.


PROJECTED LINEUPS (subject to change)

FLYERS

Hartnell - Giroux - Jagr
Read - Briere - Simmonds
Talbot - Schenn - Wellwood
Rinaldo - Couturier - Shelley

Carle - Gustafsson
Grossmann - Coburn
Lilja - Manning

Bryzgalov/ Bobrovsky

DEVILS

Parise - Henrique - Kovalchuk
Sykora - Elias - Zubrus
Ponikarovsky - Josefson - Clarkson
Boulton - Carter - Bernier

Volchenkov - Zidlicky
Larsson - Salvador
Greene - Fayne

Brodeur/Hedberg


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The way that Nicklas Grossmann has played for the Flyers since his acquisition from Dallas is in line with the way he played for the Stars most of last season until late-season injuries knocked him out of the lineup. A year ago, he was paired on the top unit with Stephane Robidas and his confidence grew sky high.

Grossmann was not quite as good or consistent this season prior to the trade, but was still fairly reliable. So I am not surprised whatsoever by the way he's played in Philadelphia so far. What I have always liked best about his game is that he's very good at using his size and strength to his advantage but does not take a lot of penalties.

Last night, Grossman was a hitting (8 credited hits) and shotblocking (four blocks) machine while eating up the most ice time (24:32) he's played since coming to Philly. He had a few turnovers -- charged with two giveaways but could have charged with four -- and was caught up ice on a breakaway but was tremendous in finishing his checks and clearing way for Bryzgalov around the Flyers' net.

I have compared Grossmann in the past to ex-Flyer Marcus Ragnarsson (for his size and positional steadiness) or perhaps a much bigger and stronger version of Lasse Kukkonen (for his shotblocking fearlessness). When Nick has his A game, though, the player he most reminds me of is longtime Los Angeles Kings defenseman Mattias Norström, who was finishing up his NHL career in Dallas right around the time that a young Grossmann earned a full-time roster spot as a rookie.

In an upcoming feature for Flyers.NHL.com, I will have an extensive profile of Grossmann.

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