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Post-Practice Roundup: Barclays Challenges, White, McDonald and More |
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The Philadelphia Flyers held an optional noon practice at the Skate Zone on Tuesday in preparation for their pre-Thanksgiving game against the New York Islanders at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Ten skaters plus goaltender Steve Mason participated in Tuesday's practice. The skaters were Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, Shayne Gostisbehere, Scott Laughton, Matt Read, Taylor Leier, Vincent Lecavalier, Luke Schenn, Evgeny Medevev and the rehabbing Ryan White took part.
Afterwards, several Flyers players talked about the unique challenges that playing at the Barclays Center presents, not the least of which is that the Islanders have a potent offensive attack. Eight Flyers NHL-roster players and assistant coaches Joe Mullen and Ian Laperriere participated in the New York end of the Allentown/Brooklyn split squad games that opened the preseason in September: Read, Laughton, Leier, Gostisbehere, Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds, Sean Couturier and Radko Gudas.
Mason, who will get the start on Wednesday night, dryly quipped "I can hardy wait" when Voracek talked about how, with the black seats at Barclays, pucks get camoflaged when they go above the boards. Adding to the challenge for goaltenders in particular are the darker-than-average lighting and different sightlines in a building that was not designed for hockey.
"It's not a standard hockey arena; it was built for basketball. During the morning skate tomorrow, I'll try to get my bearings straight and figure out the sightlines. It's going to be a little bit of a different visual impact than most buildings nowadays, which are for the most part cookie-cutter," Mason said.
Mason said that, since it's his first time playing in the building, he wants to use the morning skate to get accustomed to other rink-specific characteristics. For example, he will try to see how springy the boards are.
“In most arenas, pucks kind of die there and goalies have a little more time to get back. When you have lively boards, you've got to get a good push," Mason said.
"Especially in Ottawa, for example, the stanchion at ice level kicks pucks out extremely quickly and extremely hard. So in the morning skate we were having guys fire some off pucks off of there so I could get a grasp on how they come out. Some teams, when they play in their home arenas like that can use it as an indirect pass, missing the net on purpose so the puck will bounce out quickly right in front."
After practice, the Flyers announced that they have recalled former Islanders forward Colin McDonald from the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The Phantoms' captain has been limited to four games this season due to an opening-night injury but is now fully recovered. Sam Gagner, whose face got badly lacerated in the first period of Monday's game against Carolina, left the game immediately and did not particpate in Tuesday's practice.
Playing his fifth NHL game since his recall from the Phantoms, Leier had a very strong game against Carolina on Monday despite his limited ice time. Twice, the speedy forward used his skating ability and hockey sense to create chances for himself in transition. Leier said after Tuesday's practice that he feels like he's starting to get settled into his role in the lineup.
While it is an adjustment from playing a lot of minutes in the AHL to playing about seven to eight minutes against NHL-grade opposition, Leier is understandly happy to make the transition. Flyers coach Dave Hakstol said that, despite the ice time distribution, he's been pleased with Leier in virtually every game he's played so far, citing Leier's intelligent two-way game as well as his skating. In his first NHL game, Leier used his speed to draw a penalty against Carolina. On Monday, he twice added something to the attack although he was unable to finish off the plays.
White, who is still rehabbing from an upper body injury, has been regularly skating on his own but is not yet cleared for contact. The player said afterwards there is no specific timetable for a return to play but he is working diligently to keep the number of additional games he misses to a minimum. Thus far, White has missed four games.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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