Game Day Updates

Chris Pronger

Looks like the Flyers are shuffling players to deal with a few injuries. James van Riemsdyk and Dan Carcillo missed practice yesterday. JVR has been battling a groin pull and Carcillo has "flu like symptoms." The Flyers recalled Ben Holmstrom from the Phantoms to fill in one of these open positions. Holmstrom, a right winger, has 10 goals and 17 assists in 60 games with the Phantoms this season. If both players are unable to play it more than likely means that Nikolay Zherdev will get another chance to prove himself. Blair Betts is also questionable to make his return to the lineup tonight.

Chris Pronger will more than likely make his return to tonight after missing a few games with swollen hand. This most likely means that Nick Boynton will not make it into the line up tonight.

EDIT: Forgot to mention the Bob is probably the starter in net tonight.


Thanks to the guys and gals over at PSF for bring some of these updates to my attention.

3-3-11 Maple Leafs @ Flyers

This is a game that the Flyers should win. The Flyers have had four days off and three days rest to prepare for this game. Peter Laviolette worked the team hard in practice on Monday and Tuesday in response to his their poor play over the weekend. He then shifted gears on Wednesday and focused extensively on the struggling power play. The extended practice time also gave Nick Boynton and Chris Versteeg valuable time to get acclimated to Laviolette's system and their new linemates. This will be Versteeg's first game against his former team and he sounds motivated to prove to Brian Burke that he made a mistake when trading him.

The Maple Leafs won a hard fought overtime game against the Pittsburgh Penguins last night and then quickly got to the airport to fly to Philly. The Leafs have played eight one-goal games in a row, winning five of those games.  If the Flyers can come out of the gate and quickly set the tempo, they should be able to take advantage of a tired Leafs squad.

I think that this will be a win for the Flyers. Reading a few player interviews, it sounds like Laviolette has marked this game as the beginning of the build to the playoffs. I think the team will come out fired up and show the coach that they are ready to put in the work it takes to win. Even with all that, I don't think that the Leafs will roll over. They are  only four points out of a playoff spot, and will be desperate for a win.

Flyers Sign Two New Prospects

Just read over at PhillySportsForums that the Flyers signed Jason Akeson and Tyler Brown, both who play in the OHL.

Jason Akenson is a right winger who plays for the Kitchener Rangers and has 24 goals and 79 assists in 59 games this season. He is 5'10, weighs 190 and shoots right handed.

 

 

Tyler Brown is left winger playing with the Plymouth Whalers and has 24 goals and 30 assists and 59 games this season. He is 5'11, weighs 185 and shoots left handed.

No Cakes Being Baked this Year

The Flyers are currently on the last day of their last extended break of the season. Entering this break the team was not playing its best hockey, playing .500 hockey over their last six games. The poor play prompted Paul Holmgren to publicly criticize the team, saying the they "need to play with more oomph." He went on to say, “I thought they (the New York Islanders) won the majority of races to loose pucks. I thought they won the majority of battles for 50-50 pucks. That’s gotta change if we want to get where we want to be. I think our guys recognize that. We need a little bit of an attitude adjustment right now more than anything.” The team promptly came out and laid an egg against the Senators, the worst team in the East. The four day break couldn't have come at a better time. 

Under the previous coach, John Stevens, the team could have expected maintenance days for key players, a day off of practice, and a few light practices to help them rest up for the final 20 games. Coach Laviolette appears to be on the same page as Holmgren has had a completely different response than his predecessor. “Yesterday we had a hard workout and a hard skate. Today we had the same thing and worked on our power play,” said Scott Hartnell after yesterdays practice. The players seem to be having a positive response to his philosophies, “This is our chance," said Hartnell "this month and the beginning of April, to make sure we’re in the best possible shape we can be hitting the playoffs in a winning way.”

I gotta say, I prefer Laviolette's response to a visible lack of urgency. While I understand that the team currently does not have anyone pressuring them in the standings , and it can be hard to get up to play some of the worst teams in the league, but I still don't think they should be rewarded for sloppy and uninspired play.

Hopefully the Flyers will be ready to play a Toronto team that is starting to believe they belong in the playoffs. The Leafs deadline acquisitions have been playing well and pushing the team to victories, earning 11 out of a possible 14 points over their last seven games. If the Flyers continue their uninspired play they could easily lose this game.Lets hope that the team comes out refocused and shows some of the dominance that we saw earlier in the year.

The Bad News Bears

If there is any team in the East that scares me at the moment, it is the Boston Bruins. The Bruins wrapped a very successful road (6-0) trip last night by beating the Ottawa Senators 1-0.  Now you could argue that they faced a pretty weak line-up on this road trip (Islanders, Oilers, and the Senators twice), and you would have a good point, but they also beat the best team in the league and a Flames team that has been on fire lately.

The main reason I think the Bruins are the biggest threat to the Flyers is their goaltender and their style of play. Tim Thomas has shaken the poor campaign from last season that found him riding the bench for the majority of the season, and reverted back to the game changing goalie that we saw two years ago. I think that the Flyers forwards are better than the Bruins, but if Thomas continues his good play he has the ability to steal at least one game in a long playoff series.

The Bruins have also utilized a heavy forecheck game to generate goals, something I wish we would see from the Flyers. The Bruins were able to beat the Canucks 3-1 by hounding their defense all game long. The Canucks defense is pretty beat up at the moment, but a good heavy forecheck will wear down any teams D during a playoff series.

The Bruins were also very proactive in making thier team batter at the trade deadline. The addition of Tomas Kaberle was huge for the Bruins. Their powerplay has the potential to be deadly with Chara and Kaberle at the points. The Bruins management think that this is their year, and there is a lot of confindence in the locker rook as well.

A playoff series between the Bruins and Flyers has the potential to be epic. The Bruins have a chip on their shoulder and something to prove. Ultimately I think the Flyers would win a long series against the Bruins, but I wouldn't mind if they didn't have to play them at all.

Which team in the East do you see as the biggest threat to the Flyers in the Playoffs?

The Sabres or the Rangers?

I suggested watching this game a few days ago because I thought this game would have a playoff feel to it. I was only able to catch about 15 minutes of this game, but it looked like it was living up to my expectations. The Rangers were only five points and two positions ahead of the Sabres heading into the game, and I have the feeling that only one of these teams will be able to make the playoffs. So lets see if we can determine which team has the best chance to make it.

The Rangers would appear to have the easier road to the playoffs. 11 of their final 17 opponents are against teams currently holding playoffs spots or fighting for one. The Sabres have 20 games left, but 17 of those games are against teams that are currently holding playoffs spots or fighting for one. I don't think either team will have an easy game the rest of the season, but the Sabres have three extra games to make up the three points.

The Sabres just won the first game of a seven consecutive games they will play on the road, where they will be for 11 of their last 20 games. This isn't bad for the Sabres since they have played better away from home this season. The Rangers have nine home games and eight road games left, but they have also played better on the road.

Brad Boyes

Each team also made an addition to their team at the deadline. The Sabres added Brad Boyes who picked up his first goal for his new club in his debut last nights, and the Rangers added Bryan McCabe who registered his first assist in his second game with his new club. I think that Boyes will have more of an impact for his new club than McCabe. I think McCabe, whose career high in points for a season is 68, was brought in to help the Rangers struggling power play. He is averaging four and half minutes of poweplay time through two games, and has one assist to show for it. Boyes had 11 goals and 40 points on a Blues team that has struggled this season. His line was the best line for the Sabres last night, and I think that will continue. He has shown in the past that he can put points on the board with a 69, 65, and 72 point season, and have a feeling that he will excel with his new team.

There are a lot of other factors that will determine which, if either (or both), of these teams will make the playoffs. When I add it all up, there are two factors that weigh heavy in the equation. The first is the three games in hand that the Sabres have. The Sabres only have make up three points to overtake the eighth position, and four points to overtake the Rangers in seventh, and three games in hand is a lot this time of year. The second factor is the how that the Rangers missed the playoffs last season. They proved last season that they could bear down when it was all on the line, and I am not sure if they have it in them this year. So for those two reason, and others, I would pick the Sabers to make the playoffs over the Rangers.


What do you guys think?  Are there any factors that I left out? Injuries?

Changing Tides In The Atlantic?

Flyers latest addition Nick Boynton.

Now that the trade deadline has come and gone, has the anything changed inside the Atlantic Division? Lets start from the bottom and make our way to the top:

The Islanders didn't make any trades. None. They were not a threat to anyone in the Atlantic before the trade deadline, except maybe Mario Lemieux sanity, and they are not a threat to anyone after the deadline.

At the end of February, the Devils were by far the hottest team in the Atlantic, having won 17 out of 21 games. To bad for them that they waited to the mid point of the season to start winning games, but boy did they ever decide to start winning. The Devils were able to cut a 27 point deficit down to nine points, and thus causing them to think that they were not sellers at the deadline, and who can blame them? If the team is capable of playing this well, there is no need to get rid of any key components before next season, or this seasons playoffs.  The Devils' only move was to ship Jason Arnott to the Capitals in exchange for David Steckel. This trade really doesn't help the Devils chances of making the playoffs. They can only afford to lose four of their last 20 games, and trading away their fifth leading scorer and second line center for a third line center with half the offensive production isn't going to help. The Devils might pass a few more teams in the standings, but are still along shot to make the playoffs.

The Rangers made their big trade on Saturday, getting Bryan McCabe without losing anyone off their current roster. The problem for the Rangers is that they have lost a few key players off their roster due to injury. The Rangers' GM, Glen Sather, announced yesterday that Chris Drury will more than likely miss the remainder of the season after undergoing knee surgery. The Rangers other leading forward, Marian Gaborik, is currently sidelined with a concussion. The latest report was the he was having trouble sleeping through the night, but feeling better otherwise. Sather also announced that back-up goaltender Martin Biron broke his collarbone in practice. This forced the Rangers to recall Cam Talbot from the ECHL to act as Henrik Lundqvist's backup. Lundqvist is likely to start the last 18 games of the year, which would leave him only five starts shy of last years total starts. The Rangers signed Biron in an attempt to take starts away from Lundqvist and have him rested for the playoffs. Mission Failed. So even though the signing of McCabe will bring some much needed veteran leadership to the Rangers' blueline, I don't think it is enough to overcome all the injuries and make them a threat down the stretch. The Rangers hold their playoff destiny in their own hands, and I have a feeling the sequel of last years playoff push will have the same ending.

The Penguins picked up Alexei Kovalev, Matt Niskanen, and James Neal, too bad that doesn't come anywhere close to replacing Crosby and Malkin. The Pens were the greatest threat to the Flyers chances of winning the Atlantic, and injuries have destroyed their chances. The Pens should easily make the playoffs, and Crosby might return in time to help them out, but the Penguins have lost way too much talent to be considered a threat to win the Atlantic this season.

By simply not removing anyone from their line-up, the Flyers remain the best team in the Atlantic, and the addition of Chris Versteeg and Nick Boynton only make the Flyers stronger. Unless the Flyers have a monumental collapse over the last 20 games of the season, they should be able to easily secure home ice for the first two rounds of the playoffs. The Flyers might have a few threats that could overtake them for the top spot in the East, but that is different article. The passing of this trade deadline saw absolutely no shift of power in the Atlantic Division.

Trading DEADline

Tom Sestito

I think it was pretty widely accepted that the Flyers were not going to make a big splash as the hours to the trade deadline approached. Some were thinking the Flyers might add a top nine winger to replace the often dog housed Nikolay Zherdev. Others were hoping for a longshot trade for a more stable goaltender. Instead, the Flyers traded for a net driving, heavy forechecking, punch throwing power forward, who is currently playing in the AHL. On paper, and youtube, this 23 year old youngster looks like the kind of player that Flyers fans will love, the only question is when they will get to see him. I think that Sestito could bring a much needed spark to the big club, but I aslo think he is subject to waivers if the Flyers try to bring him up (if I got that wrong please let me know). In Tom's 13 NHL games, he has two goals, two assists, and 64 penalty minutes. All four of his points came in a nine game call up this year with the Blue Jackets.

I am fine with the Flyers not making any major moves yesterday. I think the current roster is very talented and has shown excellent chemistry on two lines throughout the year. The acquisition of Versteeg is meant to turn a third line into an offense threat, and the pick up of Boynton solidifies the defense in case of injuries. The Flyers have 20 games left to find their offensive groove before the playoffs start. I think if they can ramp up the physicality a little and bring a solid fore check back into the plans, this team will be set up nicely. The goaltending is still a question mark, but at this point I will jump on board with Holmgren and believe that the stellar defensive core that the Flyers have assembled will cover up the short comings of a you goaltending tandem.

Dumb and Dumber

Rusty Klesla

Coyotes GM Maloney trades team's leading goal scorer for banged up DMan.

Coyotes GM Don Maloney just couldn't help himself. In a very peculiar move, Maloney orchestrates a trade exchanging former first round picks, sending Scottie Upshall and Sami Lepisto to Columbus for the perennially injured Rusty Klesla and minor league nobody, Dane Byers. The big question in all of this is, how does this deal make the Coyotes - currently 4th in the West and very much alive for a top 3 seed - a better team for the stretch run and into the playoffs...you know, like uh, for now?? Simple answer? It doesn't. It hurts the Coyotes on several levels, actually. The Coyotes lose a player tied for the team lead in goal scoring without a having young prospect or player on the roster (or in San Antonio) who can likely fill his role. Both Upshall and Lepisto are on expiring deals, and Klesla is locked up for a few more seasons at 2.9. Theoretically, having Klesla beyond this season will give the Yotes a stay at home presence on their blueline they are short on. But most importantly, and certainly not to be lost in all this is, the fact that Upshall and Lepisto will come in and contribute immediately for Columbus while Klesla will watch from the pressbox (as he is currently dinged) and Byers will report to San Antonio. So in another words...subtraction by subtraction for your team that is in the hunt for a top seed in the Western Conference playoff race?? Nice move, Maloney. We are beginning to see just how much of Glen Sather's protege you really are.

Ancillary affect? Trade away one of the most wildly popular players with the fans in the midst of your franchise trying to rebuild it's image and woo back fans during an ownership change. Replace said fan favorite with a non descript Czech DMan who has been in the league for 10 years that no one in the desert has ever heard of because he's always hurt and played only full season healthy in his entire career. Again, brilliant.

The Wolski for Roszival deal was a strange one, but this one....this one is even worse...Dumb and Dumber, Maloney.

What to watch during the break

Rangers Rookie Derek Stepan 

With the Flyers having the the first half of the week off, here are a few things to keep you occupied until Thursday.

Monday
The Trading Deadline: So far this year there have already been a lot of big names traded leading up to the deadline. A lot of pundits don't think there will be too many big names moved tomorrow, but it should still be an exciting day. I am sure there will be enough people passing bullshit off as facts on twitter to make it frustratingly interesting. I will be doing my best to get all the trades out via our twitter account, so if you can't be near a computer and have a smart phone you can follow us for all the updates ( https://twitter.com/#!/the_ICU_news )

Blackhawks-vs-Wild: VS has this game and both teams need the win. In the extremely close West race, both teams have 72 points, but only the Wild are currently holding a playoff spot. The Blackhawks are playing well of late, winning their last four games, and the Wild are playing .500 over their last eight games. 

Tuesday
Sabres-vs-Rangers: VS picked another good one. The Sabres are fighting hard to get into the playoffs of their slow start. With a win, the Sabres would pull within three points of the Rangers who sit in 7th, and still have two games in hand. The Sabres have only won two of their last five games, but so are the Rangers who have dropped nine of their last 13 games. 

Wednesday
Penguins-vs-Maple Leafs:Although I am positive VS picked this game to show off Crosby and Malkin, neither will be in the line, again. The loss of their two stars is finally starting to take its toll as the Pens have dropped eight of their last 11 games. Despite their poor play, they have been able to hold on to 4th place in the East, and the Rangers aren't challenging them for 2nd in the Atlantic. The Leafs are trying to get back into a playoff position, where they have been since an eight game losing streak in November. The Leafs have already been involved in five trades since the New Year mainly receiving draft picks in return for bodies, which would lead many to believe that they were sellers this year, but they are only five points out of a playoff spot.