Richards returns to Philadelphia as a King

October 15, 2011

The Flyers have had one of the most bizarre off-seasons in recent memory. Not just in the NHL but in all of sports.

What was the most bizarre thing about it? They traded away their captain, Mike Richards to the Los Angeles Kings (they got Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn in return, and after seeing them play, I have no complaints).

Tonight, the Kings play the Flyers in Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo Center.

It is the first time that Richards will play in Philadelphia since he was unexpectedly traded.

"Our only hope" beats the Canucks 5-4 in home opener

October 13, 2011

It's been mentioned in so many other articles today, but this one fan summed up Philadelphia's feelings perfectly.

"Come on Flyers, you're our only hope!"

After a 2-0 start on the road with wins over the defending champion Bruins and the New Jersey Devils, the Flyers have been able to help ease the pain of the recent shortcomings of the Phillies and the Eagles.

What else could the Flyers do? Give the fans a show in the home opener and display what this year's newly rebuilt Flyers are capable of.

With a chance to beat the Western Conference Champion Vancouver Canucks, they did not disappoint.

In the first period, Matt Read dumped the puck into Vancouver's zone. The puck to a lucky bounce off the boards right to Claude Giroux who slipped it past Roberto Luongo to put the Flyers up 1-0 (7:41).

The Flyers took a 2-0 lead in the first when Chris Pronger ripped a slapshot  right by Luongo (12:12). Wayne Simmonds  set up a screen in front of the net to blind Luongo, and set up the goal.

Still in the first, Mikael Samuelsson scored (16:35) to put the Canucks on the scoreboard to make it a 2-1 game.

But with 2:12 left in the first, James Van Riemsdyk answered back with a goal (17:48) to give the Flyers another two goal lead.

The first period ended with a 3-1 Flyers lead. All but JVR's goal came on power plays.

Henrik Sedin scored in the second for Vancouver (6:41) to make it a 3-2 Flyers, but Jakub Voracek answered back with a goal less than two minutes later (8:32) to put the Flyers back up by two for the third time in the game.

Christopher Higgins scored (15:31) to cut the Canucks lead back down to one before the end of the second period.

Unlike in the first, the second period saw no power play goals. The third period, however, did.

Daniel Sedin tied up the game 4-4 (3:39) on a power play goal, but the Flyers responded to the Canucks all night and that didn't change.

Andrej Meszaros scored to make it 5-4 (4:40) nearly one minute after Sedin tied it up.

Meszaros goal ended up being the game winner, because Ilya Bryzgalov was able to hold off Vancouver to give the Flyers a 5-4 win.

Bryzgalov saw 40 shots from the Canucks, and he saved 36 of them. The opposing goaltender, Roberto Luongo saw 27 shots from Philadelphia, but could only make 22 saves.

The Flyers have gotten off to an incredible start. They are now 3-0-0 so far this season.

Their next game is this Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center against the Kings. Mike Richards returns to the Wells Fargo Center for the first time since being traded to Los Angeles.

Flyers.NHL.com
http://flyers.nhl.com/club/boxscore.htm?id=2011020035

ESPN.com
http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=400046946

Mills in the clear after hit on Voracek

October 11, 2011

According to Tim Panaccio of CSN Philly.com, Devils center Bradley Mills will not receive any discpline from the NHL for his boarding hit on Jakub Voracek in the Flyers' 3-0 win.

Mills received a two minute boarding minor when he hit Voracek from behind late in the third period of Saturday night's game.

Mills stated that Voracek turned towards the boards at the last second, and that put himin a bad position. “I had already begun the hit and there wasn't much I could do at that point."

Fortunately, Voracek confirmed that he was completely fine after the hit.

Mills was happy to hear that. "Luckily he didn't get hurt. He was just kind of shaken up a little bit. It was good to see him out there afterwards."

Betts doesn't fit into Flyers' plans

October 11, 2011

Blair Betts returned to the Flyers after a failed physical kept him from joining Montreal. However, his return to the Flyers didn't fit into the team's plans moving forward.

Coach Peter Laviolette has stated that Betts doesn't fit into the team's gameplan. Even Betts himself admitted that he wasn't part of the team.

Betts also confessed that knee problems have been causing him pain throughout his tenure with the Flyers. He did not practice when he returned because of his injuries.

General manger Paul Holmgrem said that Betts will be checked out by Doctor's to get him healthy again. Even when he gets healthy again, the team's top penalty killer's future with the Flyers will remain uncertain.

Betts fails physical, returns to Flyers

October 9, 2011

Center Blair Betts returned to the Flyers roster today after the Montreal Candiens, who claimed Betts off waivers on Wednesday, had their claim voided by the NHL.

Betts failed his physical, which lead Montreal to waive their claim.

According to the Montreal Gazette, Betts had a lower-body and shoulder injury, but they did not have any impact on his physical.

Bryzgalov, Flyers shutout Devils 3-0

October 9, 2011

Ilya Brzgalov denied all of New Jersey's 20 shots on goal last night to help lead the Flyers to a 3-0 shutout over the Devils.

It's the first shuotut for the Flyers since May 22, 2010, when Michael Leighton held off the Montreal Canadiens for a 3-0 win in game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

It's the first regular season shuout for Philadelphia since April 6, 2010, when Brian Boucher blanked the Maple Leafs in a 2-0 win.

Claude Giroux scored in the first period (12:05) to put the Flyers up 1-0.

After a scoreless second period, Matt Read scored his first NHL goal (2:41), and off of legendary goaltender Martin Brodeur no less.

Then Wayne Simmonds followed with his first official goal as a Flyer (4:50) to put Philly up 3-0.

Brodeur took 29 shots and was only able to stop 26 of them for the Devils.

The new look Flyers have performed exceptionally well over the first two games. First with a win over the defending Stanley Cup Champion Bruins and now a shuout of the Devils.

The Flyers next test will be Wednesday night in their home opener, when they play the Western Conference Champion Vancouver Canucks.

Flyers.NHL.com
 http://flyers.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2011020012

CSN Philly.com
http://www.csnphilly.com/hockey-philadelphia-flyers/news/Flyers-spoil-Devils-home-opener-with-shu?blockID=574482&feedID=704

Bruins raise banner, but Flyers take the win 2-1

October 7, 2011

After an impressive showing in the pre-season, the newly revamped Flyers were put to their first test; the defending Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins.

They passed with a 2-1 win in Boston on the night the Bruins raised their championship banner.

The Bruins jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first period when left winger Brad Marchand scored on the power play (9:42).

The Flyers would answer back in the same period with a milestone. Claude Giroux scored with 50 seconds left in the first to tie the game at 1 (19:10), with the assist coming off of Jaromir Jagr.

Jagr earned his 1,600th career NHL point with the assist.

Then with only three seconds left in the first, Jakub Voracek scored to put the Flyers up 2-1 (19:57).

Ilya Brygalov was impressive in goal last night, stopping 22 saves. For Boston, Tim Thomas made 27 saves.

Voracek's goal would prove to be the game winner. Flyers win by a final of 2-1.

The Flyers will head to New Jersey next, to play the Devils Saturday night at 7:00.

Flyers.NHL.com
http://flyers.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2011020001

ESPN.com
http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=400046701

Betts claimed by Montreal, Walker and Bartulis clear waivers

October 5, 2011

Center Blair Betts has been claimed off of waivers by the Montreal Canadiens.

Defensemen Matt Walker and Oskar Bartulis have cleared waivers.

Walker will ply for the Flyers tomorrow night in Boston. Meanwhile, Bartulis will be sent down to the Phantoms.

Flyers Roster

October 4, 2011

The start of the season is quickly approaching, that means that the roster is near completion.

Here is the link to the current roster,
http://flyers.nhl.com/club/roster.htm

The roster is still subject to change.

Just a few notes, Brayden Schenn will be starting the season with the Phantoms. Also the Flyers wiaved Blair Betts, Oskar Bartulis, and Matt Walker. Sean Corturier is reported to have made the final roster.

Devils top Flyers 2-1, pre-season wraps up

October 2, 2011

The Flyers lost their final pre-season game to the Devils 2-1 last night in New Jersey.

With the pre-season coming to an end, the Flyers will now prepare for opening night when they will take on the Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins on the road. The season starts on Thursday.

Flyers.NHL.com
http://flyers.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2011010096

*Also, I realize that I have not updated the blog as of late. I apologize, it has been really busy. I'm in the process of getting my college applications sent in, and adding school work on top of that has made things pretty hectic. In addition, with the Phillies in the playoffs, more of my concentration has gone into the Phillies blog. Once again, I'm sorry, but once the NHL season officialy starts I will be doing a way better job of keeping the blog updated.