Pyorala Powers Flyers 3-2 Win Over Kings
by Ben Rothenberg on Nov 19, 2009 1:57 AM EST
in 09-10 Game Recaps
17 comments
[Recap] - [Boxscore] - [Complete Coverage] - [LAK Reaction]
These 10:30 PM ET start times are pretty rough. It's already an hour into Thursday here in the East, so I'm going to cut right into the bullet points:
- Big Flyers fan presence in LA, as per usual. There was an enormous Flyers flag in the corner to Quick's right throughout the first, and around the rest of the arena there was a ton of visible orange. Good on the Flyers to give the faithful a win.
- I'd give Brian Boucher a B+ for his performance in this game, his first win of the season. The first goal he allowed was easily the softest goal a Flyers goalie has let in all year, but he only let in one more after that, making 37 saves on 39 shots. Good numbers, but he looked far from rock solid or even steady for most of the game. But a win is a win is a win.
- Speaking of shot totals, the Flyers got absolutely dominated in this category for the first time all year, almost getting doubled up by the count of 39-20, including a ridiculous 21-5 deficit in the third period. For a team that regularly breaks 40 in this category, it came out of nowhere. The Flyers did get a lot of pressure and puts down low in the Kings end, though, so the numbers are a little scarier than the reality was. And the bigger numbers, 3-2, are the ones that matter in the end.
- The diving backhand Mika Pyorala netted for his first career goal is the stuff of dreams. He was playing notably better for the rest of the game, hopefully indicating that scoring a goal lifted a big weight off his shoulders and will let him regain the free flowing form he showed in the pre-season.
- James van Riemsdyk is looking more and more like a legit threat to win the Calder Trophy with every game. His goal was super aware and super pretty, and he's just generally pretty super. It's been a long time since the Flyers had a guy this great out of the gate, not since Simon Gagne, at least.
- Speaking of young guys, that Drew Doughty fellow they've got over there is ridiculous. Glad he's not in the East.
- The shot with under 20 seconds left that snuck through Boucher's legs and squeaked along the goal line definitely took years off the life of any Flyers fan watching.
- The win was the Flyers' seventh in their last eight games, which is pretty friggin' awesome.
- The win also puts the Flyers in sole possession of third in the Atlantic, and only three points behind Pittsburgh with three games in hand.
After the jump, Travis' pregame questions answered, the video highlights from the game, and your comments on the win.
- The Flyers have allowed only six goals in the first period, best in the league. The Kings are close though, only allowing 11 in the first period, good for fourth in the league. Does anybody take over the offensive flow early? Los Angeles controlled the offense early and often, outshooting the Flyers 11-6 in the first frame, and 39-20 overall.
- How does Randy Jones play in his first game against his old team? Pretty well. He got a couple nice shots off from the point, and handled himself real well in an interview with FSN Los Angeles.
- How does Brian Boucher play with something to prove after a terrible first outing? It's been awhile, so is there any rust? He was by no means great, but got the win in the end. Rust definitely looked like a factor, especially on that first goal.
- Does David Laliberte come back where he left off last week as an NHLer? Laliberte was fairly invisible for most of the game, but he was during his first stint as well. Ended as a -1, but didn't have too bad of a night out there.
Comment of the Night
Pyro gonna score tonight…hopefully.
>> flyrsfrk05
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Ben, unless you have a time machine, I think it was an hour into Thursday when you wrote the article.
Before you start fellating JVR, lets mention his awful turnover along the boards in the third when he had all day to move the puck but didn’t, lost it, leading to a bunch of Kings scoring chances and Carter’s penalty. Then the Kings scored on the ensuing power play.
He wasn’t alone, though. While the blue line played very well (with the exception of one Coburn-Timmonen shift in the third when they nearly or did turn the puck over four times), the forwards were terrible with the puck in their zone.
In a three minute stretch of the first period:
1) Powe waited for a puck to get to him instead of coming back for it, and ended up getting run over by the dman leading to Kings possession and some chances.
2) Pronger took a puck out of the air and gave it to JVR, who weakly pushed the puck towards the point instead of clearing the zone leading to more chances.
3) Hartnell got a puck around the circle area and tried to flip it out of the boards, promptly intercepted, rather than clear it hard.
Blair Betts went 5 for 19 at the faceoff dot. Yikes. That includes getting torched by Handzus in all three defensive zone draws with an empty net on the other end in the last 35 seconds of play.
Giroux being buried on the 4th line has resulted in 14:04 TOI against the Devils and just 12:01 TOI against the Kings. Thats a waste of his talent.
Awful penalty by Powe at the end of the first. They never replayed it, but he cross-checked a guy in the back in the slot, knocking him down, when the puck was behind the net.
by MarioD on Nov 19, 2009 2:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Imagine that, a rookie forward that makes mistakes in his defensive zone.
I would bet that if you obsessively follow the play of any player over the course of a game, you’d be able to find mistakes like the ones you dickingly point out.
by Phalange on Nov 19, 2009 8:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think you’d argue that every player, especially rookies, make mistakes. But wouldn’t you say the important part is how they learn from those mistakes and how they rebound from them?
In that regard, I feel that JVR has been just fine. And the raw stats can’t be argued with: 15 games, 17 points, 4 game-winning goals, plus-8, and he’s only playing 13 minutes a game.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Travis Hughes on Nov 19, 2009 10:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
No one cares anymore dude… Reemer is the top rookie of the year. Powe is getting a goal every three games. Get over yourself. You are no longer fun.
by orangeandblack20 on Nov 19, 2009 4:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I disagree that the blue line played very well. They continued to circle behind the net and drop pass to their partner only to have the puck intercepted time after time. Parent was bloody awful (and wasn’t on the ice much late in the game), Kimmo wreaked, Pronger was pretty good, Coburn was steady (except that shift you mentioned), and the rest were just weak. Carter looked absolutely awful as well. There was no need for Carter’s hook you mentioned because the skater was moving away from net, toward center ice which was covered well. JVR looked like he was trying to freeze the puck along the boards but did make a pretty weak play once he got covered. He still deserves 3rd star of the game, tho. One weak play certainly doesn’t define his game last nite.
Lappy was a stud last nite and his line was very effective (that includes Carcillo). Shame Betts couldn’t win a faceoff but it worked out for the best… Well back for another cup of coffee, those west coast games blow.
by stubborne on Nov 19, 2009 10:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Does it say something that, in many senses, the Flyers got out shot, out chanced, and out worked and still won the game against a solid young LA Kings team? Its nice to win 6-1 but those types of games are a rarity. I think it says a lot about this team when they can hunker down, trade blows and come out the victor.
Also, I feel like every goal Riemer scores is a big one. He already has 4 game winning goals which is 1st in the league. Unreal! I think the kid is gonna be just fine :)
by flyrsfrk05 on Nov 19, 2009 10:39 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Kopitar
I can see why Kopitar has so many points he has tons of size and skill and Terry Murray rolls him out every other shift or so it seemed, like he did with the Legion of Doom, back in the day. TOI 19:53 and I didn’t notice him on the PK that is a lot of ice time for a forward without killing penalties. After the 1st goal I was ready to write this game off but Boucher played really well standing on his head in the 3rd period. Ugly 3rd period but 2pts is 2pts. Carter line was going to have trouble checking that Kopitar line and they did. Without the last change the 3rd D-pair got up against Kopitar as well and that looked very dangerous as well.
From the Kings perspective that loss reminded of many losses the Flyers had while coach by Terry Murray the Kings out shot and out chanced the Flyers by large margins and couldn’t finish whereas the Flyers were very opportunistic and Boucher came up big in the end.
These road games spreading out the talent with Giroux on the 3/4th line is going to be key and the Richards line is going to have to continue to produce because Carter is going to be up against the opponents top line as the opposition is going to try to take advantage of the JVR rookie and Briere small size in the defensive end.
by chrislanci on Nov 19, 2009 10:39 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Ugly win
but I’ll take it.
After a tentative start to the game, the Flyers had a very solid second period. I didn’t like how they sat back in the third. Some credit goes to LA for being a good, energetic, and talented club. Kopitar and his crew are definitely going to get their chances. He is a monster.
Since the 4-2 loss at Washington, the Flyers have done a very good job of protecting leads by being more aggressive in the third period. Maybe that’s easier to do at home than on the road, because they weren’t as tenacious as they should have been in the 3rd last night. But sometimes you have to win games like that, and it’s nice to see that the Flyers did.
Going forward, I’d like to see the Flyers solidify their system for both home and road games. If they can do that and stay healthy, they will be very tough to beat night in and night out.
Mario, I agree that Giroux should get more ice time. Maybe when Gagne gets healthy the Flyers can roll three scoring lines a la Pittsburgh:
Van Riemsdyk-Carter-Briere
Hartnell-Richards-Pyorala
Gagne-Giroux-Powe/Asham
Carcillo-Betts-Laperierre
I’m still liking Bartulis so far. Oskars the Grouch and Ryan “Who Are” Parent could well be a pretty solid third pairing this year.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
by mikefive on Nov 19, 2009 11:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Its a good thing at the end of the day, but it does seem sad knowing that Asham or Mika would be sent down. I dont know who I would rather keep.
by JpH89 on Nov 19, 2009 11:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Send down Riley Cote. Keep Asham and Pyorala. Problem solved.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
by mikefive on Nov 19, 2009 12:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You would have to waive Cote though, since he has a 1-way contract
Broad Street Hockey -
Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Nov 19, 2009 1:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Any objections? Bueller? Bueller? Anyone?
Sounds like a plan to me.
"When you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe"
by The Dark on Nov 19, 2009 2:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
is that really a problem. The only negative to that would be that nobody picks him up and he has to play for the Phantoms
by JpH89 on Nov 19, 2009 5:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not advocating either way, just stating that he can’t be “sent down” without first clearing waivers. Like we discussed on the radio show, he’s a great guy. If the team doesn’t need his cap space, why not just hang onto him and not play him? The Flyers are determined to carry 13 healthy forwards, meaning one has to sit. I’d rather that be Cote (with Laliberte in Adirondack) when Asham returns. Now, if you’d rather that be Asham (with Laliberte playing on the Flyers) and get rid of Cote, that’s a different topic.
Broad Street Hockey -
Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Nov 19, 2009 5:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Frustrating game....
…for the Kings, they were all over us in the third and to have that shot dribble right past the post in the final seconds must have been excruciating. Kinda reminds me of our game against the Sabers last week.
by halx on Nov 19, 2009 12:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I think this win needs to be chalked up to Boooosh. The Flyers were up and down all night. Boosh let in a very weak first goal, then played lights out. The biggest turn-around of that game was the 5 on 3 penalty kill to end the first and start the second. That was a great PK
by SkookFlyerfan on Nov 19, 2009 12:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
agreed
killing off that 5 on 3 was a statement – and even though the Flyers were outshot by such a large margin, I felt like once they killed that 5 on 3, the whole team knew they were not going to lose.
Unfortunately, they sat back in the 3rd and played like they thought they should win – instead of actually playing hard in order to make sure that they win…
Oh well, I will gladly take the 2 pts against a young, talented, hard-hitting team…
by SanDiegoScraps on Nov 19, 2009 2:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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Atlantic Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New Jersey
|
58 | 36 | 20 | 2 | 74 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
59 | 35 | 22 | 2 | 72 |
|
Philadelphia
|
57 | 29 | 25 | 3 | 61 |
|
New York Rangers
|
59 | 26 | 26 | 7 | 59 |
|
New York Islanders
|
58 | 23 | 27 | 8 | 54 |
(updated 2.9.2010 at 9:00 AM EST)
Flyers Schedule
Next 5 Games
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@
New Jersey
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Wed 02/10 | 7:00 PM EST |
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Montreal
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Fri 02/12 | 6:00 PM EST |
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Montreal
|
Sat 02/13 | 7:00 PM EST |
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Tampa Bay
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Tue 03/02 | 7:30 PM EST |
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Florida
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Wed 03/03 | 7:30 PM EST |
Last 5 Games
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New Jersey
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Mon 02/08 | W 3 - 2 |
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Minnesota
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Sat 02/06 | L 1 - 2 |
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Edmonton
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Wed 02/03 | L 0 - 1 |
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Calgary
|
Mon 02/01 | W 3 - 0 |
|
New York Islanders
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Sat 01/30 | W 2 - 1 |
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