Game 37, Preview and Open Thread: Coach Pete Returns, Philadelphia Flyers at Carolina Hurricanes
by Travis Hughes on Dec 26, 2009 3:25 PM EST
in 09-10 Game Threads
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PrintPhiladelphia Flyers at Carolina Hurricanes, Dec 26, 2009 7:00 PM EST
#13 Philadelphia Flyers (16-18-2, 34 pts) at #15 Carolina Hurricanes (9-22-6, 24 pts)
RBC Center - 7:00 PM ET - Raleigh, NC
TV: CSN Philly HD, FS Carolinas
Radio: 610 WIP, XM 208
This is the open game thread.
Behind Enemy Lines: 'Canes Country
With a win tonight against the cellar-dwelling Carolina Hurricanes, the Philadelphia Flyers will put together back-to-back victories for the first time since November 14th and 16th. The Flyers haven't proven that they're capable of doing anything remotely good in the last five weeks, so it'd be a stretch to say tonight will be an easy game for them. Still, with the way Carolina has been playing all season, they're seemingly the easiest team to play against in the league.
The 'Canes are a full 10 points behind the closest teams to them in the standings --Edmonton out West and competitors Toronto and, inexplicably, the Flyers. Regardless of the struggles surrounding all participants tonight, it should be an interesting atmosphere. Michael Leighton returns to face the team he was cast away from just two weeks ago. More important, though, is the story line between the two coaches.
Peter Laviolette replaced Paul Maurice as Hurricanes head coach back in 2003. He went on to win a Stanley Cup in North Carolina before being fired and replaced by Maurice a little over a year ago. Maurice, as mentioned, led the team to the Conference Finals before the hell of this current season.
Tonight, the two coaches will face off against each other for the first time since Maurice's days in Toronto.
Leighton will get the start tonight against the usually reliable Cam Ward. Boucher will be on the bench, but will sit for another night as a precaution. In his last outing, Ward was pulled less than 10 minutes into the game after allowing three goals on 10 shots. After being waived by the Canes, Leighton has a lot of motivation tonight.
The Flyers need a win tonight to build some confidence heading into Long Island tomorrow and MSG on Wednesday. They have a great chance to reel off a few wins heading in to the Winter Classic next Friday, and this stretch could be what they need to help turn the season around. They need a win tonight before thinking about any of that, though.
After the jump, a deeper look at the starting goaltenders, the Flyers expected lineup, questions to answer, and our in-game open thread.
Flyers Line Combinations - subject to change
Hartnell - Carter - Briere
Gagne - Richards- Giroux
JVR - Powe - Asham
Carcillo - Betts - Laperriere
Coburn - Pronger
Carle - Timonen
Bartulis - Parent
Starting Goaltenders
Questions To Answer
- Battle of the goaltenders: does Leighton use the motivation to put in an excellent game, and does Ward return to true form after an embarrassing loss?
- Carolina is a terrible PK team. Can the Flyers PP take advantage and start to get themselves back on track after a decent outing against Tampa?
- Mike Richards put the team on his back against the Lightning on Wednesday. Does he do it again?
- The never-ending question -- after taking the 2nd period off against Tampa, can the Flyers put together a 60 minute effort tonight?
Saturday night hockey tonight on CSN Philly and 610 WIP. As always, join us here for the conversation, and LET'S GO FLYERS!
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This is a must win game imo, a winning streak could be what this team needs to bounce back.
by JpH89 on Dec 26, 2009 5:10 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Last game- 3 different players scored- Big switch from how the ride last month was. Hopefully that means we’re finally on the turnaround. Carolina is a totally beatable team right now and NYI, well what can you say about them? The Flyers can string together a few and boost their confidence. Let’s go Flyers!
Ryan Parent not playing. Team dressed 13 forwards, 5 defenseman. CSN doesn’t know why.
Pyorala is the man without a line.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Dec 26, 2009 7:11 PM EST reply actions
Anyone here going to the winter classic?
Do you know of any Flyer fan meet ups for NYE?
I’ll be there. I’ll post something later in the week, maybe we can organize something.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Travis Hughes on Dec 26, 2009 7:49 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
http://www.myp2pforum.eu/nhl-icehockey/48861-ice-hockey-today-dec-26th.html
Try the one here. I’m not using it now, but this is one of the sites I go to while at college.
Thanks. I need to install another TV with cable in my house haha
by Mitchell Green on Dec 26, 2009 7:44 PM EST up reply actions
Oh ya, I know. I have been meaning to do it for years and just haven’t gotten around to it.
by Mitchell Green on Dec 26, 2009 7:57 PM EST up reply actions
Welding helmet to block Lappy’s face from getting smacked
funny intermission Coatesy
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 26, 2009 7:53 PM EST reply actions
Eagles game moved to 4 tomorrow
Guess I’m gonna be watching two TV’s.
DVR Flyers game, watch Eagles game. Don’t look at any sort of sports media, and then watch the Flyers, fast forwarding thru the intermissions
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 26, 2009 7:59 PM EST up reply actions
we’re checking round the net in our zone?
interesting
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 26, 2009 8:09 PM EST reply actions
Doing a great job of it too.
Makes you wonder if the team is more cognizant of protecting their net with Leighton between the pipes. Carle and Coburn have combined to stop 3 goals when Leighton was out of position.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Dec 26, 2009 8:13 PM EST up reply actions
Santa sacks…post Christmas?
On the hockey note..eerily reminiscent of cleaning up the trash in front of the net. I’m going to leave making the connection up to you Geoff
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 26, 2009 8:16 PM EST up reply actions
Just got home and I don’t see much commentary…. how was the beginning of the first period? I only saw the last 3 or 4 minutes
solid. Leighton looks shaky, but has also made some great saves.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Dec 26, 2009 8:20 PM EST up reply actions
ow ow ow ow ow ow ow
Timmo stopping that shot.
Michael Leighton:
The plainest goalie helmet?
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 26, 2009 8:38 PM EST reply actions
He did not have it painted yet, because he does not know how much longer he is going to be with the Flyers. Right now it still has the Hurricanes paint on it, he covered it with tape.
While that makes sense (and I only thought of this 15 minutes later), he got new pads. I’m thinking the reason he doesn’t have the mask yet is because it takes longer to get one painted or that it costs too much.
Either way, I’m not sure he’ll ever get a Flyers mask, just that length of tenure didn’t stop him from getting new pads (and blocker and glove).
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Dec 26, 2009 9:04 PM EST up reply actions
And natch this is the game I don’t get to see.
The Daily Forehand -- SB Nation's Tennis Destination.
Broad Street Hockey.
Cheers to there being more of these
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 26, 2009 8:44 PM EST up reply actions
excellent puck cycling in the Canes zone at about the 17:30 mark
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 26, 2009 8:59 PM EST reply actions
Carter had a great shift right there.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Dec 26, 2009 9:00 PM EST up reply actions
I can’t remember the last time a guy skated himself back onto a team and off of the trading block
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 26, 2009 9:04 PM EST up reply actions
Have been hearing carle’s name a lot this game.
by Chocula78 on Dec 26, 2009 9:00 PM EST via mobile reply actions
over 17 minutes of ice time already, and he’s made a lot of plays. Deserving of a star, but doubt he’ll get one.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Dec 26, 2009 9:01 PM EST up reply actions
He has been quite strong all game both offensively and defensively.
by Mitchell Green on Dec 26, 2009 9:01 PM EST up reply actions
very close
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 26, 2009 9:06 PM EST reply actions
perseverance, Danny Briere
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 26, 2009 9:09 PM EST reply actions
Leighton’s Luck runs out
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 26, 2009 9:10 PM EST reply actions
things getting very interesting now
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 26, 2009 9:23 PM EST reply actions
ah shit
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 26, 2009 9:26 PM EST reply actions
On the tying goal, what is Pronger doing?
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Dec 26, 2009 9:27 PM EST reply actions
i wondered what was Richards doing..if he stays put then he cleans up that rebound
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 26, 2009 9:28 PM EST up reply actions
You can ask that same question of Richards and Coburn.
by Mitchell Green on Dec 26, 2009 9:28 PM EST up reply actions
Guarding the side of the net where the puck carrier came out forcing the puck carrier towards the far boards.
So he was doing his job in your opinion?
Because the side of the net he was guarding is exactly where the puck went in.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Dec 26, 2009 9:32 PM EST up reply actions
woohoo Penalty Kill
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 26, 2009 9:30 PM EST reply actions
“The Flyers” can in fact win a faceoff.
In order of who has taken the most, Richards is 11/23, Carter is 12/17, Betts 4/11, Powe 6/9, Giroux 1/1, and Asham 0/1.
So Richards is one shy of 50%, Carter is raking it, Betts is having a bad night, and Powe is having a great night. Nice selective criticism.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Dec 26, 2009 9:34 PM EST up reply actions
it’s just taking something that didnt go our way and attributing a bad performance overall to it. If that wasn’t a goal, faceoffs wouldnt have been brought up
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 26, 2009 9:36 PM EST up reply actions
No, its taking something Paul Holmgren identified six months ago as a major fault of this team, and pointing out that it still hasn’t been fixed.
By looking at ONE guy’s performance in ONE game.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Dec 26, 2009 9:42 PM EST up reply actions
No. As a team for the last two years, the Flyers have been terribly at winning key faceoffs.
The guy brought in to fix it, Laviolette doesn’t even bother sending out on the ice for a key draw.
oh, so now it’s “key faceoffs”
I’m sorry, the entire time I was going off of:
the Flyers can’t win a faceoff.
My fault, I didn’t remember your goalposts constantly move.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Dec 26, 2009 9:47 PM EST up reply actions
As you posted, they also can’t win half of their faceoffs. But when you break it down situationally, as I have a few times this year, they are even worse as key faceoffs.
Like that LA game when they lost four consecutive defensive zone draws in the last minute.
You know how many teams can’t win half of their faceoffs? 18.
And if you want “key faceoffs”, the man you’re slamming (Betts) was 4/6 on defensive zone draws. Not one Flyer ended the game below 50% in their own zone. Nor did one single man finish the game below 50% in the offensive zone.
So, to recap, the team won 12/21 defensive zone draws combined. They won 11/16 offensive zone draws. What exactly is this “they are even worse at key faceoffs” that you are saying? They were 15/34 in the neutral zone, the only place they weren’t above 50%.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Dec 26, 2009 9:55 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t know whats complicated about this.
The team wins less than half of their draws. They repeatedly give up goals late in games because they lose defensive zone draws. The GM of the team has publicly stated that its a major problem. What more proof do you need?
The TEAM won 57% of their defensive zone draws tonight and the guy you are criticizing won 67% of his defensive zone draws.
What more proof do you need?
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Dec 26, 2009 10:12 PM EST up reply actions
FYI, after tonight, they sit at 50.1% on the year.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Dec 26, 2009 10:30 PM EST up reply actions
you didn’t bring up the face off issue until THAT goal happened
as far as I’m concerned, you only brought up the issue when it hurt us, not when we were winning. Kind of hypocritical to oversee it when we’re up 3-0, but suddenly find it when we’re tied 3-3, don’t you think?
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 26, 2009 9:44 PM EST up reply actions
Well, the Flyers won 48.3% of their faceoffs last year. They are at 49.9% this year, before winning a majority of the draws tonight.
Looks like an improvement to me.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Dec 26, 2009 9:45 PM EST up reply actions
Seriously. If only we were as good as the two teams with 26 wins, leading the league.
They’re slightly less unacceptable totals of 48.1% and 49%.
But that’s not the point. The point is that ONE guy had ONE bad game, and you get right back on your horse. Ride on, Mario, ride on.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Dec 26, 2009 9:49 PM EST up reply actions
I thought he was brought in to also kill penalties?
Oh, why do I keep chasing the goalpost?
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Dec 26, 2009 9:56 PM EST up reply actions
Laperriere was brought in to kill penalties. They could’ve gotten any number of forwards just to kill penalties. He was brought in because he allegedly (even though his career statistics proved this idea false, and continue to prove it false) could win faceoffs.
I agree about faceoffs, but Betts WAS also brought in to kill penalties.
Larry Brooks said repeatedly that Blair Betts and Fredrik Sjostrom were one of the best penalty-killing tandems in Ranger history.
Betts wins only half of his faceoffs but still provides a lot of value to this team. They’re not 12-5-1 with him in the lineup because he sucks.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
They’re 12-5-1 with him in the lineup because those 18 games include:
3x Carolina
2x Tampa
1x St Louis
Thats half of the wins right there.
The other half:
2x New Jersey
Washington
Buffalo
Los Angeles
Ottawa
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
that the game is in the officials hands right now is ludicrous. It was a 3-0 lead
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 26, 2009 9:31 PM EST up reply actions
Trade’em. Parent plays better with kimmo. We could get some good picks for coby.
by Chocula78 on Dec 26, 2009 9:35 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
read that originally as fuck shoes lol
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 26, 2009 9:41 PM EST up reply actions
Once again 60 minutes of hockey eludes us
by Chocula78 on Dec 26, 2009 9:44 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Ladies and gentleman, we officially have a 2 game winning streak
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 26, 2009 9:48 PM EST reply actions
Im glad u picked up on the hint EREX
quality movie
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 26, 2009 9:50 PM EST up reply actions
haha, nice.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Dec 26, 2009 9:50 PM EST up reply actions
great win?
gotta disagree. if we had of won 3-1 or 2-0 it woulda been a great win.
by Mitchell Green on Dec 26, 2009 9:53 PM EST up reply actions
yeah there's that.
but still, a win is a win (not matter how ugly the 3rd period was). i’ll take it. and as i said previously, there still some kinks they gotta take care of.
I knew what you meant. I just can’t get the bad taste of that 3rd period out of my mouth. But, hey, we got 2 points. That is what is important. With the Isles tomorrow, dare I say we have a good chance to win 3 straight? Preposterous, I know!
by Mitchell Green on Dec 26, 2009 10:49 PM EST up reply actions
Ugly Win
But I’ll take it.
The Flyers stopped playing after the third goal. That was a disgrace. They did well the rest of the game, save for a 3 minute stint in the second.
If you count the overtime, where we were the better team, I’d say the Flyers played 51 out of 65 minutes. On Tuesday they played for 40 of 60 minutes and won in regulation.
I’ve noticed that the Flyers, over the past few seasons, tend to coast in the 3rd period if they are winning comfortably and have a game the next day. I wasn’t surprised at all to see them sag after Briere made it 3-0. That doesn’t make it right, but that’s nothing new either.
With all the new stats coming out these days, there has to be one measuring Third Period Play During the First of Back to Back Games. If not, someone make it up.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
My version of the . . .
Questions To Answer
1. Battle of the goaltenders: does Leighton use the motivation to put in an excellent game, and does Ward return to true form after an embarrassing loss? Both were pretty good in my opinion. Leighton made some big saves despite getting hung out to dry in the 3rd period. Ward looked good for just getting back from injury. He made some incredible saves especially the one on Richards at the end of the third. Ward certainly kept the ‘Canes in the game.
2. Carolina is a terrible PK team. Can the Flyers PP take advantage and start to get themselves back on track after a decent outing against Tampa? The PP went 1 for 3. Danny Briere ripped a laser past Cam Ward’s glove hand to put the Flyers up 3-0. Only 3 PPs but it was good to see the Flyers get a PP goal.
3. Mike Richards put the team on his back against the Lightning on Wednesday. Does he do it again? Richie looked pretty good. He opened the scoring after picking up a rebound on his own shot. He also scored the clinching shootout goal. He played well but I wouldn’t necessarily say he “put the team on his back” because he was on the ice for the Flyers’ defensive breakdowns where he, as well as Pronger and especially Coburn, looked like chickens running around with their heads cut off.
4. The never-ending question — after taking the 2nd period off against Tampa, can the Flyers put together a 60 minute effort tonight?No, no way. The Flyers played 55 minutes of solid hockey, dictating the play and getting good chances but completely crapped out after Jussi Jokinen scored his first goal. The ’Canes grabbed the momentum in the second half of the the 3rd period and completely ran circles around the Flyers. Of course, the 5-10 minutes that the Flyers collapsed, the ’Canes tagged them for 3 goals to tie the game and force OT.
by Mitchell Green on Dec 26, 2009 10:46 PM EST reply actions
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