Gameday: Revamped Kings in town for rare visit
by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 7:19 PM EST
in Philadelphia Flyers Game Threads - 08-09
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Los Angeles Kings (26-24-9, 61 pts) at #4 Philadelphia Flyers (32-17-9, 73 pts)
Wachovia Center - 7:00 PM ET - Philadelphia, PA
TV: CSN Philly HD, Fox Sports West
Radio: 94.1 WYSP, XM 204Live Internet Video Stream
This is the open game thread.
Behind Enemy Lines: Battle of California
It's going to be tough to match the excitement of last night's Flyers win. And perhaps it's easy to overlook a team from out West we don't know too well. They haven't been good in a while, it should be an easy win.
The Flyers have been guilty of overlooking teams this season, but if they learned anything from their game back in early January at LA's Staples Center, they cannot take the Kings lightly. That game was a shootout victory for Los Angeles and they've continued to play well since. 8-2-0 in their last 10 road games and 9-4-2 in their last 15, they have become a clear contender in the Western Conference playoff race. They beat the Wild in a shootout last night, 2-1.
Then again, every team is in the race still out West. The Kings sit in twelfth place coming into tonight, four points behind eighth place Dallas but just four points ahead of last place Colorado. Crazy.
You might remember the Kings as the worst team in the NHL last season. They've grown substantially since then, largely due to the emergence of young goaltender Jonathan Quick. He's played 22 games thus far for the Kings and has compiled a .922 save percentage and a 2.51 GAA. Flyers fans in Reading may remember him from last season when he played with the ECHL's Royals.
The Kings are led offensively by a trio of young guys: 21-year-old Anze Kopitar, 24-year-old Dustin Brown, and 26-year-old Alexander Frolov. Brown, the team's captain, is on pace for his best NHL season, scoring 23 goals and 25 assists thus far this season. LA will be missing him tonight, however, as his wife gave birth to their second child last night.
The Flyers, as mentioned earlier in the day, will be missing Kimmo Timonen tonight once again. Randy Jones will have to step up his game big time tonight. If he doesn't, I'm going to hope that Stevens will give more ice time to Ossi Vaananen, but given that Vaananen seems to be in Stevens' doghouse, that's a long shot.
Between the Pipes: Martin Biron will look to rid himself of the demons from Saturday's game-losing blunder against Pittsburgh, but the only way he's going to be able to do that is with a completely solid game this evening. I won't be surprised if the Wachovia Center crowd is on him off the bat tonight. Personally, I'd like to see Marty go just one game without giving up a weak goal. Please?
Erik Ersberg is in for the Kings given that Quick played last night in Minnesota. Ersberg has split time with Quick all season, but his numbers haven't been quite as good. He's got a .899 save percentage and a 2.56 GAA in 23 games and is a paltry 0-3-2 in his last five. Ersberg has never faced the Flyers.
Quotable
Despite all his time in Philadelphia, as a player and coach, Terry Murray is not a fan of cheesesteaks or hoagies. He said he prefers some of the great fish in town. Don't you just hate healthy people?
A few notes:
- The Kings didn't get to Philly until 3:30 this morning following a game in Minnesota last night. The Flyers, playing just down the road (relatively) in DC, slept in their own beds last night.
- The Kings have four former Flyers: Denis Gauthier (suspended), Kyle Calder (sucks), and Michal Handzus (greatest hair ever).
- Defensively, the Kings are young but solid, with guys like Jack Johnson, Drew Doughty, and Sean O'Donnell.
- The Flyers are the most penalized team in the NHL while the Kings are the 9th most penalized.
Questions To Answer
- Can Jeff Carter stay out of his slump? He broke a five-game drought with a goal last night.
- Does Randy Jones not suck tonight?
- How'd Marty respond to that crap on Saturday? Does he go one game without letting up a weak goal?
- The Flyers PP has been stagnant lately, but it's still number one home unit in the league. It was ugly last night -- can they step it up?
- Danny Briere is returning on Friday. Darroll Powe, Claude Giroux, and Glen Metropolit are the guys in line to be sent away (although Giroux is probably safe). Who feels the heat and steps it up tonight?
Doing something a little different tonight. The game thread will be separate from this preview. The game open thread will be up around 6:30. I lied. No change, this will be the game thread. Be here at 7.
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Handzus
You have to admit Hartnell’s hair is at least creeping into the conversation about Best Hockey Hair, right?
In other news, Handzus can still kill a penalty or two and I think he’ll have success doing it tonight. Look for the Flyers to bury a PP goal, but not on his watch.
Tonight is one of those games in hand we hold over Jersey. It’s imperative we get a win tonight as it’ll bring us within four points of the Devils.
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Gauthier is playing. He’s been suspended twice this month. It’s pathetic.
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The posted internet link ain't workin...
any other options?
I got YSP on my computer...
Not TV, but still live
by Chris Haines on Feb 25, 2009 7:12 PM EST up reply actions
WYSP, radio.
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 7:16 PM EST up reply actions
I’ll take a look around the web at some video links.
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 7:14 PM EST up reply actions
Try this one, guys.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/flyersrule
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Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 7:15 PM EST up reply actions
Ah man Powe had it and couldn’t settle it.
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I’d say Giroux wants to stay a Flyer. I know I say it every game, but God he’s impressive.
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great shift by the giroux line there. as much as it sucks for darrel powe as hell likely get sent down, the prospects of an Upshall-Giroux-Briere line give me a hockey hard on.
I’d love to see Powe stay and Cote go down, honestly. What’s he contribute? I like Riley but Asham can fight and play at the same time. We don’t need two tough guys. Of course, there’s not a chance in hell that’ll happen.
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 7:23 PM EST up reply actions
ive been saying that for a while now. as much as I love cote, he can do one thing and one thing only: fight. a player like him is useless come playoff time
Not to mention he loses 90% of his fights.
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 7:26 PM EST up reply actions
hahaha, my goodness that line would drive Caps fans CRAZY! Hockey hard on indeed!
by Chris Haines on Feb 25, 2009 7:24 PM EST up reply actions
Seriously, that’s an amazing line. Our top three lines look unreal on paper.
Gagne-Richards-Knuble
Lupul-Carter-Hartnell
Upshall-Giroux-Briere
Powe-Metropolit-Asham would be an excellent fourth line as well, although I do wonder how much less productive Powe would be on a different line.
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 7:28 PM EST up reply actions
Ooh Coburn… no throwing that knee out there. I’ve done it few times playing too, just as Coatesy just described, because it’s the first reaction when you get caught out of position. But man, it’s dangerous.
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All four games scoreless so far....
PIT – NYI
NYR – TOR
DET – SJ
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Yeah he is. Not that bad, really.
Did that second video link I posted not work?
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 7:44 PM EST up reply actions
Working late so can’t really watch and radio is a bit more descriptive.
Yeah, he’s not bad. He’ll get better too.
by Chris Haines on Feb 25, 2009 7:45 PM EST up reply actions
I’ve never been able to decide if I like JJ or Tim Saunders more.
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 7:49 PM EST up reply actions
JJ is classic, but I think I may be in the Saunders camp. Either way, both are great.
by Chris Haines on Feb 25, 2009 7:52 PM EST up reply actions
Power play clock and period clock are perfectly in sync…. weird.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
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Yeah, there was that one in the final 10 seconds or so but the Kings defenseman got the stick in the passing lane.
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 7:48 PM EST up reply actions
He really did. Just another example of not being able to put too much stock in the “he hasn’t won in five games” thing.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 7:56 PM EST up reply actions
What the hell was that save attempt by Biron just there? No need to be cartwheeling on a breakaway…
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haha, he’s lobbying for my vote apparently.
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 8:13 PM EST up reply actions
Bob Kelly from CBS3 proposes at the Flyers game (and the girl is smokin).
Shouldn’t he be proposing on a highway overpass or something? He’s a traffic guy.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
I can hear his pick up line now….
“Hey, let’s swwwwwwwwing on over here and check out that Schuykill..”
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 8:20 PM EST up reply actions
Or at least from a helicopter.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Feb 25, 2009 8:16 PM EST up reply actions
Ha, that’s what I was just about to say
by Chris Haines on Feb 25, 2009 8:17 PM EST up reply actions
So I’m going to prematurely attribute the boring factor of this game to the fact that both teams played last night (and the Flyers are playing down to the competition.) Hopefully Friday will be better with the return of Briere.
The way it says “Los Angeles” on the bottom of the Kings jerseys…that’s hideous.
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They are the ugliest things. Just awful
by Chris Haines on Feb 25, 2009 8:20 PM EST up reply actions
They went back to the black/silver for their thirds but the design is terrible. They need to scrap the purple permanently, though. It’s just bad.
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 8:21 PM EST up reply actions
‘Nova just started too, glad I’ll be able to catch the end of that one after the Flyers.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 8:24 PM EST up reply actions
Alright, LA is getting far too many chances here. Clear it guys.
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Yeah, the Flyers aren’t doing a good job of clearing at all
by Chris Haines on Feb 25, 2009 8:26 PM EST up reply actions
at least that’s the way Saunders is making it sound.
by Chris Haines on Feb 25, 2009 8:26 PM EST up reply actions
Certainly. Might’ve been some bad luck but they couldnt get it out for their lives.
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 8:28 PM EST up reply actions
That was about as bad on the kill as you can be without getting scored on.
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LA is a team that does better the longer they stay around in the game. They’ve got a good record leading after two and tied after two, but they’ve been heavily outscored in the first period.
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 8:30 PM EST up reply actions
“And the Flyers are going on the PEEEEEEECOOOOOO Power Play” would make a great ringtone.
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I might have to work on making one of those.
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 8:31 PM EST up reply actions
Oh man, that would so be my ringtone. Well, actually Harry’s WS winning call prob would be.
by Chris Haines on Feb 25, 2009 8:31 PM EST up reply actions
SCOOOOORE!
Big.
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Not Carter’s prettiest goal, but I’m not complaining.
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Jones almost kicked that in.
He’s just annoying.
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He’s “working.” I’m unaware of this word, so who knows.
That link is probably delayed though too.
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 8:37 PM EST up reply actions
Yup. Working, it would probably be at least a little delayed too
by Chris Haines on Feb 25, 2009 8:40 PM EST up reply actions
Biron has been solid.
Let the controversy continue…
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Is it possible that we can bring the controversy into the playoffs and just NEVER have a defined number 1? Or is that just unheard of in the NHL?
That’s close to what happened during the finals run in 97.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Feb 25, 2009 8:38 PM EST up reply actions
You know, I was listening to XM today and someone brought that up. They said “the Flyers might just hope one of them takes the job in the playoffs.” I’d be real nervous going into the playoffs without a defined number one, but I guess that’s just because it’s relatively uncharted territory.
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 8:39 PM EST up reply actions
Feels like this game is goin real fast.
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In College BB news, Marquette is doing their best to make sure Jim Calhoun doesn’t get his 800th win tonight. UConn leads by two with 6 minutes to go.
You see Calhoun flip at that reporter the other day? Funny stuff.
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 8:46 PM EST up reply actions
Q: How sweet would it be if the Isles won tonight in Pittsburgh?
A: Pretty sweet.
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Equally as awesome if the Leafs beat the Rangers.
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 8:52 PM EST up reply actions
Aw Richards, just wide.
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Just me or has Gagne had three or four semi-breakaways tonight?
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He’s bound to break through if he keeps getting them
by Chris Haines on Feb 25, 2009 8:58 PM EST up reply actions
Nah, caught his leg.
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 8:59 PM EST up reply actions
I was actually thinking the opposite. Timonen should be back soon and Vaananen is a great seventh guy.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Feb 25, 2009 9:01 PM EST up reply actions
Not to mention Kukkonen is there in the wings.
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 9:02 PM EST up reply actions
Hope this isn’t too serious. Probably just a stinger.
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Therien and Saunders are now talking about Saunders being the jockey for Therien’s new horse. No, really.
Oh, these Western Conference games…
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 9:00 PM EST up reply actions
Man this is a big kill right now, considering we don’t know how long Alberts will be out.
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Good point. In this game, it’s bad that Alberts is down. In the long run (not that it’s a long term injury, I think he’s back already?), it’s okay if we’d lose him for a little.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 9:05 PM EST up reply actions
Hey Flyers fans. Just a Blues fan stopping by to wish you luck in this one because yes, we’re still stubbornly trying to climb back into the playoffs and Los Angeles has rudely refused to lay down and let the Blues pass right by.
So beat those ugly jersied Californians!
I once shot a man just to see him die...then I got distracted and missed it.
hah, we already mentioned the ugly jerseys. glad to see it’s a concensus.
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 9:04 PM EST up reply actions
Good luck to you as well, sir. We know quite well the potential of your Blues. That loss is still fresh.
Yeah I'm not going to lie..
…that was a pretty inspired game for my Blues. It was weird because it went against their modus operandi of doing just well enough to have the one-goal lead perilously threatened by a late – and incredibly stupid – penalty.
But I and the folks over at St. Louis Game Time are deinotely rooting for your Flyers now and anytime they can take down one of our Western foes.
So go Flyers and please, please do all you can to keep the Pens out of the playoffs too (you’d think with all their supposed talent they’d be more interesting to watch - but no)
I once shot a man just to see him die...then I got distracted and missed it.
NYR 1, TOR 0 after 2
NYI and PIT tied at 0 after 2
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Isn’t it nice having the Islanders be totally irrelevant? I sure think so.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Feb 25, 2009 9:07 PM EST up reply actions
They’re pretty irrelevant even when they’re good. ZING
by Chris Haines on Feb 25, 2009 9:09 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah that’s not a good sign.
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 9:12 PM EST up reply actions
Speaking of Atlantic foes, how bizarre is it that Clemmensen got demoted so fast?
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yea, kind of hoping getting Marty back hurts their chemistry, but I doubt it.
by Chris Haines on Feb 25, 2009 9:15 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah… feel bad for the guy. It makes sense though. Weekes would’ve had to clear waivers and Clemmensen didn’t. I guess they figure Brodeur will be playing anyway so it doesn’t make a difference. But yeah, he got a raw deal.
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 9:16 PM EST up reply actions
I would get Weekes waived to keep Clemmensen in the lineup.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Feb 25, 2009 9:26 PM EST up reply actions
Or trade Weekes even. Maybe they’re working on something.
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 9:27 PM EST up reply actions
Good to see Alberts back out there already.
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I doubt they’d wanna break up any of the lines right now. The top two have such good chemistry going.
Upshall – Giroux – Briere seems likely, although you never know with Stevens on these things.
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Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 9:19 PM EST up reply actions
Marty point blank save, huge.
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The crowd looks hilarious with those orange hats on.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
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Much better than the orange paper helmets. Those were a little too special ed.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Feb 25, 2009 9:26 PM EST up reply actions
Alright we’ve got this. Win the draw.
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Flyers are terrible with empty netters. Rarely matters, but it bugs me.
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You’d think they’d be better what with the shorthanded scoring prowess and all.
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by Travis Hughes on Feb 25, 2009 9:31 PM EST up reply actions
Heeeeey Gagne puts one home, we win!
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Such reluctance to shoot there. I’m not even happy with that empty netter.
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Big game by Biron.
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Way to win one of those games in hand.
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