#11 New York Islanders (11-11-7, 29 pts) at #13 Philadelphia Flyers (13-13-1, 27 pts)
Wachovia Center - 7:00 PM EST - Philadelphia, PA
TV: Versus HD, TSN 2 HD
Radio: 610 WIP, XM 204
This is the open game thread.
Behind Enemy Lines: Lighthouse Hockey
The last time the Flyers won was the night before Thanksgiving against the New York Islanders. They'll go for a second consecutive win against the division rival tonight at the Wachovia Center. Let's try not to get embarrassed on national television, eh boys?
John Stevens last win as Flyers head coach came that night on Long Island. Peter Laviolette can get his first win as Flyers head coach against the same team -- a team he coached for two seasons at the beginning of this decade.
There really isn't a lot to say in previewing this game. There are a few lineup changes, as David Laliberte has been called up from Adirondack and will likely play in place of Riley Cote. Ray Emery is on the shelf for six weeks and Johan Backlund has been called up to replace him. He'll sit and Brian Boucher will start the second game of a back-to-back.
These guys just need a win. Badly. It doesn't matter who they're playing and it doesn't matter that they beat the Islanders two weeks ago. They're a hard-working team and the Flyers probably wont win without a complete effort. It's really the same problems they've had for weeks that they need to cure tonight. Get the special teams on track, work hard, get solid goaltending, and get a ton of pressure on the New York goal.
They did a few of these things last night, but they'll need to do all of them tonight. If not, we'll be looking to the bottle again before this one's over...
After the jump, questions to answer, the Flyers' line combos, and your starting goaltenders.
Flyers Line Combinations (subject to change)
Hartnell – Richards – Giroux
JVR – Carter – Briere
Laperriere – Pyorala – Asham
Laliberte/Cote – Kalinski – Nodl
Questions To Answer - many are the same as last night. Symbolism, or something.
- Power play. Can they turn it around?
- Goaltending. How does Boucher perform?
- Sixty minute effort, yay or nay?
- Can they outwork the Islanders?
Starting Goaltenders