Flyers' Brayden Schenn trying to snap slump
On their car rides to the hockey rink earlier this season, forward Brayden Schenn tried to keep his brother, Luke, in a positive mindset after the defenseman was a healthy scratch for three straight games.
Now it's Luke's turn to pump up his brother. Entering Tuesday's matchup against visiting Washington, Brayden Schenn has been goal-less in his last 11 games.
"We've always had each others' backs," Luke Schenn said after Tuesday's morning skate at the Wells Fargo Center. "We've always pushed each other our whole lives."
Schenn said when one of the brothers is struggling, "the other guy is there to kind of help each other out and support each other. It's a pretty good system we have going on, and hopefully he can get out of his slump."
Brayden Schenn, who recently moved from left wing to center _ his natural position _ because of Vinny Lecavalier's back injury, has had numerous scoring chances lately but hasn't been able to hit the back of the net.
"He's getting a few chances and had a couple breakaways lately and is getting a little snakebitten," Luke Schenn said. "It's going to come sooner or later. I think he's working on shooting the puck a little more and trying to get to the net on the power play and screen the goalie. It doesn't always have to be a pretty one. Just try to get to the net and clean up the garbage sometime."
Brayden Schenn, 22, who is centering a physical line that includes Scott Hartnell and Wayne Simmonds, said you "start worrying about it and getting frustrated when the chances don't come. Eventually, the goals are going to come. I'm going to keep on working and getting to the net and the hard areas, and hopefully one will go in here."
Luke Schenn says his brother's struggles are typical for a player his age.
"Most young guys go through stints like that and try to figure out how to do it," he said. "They show signs of brilliance at times, and other times the confidence goes away a little bit. He'll find a way. I know he's working hard _ that's the main thing _ and getting chances."
Before his 11-game drought, Brayden Schenn had seven goals in the first 22 games.
Saluting police. The Flyers will honor the Philadelphia police department and the Police Athletic League (PAL) by wearing police patches on their jerseys during warmups of Thursday's home game against Columbus.
Breakaways. Goalie Steve Mason, who faltered late in Sunday's 5-4 shootout loss in Washington on Sunday, will get a chance at redemption as he starts Tuesday for the Flyers. Mason is 11-9-4 with a 2.35 GAA and .924 save percentage. Mason will oppose Braden Holtby (13-9-1, 2.82, .920)…..Claude Giroux has five points (two goals, three assists) in his last here games….Nick Grossmann is tied for third in the NHL with 87 blocked shots….The Flyers' PP is just 6 for 62 (9.7 percent) at home, which is 28th in the NHL; they are fourth in the NHL on their road PP (15 for 61, 24.6 percent)...The Flyers have a six-game home winning streak, raising their WFC record to 8-7. The Caps are 6-5-3 on the road, including a 7-0 win at the WFC on Nov. 1....."Hartnelldown," a children's book written by Scott Hartnell and his sister, is now available. Proceeds go to the winger's charitable foundation.
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