Flyers Report
Stevens' Statement Flyers coach John Stevens on the tight Atlantic Division race: "You hate turning the TV on and seeing two teams in overtime. Now both teams are getting points, and that's never a good thing. The dynamics of the league have changed. We play each other so many times, there's not a lot of nights where someone is not getting points."
Stevens' Statement
Flyers coach John Stevens on the tight Atlantic Division race:
"You hate turning the TV on and seeing two teams in overtime. Now both teams are getting points, and that's never a good thing. The dynamics of the league have changed. We play each other so many times, there's not a lot of nights where someone is not getting points."
By the Numbers
5
Power-play goals yielded by the Flyers in the last four games.
8
Consecutive games in which a Flyers win was followed by a loss.
14
Mike Richards' point total on the power play.
16
Games (out of 25) served by the suspended Jesse Boulerice.
21.3
Danny Briere's shooting percentage.
24:18
Kimmo Timonen's average ice time.
Expensive but True
Tickets to see Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby's first NHL game in Vancouver on Saturday cost as much as $800.
Rookie Watch
Atlanta defenseman Tobias Enstrom is plus-10.
Did You Notice?
Many of the games on Comcast's Center Ice package are in high definition this season.
Milestone
Against Buffalo on Saturday, San Jose's Mike Grier played in his 800th NHL game.
Point-a-Game
Carolina's Erik Cole has 21 points in 20 career games against Montreal.
Down and Out in L.A.
The Kings' Rob Blake is minus-11.
Coming and Going
Ryan Potulny has been called up from the Phantoms. Steve Downie has been sent down.
On This Date
In 1999, Flyers goalie John Vanbiesbrouck was pulled after giving up five goals on just 18 shots during a 6-4 loss in Toronto.
Speaking
Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo on the possibility that the NHL could change the size of the goalie's catching gloves next season:
"I'm comfortable with the pads. The one area that concerns me a little bit is they're talking about the gloves. I've never had bruises on my hands like this in the past. I'm a little afraid to think of what it would be if they would go smaller than that."
Coming Up
The Flyers host Pittsburgh tonight, Montreal on Thursday, and Carolina on Saturday.
From the Bench
Once upon a time, NHL teams wore colored jerseys at home and white on the road. Then it flip-flopped. Then the league introduced the infamous "third jersey," which could be worn whenever, provided it was within the rules. Except no one is really sure what the rules are.
In the NFL, the requirements of television used to dictate what color jersey teams wore, which is why the Dallas Cowboys are almost always in white. The NHL has outlawed third jerseys this season but is going to allow teams to reintroduce them next season. It's all much ado about nothing.
Plus/Minus
Plus/Minus is a look at the last week's games and an evaluation of points earned.
Wednesday at Minnesota
The Flyers played a solid all-around game as Antero Niittymaki looked sharp with 28 saves in a 3-1 win. Their penalty-killers staved off seven of eight Wild power plays, including two five-on-three opportunities. Jeff Carter's line had two goals.
PLUS 2.
Friday at Colorado
The Flyers turned in a good effort but lost, 2-1, on a power-play goal in the final seconds of the second period. Martin Biron played well, and the club seemed encouraged by consecutive 60-minute efforts.
EVEN.
For the week:
PLUS 2.
For the season:
PLUS 6.
The Flyers have 32 points. They should have 26.