Bleacher Report - Philadelphia Flyers

Philadelphia Flyers Unable To Survive Shark Attack; Left Bloodied

Mark Ritter — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:47:48 -0500

Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

There was plenty of hype surrounding last night’s matchup between the Philadelphia Flyers and the San Jose Sharks and there was plenty on the line for both of these clubs, mainly, bragging rights.

Arguably, two of the NHL’s best teams, the tilt between the Flyers and Sharks had a number of story lines, front and centre was the matchup down the middle, namely the Flyers’ Mike Richards and Jeff Carter vs. the Sharks Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau.

Richards and Carter bring a unique combination of skill and toughness that, for the most part, is unequalled in NHL circles. Thornton and Marleau are two of the NHL’s most skilled forwards in the game and, when you add a player of Dany Heatley’s ilk to the mix, well, you got yourself one heck of a lineup.

In the end, the Flyers were left bloodied by the Sharks attack as the Sharks skill and passing ability would prove to be too much for the Flyers. Richards managed to post one assist on the night, but Carter failed to register a point and the duo was limited to just four shots on goal and were a combined minus one on the night.

On the flip-side, Thornton and Marleau looked dominant last night and, with the help of Dany Heatley, who scored a hat-trick, outclassed the Flyers duo in every facet of the game. Somewhere, Team Canada’s leader, Steve Yzerman, was smiling...what a great line that would be.

Thornton was able to showcase his tremendous passing abilities, seemingly able to pick apart the Flyers defense, which, for the first time all season, looked lethargic and uninterested. In the end “Jumbo Joe” as Thornton is so aptly nicknamed, netted four assists, as impressive a game I have ever witnessed Thornton play.

Let’s cut to the chase, shall we? The Flyers got “punked” last night and, in the end, their overall effort was a joke. Jeff Carter had a terrible game, positing a minus two rating and was six of 23 (26 percent) in the face-off circle, hardly what we have come to expect from Carter.

Blair Betts was another Flyers’ player that was dominated in the face-off circle, going 6 of 17 (35 percent). For the most part, Mike Richards was 50/50 on face-offs, but his one for three effort against the Sharks Manny Malholtra, brought him to nine for 19 (47 percent). Puck control, it seems, was a huge factor in last night’s loss.

Chris Pronger and Matt Carle, arguably the NHL’s most dominating defensive pairing to date, were out of sync and out of breath most of the night, seemingly unable to control the Sharks down low.

Where were the big hits? Why didn’t anyone step up to thump Heatley into next Tuesday?

The easy thing to do would be to point the finger at Flyers goaltender Ray Emery, fact is, when you consider Dany Heatley scored all three of his goals from less than three feet from the goal line, the blame falls on the Flyers forwards and defense for not disposing of Dany Heatley in the first place.

Simply put, you cannot allow a player of Heatley’s talent level to sit on the doorstep, something the Flyers know all too well now, albeit too late.

The Flyers took 10 penalties against the Sharks, highlighting the fact the Flyers were not playing a disciplined game. The Sharks made the Flyers pay, as they scored twice on the Power Play, proof that you cannot give the Sharks that many opportunities.

The Flyers are now one and one on their five game road trip, one which continues tonight against the Phoenix Coyotes, a team that, despite a strong start, is now struggling with a 6-5-0 record at Home and 4-5-1 record in their past ten games.

It’s always tough to pick yourself up after you have been beaten down. That said, you have to believe that Flyers head coach John Stevens will be reading his team the riot act today and will have his team ready to battle hard tonight.

Former Flyer Scottie Upshall is expected to be in the lineup for the Coyotes tonight and is sure to give the Flyers forwards fits. His tenacious style and high compete level is always tough to play against; every Flyer will need to keep their head up when Upshall is on the ice.

Beating the Coyotes would go a long way in reversing the embarrassing effort put forth by the Flyers against the Sharks. Pronger, Carle, Carter, Richards, and right down the line, will have to be better and be more physical, that’s what has got the Flyers to this point and failure to bring those attributes tonight will be fatal.

For the Flyers, the loss was brutal, embarrassing and a reminder that if you are not prepared to play hard for 60 minutes, you’ll get burned. It will serve the Flyers well to remember this game, tonight, next week and, for the remainder of the season.

It is what it is, was what it was and, hopefully, will not be repeated.

Until next time,

Peace!

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Philadelphia Flyers: Flying High and Set to Harpoon Sharks

Mark Ritter — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:23:57 -0500

Written by Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

Tonight’s tilt versus the San Jose Sharks, the NHL’s so-called “best team,” should be one for the ages. For the Philadelphia Flyers, tonight’s match is yet another litmus test—an opportunity to serve notice that this Flyers team is not only for real, but also a force, a force to be reckoned with.

With a record of 14-5-4 through 23 games, the Sharks sit atop the NHL standings with 32 points and it’s no accident as to how the Sharks got there. Averaging 3.22 goals per game, the Sharks own the NHL’s fifth-best offense. Dany Heatley leads the Sharks with 14 goals, followed by Patrick Marleau, who has lit the lamp a total of 13 times.

Make no mistake about it, the Sharks' offense is as potent as they come. Anytime you have a player of Joe Thornton’s ilk distributing the puck, the wingers have the potential to be 50-goal-scorers, which Heatley is on pace to be.

Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle is having an All-Star calibre season (too bad there is no All-Star game this season) and has been an integral part of the Sharks' power play. His steady play, leadership, and ability to play in all situations has made him a candidate for Team Canada’s Olympic team, something few thought possible at the beginning of the season.

Defensively, the Sharks are averaging a total of 2.35 goals per game, good enough for third-best in the league. That said, this is a team that gives up an average of just over 30 shots per game, which is high by NHL standards.

Anchored by the strong goaltending of Evgeni Nabokov, who, despite a weak showing in last year's playoffs, has bounced back to have a tremendous season thus far; this Sharks team gets it done, despite the high shots against.

But, let’s face it: without Nabby in net, the Sharks would not be where they are in the standings. Nabokov has a record of 12-3-4 with two shutouts. Nabokov’s 12 wins ties him for a share of the league lead, while his 2.12 GAA and .939 ranks him fourth amongst all NHL goalies in those categories.

Coming into tonight’s match with the Flyers, the Sharks have posted an impressive 6-1-3 record in their last ten games, including a 5-0 drubbing of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

To sum everything up, the Sharks are for real...

The Flyers are on a hot streak of their own, posting a 7-3-0 record over the past 10 games, including a 6-2 win over Tampa Bay, a 5-2 win over Buffalo, and a 3-2 win over the highly-touted Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night.

Tonight’s game represents game two of a five-game road trip for the Flyers, but more importantly, a victory against the Sharks would go a long way in reminding every team in the NHL that, much like the Sharks, this Flyers team means business and can beat any team on any given night.

The match will see four of Canada’s top centermen do battle. Mike Richards and Jeff Carter vs. Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau...it doesn’t get any better than that, folks!

Chris Pronger and Matt Carle, the Flyers' top defensive pairing, will need to be at their very best if they intend to shut down the likes of Heatley, Thornton, Marleau, and Devin Setoguchi—the Sharks' top forwards.

Look for the Flyers' defense to take the body early and often, with an emphasis of causing havoc in the neutral zone and irritating Heatley and Thornton whenever possible. It’s well documented that Thornton performs poorly when shadowed, just ask the Anaheim Ducks about that!

Even though this game has a late start of 10 p.m., rest assured this will be an action-packed one, with plenty of storylines; a “can’t miss” if I've ever seen one.

Until next time,

Peace!

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Is Mike Richards Getting It Done in Philadelphia?

Mark Ritter — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:53:42 -0500

Having scored five goals in his first six games, Philadelphia Flyers forward Mike Richards was off to the hottest start of his short NHL career. However, over the next 12 games, Richards would score just three times, leaving some Flyers fans wanting more.

To be fair, those that are scoffing at Richards’ efforts, are not paying close enough attention. The fact is, Richards is having one heck of a season for the Orange and Black, and from all accounts, looks to be on course for a career year.

Through 18 games, Richards has scored nine goals, has 18 points, and has a plus/minus rating of plus three. His 61 shots and 51.5 face off percentage wins ranks him second amongst all Flyers and, like many elite players, he makes everyone around him better.

Stats are nice, but in order to get a true sense of what Richards brings to the rink every night, you need to look at all the intangibles. Leadership, toughness, grit, determination, and a passion for being a member of the Flyers, are just a few of the attributes that help Richards stand out as an elite NHL player.

Like many of his Flyers’ teammates, Richards has a purpose with the club. Jeff Carter scores goals, James Van Riemsdyk brings energy, Chris Pronger brings leadership and intimidation, and Ray Emery keeps the opposition at bay with his timely saves. Richards brings it all.

Arguably the best two-way forward in the game, Richards brings an attitude that has not been seen since the days of Bobby Clarke.

Richards has no problem getting in an opponents grill and, as witnessed by Florida Panthers forward David Booth, he will not hesitate to take you out.

Richards’ game is built in the mold of an “old school” hockey player, those who played with tremendous pride for their teammates, fans, and most of all, for the jersey on the front of their chests. No question about it, Richards bleeds Orange and Black and he would go through a wall to prove his loyalty.

Without a doubt, Richards will be on Team Canada’s roster when the 2010 Olympic’s roll around and he will likely be given the challenge of checking the oppositions most lethal NHL offensive lines.

Russia’s Alex Ovechkin, USA’s Paul Stastny, Sweden’s Henrik Sedin, Slovenian Anze Kopitar, Czech Vinny Prospal, Finland’s Mikko Koivu, and others will get a steady diet of Mike Richards in Vancouver, something none of them is looking forward to.

So to anyone out that is daring enough to say, “Richards isn’t getting it done in Philly”..."y'all need to check yourself", ‘cause by all accounts, Richards is getting it done and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future, thank you very much!

Until next time,

Peace!

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Flyers Look Good Through First Quarter of Season, Five-Game Road Trip Next

Mark Ritter — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:46:18 -0500

Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

For the most part, the first quarter of the NHL season has been kind to the Philadelphia Flyers. Heading into tonight’s action in Los Angeles against the Kings, through 17 games, the Flyers have a record of 11-5-1, good enough for third in the Atlantic Division and 11th overall in the NHL standings.

Offensively, the Flyers have been dynamite, averaging 3.53 goals per game (3rd overall), while keeping their opponents at bay, giving up just 2.47 goals per game (7th overall). Both totals represent an improvement on the 2008-09 season totals where the Flyers averaged 3.17 goals per game (5th overall) and 2.83 goals against (16th overall).

Much of the Flyers improvement has come from three offseason additions, Chris Pronger on defense, Ray Emery between the pipes, and the presence of rookie James Van Riemsdyk (JVR).

With four goals, 17 points, and a plus/minus rating of +13, Pronger is in the running for the Norris Trophy as the Leagues best defenseman. His grit determination and ability to shut down the opposition has been well documented as has his leadership abilities.

Pronger’s defense partner, Matt Carle, leads all NHL players with a plus/minus rating of +17; let me assure you it has everything to do with Carle’s good fortune of being on the ice with Pronger, further illustrating Pronger’s value to the team.

Emery has been lights out. Through 16 starts, Emery has a record of 11-4-1; his 11 wins ranks him sixth amongst all NHL goaltenders, his 2.22 GAA ranks him seventh overall, and his .923 SV percentage ranks him sixth overall.

Besides the obvious great stats, Emery has brought a level of confidence and calmness to the Flyers team that has not been seen in Philly in quite some time. Emery’s strong goaltending makes it possible for the Flyers to play a robust offensive style, which leads to more than a few odd man rushes for Emery to clean up, something Emery has done with great results.

As for JVR, he’s been a welcomed addition to an already powerful offence. His 16 points on the season rank him second to only the New York Islanders John Tavares in rookie scoring, and his plus/minus rating of +8 is third amongst all NHL rookies.

Once again, JVR is demonstrating that he can play at all ends of the ice, something the Flyers are trying to put an emphasis on. JVR has five goals on the season, three of which have been game winners, proving he can get it done when the pressure is on as well.

Other notable performances for the Flyers have been the steady contributions of veterans Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, and Scott Hartnell, who have been the glue that binds this strong Flyers team.

The Flyers have also had a couple of nice surprises in the form of Darroll Powe, who has six goals on the season and Danny Briere, who, despite a few injury setbacks, has seven goals and 10 points through 13 games.

Going forward, the Flyers are about to take on one of their biggest tests of the season as they commence a five game road trip over seven nights, starting with a visit to Los Angeles to take on the surprisingly tough Kings.

Through 22 games the Kings have a record of 13-7-2, which puts the Kings in sixth overall in the NHL standings. A big part of the Kings success has been their strong play at home, where they own a 5-2-1 record.

Currently on a two game win streak, the Kings will be tough to beat. If the Flyers intend on earning the “W” they will have to keep a close watch on NHL scoring leader Anze Kopitar. Kopitar’s 14 goals on the season are second to only Alex Ovechkin and Marian Gaborik’s 15 and a big reason for the Kings’ early success.

One player the Flyers will not have to worry about is “Captain Canada” Ryan Smyth, who looks to be out of the Kings lineup for up to a month with an upper body injury, most likely his shoulder.

Smyth has found a home in Los Angeles and seemingly has his career back on track. Smyth’s nine goals and 23 points through 22 games are a big reason for the Kings success, that said, much like Pronger in Philly, it is the intangibles that Smyth brings to the rink that make him so valuable. He will be a big loss for the Kings.

After tonight’s tilt against the Kings, the Flyers will head to San Jose to take on the Sharks, followed by matches against the much improved Phoenix Coyotes and Colorado Avalanche, ending with a meeting with John Tavares and the New York Islanders.

Combined, L.A., San Jose, Phoenix, Colorado, and the Islanders have a record of 62-35-10, so there will be no nights off for the Flyers.

If the Flyers can win three of five games one would have to think the road trip was a success. Lose three games and the Flyers risk losing ground to Atlantic Division leaders New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins, teams which have 28 points each, and, being overtaken in the standings by the New York Rangers and New York Islanders, teams that have played more games than Philly, but have 23 points apiece.

This is a big test for the Orange and Black, a trip that will likely see more than a few Flyers return Black and Blue, but that’s what being a Flyer is all about, isn’t it?

Until next time,

Peace!

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Flyers Host Devils, “The Hammer” To Be Honored

Mark Ritter — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:31:42 -0500

The New Jersey Devils have been the NHL’s version of the “road warriors”, going a perfect 9-0 away from the swamp. The Flyers will do their best to be the first team to knock off the Devils this evening, and with James Van Riemsdyk expected to be back in the lineup, they have as good a shot as any team out there.

The Flyers are coming off a tough 3-2 loss to the defensively oriented Buffalo Sabres Saturday night game, where the Flyers were asleep at the wheel for the first period and seemingly uninterested in putting forth the effort to beat the highly-touted Hawks.

Ray Emery is expected to get the nod in net for the Flyers. In his past six games, Emery has a record of 5-1 and has given up just nine goals. Clearly, Emery has played well enough to be considered amongst the NHL’s elite goaltenders and, as such, is one of the biggest surprises this season.

Tonight’s game will feature a special Hall of Fame Induction ceremony for Dave “The Hammer” Schultz, a player that is fondly remembered by Flyers fans as being a valuable member of the Flyers “Broad Street Bullies” and for spilling enough opponents blood on the Spectrum’s ice to fill a few swimming pools!

Shultz, a winger, ranks fourth overall with 1,386 penalty minutes and was one of the most feared players in NHL history. His rugged play and ability to intimidate the opposition were an integral part of the Flyers two Stanley Cup Championships (1973-74, 1974-75).

Shultz will become the 20th member of the Flyers Hallowed Hall, joining the likes of Bobby Clarke, Mark Howe, Bill Barber, Tim Kerr, Bernie Parent, and Ron Hextall, to name a few.

It should be a special night for the Flyers, more so if they can pull off the win.

Until next time,

Peace!

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Flyers' Ray Emery Playing Like an All-Star, Vying for Vezina

Mark Ritter — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:38:39 -0500

At the end of each season, the NHL’s 30 general managers sit down and vote on which goalie they deem to be best at his position. The reward for said goaltender is the coveted Vezina Trophy and this season it could go to Philadelphia Flyer's netminder Ray Emery.

The list of goaltenders who have won the Vezina include, Turk Broda, Tony Esposito, Grant Fuhr, Patrick Roy, Dominik Hasek, Martin Brodeur and the legendary Jacques Plante, who owns the NHL record with six Vezina awards.

Prior to the start of the 2009-10 NHL season, many writers listed the “usual suspects” as their favorites to win the Vezina.

Veterans Brodeur, Roberto Luongo, Evgeni Nabokov, and 2008-09 winner Tim Thomas were often mentioned, as was sophomore goaltender Steve Mason and, to a lesser extent, the Calgary Flames' Miikka Kiprusoff.

Try as you might, one name you will be hard-pressed to find on any of the lists is Emery's.

Coming off of a successful season in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), where Emery posted a very respectable 22-8-0 record with a sparkling 2.12 GAA and .926 save percentage, there were still a ton of doubters unwilling to give Emery a shot with an NHL club.

Emery sought out the Russian League in order to exorcise the demons of his past—a past filled with on- and off-ice troubles, including scuffles with teammates, run-ins with the police, and an ongoing feud with his coach.

The 2009 off-season saw just one team step up to give Emery a chance.

That team was the Philadelphia Flyers, and, given his play early on, they are very pleased that they did.

With his past seemingly, for the lack of a better phrase, in the past, Emery has come back to the NHL with a vengeance. His solid play has the Flyers poised to make a run at the Atlantic Division title and has some people in Philly talking about a Stanley Cup.

To date, after 15 games Emery has a record of 10-4-1. His ten wins ranks him seventh amongst all NHL goaltenders and has him on pace to win well over 40 games on the season.

Emery’s 2.24 GAA is good enough for eighth overall, while his .921 save percentage is 11th best in the league, just .18 off league leaders Ryan Miller and Antero Niittymaki.

To be fair, Emery’s numbers are not the NHL’s best. But he is certainly in the running for the Vezina, especially when you consider the confidence and other intangibles that Emery has brought to the Flyers, as well as his exceptional play of late.

In his past six starts Emery has given up just nine goals and has a record of 5-1 to show for it. In that span, Emery’s numbers have been amongst the NHL’s best, as good as Brodeur, Kiipprusoff, Nabokov, and even Miller, who has been exceptional himself.

Emery has a ways to go, but his early success has Flyer fans, and many NHL fans in general, buzzing about the possibility of Emery not only being an Eastern Conference All-Star (if there was an All-Star game this season), but also being in the race for the Vezina.

Lord knows, outside of the lucky few that chose their goalies early, many fantasy owners would like to have a redo on their goaltending pick, with Ray Emery being at the top of many lists.

And I suspect there are a few NHL GM's that would like to have another shot at Emery as well.

As it sits right now, the race for the Vezina is very close.

Miller (12-2-1, 1.77, .939), Brodeur (12-4-0, 2.16, .921) and Nabokov (12-3-4, 2.16, .927) all have the upper hand on Emery at the moment. But given time, Emery could close in.

The fact is, there may be a few goalies out there that have better overall stats than Emery, but few have played as well as him: not Marc-Andre Fleury, not Roberto Luongo, not Pekka Rinne, not even last year's Vezina winner Thomas.

At the end of the day, one thing is for sure: Emery has our attention, and would be on the radar for the NHL All-Star game.

As for the Vezina? What was once a dream may soon become a reality.

You heard it here first.

Until next time,

Peace!

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Philadelphia Flyers vs. Buffalo Sabres: On The Hunt For Buffalo

Mark Ritter — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:26:16 -0500

Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

Looking for their sixth straight win, the Philadelphia Flyers will be on the hunt for Buffalo tonight at the Wachovia Center.

Looking at the numbers you gotta think the Flyers will in tough in this one, but, having come off a 5-2 in Buffalo just eight days ago, the Flyers have to like their chances.

Make no mistake about it though, the Buffalo Sabres, who have a record of 11-4-1, are a good team with a very stingy defense that is ranked third overall in the NHL giving up just 2.19 goals per game.

Offensively, the Sabres have struggled to light the lamp and sit sixteenth overall, averaging just 2.69 goals per game. Thomas Vanek has gotten off to a slow start with just five goals and four assists through 14.

For the Sabres to be successful, they will have to play a team game, which, for the most part, has been the key to every Sabres victory. The Sabres boast three players (Derek Roy, Jason Pominville, Tim Connoly) with four goals apiece and another three (Vanek, Clarke Macarthur, Drew Stafford) with five, underlining the Sabres balanced attack.

With a record of 11-2-1 with two shutouts, goaltender Ryan Miller has been exceptional. His 1.75 GAA and .940 SV percent rank him first amongst all NHL goalies, as does his 11 wins. If he wasn’t considered a threat to be Team USA’s starting goaltender at the 2010 Olympic’s in Vancouver before, he certainly is on the radar now.

As for the Flyers, everything is clicking right now and, having won five games in a row, are one of the hottest teams in the NHL right now.

The Flyers confidence is at an all-time high, especially goaltender Ray Emery’s who is coming off a rather satisfying 5-1 win over his former team, the Ottawa Senators, on Thursday night.

One of the key reasons for the Flyers success is their number ranked power play, which at a 27.9 percent success rate, is as hot as they come. Scott Hartnell leads the Flyers with five power play goals on the season and Mike Richards has four thus far.

Daniel Briere scored two goals against the Senators in his first game back from injury and rookie forward James Van Riemsdyk has looked solid of late and his four goals, 15 points and plus/minus rating of plus seven has many NHL writers considering him for the Calder Trophy.

Defensively the Flyers have been very good as well, giving up just 2.47 goals per game. and have given up just six goals in their last four games. The Flyers boast one of the Leagues most impressive defensive lineups in the League, maybe the best Flyers defense ever?

Flyers defensemen Chris Pronger and Matt Carle have combined for an impressive plus/minus rating of +27 and, with five goals and 28 points between them, have demonstrated their ability to ‘get it done’ in all areas of the game.

It will be a tough match tonight, the Sabres always come to play, but, in the end, I suspect there will be another check mark in the “W” column for the Flyers come Sunday morning.

Until next time,

Peace!

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