Philadelphia Flyers: Ray Emery Out Up To Six Weeks

Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

NHL.com is reporting that Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ray Emery has an abdominal tear and may be out as long as six weeks.

The news comes at a tumultuous time for the Flyers, a team that is currently marred in a five game losing streak and has just made a coaching change.

Emery, who is thought to have suffered the injury three weeks ago, has struggled of late after starting the season very strong. The Flyers are not using the injury as an excuse, but it sure sheds light on why Emery’s play had taken such a sudden nosedive. Emery will likely go under the knife on Wednesday.

With Emery gone, that leaves Flyers backup, Brian Boucher, to take over the number one job in between the pipes. Boucher, much like the Flyers, has struggled this season, losing his past three games and posting a 2-5-0 record, with a decent 2.50 GAA and a rather ordinary .902 SV%.

The injury to Emery could not have happened at a worse time for the Flyers. Over the next three weeks the Flyers will take on numerous Eastern Conference opponents, including the New York Islanders (2), the Ottawa Senators, New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins (2), New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Carolina Hurricanes.

With so many games against Eastern Conference foes, the Flyers' playoff chances look to be in jeopardy. December could very well be the make or break month for the Flyers; let's face it, it's officially gut check time.

The injury makes it impossible for Emery to participate in the Bridgestone Winter Classic. The outdoor event will take place on New Year's Day in Boston at historic Fenway Park, an event I will be covering on behlaf of Bleacher Report as an Accredited Writer.

If Emery's injury was only going to sideline him for a week or two I would say stay the course and go with Emery when he gets back but, givent the current state of the Flyers, which is dysmal, I suspect the Flyers may be in the market for another goalie.

As the saying goes, things happen in threes. John Stevens’ firing was number one, Emery’s injury is number two, I shudder to think what’s coming next...I mean, just how bad are things going to get in Philadelphia???

In case you didn’t know, starting Dec. 5 Gabe Morency (formally of The Score) will be launching his new website. Louis Pisano, my B/R counterpart, and I will be throwing down our Podcast “Get The Puck Out ” every Saturday from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

The Live Podcast will be broadcast in studio from Toronto featuring some betting analysis, fantasy advice, trivia, team analysis, player updates, and more puck talk than you can imagine.

Be sure to call in and let your opinion be known. Check back with “Ritter’s Rant” on Bleacher Report for further details and the call-in number. The inaugural show is set for Dec. 12. Don’t miss it, puckheads!

You can catch Morency (Monday through Friday from 4:00-6:00PM) and “Get The Puck Out” (Saturday’s from 6:00-7:00PM) at www.morencysports.com. To phone in, call 1-866-964-5710. SPORTS RAGE- it’s the “Evolution of the Rageulation".....

Until next time,

Peace!