Sergei Bobrovsky and Jeff Carter Lead the Philadelphia Flyers to Victory

If you liked the NHL in the 1980s, then pull out your Zumba pants and turn on the Andrew Dice Clay cassette, because this was a classic.

The Philadelphia Flyers destroyed the Carolina Hurricanes 8-1 on Thursday night in Carolina.  The Flyers dominated every facet of the game, and the Hurricanes looked like they were just going through the motions, especially in the third period.

The game was the highest scoring game for the Flyers since 2007.

With their win Thursday, the Flyers have points in their last eight games and are 8-1-1 over their last 10 games.  If you don’t think the Flyers are hot then you’re not watching hockey! The Flyers offense is running wild, their defense is rounding into shape and the goaltending has been stellar.

Speaking of goaltending, the “Iron Curtain” Sergei Bobrovsky did it again.

Bobrovsky stopped 35-of-36 shots he faced against the Hurricanes and has looked amazing this year.  He has started the last eight games and helped earn points for the team in all eight games.

Over that point streak, the “Iron Curtain” has achieved amazing numbers including eight wins, a 1.74 goals against average and a .945 save percentage.

Forward Jeff Carter scored a natural hat trick, and he didn’t even know it.  Originally, Carter’s second goal was credited to Andrej Meszaros but later changed, thus giving the Flyer his natural hat trick. 

All of this offense comes as sources tell CSNPhilly’s Tim Panaccio that the Flyers are close to signing Jeff Carter to a huge contract that could see Carter stay in the orange and black for 10 more years.

Danny Briere added two goals and an assist while Scott Hartnell scored and had an assist as well.  With Leino adding an assist, that line has been devastating all year.  They have built a nucleus that can be deadly, especially in the playoffs when the line is out of gas and all built off instinct.  They just seem to know where the others are on the ice and work to their strengths.

Of course with the news of his contract extension still fresh on the collective tongues of NHL fans, rising star Claude Giroux felt he had to make his mark.  He had two assists including a beautiful play that let Mike Richards redeem himself for a failed breakaway attempt.

One of my stars wasn’t a big part of the game, but it is the improvement this player has made that impresses me.  Nikolay Zherdev scored a goal and has come back from being scratched to play smart hockey and earn his position on the team.  For the contract he signed, it seems to be well worth the price. 

Young forward James van Riemsdyk was a healthy scratch on Thursday, so let’s hope that the same kick in the rump that woke up Zherdev will wake up JVR.  The Flyers will need JVR if they plan on going deep in the playoffs again.

This win comes on the 25th anniversary of Philadelphia virtuoso goalie Pelle Lindbergh’s death.  I wasn’t able to see him play myself, but through video and talks with my father, we might have another Lindbergh on our hands with Bobrovsky.