Last night the Flyers recorded their 3rd straight win and 9th win in the last 11 games. The New York Rangers could not handle the surging Flyers who seems to have found top form after a very slow start. 6-2 was the scoreline with Sergei Gonchar, Patrice Bergeron and Michael Ryder as the big producers.
Struggling for chemistry all season the Flyers have cut loose dysfunctional but very talented forwards like Eric Cole, Milan Hejduk and Pavel Datsyuk … instead they’ve finally found scoring lines that produce on a regular basis. The first line combination that worked was Patrice Bergeron centering playmaker Andrew Brunette and streaky scorer Michael Ryder … this is now the second line. The current first line holds Justin Williams and Vaclav Prospal on the wings with Daymond Langkow at center. In addition to the two scoring lines the Flyers can send veteran forward Keith Tkachuk on the ice the rest of the time.
Following a 16 point burst in 7 games Captain Nick Lidstrom took a rare night off and didn’t register a point. Instead Sergei Gonchar registered 4 assists from the blueline as the game’s #1 star. ”If it’s not one it’s the other” said GM Siemsen continuing ”Nick Lidstrom is playing like the perennial Norris Trophy Winner we always knew he could ... but Gonch’ [Sergei Gonchar] has pitched in with 3 goals and 10 assists in 11 games since we re-acquired him … this one-two punch we have now from the blue-line has been the catalyst for our recent form. I dont want to take anything away from our forwards who are also doing extremely well, but that duo is creating so many chances from the blue line that it’s just ridiculous - particularly on the power play. This streak certainly makes you think … where would we be now if we hadn’t traded away Gonchar on opening night?”
The Flyers will look to extend their strong run tonight as the slumping Carolina Hurricanes comes to Philadelphia. The Hurricanes recently traded Captain and star player Eric Staal. The Hurricanes have lost their last 2 and 3 of the last 4. The Flyers are clear favourites, but this season has shown that doesn’t mean much in the OTHL unless you have Alexander Ovechkin on your team.
FLYERS LINE-UP TONIGHT vs. CAROLINA
Prospal – Langkow – Williams
Brunette – Bergeron – Ryder
Tkachuk – Malhotra – Kostopoulos
Tkachuk – McCauley – Eager
Lidstrom – Smith
Gonchar – Commodore
Skrastins – Robidas
Mason
Harding