Category Archives: 2011-12 Season

January 17, 2012 · 12:48 pm

Flyers F-Rinaldo Day-to-Day With Upper-Body Injury

The Flyers will be down another forward on Tuesday night against the Minnesota Wild, as tenacious winger Zac Rinaldo has been officially labeled day-to-day with an upper-body injury according to general manager Paul Holmgren.

The injury is the second in as many days for the Flyers, who lost forward James van Riemsdyk to a concussion on Sunday.

Rinaldo, sitting second in the NHL in penalty minutes with 122, was hit in the face with a puck during Monday’s afternoon practice. Originally stated to be a game-time decision, the Flyers iced Rinaldo, who will be replaced by enforcer Jody Shelley on the team’s fourth line.

Rinaldo has a goal and four assists in 35 games. Shelley has an assist in 14 games

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January 4, 2012 · 2:38 am

The Wait is Over for Brayden Schenn

CITIZENS BANK PARK – It took 18 career games, a myriad of injuries to push through and a hockey stage never before seen in Philadelphia.

But in story tale fashion, in the second period of Monday’s Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park, Brayden Schenn earned his much anticipated and highly memorable first NHL goal.

“When it went in I kind of blacked out,” said Schenn, whose efforts were thwarted by a third-period Flyers collapse and eventual 3-2 Rangers win. “I got so excited. It’s good to get it out of the way and it was especially nice with my family in town and I’m sure my brother [Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Luke Schenn] was watching, too.”

Read More at Philly Sports Daily

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January 1, 2012 · 2:04 pm

Lindros Saga Finds Magical Conclusion

CITIZENS BANK PARK — The joyous smile plastered on Eric Lindros’ face after Saturday Alumni Game at Citizens Bank Park was matched only in magnitude by the ear-to-ear grins of a nostalgic Philly crowd, that stood in awe and ovation as their exiled son finally returned home.

“It was just a great experience,” said Lindros, now 38. “It was wonderful to go out for the celebration and the support of the guys when they came out of the locker room, it was really special. It was a fun afternoon.”

Before the eyes of the city, in a game celebrating the history of hockey in Philadelphia in which the Flyers defeated the New York Rangers alumi, 3-1, the long-awaited return of Lindros in his customary Flyers logo, was an iconic and surreal moment for Flyers hockey.

Read More at Philly Sports Daily

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December 29, 2011 · 10:53 pm

Bobrovsky Makes Case as Flyers Winter Classic Starter

It was an important rivalry game against good competition in a pressurized environment.

And the Flyers goaltender stood tall to prop up his team and also preserve the win.

However, the rarity wasn’t provided by franchise selection and HBO star Ilya Bryzgalov. It was the other Russian, Sergei Bobrovsky, who made 24 saves in Thursday night’s 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center.

With Bobrovsky’s confident outing, his second in a row after earning the 4-1 win in Dallas, the young goalie also handed coach Peter Laviolette some serious roster questions for the highly anticipated Winter Classic game against the New York Rangers on Monday at Citizens Bank Park.

If the Flyers wanted the best chance to win outdoors in front of the nation, they’d buck expectation and select Bobrovsky, the current steadier hand, as their choice between the pipes.

Read More at Philly Sports Daily

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December 28, 2011 · 1:12 am

Bryzgalov Failing to Pull Weight and Contract with Flyers

In a season filled with average-at-best play from their $51-million franchise goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, the horrid 5-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night may be the low point.

And that’s saying something.

Bryzgalov allowed five goals on 16 shots, made just 11 saves and provided little help to his team which carried play throughout. He posted a .688 save percentage and was thoroughly outplayed by Lightning backup Mathieu Garon. Bryzgalov’s positioning was poor, his rebound control was questionable and most of all, his ability to keep the Flyers in the game was non-existent.

Read More at Philly Sports Daily

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December 20, 2011 · 11:20 am

Giroux Recovering but He’s Not Out of the Woods Yet.

On Sunday, the Flyers aroused the optimism of their fan base by releasing a surprise photograph of concussed Claude Giroux practicing in a non-contact jersey. Not only did the team’s star forward and leading scorer make the trip to Colorado, but was in competitive spirits and working at a high level.

With the picture and accounts of the practice came an overwhelming optimistic exhale from the Flyers’ community, who have suffered through a tidal wave of bad news in the past couple weeks. From Chris Pronger to Brayden Schenn, Sean Couturier and of course, Giroux, injuries have hit the team hard and in succession.

The worst, as Giroux zipped around the Pepsi Center, seems to have passed.

But regardless of the appearance, concussions, more accurately, post-concussion syndrome, is a sneaky and unpredictable terror. Just when you think it’s better, it attacks once again, sending the player back to square one. It can be as frustrating as it is debilitating.

So given its shifty nature, it should be noted that the Flyers and Giroux are not out of the woods yet.

Read More at Philly Sports Daily

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December 12, 2011 · 4:45 pm

Flyers Testing Depth Once More with Injury to Giroux

What’s one more injury for the Flyers?

Through 28 games, the Flyers have built their Atlantic Division-leading success on the back of their depth. Role players, rookies and everyone in between has been asked to grab a bigger role, play above themselves, and by brushing off the rush of constant adversity, have been able to thrive in doing so with a surprising 18-7-3 record.

On Tuesday night, as they visit the Verizon Center to take on the Washington Capitals, the remaining healthy Flyers need to reach down one more time and come away with their best character performance yet — one without leading scorer, catalyst and top-line center Claude Giroux, who is considered questionable with a potential head injury.

Read More at Philly Sports Daily

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December 11, 2011 · 12:15 pm

Flyers Should Play Cautious With Giroux Injury

It could be felt across Philadelphia.

The type of fear and trepidation that only a head trauma injury could bring.

Late in the second period of Saturday night’s 5-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning, an ill-fated and misplayed body check by Claude Giroux put him in the direct contact with teammate Wayne Simmonds.

Simmonds did his best to dodge Giroux, but in trying to leap over him, kneed the Flyers’ leading scorer in the back of his head. Giroux stumbled off the ice and shortly after was sent into the locker room.

He did not return to the game as a precaution according to general manager Paul Holmgren. He will be re-evaluated on a day-to-day basis.

Read More At Philly Sports Daily

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December 4, 2011 · 12:35 pm

Ducks Boudreau Slams Flyers for Diving

Whether he’s residing in the East or out on the West Coast, some things never change for Anaheim Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau.

Regardless of where he’s behind the bench, he doesn’t like or respect the Flyers.

On Saturday, after his Ducks debut was spoiled on Friday night at the Honda Center with a 4-3 comeback overtime win by the Flyers the night prior, Boudreau couldn’t help but commend his club for some good things, discuss the emotional week, and oh yeah, trash the Flyers for diving.

Read More at Philly Sports Daily

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October 19, 2011 · 2:16 pm

Crowded Lineup with Schenn is Good Problem for Flyers

The news of Brayden Schenn’s recall from the AHL’s Adirondack Phantoms on Wednesday, sent a shockwave of excitement and confusion through the Flyers’ faithful, who have become smitten with the current make of their squad, fourth-liners and all.

Coming off a dominating 7-2 win over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday and running their overall record to 4-0-1, the fun-to-watch Flyers have abruptly shuffled their lineup, sending the impressive Zac Rinaldo and Harry Zolnierczyk down to the Phantoms and inserting Schenn, a high-profile center, into the pivot-heavy fray.

But regardless of where Schenn plays, the minutes he receives, the line combinations it causes or whether the decision to tinker with the roster was the correct one, there is something to note here that shouldn’t get lost in the roster shuffle.

What a nice problem to have.

Read More at Philly Sports Daily

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