Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Ville Leino has been a revelation.
Since entering the active line up in game 5 of the Stanley Cup Quarterfinals against the New Jersey Devils, the 27-year old Finnish winger has amassed 15 playoff points (six goals, nine assists) to tie a Flyers franchise record for rookie scoring set by Brian Propp in 1980.
This secret to his success?
“A lot of ice time,” Leino told the Finnish Press after Wednesday’s 4-3 overtime victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals. “That’s what I’ve been trying to say. When you get to play, you get confidence and that’s the most important thing.”
If you were in a Voorhees, N.J. GameStop late Monday night, the dejected future NHLer you saw walking away empty-handed was Flyers’ prospect and former second-overall pick James van Riemsdyk. Van Riemsdyk tried his best to pick up a copy of EA Sports’ highly anticipated title NHL 10. But let it be known that even potential future cover models for the game don’t get early copies.
Phila.Bright 