Flyers Weekly: In the Crease

By John Casey

Flyers Start Post-Olympic Stretch Strong

Coming out of the Olympic break there was a lot of pressure on the Flyers to start right where they left off in mid-February. After a week of games and the NHL Trade Deadline, it seems the Orange and Black are still riding the momentum.

Since the break the Flyers have gone 3-1-1 beating the Lightning, Maple Leafs and most recently the Islanders. The Lightning game was the one the Flyers really showed the scoring potential this lineup possesses. They put seven goals past Tampa goaltending. This team has the skill to do that every night if they are hitting on all cylinders. The other two wins were not as simple. The Maple Leafs game was close and never quite seemed the Flyers had it locked up. The Islanders had a 2-0 lead in the second period. The Flyers never gave up and were able to score three unanswered goals, two of them on the power play, to get the win.

The loss to the Panthers was the bump in what was a pretty successful week. Goalie Michael Leighton had his first really bad game as a Flyer getting pulled in the game. Even though the Flyers trailed the entire game, they continued to show fight and even got within two before Florida capped it off with an empty net goal late in the third.

***Trade Deadline

The NHL Trade deadline came and went. At the end of the day, the Flyers roster was still intact and they were not welcoming any new additions. There were plenty of rumors and speculation on the days leading up to the 3pm deadline, but GM Paul Holmgren was not able to pull the trigger on any deals.

Basically this season the Flyers were caught with not enough bullets in the gun to make a move. They lacked the high draft picks and top prospects that were needed to bring in a guy like Predators defenseman Dan Hamhuis. The Flyers also were handcuffed with the amount of players with no trade clauses and no movement clauses. Scott Hartnell is one name that kept being tossed around in rumors. The fact he has a NTC meant he would have to approve any trade involving him. There was no way he would waive it to go to a non-contender like Atlanta, Florida or Nashville. Quite frankly I do not blame him.

***Three Stars of the Week***

3. Dan Carcillo

Carcillo locked up the third star this week against Toronto. Maple Leafs enforcer Colton Orr challenged Carcillo. He would not fight so Orr tried being aggressive punching Carcillo finally getting himself a penalty. Carcillo showed great discipline and he has come a very long way since fighting Max Talbot of the Penguins at the worst possible time in the playoffs last year. He also picked up a goal and two assists this week.

2. Michael Leighton

There may not be more pressure on any other Flyer the rest of this season. Since no goalie was acquired at the deadline, Leighton is the guy in net for the Flyers. This week he showed great poise helping the team to a very successful couple game. I know he was pulled in the Florida game, but he was spectacular bouncing back in the Buffalo overtime loss and shut the door in the wins against Toronto and the Islanders. If the Flyers are going to make any kind of playoff run, Leighton will have to be the guy to lead them.

1. Simon Gagne

Gagne is in the middle of another injury ridden season. He has really come on as of late. When he scored the overtime winner against the Devils just before the Olympic break, it was the first time he looked like he was playing with confidence since his concussion problems two seasons ago. This week Gagne continued to be a force scoring five goals and notching an assist. If he continues this hot streak it will do wonders for the Flyers offense and their power play the rest of the season.

***The Week Ahead***

The next week for the Flyers is not going to be easy. Thursday night they welcome a very tough Boston Bruins team to the Center. On Saturday Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks come to town for an afternoon matinee. The Hawks are legitimate Cup contenders in the West. The team then hits the road for games against the Rangers and the Predators. Expect the Rangers game to have plenty of side talk with all the fights that happened during their last meeting. It should be an exciting week. There are a lot of good games and they will only get better down the stretch.