Philadelphia Flyers: Odds And Ends
By Phil DeSilva
Mar 28, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Vincent Lecavalier (40) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers defeated the Maple Leafs, 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
After the game tomorrow afternoon against the, NHL Eastern Conference leading, Boston Bruins the Philadelphia Flyers will have only eight games remaining on their schedule. Before the this last month of games the Flyers were starting to show signs of life but as soon as March rolled around they became the team that most thought they would be entering the season. They recently went on a run through two against the Penguins, and some of the Western Conferences’ best to only drop their next two with losses to the Kings and Rangers. Playing in Madison Square Garden has been a house of horrors lately and it is something that is going to have to get remedied if Philly has any chance against them should they meet in the playoffs. Before the month March the Flyers odds of making the playoffs were good but not great. After their resent surge though it would almost be harder for them to not make it in.
***Not that I wish injury upon anyone but I am glad to see that Tye McGinn has been given a real shot to see what he can do in the NHL. For whatever reason McGinn name has not been called much when the need arose to make a call-up. He has been one of the best players for the AHL Phantoms all year and giving him an actually shot only makes sense. Now that he has been moved to the second line with Schenn and Simmonds he might give the coaching staff some hard decisions to make when Steve Downie comes back from injury.
***Some speculate that Steve Downie might return to the lineup on Sunday versus the Boston Bruins. I see it being more like Tuesday against the Blues or even more likely is Thursday at home versus the Columbus Blue Jackets.
***Vincent Lecavalier has taken his demotion to fourth line with class; like everything else he has had happen in his career. Truth is he should not have been playing on the wing to begin with. Maybe a few years ago it might have worked, but the mileage on his legs relegate him to the only position he has ever known. He just doesn’t have the speed or quick burst it requires to play the wing at a high level anymore, plus I get the sense that he his a bit injured and toughing it out. Moving back to center, his natural position, allows him the freedom to play his game. It hurts to see him on the forth line though. To Lecavalier’s credit he came out last night out to prove a point. If the fourth line can pick up their game, as they did last night, and take it into the playoffs they have a chance to be very dangerous.
***2013 second round pick, defensemen Robert Hagg is set to make his pro debut tonight for the AHL Phantoms.
***Union College defensemen and the Flyers third round pick in 2012 Shayne Gostisbehere(#14) was putting on a display yesterday of what might be coming soon to the Philadelphia blue line. He had a bit of an injury scare early on only to return and help Union College beat Vermont 5-2. They will advance to play Providence this afternoon(3:00pm on ESPN2).
***The Philadelphia Flyers already signed high scoring college free agent forward Kevin Goumas earlier in the week. There are other free agent players that interest the front office, but the one that sticks out the most is Mass.-Lowell defensemen Christian Folin. The Flyers have emerged as one of the front runners to land him, but there will be a lot of teams after him. His Riverhawks will be playing Minnesota State University-Mankato tonight (7:30).