Matt Carle leads the Flyers in points after setting a team record of 4 points in a period by a defenseman on Tuesday against the Capitals. (Neat1325)
It’s time. The Pittsburgh Penguins are strolling into town after a 3-0 loss last night to the Phoenix Coyotes. The Flyers, on the other hand, got a day rest after out-dueling the high-powered offense of the Washington Capitals at home on Tuesday. No more needs to be said about the Penguins vs. the Flyers. Everyone understands what this game means as the orange and black look to open their season in 4-0 fashion.
The Penguins though are hungry. They were just embarrassed at home by a practically ownerless team that just lost Wayne Gretzky as a head coach. The Flyers though will be fueled by the past two postseasons.
Both teams are vastly different now. The Penguins and Flyers have changed in both roster and mentality going into the 2009-10 season. The battle for Pennsylvania once again heats up tonight.
But the Flyers will be lacking some key components. Van Riemsdyk had his “bell rung” against the Capitals, and while the injury is not serious according to the training staff, the organization is going to keep him out of the lineup for the time being. Blair Betts of course will be out at least a month after suffering a dislocated shoulder in the Flyers’ overtime victory on Tuesday.
In their place will be Riley Cote and Arron Asham. This is exactly the reason why the team chose to place Randy Jones in the minors; for once the Flyers have reserves to call up in case of injury.
The top two lines will remain the same, but Giroux will be left on an island with Powe and Asham as his wingers. He played with both of these forwards last season, but against the Penguins it will mean that much more if he can get some offense going. Laperriere will move to center on the fourth line with Carcillo and Cote at wing.
It is also being reported that Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, finally back from injury, will be playing with Parent on the bottom pairing instead of Danny Syvret. Syvret has performed well as of late, but the team wants a little more fight from the skaters tonight against the Pens.
Expect the pain to be brought. Tonight the Flyers are icing the “loaded for bear” lineup.
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