Simon Gagne's overtime winner secures the season series against the Devils for 2009-10 as well as two straight come from behind victories through the home and home.
Simon Gagne has his doubters. There are veterans of the fan front who have seen concussions whittle unlucky players down until they have nothing left in the tank. These same fans witnessed star after star fall to this epidemic. Gagne, a fan favorite for nearly a decade now, had his run in with concussions as well.
In 2007-08, Gagne received a severe concussion early on. A few months later he was cleared to go by the medical staff; a terrible mistake. He soon took another blow to the head, and that was it for Gagne’s campaign as he watched his Flyers return to glory, all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, from a press box.
Amidst the doubts and uncertainty, Gagne returned for 74 points, including 34 goals, in 2008-09. Then, in the offseason, groin and hip issues started. He went into surgery but promised to go to Olympic Camp for Team Canada. How could he not? He has seem Team Canada for nearly a decade.
In the first practice, Gagne felt soreness and sidelined himself to make sure he was ready for the Flyers’ regular season. It wasn’t long before he was out again having re-injured his hip.
The return to his former self was, once again, slow.
Since his return to action on December 19th, he has played 24 games, and on New Years Day in the great outdoors of Fenway Park, he became the only Flyer to see the entire decade through. Unfortunately, in those 24 games since returning he’s only managed six goals, including an overtime game winner tonight to secure the home and home and season series for the Flyers.
It must be likely pulling teeth for Gagne and the entire offense as well, as Carter gets a goal in back-to-back games for the first time in nearly a month.
With the Olympic Break only two games away, the Flyers are hoping that this latest surge will bring their offensive talents back from the dead.
So is the offense back yet?
It’s tough to say just how close to a rebirth this group of forwards is. One thing is certain though, their confidence may have never been higher. They hadn’t surmounted an early two goal deficit to skate away with victory all season. In a home and home against the Devils, fresh with Kovalchuk and with the season series on the line, the Flyers manage to accomplish come from behind victories, and even an OT winner, in back-to-back games.
Hopefully confidence is contagious. Briere and Hartnell could use some offense, though in Hartnell’s defense he did have a goal tonight.
Another “technicality” robs the Flyers of yet another goal. This is becoming a dangerous trend to say the least.
The Flyers prepare for another home-and-home, this one against the Montreal Canadiens starting Friday, to close out the pre-Olympic Break season.
Emery Situation In Doubt
The Flyers are keeping tight-lipped about Ray Emery’s possible injury. He has not skated recently, nor has he spoken to anyone about his hip. The last time the organization said anything about his injury they were clarifying the MRI. Right now it appears as though how the Flyers move at the deadline is largely reflected on whether or not Emery needs surgery.
More news about the Flyers’ trade deadline will be coming as soon as word begins to spread. There are rumors about Marty Turco of the Dallas Stars as well as one of the Nashville goaltenders floating around.
