About the Flyers - 10-16-10
A preview of the Flyers.
When and where: 6 p.m. Wells Fargo Center.
TV: FSN Pittsburgh, CSN Philadelphia and NHL Network (United States).
Record: 2-1-1, 5 points. The Flyers are in third place in the Eastern Conference and first place in the Atlantic Division.
Leading Scorer: Daniel Briere, 3 points (3 goals).
Last Game: 3-2 home loss to the Lightning, Thursday. Brian Boucher made 21 saves in the loss.
Last Game against the Penguins: 3-2 road win, Oct. 7. Marc-Andre Fleury made 24 saves for the Penguins in the first regular season game ever at Consol Energy Center.
Flyers Player We Would Bet Money On Scoring: Jeff Carter (above) seems to be the one consistent preformer on the "wrong" side of this rivalry. In three home games against the Penguins last season, Carter had 6 points (4 goals, 2 assists).
Ex-Penguins on the Flyers: Daniel Carcillo, LW (Carcillo was a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguin, but never played for the NHL club); Joe Mullen, assistant coach; Kevin McCarthy, assistant coach; Simon Nolet, scout.
Ex-Flyers on the Penguins: Arron Asham, RW; Mike Comrie, C; Kevin Stevens, professional scout.
Useless Flyers Trivia Vaguely Related to the Penguins: The first successful penalty shot in Flyers history was by former Penguins captain Orest Kindrachuk. He beat Capitals goaltender Michel Belhumeur in a 6-2 home win, Nov 9, 1974.
Best Flyers Video We Could Find: Say what you will about Mike Richards, but there might not be a more dangerous player shorthanded:
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Probable goaltenders: Dan Bylsma declined to say if Marc-Andre Fleury (0-3-0, 3.41 GAA, .853 SV%) or Brent Johnson (2-0-0, 1.48 GAA, .945 SV%) would start for the Penguins. Sergei Bobrovsky (2-0-0, 2.00 GAA, .931 SV%) for the Flyers.
Injuries: For the Penguins, defenseman Brooks Orpik (groin) is day to day. Defenseman Zbynek Michalek (shoulder) is out. xxx are on injured reserve. Centers Casey Pierro-Zabotel (finger), Jordan Staal (foot), right winger Arron Asham ("upper body") and defenseman Alex Grant (wrist) are on injured reserve. For the Flyers, center Blair Betts (knee) is probable. Defenseman Matt Walker (knee) is out. Right winger Ian Laperriere (head) and goaltender Michael Leighton (back) are on injured reserve.
Potential lines and defensive pairings:
-The Penguins' lines and defensive pairings last night against the Islanders were:
Eric Tangradi - Mike Comrie - Evgeni Malkin
Matt Cooke - Maxime Talbot - Tyler Kennedy
Mike Rupp - Mark Letestu - Eric Godard
Paul Martin - Kris Letang
Alex Goligoski - Ben Lovejoy
Andrew Hutchinson - Deryk Engelland
-The Flyers' primary lines against Tampa Bay were:
Dan Carcillo - Mike Richards - Jeff Carter
Scott Hartnell - Danny Briere - Ville Leino
James van Riemsdyk - Claude Giroux - Nikolay Zherdev
Jody Shelley - Blair Betts - Darroll Powe
Chris Pronger - Matt Carle
Kimmo Timonen - Braydon Coburn
Andrej Meszaros - Sean O’Donnell
-During yesterday's practice, van Riemsdyk and Andreas Nodl each got time on the first line left wing position.
Notes:
-The Penguins cancelled today's morning skate.
-As hard as it might be to believe, the Penguins actually have the best power play in Pennsylvania.
-Bobrovsky has at least one fan in Flyers goaltending legend Bernie Parent.
-Television Heads-Up: Don't forget tonight's game is on NHL Network in the United States. If you are a Center Ice or Game Center Live customer and you are located outside of the Pittsburgh or Philadelphia markets, please make sure you have NHL Network or make alternate plans to watch it.
-Our live blog begins at approximately 6 p.m. Please tune in.
(Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)


