This right here, is what happens when you play your starter too much. Last night, Michael Leighton suffered a high ankle sprain in the Flyers 4-3 loss to NAshville. With that, the Flyers are down to my main man, Brian Boucher as the starter and.....Jeremy Duchesne as the backup. Yeah, that's right, Jeremy who???
OK, maybe it WASN'T too much playing time that caused Leighton's injury, but stay with me here. Boucher hasn't started a game since DECEMBER. December as in December 23rd as in before Christmas. Yeah, almost three months and yet he will be in net, expected to play a full 60 minutes against the Dallas Stars. And trust me, he will play 60 minutes because you DO NOT want Jeremy Duchesne in net.
This is why even the New JErsey Devils spell Martin Brodeur, the Calgary Flames spell Miika Kiprusoff and the New York Rangers spell Henrik Lundqvist. The days of Glenn Hall playing every game for Chicago 50 years ago are long gone.
This is the modern day nHL and you need to play two goalies, end of discussion.
Now the Flyers enter tonight's action five points ahead of the Rangers in the playoff race and have a goalie who hasn't played a full game in three months in net. I love Boucher, but he's a goalie who plays well when he plays A LOT. Now if Leighton is really hurt, he WILL play a lot. But for the next few games, even if they are playing Dallas and Atlanta, hold your breathe. The Flyers may need a little bit of Irish luck to stick with them for the next week.
Studs and Duds This Week
Bruins 5, Flyers 1
Stud: Tuukka Rask- The Bruins played well on Thursday, but Rask in particular stood out, as he didn't allow the Flyers a chance to stay in the game and clearly outplayed Leighton in net.
Dud: Scott Hartnell- Assist notwithstanding, he was benched in the third period and we would find out that the message was well received.
Flyers 3, Blackhawks 2
Stud: Scott Hartnell- He stepped up this game with a critical tying goal late and was part of the set-up for Chris Pronger's winning goal.
Dud: Jeff Carter- Was a non-factor in a game the Flyers needed his offensive prowess. Fortunately, they faired well without it.
Rangers 3, Flyers 1
Stud: Sean Avery- Wow, you HAVE to hate the guy, but he was off the wall spectacular in everything he did on Sunday, he could do no wrong and scored twice for New York.
Dud: Michael Leighton- The whole team disappointed, but Leighton's terrible appearence on Avery's second goal clearly earns him the dud award here.
Predators 4, Flyers 3 (SO)
Stud: Jeff Carter- He scored just over a minute in and had a ridiculous 11 shots in the game. Big difference from the one shot against Chicago.
Dud: Mike Richards- He had an assist, but is on here after a terrible shootout attempt that lost the Flyers the game. Hard to blame Boucher for letting up a Martin Erat goal, so the dud goes to Richards.
My Flyers Picks This Week
With LEighton out, a question mark arises for a Flyers team that is battling for their playoff lives at this point. With four games this week, three against teams outside of the playoff picture, wins are a must, especially with the Penguins and Devils waiting in back-to-back games in two weeks. I don't trust this team, though, and see them falling at Dallas and Atlanta before upending the Thrashers at home. Another loss awaits in Ottawa.
Last Week 1-3
Season 24-20
Thurs. at Dallas LOSS
Sat. at Atlanta LOSS
Sun. vs Atlanta WIN
Tues. at Ottawa LOSS
It's Happy Time!!!
Happy 23rd Birthday Bobby Ryan- The local Cherry Hill native who stars for the Ducks and recently Team USA has a St. Patty's Day birthday. Oh the luck of the Irish as smiled on Ryan as he looks to be a future superstar for a young but promising Anaheim hockey club. Happy birthday Bobby!!!
Happy 65th Anniversary Bill "Flash" Hollett- Who?? Bill Hollett, a Detroit defenseman who made his mark on St. Patty's Day, 1945 by becoming the first NHL defenseman to score 20 goals in a season. Bet you never knew that, huh?
Happy Trails Alex Ovechkin- Mr. Ovechkin is spending his St. Patty's Day at home, as he was suspended for two games after a hit on Chicago's Brian Campbell on Sunday. More on this in Around the NHL.
Around the NHL
Atlantic- After a Rangers loss to Montreal last night, Chris Drury was reported today questioning whether his team has the maturity to go to the playoffs. My answer: not yet. People don't realize that is a Ranger team that is still young, even though they traded for veterans like Jokinen at the deadline, it's not enough for New York. Maybe a playoff miss will be a harsh dose of reality for New York.
Northeast- Just three points above the Rangers sits the Boston Bruins, who lost Marc Savard for the season. Are they especially talented as a team? No, but they sure do work hard and took advantage of Flyers miscues in a game last week. Patrice Bergeron's superb play also showed he can step up in savard's place and this team just looks more playoff ready than the Rangers right now.
Southeast- They lost Ovechkin for two games, but the Capitals just keep rolling. Back-to-back wins have them over 100 points and they have ALREADY clinched the Southeast Division title. Kudos to the Caps, now it's time for them to play well in the playoffs.
Central- Sunday, in the first period of Washington-Chicago, OVechkin sent Campbell into the boards. He got a major penalty and game msiconduct, and subsequently OVechkin was suspended two games. Meanwhile, Campbell may be out until Round Two of the playoffs with broken ribs and a clavicle. At first, I thought Ovechkin had a right to be mad, but looking at the hit again, its suspension worthy. Campbell went down awkwardly and Ovechkin hit him from behind. Let's face it Alex, this is the new NHL, those hits just don't slide.
Northwest- Questions arose from me after the Canucks were throughly manhandled at home against the Islanders last night. Maybe it was just a bad night for Vancouver or maybe this team doesn't have the maturity and poise to survive a grueling Western Conference bracket. Time will tell.
Pacific- For folks looking for Mike Modano tomorrow night, you won't find him. Modano had an emergency appendectomy yesterday and will not be playing tomorrow night. Sadly, we may have seen the last of one of the greatest Amercian NHL players.
What To Watch This Week
Wednesday- Pittsburgh at New Jersey 7:00 Hockey Night on Yahoo
The Devils have dominated the Penguins all season, can Pittsburgh recover and get a leg up in the Atlantic race?
Thursday- Chicago at Los Angeles 10:30 Hockey Night on Yahoo
The Blackhawks head to the West Coast banged up as the youthful and powerful Kings wait to prove their worth in the Western Conference.
Friday- San Jose at Calgary 9:00 Hockey Night on Yahoo
The Flames are barely hanging around in the playoff hunt, if they want to get in they need to beat a top notch team in the Sharks at home.
Saturday- Chicago at Phoenix 9:00 CSN Chicago
The Blackhawks west trip continues as they take on the other surprise of the West this season, the Coyotes.
Sunday- NY Rangers at Boston 12:30 NBC
The eighth and ninth place teams in the East battle in a crucial game that could be a difference maker in the playoff battle down the stretch.
Monday- Colorado at Los Angeles 10:30 Hockey Night on Yahoo
Two of the top four teams in the West face off at Staples Center as the Avalanche try to hang on to the Northwest Division lead.
Tuesday- Phoenix at Chicago 8:30 CSN Chicago
For the second time in four days, the Coyotes and Blackhawks faceoff as its Phoenix's turn to travel north to the Windy City.
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