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Added Vinny Lecavalier, who was also on the ice for that goal: “It was a big goal for them. But we were on the ice a lot and it broke our momentum from the beginning.”

Minutes later, Gallagher made it 3-0 during a two-man Habs power-play advantage.

Game over.

Lecavalier, who to that point had the Flyers' only decent power-play chances -- let alone shots -- got it back on the power play with a rebound off a Mark Streit shot, but it wasn’t enough.

So, the Flyers, who talked about the importance of getting off to a quick start this season, are 0-2 going into Sunday afternoon’s game in Carolina.

Is it too early to call Game No. 3 a “must-win" for coach Peter Laviolette’s club?

“We gotta relax a little bit; every game is important,” Max Talbot said. “[Sunday] is a big game, but it is just three games into the season. Two games played already. Let’s just focus on [Carolina].”

What impaled the Flyers in this one was 13 penalties for 32 minutes, of which seven came in the decisive third period.

“It seemed the first two periods, every time we got going 5-on-5 it lasted about two to three minutes and then the penalty killers went back on the ice,” Laviolette said. “After they scored the goal to start the third, the penalties happened and we lost our composure.

“It unraveled from there. We’re not going to win a lot of hockey games if we go to the box as much as we did tonight.”

All that penalty killing sapped the Flyers' energy to do anything even strength.

“We’re taking too many of them, losing momentum and guys don’t get into the game and I have myself to blame for taking a couple bad ones (two stick penalties),” Grossmann said.

Eight calls were obstruction or stick fouls.

Meanwhile, the Flyers power play, which was third best in the NHL last season, is just 2 for 12. Lecavalier has the club’s only power-play goal (1 for 5) while the Flyers don’t have an even-strength goal yet.

“You look at the first game, we had a lot of chances and couldn’t score,” Lecavalier said. “Tonight a lot of penalties and tough to get that flow. We lost our momentum. We want to eliminate a few [of these].

“Maybe a few weren’t great calls, but it’s part of the game. Same thing the other way. We have to stay more disciplined with stick penalties. Get more momentum and more 5-on-5 chances.”

Unlike the season opener against Toronto, the Flyers got off to a very ragged, sloppy start and had to kill off consecutive penalties, including five seconds of a Habs 5-on-3 power play.

How ironic then that Montreal’s only goal in the first period came shortly after at even strength on a nice play at the net from Rene Bourque.

Luke Schenn was caught chasing the puck behind the Flyers' net when Bourque slid a perfect pass through the goal crease to the waiting Brian Gionta for an easy tip-in past Emery at 8:10.

Schenn’s partner, Streit, was late covering in the slot on Gionta at the post.

The second period saw most of it played in the Flyers' own end and directly in front of Emery.

It's hard to say which team was worse at finding the net -- the Flyers or Canadiens? There were too many shots high or wide on both sides, and several 4-on-4 situations, as well.

Before it was over, the Flyers were back on the penalty kill with Claude Giroux making a fancy between-the-legs move on a semi-breakaway to get a shorthanded chance on Price with 65 ticks left in the period.

Hands down, that was the Flyers' best chance. How apropos they were shorthanded, too.

“At the end of two periods, it was pretty tight defensively,” Laviolette said. “I just think if we play a cleaner game, we can roll the lines a little more, keep the flow and not wear out the penalty killers, and have certain guys sitting so long on the bench.

“Eventually, if you get enough opportunities on the power play, you will score.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.06.2013

719809 Philadelphia Flyers

Skate Update: Briere's billboard; Emery starts

Briere: 'There's no extra friction' after buyout

MONTREAL -- The billboards are scattered throughout the Province of Quebec, but especially in the downtown area of Montreal.

“Le Club du Hockey,” they say with a picture of the Canadiens' logo and a player’s face.

One of those faces adorning the billboards from Trudeau Airport along Hwy. 20 into city centre belongs to … Danny Briere.

It caught the attention of the Flyers on Friday afternoon when they were stuck in traffic getting into the city.

“We’re driving on the highway and there’s the big billboard of Danny B,” Scott Hartnell said. “We were in the city not even two minutes and we saw his face all over the place.

“I texted him about that. We had a few texts back and forth. He’s liking it and enjoying it up here.

“He was a linemate of mine for probably four, five of the six years he was in Philly and I’m going to miss him, but tonight, it’s us against them. Both teams didn’t want the starts they had with losing the first game but we have to come out hard and try to get a win on the road.”

Emery starts

Ray Emery makes his second Flyers debut tonight at Bell Centre. The last time being during the 2009-10 season.

This is the first back-to-back situation the Flyers face this season with Sunday afternoon’s game in Carolina to follow.

Flyers coach Peter Laviolette usually has his goalie rotation mapped out for such things but admits it is always subject to change.

Next weekend, the Flyers play back-to-back, as well with Phoenix and Detroit. It’s entirely possible Emery works both games this weekend so the staff can see how he handles it.

“There’s always thoughts going into something,” Laviolette said. “I’m not going to make it set in stone. I think we have thoughts on the way things should go or who might get into the lineup where or what goaltender might play.

“Everything is always open for change. But yeah, I have thoughts [on weekend] but I would not say it is set in stone.”

Vinny’s numbers

Because it was an optional skate, not every Flyer attended the morning session at Bell Centre.

Among the missing was center Vinny Lecavalier, a real downer for the French-speaking media who gravitate to him much like they did to Briere when he came here as a Flyer.

Lecavalier goes into tonight’s game with impressive numbers against Les Canadiens – 19 goals, 42 points in 53 career games.

“I really liked his line and the game they played [against Toronto],” Laviolette said. “We'll see results from that at some point.”

Told about Lecavalier’s numbers, he replied, “That’s good news. That’s great for Vinny and the Flyers if that’s the case. I think everybody loves to come to Montreal. It’s a great building, a great atmosphere for hockey.

“Even with my French name from Massachusetts, I enjoy coming here, as well. A U.S. kid doesn’t mind it. A lot of our guys feel like that about coming here.”

Lecavalier, who had a power-play assist in the season opener against Toronto, needs eight more assists to join the 500 club (lifetime).

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.06.2013

719810 Philadelphia Flyers

Voracek not concerned with line combinations

Flyers pleased with effort but want better results

MONTREAL – When Peter Laviolette changed up his top line this week, he wanted to spread out the offense more and give the Flyers' lineup more scoring balance.

That’s why Jakub Voracek moved off Claude Giroux’s unit with Scott Hartnell down to Sean Couturier’s line with Max Talbot.

No one fully bought that was the entire reason, if only because of the obvious offensive chemistry exhibited between Giroux and Voracek last season. Both these players finished first and second in leading the Flyers in scoring with 48 and 46 points, respectively.

Part of the reason for the switch, as it turns out, was more obvious: Voracek hadn’t skated daily with the team because of a lower-back injury suffered in the final week of preseason. Voracek wasn’t quite up to the skating necessary with the top line.

Laviolette figured a move would reduce his minutes a bit, but because of the Flyers' seven power plays in their opening night loss to Toronto, Voracek still ended up with 16:36 in ice time and 7:11 of power-play time.

“He’s just coming back off that injury,” Laviolette said. “It’s a little of both. There’s a lot of success with Jake and Sean and Max when they played together a couple of years ago.

“It gives us a little more [offensive] balance. Nothing is set in stone. We’re looking at things. Like I said, the other night we generated plenty of offensive chances. We got to get it to drop.”

Voracek did take third-period shifts back with his old linemates. Tonight, he could return there for good, but on Friday, it seemed like Laviolette was going to keep him on Couturier’s line against the Canadiens.

If that’s the case, Voracek isn’t concerned.

“[Couturier] is a great player,” Voracek said. “Look at him. He’s been in the league just three years. He’s 20 years old. It’s just, the first games are always kind of rough. All the emotions, lots of waiting and the first game it’s kinda, especially, at home, a lot of expectations.

“But it’s fun [playing] with Coots and Max. I’m excited about this game, too. I’m sure we’re going to contribute.”

The one advantage to playing down on a third line, he said, was you don’t go up against the other team’s shutdown defensemen. You draw a better – easier – defensive pair.

“Claude is always going to play against the better defensemen, the shutdown defensemen,” Voracek said. “It should be an advantage for me.

“I don’t want to say I am playing against worst players, but obviously, not going against their top defensemen. I just have to take advantage of that. That is what Lavy is pointing out – spread out their lineup and try to get the offense going for all three lines.”

The Flyers' scoring woes in preseason followed them into the regular season opener – just one goal against the Maple Leafs. How about a hat trick against Montreal?

“Hat trick?” Voracek asked. “Lets’ start with a ‘W’. If I get a hat trick, that’s gravy. We get two points in a tough building, that’s [better].”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.06.2013

719811 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers-Canadiens: 5 things you need to know

The familiar No. 48 that Flyers fans have grown accustomed to won’t be on an orange and black sweater Saturday evening.

Danny Briere will face the Flyers (0-1-0) for the first time as a member of the Montreal Canadiens (0-1-0) when the puck drops at 7 p.m. at Bell Centre. The game will be televised on CSN.

With both clubs searching for its first win of the 2013-14 campaign, here are five things you need to know about Saturday’s contest:

1) A familiar face

It’s going to be an emotional night for Briere, who was bought out by the Flyers this past offseason before signing a two-year, $8 million deal with the Habs.

When Briere became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2007, it was widely speculated that Briere would return to his home province and play for Montreal. Instead, he inked an eight-year, $52 million contract with the Flyers.

In six seasons with the orange and black, Briere potted 124 goals and collected 159 assists in 364 regular-season games. But it was the playoffs where Briere really made a difference. He compiled 72 points in 68 playoff contests as a Flyer.

Briere on Friday discussed competing against his former teammates for the first time this season (see story).

“It’s never easy when you face ex-teammates," Briere said. "I remember my first few games facing Buffalo with the Flyers, they were always tough games, mentally to get ready for and also on the ice. You have to shut off the fact they’re you buddies and try to move on for that three-hour span.”

2) Fresh legs

Both the Flyers and Canadiens are coming off season-opening losses to the Toronto Maple Leafs, so the two clubs should be fresh for Saturday’s matchup.

The Canadiens fell to the Leafs, 4-3, in a fight-filled contest on Tuesday. Lars Eller led Montreal offensively, scoring two goals and assisting Brendan Gallagher’s first-period tally.

In a scary moment during the third period, Canadiens enforcer George Parros was carried off the ice on a stretcher after he fell on his face during a bought against Leafs tough guy Colton Orr.

Parros sustained a concussion and won’t be available against the Flyers. Defensemen Douglas Murray (upper body), Davis Drewiske (shoulder) and wingers Steven Quailer (undisclosed) and Christian Thomas (undisclosed) are also out for Montreal.

The Leafs spoiled the Flyers’ home opener on Wednesday by handing the orange and black a 3-1 defeat. Toronto netminder Jonathan Bernier gave the Flyers fits the entire night, turning aside 31 shots. Brayden Schenn netted the Flyers’ lone goal -- a power-play marker assisted by newcomers Vinny Lecavalier and Mark Streit.

3) Get even

A contributing factor to the Flyers’ loss in the opener was the 1-for-7 display on the man advantage. The power-play units, however, did generate 13 shots and plenty of chances and looked good overall.

A bigger concern for the Flyers was their 5-on-5 play. After controlling the tempo for the first half of the game, the Flyers struggled to win battles along the boards and couldn’t get much going in their offensive zone for much of the second period and parts of the third.

The Flyers’ special-teams units were towards the top of the NHL in the lockout-shortened season last year, but it was their even-strength play that was a sizable reason why the club failed to make the postseason. It’s something worth keeping an eye on.

4) Other connections

Briere is the only player on Montreal’s roster that has spent time with the Flyers. Prior to signing in Philly, the soon-to-be 36-year-old faced off against the orange and black 16 times in his career during the regular season. He had nine goals, nine assists and was minus-2 in those games.

The Flyers have a pair of defensemen that used to suit up for the Canadiens -- Streit and Hal Gill. Streit was drafted by Montreal in the 2004 NHL draft with the 262nd pick. He spent three seasons with the Habs before joining the New York Islanders as a free agent in 2008.

Gill, who is expected to be a healthy scratch Saturday, spent parts of three seasons in Montreal. He was dealt to the Nashville Predators on Feb. 17, 2012, in exchange for Blake Geoffrion, Robert Slaney and a second-round pick in 2012.

5) This and that

• The Flyers took two of three meetings against the Canadiens last season, outscoring Montreal 13-10 in the process. The two clubs will square off three times in 2013-14.

• Jakub Voracek had the Canadiens’ number last season. In three games, Voracek had two goals and four assists while averaging over 17 minutes a contest. Claude Giroux had a goal and three assists in the season series.

• The Flyers had trouble containing Max Pacioretty in 2013. The Canadiens’ forward had a goal and assisted five more in three games. David Desharnais and Brendan Gallagher combined for four goals and two assists, as well.

• As it turns out, the Flyers won't have to deal with Pacioretty on Saturday. He is sidelined with a wrist injury.

• Ray Emery will make his first start of the season for the Flyers.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.06.2013

719812 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers keep searching for right combinations

Voracek still recovering from injury

Oct. 6, 2013 |

Written by

Dave Isaac

MONTREAL — Jake Voracek felt something was off in the Flyers’ opening game Wednesday. He lost a half step of speed and — to him — it was extremely noticeable.

“You have more time to think if you’re ahead of other players,” said the 24-year-old winger who missed a week of practice in the preseason after crashing into the New Jersey Devils’ net in a preseason game. “I didn’t have it last game, but it’s like that every season. I played two games in the preseason so that’s basically two games in six months. Obviously everything goes on and I’m gonna feel better and better.”

Voracek, usually the top line right wing, was on the Flyers’ third line in the opener and against Montreal, although it had just as much to do with trying to get the Flyers’ other lines scoring as it did the injury.

Two seasons ago, the Flyers were second in the league with 3.17 goals per game. Last year, they dipped to 2.75 goals per game.

Coach Peter Laviolette is trying to tap back into 2012-13’s chemistry by reuniting Voracek with center Sean Couturier.

The two played together in a playoff series against Pittsburgh.

“Jake had a good year,” Laviolette said. “Sean had a good year. Max Talbot had a good year. I think we’d like to find a balance throughout our lineup. Nothing is set in stone.”

Laviolette said that putting Voracek down on the third line was to help Couturier, arguably the Flyers’ best player in the preseason, get going.

“I don’t need any motivation,” Couturier said. “I know I can produce offensively. Whether or not people think what they think, it doesn’t really matter to me. I know I can produce. I’ve just got to be patient and it will come.”

By the same token, Voracek doesn’t look at the line change as a demotion. He was on the Flyers’ top line with Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell last season and took a few shifts there in the first two games this season.

“I don’t care if I play with G or Sean,” Voracek said.

“They are both great players. It’s not up to me where I’m going to be in the lineup. I’m not disappointed at all. I’m excited to be here. I want to help the team to win, whether it’s on G’s line, Vinny (Lecavalier)’s line, Sean’s line, whoever’s line.”

• Briere settling in: Just how much is Danny Briere part of the Montreal Canadiens already?

When the Flyers’ plane landed in Quebec and the team bus drove into town, they passed a billboard featuring the former Flyer in his new colors.

“We weren’t in the city two minutes and you see his face all over the place,” Scott Hartnell said with a laugh. “I texted him that. We had a few texts back and forth and he’s enjoying it up here.”

When he was a Flyer, Briere was booed every time he touched the puck in Montreal.

Lecavalier apparently took over for Briere in that area in addition to his spot on the second line. Every time No. 40 in white touched the puck, Canadiens fans let him have it.

• Carolina cooking: Today’s game against Carolina is the tail end of the first of 14 back-to-backs for the Flyers this season. On the road, the Flyers have a 34-15-9-1 record against the Hurricanes. They’ve also enjoyed four or more goals in 10 of the last 16 meetings against Carolina.

Courier-Post LOADED: 10.06.2013

719813 Philadelphia Flyers

Junior hockey aims to retain local talent

Oct. 6, 2013 |

Written by

Dave Isaac

IF YOU GO

• Where: Voorhees Skate Zone

• When: 1:20 p.m. today

• Tickets: $5 at USPHLFlyers.com

It’s a familiar storyline — Philadelphia being an expansion hockey market. The first time it happened, the Philadelphia Flyers were a championship franchise in less than 10 years.

The Philadelphia Flyers Junior Hockey Team is hoping for similar success.

Starting this year, there’s a new hockey franchise in the United States Premier Hockey League, which branched off the Eastern Junior Hockey League. The Skate Zone in Voorhees is home to a bunch of 19-, 20- and 21-year-old players that represent the ninth franchise in the most-competitive division.

“For the typical non-hockey fan, they don’t understand why (players) haven’t gone to college yet,” said Pat Ferrill, vice president of rink management for the Flyers’ four Skate Zone properties in the area. “Our goal with providing this level is to give our players the opportunity to play the highest level of junior hockey they can here on the East Coast before they’re ready to play NCAA Division I hockey.”

Most times if a player is good enough, he leaves home before he finishes high school to play in a more competitive league. There are junior leagues in the Canadian Hockey League attracting these players before they can really develop.

Troy Henley, a Paulsboro native, left the area to play major-midget hockey in Oakville, Ont., two years ago. The 16-year-old defenseman was a second-round pick in the OHL draft this year and will play for the Ottawa 67’s.

The level of competition in the USPHL isn’t as strong as Canadian alternatives yet, Henley said, but one day the league hopes to keep prospects like him in the area.

“We’ve built a model here in South Jersey where players don’t have to go away,” Ferrill said. “They don’t have to go to Canada. They don’t have to go to prep school. They can stay here, graduate high school, then before they would move on to play in some of the other junior leagues around the country, now, by adding this level they could, if they choose to, stay right here to the point where they’re ready to play in the NCAA.”

Of the 25 players on the Flyers Junior Team roster, 13 are from the Philadelphia region, including captain Ryan Badger, a native of Hainesport and graduate of Holy Cross High School.

Part of what feeds the Flyers Junior roster is Team Comcast, an organization that has been on the rise in the area over the last 10 years. NCAA recruiters were already aware of Team Comcast, which over the last five years has had 38 current or former players make Division I hockey commitments.

Nine players on the first Flyers Junior Team roster used to play for Team Comcast.

“Our track record as a youth program, our success both on the ice and in developing players is something that was very attractive to the founding members of the USPHL,” said Ferrill, who oversees Team Comcast as well. “We just look at the junior program as an extension, so players at Team Comcast can graduate into the junior program.”

The season kicked off for the Flyers Junior Team last month. After a showcase in Marlboro, Mass., two weeks ago, the team is 4-5-1 overall and 1-4-1 in league play entering this weekend. Games Saturday and today against the South Shore Kings open the team’s home schedule.

Courier-Post LOADED: 10.06.2013

719814 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers penalized 'way too much' in 4-1 loss to Canadiens

Oct. 6, 2013 |

Written by

Dave Isaac

MONTREAL — It didn’t take long in the third period for the person controlling the speakers at Bell Centre to pick an apt song for the Flyers.

It was “Imperial March” from Star Wars fame, only the Flyers’ night seemed longer than the trilogy.

The march was to the penalty box for one of “way too many” penalties, in Claude Giroux’s words, assessed to the Flyers in a 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

In all, there were 11 minor penalties against the Flyers and the Montreal power play was 2-for-9.

Approaching the midway point of the first period, the Flyers killed off back-to-back Montreal power plays. For their efforts, they fell behind 1-0 at even strength.

Captain Brian Gionta touched a pass from Rene Bourque, but Flyers defenseman Mark Streit tied up his stick. On a second effort, Gionta beat Ray Emery in his first start of the season at 8:10.

When the march wasn’t on, the Flyers effectively slowed down a speedy Montreal team. The only problem was the march seemed to go on and on.

“It seemed like the first two periods, every time we got going 5-on-5, it lasted about two or three minutes and then the penalty killers went back on the ice,” coach Peter Laviolette said.

With time winding down in the first period, the Flyers nearly tied it. The whistle blew when Montreal goalie Carey Price brought his glove to his chest, thinking he had trapped a shot into the logo on his jersey.