PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (19-9-7) vs.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS (14-16-4)
BROADCAST INFO FOR THIS GAME:Television: CSN-PH (HD) and FS-O (HD)
Philadelphia Radio:
http://flyers.nhl.com/team/app/?serv...&id=2008020519Columbus Radio:
http://bluejackets.nhl.com/team/app/...&id=2008020519Webcasts: Post 'em if you got 'em
GAME PREVIEW and LINK TO TEAMS' WEBSITES:Game Preview: Currently unavailable.
Flyers' Website:
http://flyers.nhl.com/Blue Jackets' Website:
http://bluejackets.nhl.com/LINKS TO RECENT ARTICLES:On The Fly! --
http://flyers.nhl.com/team/app/?serv...LPage&id=18891Flyers face ex-coach Saturday --
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/ne...8-1643560.htmlFlyers eye a long trip - and first place --
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sport...rst_place.html'Hitch' won't punish Jackets for poor play --
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/...2-3212121c95b6Interaction with Blue Jackets helps 19-year-old's battle against cancer --
http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live...B.html?sid=101Post-practice notings --
http://blog.dispatch.com/cbj/FLYERS' NOTES:The Flyers are 15-3-4 in the last 22 games.
The Flyers are 15-1-4 when scoring the first goal of a game.
The Flyers are 13-1-2 when leading after the second period.
The Flyers have 30 goals in their last five home games.
The Flyers are 10-0-2 in their last 12 on home ice.
The Flyers are 5-7 in games decided beyond regulation.
FLYERS' POSSIBLE LINEUP:Forwards:12 Simon Gagne -- 18 Mike Richards -- 22 Mike Knuble
15 Joffrey Lupul -- 17 Jeff Carter -- 28 Claude Giroux
45 Arron Asham -- 13 Glen Metropolit -- 46 Jonathon Kalinski
32 Riley Cote -- 36 Darroll Powe -- 24 Josh Gratton
Defensemen:23 Ossi Vaananen -- 47 Luca Sbisa
5 Braydon Coburn -- 25 Matt Carle
41 Andrew Alberts --6 Randy Jones
Goalies:30 Antero Nittymaki (possible starter)
43 Martin Biron
FLYERS' INJURIES:2 Derian Hatcher (right knee damage) is on injured reserve.
9 Scottie Upshall (sprained right knee) is out of action a minimum of 10-14 days beginning with December 22.
19 Scott Hartnell (broken toe) is doubtful for Saturday at Columbus.
44 Kimmo Timonen (chip fracture in his ankle) will be out at least one week from December 26.
48 Danny Briere was expected to miss about 4-5 weeks from December 3. From Paul Holmgren: "Danny had an MRI (December 3) on his stomach and groin area. There weren't any issues at all with his stomach but there is a significant groin strain in there and we're looking at Danny to be out of the lineup for 4-5 weeks." He was placed on LTIR, December 16 retroactive to December 3. He could return the first week of January.
77 Ryan Parent (right shoulder surgery) was expected to be out about 12-14 weeks from early October and is on injured reserve. Practiced with the team for the first time, November 25. He could return during this road trip.
FLYERS' ROSTER:Forwards:# Player Height Weight DOB Age Birthplace
45 Arron Asham 5' 11" 205 Apr 13, 1978 30 Portage La Prairie, MB, CAN
48 Danny Briere 5' 10" 179 Oct 6, 1977 31 Gatineau, QC, CAN
17 Jeff Carter 6' 3" 200 Jan 1, 1985 23 London, ON, CAN
32 Riley Cote 6' 2" 220 Mar 16, 1982 26 Winnipeg, MB, CAN
12 Simon Gagne "A" 6' 0" 195 Feb 29, 1980 28 Ste. Foy, QC, CAN
28 Claude Giroux 5' 11" 172 Jan 12, 1988 20 Hearst, ON, CAN
24 Josh Gratton 6' 2" 214 Sep 9, 1982 Brantford, Ontario
19 Scott Hartnell 6' 2" 210 Apr 18, 1982 26 Regina, SK, CAN
46 Jonathon Kalinski 6' 1" 175 May 25, 1987 21 Bonnyville, AB, CAN
22 Mike Knuble 6' 3" 230 Jul 4, 1972 36 Toronto, ON, CAN
15 Joffrey Lupul 6' 1" 205 Sep 23, 1983 25 Fort Saskatchewan, AB, CAN
13 Glen Metropolit 5' 10" 195 Jun 25, 1974 34 Toronto, ON, CAN
36 Darroll Powe 5' 11" 212 Jun 22 '85 23 Saskatoon, SK, CAN
18 Mike Richards "C" 5' 11" 195 Feb 11, 1985 23 Kenora, ON, CAN
9 Scottie Upshall 6' 0" 197 Oct 7, 1983 25 Fort McMurray, AB, CAN
Defensemen:# Player Height Weight DOB Age Birthplace
41 Andrew Alberts 6' 5" 218 Jun 30, 1981 27 Minneapolis, MN, USA
25 Matt Carle 6' 0" 205 Sep 25, 1984 24 Anchorage, AK, USA
5 Braydon Coburn 6' 5" 220 Feb 27, 1985 23 Calgary, AB, CAN
2 Derian Hatcher ** 6' 5" 235 Jun 4, 1972 36 Sterling Heights, MI, USA
6 Randy Jones 6' 2" 200 Jul 23, 1981 27 Quispamsis, NB, CAN
3 Lasse Kukkonen 6' 0" 190 Sep 18, 1981 27 Oulu, FIN
77 Ryan Parent ** 6' 3" 183 Mar 17, 1987 21 Prince Albert, SK, CAN
47 Luca Sbisa 6' 2" 190 Jan 30, 1990 18 Ozieri, ITA
44 Kimmo Timonen "A" 5' 10" 194 Mar 18, 1975 33 Kuopio, FIN
23 Ossi Vaananen 6' 4" 215 Aug 18, 1980 28 Vantaa, FIN
Goalies:# Player Height Weight DOB Age Birthplace
43 Martin Biron 6' 3" 180 Aug 15, 1977 31 Lac St. Charles, QC, CAN
30 Antero Niittymaki 6' 1" 195 Jun 18, 1980 28 Turku, FIN
INJURED RESERVEFLYERS' STATS:http://flyers.nhl.com/team/app?service=page&page=Stats
BLUE JACKETS' POSSIBLE LINEUP:
Forwards:
Kristian Huselius - Manny Malhotra - Rick Nash
Fredrik Modin - R.J. Umberger - Jake Voracek
Andrew Murray - Michael Peca - Jared Boll
Alexandre Picard - Jiri Novotny - Derek Dorsett
Defense:
Mike Commodore, Jan Hejda
Fedor Tyutin, Rostislav Klesla,
Kris Russell, Marc Methot/Christian Backman
Goalies:
Steve Mason
Pascal Leclaire
BLUE JACKETS' INJURIES:
Derick Brassard (dislocated shoulder) is on injured reserve and out for the season.
Raffi Torres (knee surgery) is on injured reserve and expected to return in early January.
Ole-Kristian Tollefsen (knee surgery) is on injured reserve.
Jason Chimera (groin) will not play.
BLUE JACKETS' ROSTER:
Forwards
# Player Height Weight DOB Age Birthplace
40 Jared Boll 6' 2" 210 May 13, 1986 22 Charlotte, NC, USA
16 Derick Brassard ** 6' 1" 190 Sep 22, 1987 21 Hull, QC, CAN
25 Jason Chimera ** 6' 2" 216 May 2, 1979 29 Edmonton, AB, CAN
15 Derek Dorsett 5' 11" 187 Dec 20, 1986 22 Kindersley, SK, CAN
20 Kristian Huselius 6' 1" 179 Nov 10, 1978 30 Osterhani, SWE
27 Manny Malhotra 6' 2" 217 May 18, 1980 28 Mississauga, ON, CAN
33 Fredrik Modin "A" 6' 4" 218 Oct 8, 1974 34 Sundsvall, SWE
17 Andrew Murray 6' 2" 216 Nov 6, 1981 27 Selkirk, MB, CAN
61 Rick Nash "C" 6' 4" 218 Jun 16, 1984 24 Brampton, ON, CAN
12 Jiri Novotny 6' 3" 204 Aug 12, 1983 25 Pelhrimov, CZE
19 Michael Peca 5' 11" 183 Mar 26, 1974 34 Toronto, ON, CAN
21 Alexandre Picard 6' 2" 206 Oct 9, 1985 23 Les Saules, QC, CAN
14 Raffi Torres ** 6' 0" 223 Oct 8, 1981 27 Toronto, ON, CAN
18 R.J. Umberger 6' 2" 215 May 3, 1982 26 Pittsburgh, PA, USA
93 Jakub Voracek 6' 1" 205 Aug 15, 1989 19 Kladno, CZE
Defensemen
# Player Height Weight DOB Age Birthplace
5 Christian Backman 6' 4" 210 Apr 28, 1980 28 Gothenburg, SWE
22 Mike Commodore 6' 5" 228 Nov 7, 1979 29 Fort Saskatchewan, AB, CAN
8 Jan Hejda 6' 3" 218 Jun 18, 1978 30 Prague, CZE
97 Rostislav Klesla "A" 6' 3" 220 Mar 21, 1982 26 Novy Jicin, CZE
3 Marc Methot 6' 3" 225 Jun 21, 1985 23 Ottawa, ON, CAN
10 Kris Russell 5' 10" 180 May 2, 1987 21 Red Deer, AB, CAN
55 Ole-Kristian Tollefsen ** 6' 2" 211 Mar 29, 1984 24 Oslo, NOR
51 Fedor Tyutin 6' 3" 216 Jul 19, 1983 25 Izhevsk, RUS
Goalies
# Player Height Weight DOB Age Birthplace
31 Pascal Leclaire 6' 2" 200 Nov 7, 1982 26 Repentigny, QC, CAN
1 Steve Mason 6' 4" 212 May 29, 1988 20 Oakville, ON, CAN
BLUE JACKETS' STATS:
http://bluejackets.nhl.com/team/app?...age&page=StatsFLYERS-BLUE JACKETS' SERIES HISTORY:The Flyers' all-time W-L-T-OTL record is 4-0-3-0.
The Flyers' all time home record is 2-0-1-0.
The Flyers' all-time road record is 2-0-2-0
The Flyers have never lost in regulation to the Blue Jackets and have recorded a possible 78.6% of possible points (11 out of 14).
2000-09:
November 29, 2000 -- Mark Recchi's second goal of the third period came with 59 seconds remaining and the Flyers won at Columbus 4-3 in the first ever meeting. The first goal scored in this series was by Tyler Wright, but 13 seconds later Jody Hull evened the game. The Jackets led 3-1 midway with two second period goals but Keith Primeau cut the Flyers' deficit in half with a late middle period tally. Both of Recchi's third period goals came via assists to Ruslan Fedotenko. Brian Boucher made 23 saves in the win. It was the first time the expansion Blue Jackets lost a game when leading entering the third period (6-0-1 prior mark).
October 6, 2001 -- In the first meeting in Philadelphia, the Flyers rallied for a 3-3 tie when Justin Williams scored with less than five minutes to play. Columbus led 3-1 when Grant Marshall scored his second goal of the game in the early third period but Kim Johnsson, who earlier scored his first goal as a Flyer, replied with his second tally of the contest to bring the Flyers within one goal. Eric Weinrich, Simon Gagne, Williams and Johnsson each had two points. The Flyers outshot the Blue Jackets 40-18. Ron Tugnutt made 37 saves for Columbus. The Jackets were 2-for-2 on the PP.
October 8, 2001 -- Simon Gagne and Jan Hlavac scored within 50 seconds of each other in the game's final eight minutes and the Flyers skated to a 2-2 tie in Columbus. Hlavac's shot bounced off the skates of two Columbus players before beating goalie Marc Denis. The Blue Jackets took a 2-0 lead with an early third period goal. Marc Denis (30 saves) and Brian Boucher (28 saves) were the goalies.
April 1, 2003 -- The Flyers held Columbus to just 10 shots in a 4-0 victory in Philadelphia. Roman Cechmanek, who prior to the game was named the Flyers' MVP and winner of the Bobby Clarke Trophy, was the beneficiary in his 20th career shutout. Afterwards, he said "Ten shots is not nice for me. Sometimes I wasn't focused. I stand there for 10 minutes and nobody was shooting.'' It was the lowest shot toal for the Blue Jackets in their young history. The Flyers had 29 shots. Simon Gagne returned after missing 13 straight games and 29 of 31 with a right groin injury. Gagne played in the final three games of the regular season. Kim Johnsson scored the GWG in the first period. Keith Primeau was the only multi-point performer with two assists. Tyler Wright of Columbus was a -4. Jim Vandermeer was a winner in a fight over David Ling.
December 10, 2003 -- Sami Kapanen scored with 1:08 left in regulation and the teams played to a 1-1 tie in Columbus. The Flyers held a 41-20 shot advantage, including 8-3 in overtime. Columbus' Fred Brathwaite made 40 saves. Earlier in the game, Kapanen lost multiple teeth when an errant stick from teammate Donald Brashear caught him in the mouth. The Flyers improved to 17-3-7-1 in their 28th game of the season including 13-1-4-0 in their last 18; however, the Flyers went 2-3-2-3 to finish the calendar year.
December 13, 2005 -- Peter Forsberg, Jeff Carter and Sami Kapanen each scored in the 3-1 home win. The Blue Jackets had a 1-0 lead less than six minutes into the game. In the second period, Columbus had a 2-man advantage for 1:05 but couldn't beat Robert Esche. Carter won 10 of 13 faceoffs.
November 24, 2006 -- The Flyers ruined the Columbus coaching debut of Ken Hitchcock when Mike Richards scored his first goal of the season in the third period of a 3-2 win in Philadelphia. Antero Niittymaki made 39 saves for the Flyers. Rick Nash's tally with 19 seconds left in the second period knotted the score 2-2. Columbus outshot the Flyers 41-22; Fredrik Modin of Columbus had 10 shots. Hitchcock was fired by the Flyers October 22, 2006 after a 1-6-1 start. He coached his 758th regular season game as a head coach in the NHL.
June 20, 2008 -- R.J. Umberger was traded to Columbus by Philadelphia with Philadelphia's 4th round choice (Drew Olson) in the 2008 Entry Draft for Colorado's 1st round choice (previously acquired, Philadelphia selected Luca Sbisa) in the 2008 Entry Draft and Columbus's 3rd round choice (Marc-Andre Bourdon) in the 2008 Entry Draft.
FLYERS' UPCOMING SCHEDULE and RESULTS:All Times are Eastern Timehttp://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/teams/...=phi&year=2009Tue, Dec 30 @ Vancouver 10:00 PM
Fri, Jan 2 @ Anaheim 10:00 PM
Sat, Jan 3 @ LA Kings 10:30 PM
Tue, Jan 6 @ Washington 7:00 PM
Thu, Jan 8 Minnesota 7:00 PM
Sat, Jan 10 Toronto 7:00 PM
Tue, Jan 13 Pittsburgh 7:00 PM
Thu, Jan 15 @ Tampa Bay 7:30 PM
Fri, Jan 16 @ Florida 7:30 PM
Wed, Jan 21 Atlanta 7:00 PM
Tue, Jan 27 @ Florida 7:30 PM
Fri, Jan 30 @ Tampa Bay 7:30 PM
Sat, Jan 31 @ St. Louis 8:30 PM