Wrapup (10:00 PM, EST)
The Flyers played a tremendous defensive game in tonight's 3-1 victory in Carolina. Philadelphia held Carolina to just one shot in the first period, but I thought the way they protected a one-goal lead in the third period was even more impressive. The puck support was tremendous and the Flyers did an outstanding job of blocking shots and generating odd-man counterattacks.
Philly did a lot of little things right at key times. Example: Mike Richards won not one, but two defensive zone draws against Rod Brind'Amour with the game on the line in the final minute. They also got big saves when they needed them from Antero Niittymaki.
Winners of six in a row, the Flyers will meet up with Carolina again on Friday in the Flyers' annual Black Friday matinee at home.
Preview (9:45 AM, EST)
In the front end of a holiday home-and-home, the Flyers (10-6-4) will look for their sixth straight win when they travel to North Carolina to take on the Hurricanes (11-9-2). Carolina last played on Monday, losing 3-2 at Florida. The Flyers are playing their fourth game in six nights. Antero Niittymäki will oppose Cam Ward in goal.
In recent years, games between the Flyers and Canes have often been pretty wide open affairs, with Philadelphia winning three of last year's four games.
Philly holds a 23-7-7 advantage with three ties since the former Hartford Whalers moved to Carolina, including a 11-4-4-1 record on the road. They are 5-1-1 in their last seven games in Carolina. Historically, the Flyers seem to find ways to beat this opponent. Philly previously held a 35-17-7 advantage over the Whalers.
The current installment of the Hurricanes, much like other recent editions, have problems keeping the puck out of their own net but have an above-average offensive attack. The Canes have five players with double-digit points, with two more players who have nine points coming into tonight's game. Eric Staal leads the squad with eight goals, Ray Whitney leads in assists (10) and points (17).
The Canes, of course, feature a host of players familiar to Flyers fans, while Flyers GM Paul Holmgren once coached the Whalers. The current Carolina squad has five ex-Flyers in team captain Rod Brind'Amour (7 G, 14 PTS, -14), the injured Justin Williams (achilles tendon tear)defensemen Joni Pitkänen (1 G, 9 PTS, -1) and Dennis Seidenberg (2 G, 11 PTS, -4), plus backup goaltender Michael Leighton.
The Carolina blueline is banged up right now. Pitkänen may not play tonight. He was woozy after taking a high hit in the Florida game. The Canes are also unlikely to have Tim Gleason (ankle) available tonight. Frantisek Kaberle (leg bone fracture) is off injured reserve and has been practicing, paired with Seidenberg. However, Kabere may or may not be a go for tonight.
On paper at least, the special teams advantage should belong to the Flyers. Carolina has been struggling on the powerplay, going 1-for-21 over the last five games and falling to 26th overall in the NHL. The Flyers have the 4th-ranked PK in the NHL and have willed off 42 of their last 44 disadvantages (95.5%). Philly's powerplay is ranked 3rd in the NHL, while the Canes are in the middle of the pack (14th overall).
The Flyers will continue to be without Daniel Briere. Simon Gagne will look to extend his point streak to nine consecutive games, and he has points in 17 of the 19 games he's played to date. NHL leading goal scorer Jeff Carter will aim to continue his torrid early-season pace. Mike Knuble is coming off a two-goal game against Dallas on Monday.
Tonight's player to watch, though, is Mike Richards. The Flyers' captain emerged from a two-plus game mini-slump to set up Carter's dramatic game-tying goal late in regulation against Phoenix and then came out of the penalty box to score the OT winner. He had an assist, won 55% of his faceoffs and was plus-two against Dallas. While he's only had moderate success against Carolina in his career (1 G (PPG), 6 A, 7 PTS in 9 GP), I look for him to have a strong game tonight in the road half of the home-and-home.
FLYERS LINES AND SCRATCHES
Gagne - Richards - Knuble
Hartnell - Carter - Nödl
Upshall - Metropolit - Lupul
Gratton - Kalinski - Asham
Timonen - Väänänen
Coburn - Carle
Sbisa - Alberts
Niittymäki
[Biron]
Scratches: Kukkonen (healthy), Briere (groin), Cote (LTIR, oblique muscle), Jones (LTIR, hip), Parent (LTIR, shoulder), Hatcher (LTIR, knee)
Contact Bill at
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Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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