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Time to Test the Flyers

December 11, 2010, 5:53 PM ET [ Comments]
Tim Panaccio
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
BOSTON _ I didn't buy into the residual carryover effect of last year's playoffs when the Bruins came to Philly recently.

And I certainly don't buy into it tonight where the Flyers are making their first visit here since last spring's Game 7 playoff victory.

That stuff only matters when the playoffs begin. The regular season is a different animal, entirely, no matter what the quotes you get from players.

But I do believe that this stretch of games, coupled with the four games at the very end of the month are going to say something about the Flyers.

Boston, Pittsburgh, Montreal, Rangers ... better competition = better games, right?

“The fun thing with this little stretch is motivation factor,” Danny Briere told me this morning.

“Boston, coming back in this building. It’s pretty cool what happened [in the playoffs last year]. Montreal, we all the know what’s going on up there, the rivalry we’re building.

“Pittsburgh, nothing needs to be said. It’s a fun little stretch and even after that, the Rangers. Tough games, but at the same time, fun games to play in.”

Come Jan. 2 when the Flyers post-Christmas road trip is over and they're coming home from Detroit, we should know where this club stands in regard to some of the elite teams in the NHL.

Brian Boucher goes tonight. Nik Zherdev is out; Dan Carcillo is in.

Here's what the players had to say in my full story on CSNPhilly.com:

click here
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