This is Part 2 of the Return.
Except Jeff Carter won't there because of a broken foot.
Part 1 was Mike Richards' return. Richie had an impressive game for Los Angeles that night and they beat the Flyers.
The forgotten guy here, however, is Jakub Voracek. This is one of those "circle" games players put on the calendar and mark in red, anxiously awaiting to be played.
Given the Czech forward hasn't scored a goal in 10 games, tomorrow night might be a good time to get since his former club, Columbus, is in time.
“I said this a couple days ago," Peter Laviolette said on Friday. "He is working hard both on and off the ice. It appears as though he has a good effort in the games and I think the points will start to come for him. I’m happy with the intensity by which he plays the game."
Voracek seems sky high for this game. He was in a very quotable mood today and that's not
usually the case.
"I was pretty excited for that game since the season starts," Voracek said. "It’s gonna be a great game and I hope it’s gonna end for us well."
Voracek has something to prove, much like Carter would if here playing. Carter was a big-time scorer till the playoffs arrived. Voracek wasn't.
The feeling among NHL scouts was if Voracek got a fresh start somewhere else, his career might really take off. This is that "fresh" start.
"Yes, I would say so," Voracek said, when asked about proving himself against Columbus. "I mean, it’s another NHL game for me but I’m gonna try to do my best as always and hopefully help the team to win and show them that they made a mistake."
He was often criticized by his own coaches in Columbus. Scott Arniel said last year he wasn't properly conditioned. A lot of players hear that at some in their careers. Some notable Flyers, too ... like Alexandre Daigle, Andrei Kovalenko, Pat Falloon ...
"It just is what it is," Voracek said. "It is what he said, but I have to disagree with him. I went to the World Championship last year and I felt great — all tournament, which was almost in the end of May.
"It was a long season for me as well and physically I felt great, but sometimes if you play bad it doesn’t mean that you’re out of shape. Like I say, it is what it is and I’ve got a new NHL life here."
I got a feeling Voracek is going to have a big game on Saturday.
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No James van Riemsdyk. He is fighting two injuries. A sore knee and I believe a groin pull from a previous game. GM Paul Holmgren says the "other" injury is keeping him off the ice.
Flyers called up Eric Wellwood. With Matt Read (upper body) still not ready and JVR, they wanted more insurance at forward.
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