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The Flyers are struggling to score goals – again. This is due to the simple fact that the Flyers generate offense from a structured team approach, not true offensive talent. The Flyers have only a couple of truly gifted offensive players; Jeff Carter, Claude Giroux, Simon Gagne, and Danny Briere are the only natural offensive players. Players such as Mike Richards, Scott Hartnell, Darrell Powe, Dan Carcillo, JVR, Aaron Asham, and Ian Laperriere score goals setup from a grind and bang. Of course most are quality NHL players and if given time can score.

I am suggesting that the lines be juggled to be the following:
Hartnell – Carter – Asham. This trio has played together before and Carter likes to control the puck and shoot. Asham and Hartnell like to drive the net and play along the wall.
Gagne – Giroux – Briere. This is a natural fit of 3 gifted offensive players. All 3 of these guys like to play give and go and make skilled plays off the rush. Gagne is the only shooter of this trio and should benefit from playing with 2 gifted passers of the puck.
Carcillo – Richards – Laperriere. This is a trio that will not only stop the opposition defensively, but they will grind in the offensive zone and make things happen. Richards and Carcillo can play the skill game at times.
Powe – Betts – JVR. This trio is there to spend a few minutes each night grinding. JVR is too raw at times to play big minutes and the other 2 are no more thanv quality grinders in the league.

At this time of the year, with the Flyers perched in 8th place, it is time to play 3 lines and 4 defensemen and pile up some points. Stop the 4 line and 6 defense rotation. The time to win is now. They should be working on getting 6th place – which is in reach. They have 4 games in hand over Montreal and are only down 3 points from 6th. If they can solidify that position the full rotation can resume.
Filed Under:   Flyers  
February 8, 2010 5:27 PM ET | Delete
Anything is better than what we have watched recently. I wonder why the Flyers make young goalies look like Patrick Roy or Marty Brodeur - reincarnated? They constantly shoot right in the middle of their chest. It is time for Laviolette to change something drastically. He has basically kept the line combinations from the Stevens era.
February 9, 2010 9:19 AM ET | Delete
Leno-Carter-HartnellJVR-Giroux-GagneBriere-Richards-CarcilloPowe-Betts-Laperiere
February 9, 2010 9:32 AM ET | Delete
Sound like the Blues, except the "talented" players are not scoring. Lot of the future on the horizon waiting for kids to develope. Might have to do it in the NHL. Don't know what Philly's future looks like, good luck.
February 9, 2010 8:15 PM ET | Delete
The Caps, Hawks and Flyers are the only teams that scare me offensively. Lately the Flyers suck scoring. I know when we play them Sid and Geno will put up around five and we just have to prevent the Flyers from getting too many. With their poor defense and goaltending they better get things straightened out in a hurry. I would surely miss putting them out of the playoffs a third straight year.
February 9, 2010 10:28 PM ET | Delete
JVR is no 4th liner. the Oly break will help him. the real issue w/ the team is the lack of net presence that they miss sans knuble. and when a team runs lappy, carbomb and ash out there, they need more versatility...esp cause they are all 4th liners on a good offensive team.
February 10, 2010 11:22 AM ET | Delete
upjicecat... are you kidding ... those are the only teams that scare you ... sjs are 2nd in goals / game and with a line like heatley, thornton, marleau you'd be insane not to fear that offense and pittsburgh is 5th and with malkin, crosby, staal on one team you'd be insane not to fear them too!
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