stricker518

"http://thehockeywriters.com/author/gstricker/"

Philadelphia , PA • United States • 27 Years Old • Male

FLYERS ENTER INTO NASHVILLE, REMINISCING LAVY

Flyers storm into the Music City tonight for an 8pm puck drop after the three day holiday break. This will be the 4th of a season long 8 game road trip in which they started out nicely with a 3 game winning steak. This also marks the first meeting with former bench boss Peter Laviolette since becoming the head coach of the Predators last summer. Lavy's return will remind Flyers fans of some fond memories such as the magical 2010 Stanley Cup Final run. He also will remind us of some unwanted memories as well. Granted not all his fault as management takes significant blame with the players they gave Lavy to work with. After the 2010 cup run the Flyers had a tremendous regular season that saw them collapse a huge lead in the standing and fall to 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference. Eventually they would lose to the hands of the mighty Bruins in the 2nd round of the 2011 playoffs. That is when everything changed for the Flyers and Lavy's future. Homer, just one season removed from a cup final and off the heels of a number 2 seed regular season, felt the need to blow it all up and trade Richards and Carter and sign Bryz to that wonderful contract. We all know how this story ends so I will spare you from re-living the pain. Rebuilding is never easy for a coach that is paid to win right now and for an organization that has always been in a win now mode until recent years. This led to Lavy's downfall, losing Pronger the year after blowing up the team perhaps was the final dagger. Lavy's system works to a T when he has a bonafide number 1 defensemen. Once Pronger was lost the Flyers were in true rebuilding mode, they wouldn't admit it, nor did they even realize it till perhaps the lockout season, which ultimately would be Lavy's demise. Lavy brought a lot of fire, passion, and of course jam to the Flyers organization. I would have loved for him to continue to coach the Flyers but he just did not have the personnel to carry out his system like he had in the cup final run. Game Preview: Tonight's lineup will be the same as it has been the last two games. Rinaldo will be out yet again (praise the lord) along with MDZ (please come back). Steve Mason is skating with the team for the first time since injuring his back (hallelujah). Vinny has 3 goals in his last two games, all of which have come in the third period. Jake comes into tonight leading the league in points (46) assists (32) & Giroux is tied for 3rd in points with 41. As of this time there has been no starting goalie named but my guess is Emery will be back between the pipes. Flyers need to continue with the secondary scoring if they have any chance in keeping this streak going. Lets go Flyers. For more log onto http://broadstreetsports.weebly.com/flyers-247