Injuries pile up for Flyers

Dang! They're dropping like flies. I hope they can recover quickly. I couldn't handle another 10-game skid like last year. Kudos to the guys that are playing hurt. Put on a good game Saturday.

This is really going to test the Flyers. Having Niitymaki out sucks because he's a really good backup goalie and Biron will shoulder the load now. Claude Giroux's injury sucks cause he played really well against Vancouver and Anaheim, while Lupul was really starting to play well. Him being out for 2 weeks is going to hurt, while Danny Briere is said to be another week or two away from returning. Claude Giroux has a mild concussion from the hit he took from Perry in the game against the Ducks. I think he's out indefinitely right now, and while Simon Gagne could play tomorrow against the Caps, a more realistic return for him is probably against the Wild. Andreas Nodl was called up to replace Lupul and Scott Munroe was called up to replace Niity for the time being...

Luckily for the Flyers, the month of January isn't too difficult, with 5 games against the Southeast division (not including the Caps). They also play the blues and leafs, and a struggling Pens team. But these injuries are really going to test the Flyers character. The goal of this month is for the Flyers to just hold on and do the best they can while Lupul, Giroux, and Briere are healing up. We could have all 3 back (including Gagne), by January 21st when they play the Atlanta Thrashers.

But the Flyers need to show a lot of character right now, because every team has to go through injuries. It does suck though that the Flyers seem to go through more injuries each year, than any other team. But I'd rather have them go through it right now, then during the playoffs, when it matters most.

Is Briere on LTIR? He has been injured for a long time and shouldnt that automatically have him on LTIR. Who do we have in the line up now because we are really starting to get thin up front. Where will briere fit in when he gets back into the line up? Because if he is not on one of the toop two lines will he even want to stay here?

Yea, Briere is still on LTIR. When he returns to the lineup, Stevens will either put him back on the first line, centering Gagne and Knuble, Carter will center Hartnell and Lupul (when he returns), and Richards will center Giroux (when he returns) and Upshall. Or, they could move Knuble to the second line to play with Carter and Hartnell, and have Richards center Briere and Gagne. Put Briere as a RW.

someone has to go there is not enough ice time to go around. you cant drop carter (the leading goal scorer in the league to the third line. You cant put your captain and fan favorite to the third line. Then you have a guy making 6.5 million who also cant be put on the third line. And all three cant be on the power play. To much talent. I hear gratton is out 4-6 weeks. However Vannanen is comming back into the lineup.

flyersfan12 wrote:

someone has to go there is not enough ice time to go around. you cant drop carter (the leading goal scorer in the league to the third line. You cant put your captain and fan favorite to the third line. Then you have a guy making 6.5 million who also cant be put on the third line. And all three cant be on the power play. To much talent. I hear gratton is out 4-6 weeks. However Vannanen is comming back into the lineup.

Having too much talent in the line up is a far better problem than not enough. The Boys are playing well even with the injuries.

Bleed Black and Orange wrote:

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Having too much talent in the line up is a far better problem than not enough. The Boys are playing well even with the injuries.

I really disagree Richards doesnt look very good in the last couple games. Carter has taken the team on his back and driven them to wins. Biron starting to take form. However what is so evident is that they need a big tough third line shut down line. Metropolit isnt that guy he is just to small. In a cap world its just the most efficent way to run a team. what you need is 2 lines that can score. A checking line. A fourth line to mix it up. 4 top 4 d-men and 3 guys who can add toughness and can step up for a short time when there is injuries. A number 1 golie and a clear backup. The 2 #1 golie system is so bad for a team.