Philadelphia Flyers 2010 Preview & Predictions

Philadelphia Flyers 2010 Season Preview, Predictions Picks & Odds

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PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

2009-10 record: 41-35-6
Shootout Record: 4-3
Division Finish: 3rd, Atlantic
Conference Finish: 7th, Eastern
Goals For: 236
Goals Against: 225

Philadelphia Flyers 2010 Preview

The 21st-Century NHL now has a modern-day message of inspiration any time a playoff series appears to be a lost cause: Remember the Flyers!

From being down 3-0 in their set against the Boston Bruins, a deep, deep trap that only the 1942 Maple Leafs and 1975 New York Islanders had ever dodged, the ’09 Flyers not only came back, they did it after trailing 3-0 in Game 7.

But great escapes were the team theme after April 11, the afternoon when the Flyers beat the Rangers 2-1 in a shootout to push themselves over the playoff line a point ahead of New York. From then on, a magnificent web of stories developed as they upset Martin Brodeur and the favored New Jersey Devils, shocked the entire state of Massachusetts in the next round and then emerged from a David vs. David duel against the equally surprising Montreal Canadiens.

Surely they would run out of gas, said the doubters, and yet they made it to within two wins of their first Stanley Cup in 35 years, finally succumbing in overtime to the Blackhawks in Game 6. Along the way, there was a coaching change, injuries, goaltending controversies, many tales of playing-through pain and the rekindling of the love between a sports-mad city and its shaggy bearded Broad St. Bullies.

As short a summer and disappointing a time as it was for the players who had nothing tangible to show for their two-month effort at the end, they know there is unfinished business in 2011.

The Flyers used a raft of goaltenders before circumstances dictated they go with Michael Leighton a second time in one year. The waiver wonder had a record of 8-3 in post-season action with a .916 save percentage and a 2.46 goals-against average. Ironically, Leighton was almost a casualty of the team’s personnel moves in the summer before being brought back.

The Devils, Bruins, Canadiens and Hawks grew to hate playing against hard-rock defenseman Chris Pronger, but the seasoned playoff performer gained respect from his peers for going over the boards night after night for mega-shifts in the Flyers’ four-man system.

Up-front, Daniel Briere produced an astonishing 30 playoff points, Richards scored some highlight goals and Claude Giroux, Ville Leino and Scott Hartnell led a group who spoke confidently of comebacks through the Boston series and delivered on their word.

Chairman Ed Snider, who had worked so hard to bring winning hockey back to Philly, called it the best Flyer team since the club’s inaugural Cup in 1974. Five times since the last Philly Cup in 1975 the team had been to the Final and lost, not even winning a game in ’97.

2010 Philadelphia Flyers Offense:

A nearly burned-out Richards struggled in the Final and Holmgren acknowledged his growth in 2010 was two wins from where it needs to be. Yet there can be no question Richards was finally comfortable wearing the “C,” edging good buddy Jeff Carter by a point for the team’s regular-season scoring honors, 62-61. Carter rushed back from a foot injury in time for the Boston series and had seven points in 12 games Briere also played his way into the hearts of the hard-to-please fans and could be close to 100 points if he keeps his playoff pace starting again in October. He had four of the post-season game-winning goals. Giroux was in his first full NHL regular season, but now has five goals and 26 points in 29 playoff appearances since 2009. Leino was minus-eight in the regular season, plus-lOin the playoffs. And who could forget Ian Laperriere’s recovery from a puck in the face? The addition of flashy former first round pick Nikolai Zherdev, who played last season in Russia, should offer the Flyers more scoring depth.

2010 Philadelphia Flyers Defense:

At the very least it was hoped that Pronger would be a steadying influence in the dressing room, but the former Hart Trophy winner was also a plus-22, tied for third among the highest 15 defensemen ranked by points in the regular season. He added 18 playoff points to 55 in the regular season, though he is turning 36. He played in a steady four-man rotation with Matt Carle, Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Coburn, which Holmgren sought to augment with free agent Sean O’Donnell and a trade for Andrej Meszaros. He will have to get more out of Lukas Krajicek and deal with the departure of Ryan Parent this season, who was sent to Nashville.

2010 Philadelphia Flyers Goaltending:

Leighton hit a wall after three shutouts against the Canadiens, as opportunistic Chicago snipers beat him 20 times in the Cup Final, including the Patrick Kane winner. Brian Boucher’s stellar play against the Devils, right up until an unfortunate lower back injury ended his postseason run, earned him another chance to be back in the Philadelphia net this season, with young Johan Backlund also in the mix. Ray Emery, who was tagged as No.1 at the start of last season, was sidelined most of the year by injury, leading to the revolving door of goalies.

Philadelphia Flyers 2010 Special Teams

The Flyers had a League-best 23 playoff power-play goals, but needed a few more at the end against Chicago. Still, it was impressive as Simon Gagne nailed five goals, Briere four and Pronger, Hartnell and Giroux three each. It was a continuation of the regular season when Philly was on a 21.4% clip, paced by 31 points from Richards and Pronger’s big shot. Gagne was traded to Tampa in July. Zherdev notched 11 power-play markers during his last two NHL seasons, and if he proves he deserves the ice time, he could help Philadelphia maintain its high-flying attack. With the Flyers in their usual predicament of taking many penalties (short 335 times, third in the League, with Jody Shelley joining next year), the penalty killers were taxed, though the club came in a respectable 11th at 83% and the ever-dangerous Richards and Carter had three short-handed goals between them.

Philadelphia Flyers 2010 Season Predictions

For a team that was picking second overall just a couple of years ago by virtue of their awful standing, a lot has happened to change expectations. But now the Flyers will have to bear the burden of being a conference favorite. Whether they can match Pittsburgh and Washington remains to be seen.

We predict that the Philadelphia Flyers will finish 3rd in the NHL Atlantic.

Philadelphia Flyers Betting

Philadelphia Flyers Stanley Cup Odds: +2000
Philadelphia Flyers Eastern Conference Odds: +900

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