The Re-Debut of Prospal, and Memories of McAmmond
Recently re-acquired forward Vaclav "Vinny" Prospal will play his first game in a Flyers sweater since being traded away seemingly an eternity ago. I don't think we can expect him to keep up the enormous numbers he was producing while on a line with Marty St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier, but considering the Flyers were running defensemen as forwards not long ago, he's a huge addition to their scoring ability. It's looking like John Stevens will run a line of Prospal, Briere, and Umberger, which hopefully will prove to be a productive mix for Briere.
Marty Biron will face Ray Emery of the Senators, who have been in a tailspin not unlike that of the Flyers. Despite leading their division and sitting at second in the conference, the Sens fired their head coach this week in yet another example of how short-lived most coaching stints can be in this league.
The Flyers and Senators have a pretty brutal history, with an all-out brawl a few seasons ago, and of course Steve Downie's memorable entrance into the NHL during this past preseason. Videos of the aforementioned hostility after the jump.
Flyers look good tonight, not turning the puck over, good transition play, pucks on net. Somehow I think its going to end up being Flyers-Sens in the playoffs, which would be a hard hitting entertaining series.
Posted by: gootman | Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 09:21 PM
Flyers win! Wooo! Let's get a 10-game winning streak goin'...
Posted by: David | Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 09:33 PM
Good game, this looked like the Flyers I was used to before the losing streak; fast aggressive, and smart. Biron had a good game and I loved when he pushed Spezza out of the way for celebrating so long in front of him.
Posted by: Mike L. | Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 10:42 PM
“(Jason Spezza) just took a little too long celebrating in front of the net by himself for my taste. I even had time to think about it. I had flashbacks of Ronny Hextall giving (Kent Nilsson) a two-hand slash in the back of the legs (in the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals). I just decided to push him in the numbers.”—Flyers goalie Marty Biron, on crosschecking Spezza after his goal.
YES. I thought Hexy was gone, but I love hearing about anything that resembles him in today's game.
Posted by: Matt | Friday, February 29, 2008 at 10:21 AM