FLYERS HEAD FOR THE HOME STRETCH

PHILLY NEEDS IMPROVEMENT IN CHASE FOR HOME ICE

Philadelphia, PA- In the last four blocks of the HBMHL, the Flyers have a record of 19-19-2, including a 12-8-0 home record. In that time frame, their best block came in #6, where they went 6-3-1, with a 3-2-0 home record in which all 3 wins needed OT or a shootout. That said, the Flyers need to go back to playing the kind of hockey they played earlier in the year.

WHO'S HOT:

Simon Gagne - 6g, 8a, 14pts in Block 7. A rebound from his worst goal performance for a block (2g in block 6, but 9a).

Jeff Carter - Had his best block of the season, 5-7-12 with 2SHG, & 1GWG.

Dany Heatley - Ever consistant, 6-6-12 for the block, including 4PPG & 2GWG

Michal Rozsival - 3-10-13 in the block. In the last 3 blocks, he has 7G, 23A, 30Pts in 28GP.

Mark Recchi - Also had his best block of the year, 4-6-10, 1PPG.

The line of Gagne-Carter-Heatley scored 18 of the teams 32 goals of the block. Look for them to be split up on home ice for a game or two.


WHO'S NOT:

Jeff O'Neill - In 63 games this season, he only has 4G, 15A, 19PTS. He has not scored in the last 29 games, dating back to game 2 of Block 4. He will be a healthy scratch on the upcoming road trip.

Mike Richards - Had just 1G & 1A in Block 7. He has just 4G's in his last 39 games after scoring 5 in his first 10. Still one of the best PKers on the team.

Patrick Sharp - 10 of his 28 points have been on special teams, 5PP & 5PK. He has not been used on the PP as much, but he is logging close to 17 minutes a game, but he has only been averaging 3 points a block for the past 5 blocks after scoring 13 in the first 2 blocks.


THE QUESTION MARKS:

Mike Commodore - Hasn't really impressed anyone in his first block, but he has only been regulated to 3rd pairing. Has seen some action on special teams. Had just 2 assists in his first 10 games in Philadelphia.

The Goaltending - This will be the key. Look for Giguere to get 10 starts in the final 12 games unless he plays horrible on home ice. He needs to have a block like he did in #3 where he was 6-0. Niittymaki, who has been a much better goalie at home than on the road, is slated for 2 road starts & no home starts. Scheduled for Atlanta & Boston, 2 teams that he has some success against.


HOME ICE OR ROAD WARRIORS?

Currently sitting in the 7th seed.

Pittsburgh is in the 8th spot, trailling the Flyers by 6 points, they play once in Pittsburgh (08/05). The Flyers are 3-1-1 against the Pens.

New Jersey is 1 point ahead of the Flyers. The Devils come in to town for one game (08/03) and have not lost in two games here.

Columbus is 2 points ahead of the Flyers in the 5th spot. Last block they came in & beat the Flyers 6-4. But the Flyers have beaten them twice in Columbus in lopsided games.

Nashville, who is in the last Home Ice spot at #4, comes in on 08/05. They are currently 5 points ahead of the Flyers. Flyers are 2-3-0 against the Preds.

Boston. The Flyers will play them 3 times in the last 12 games. 2 on the road. Flyers trail the 3rd seed Bruins by 8 points. This season, the Flyers are 3-2 against the Bruins. Giguere is 2-0.

The Sabres, who the Flyers play once and can't catch & the Panthers, whom they don't play, are pretty much out of reach.

Other games are at Anaheim (08/01) who have a 1-0 season series lead. At Atlanta (08/02) Flyers lead the series 2-1. At Tampa Bay (08/05), who is still mathematically alive trailing the Pens by 9 points & the Flyers by 17. The Flyers are 3-0 against the Bolts. And Montreal comes in to Philly to get the homestand started on 08/01. Montreal is in the battle for their Conference, but they can also end up in the 7th seed if they have a bad block. The Flyers are 1-0 against the Habs, beating them in Montreal 5-4 on a Mark Recchi goal in the final seconds of OT.

Should be an interesting final run in what has been a fun season.