FLYERS (28-27-13) at BLUES (42-19-5)

TV: CSN-PH, FS-MW
Blues team scope: St. Louis had an optional skate Wednesday in preparation for the Flyers. Defenseman Jay Bouwmeester (illness) and forward Olli Jokinen (upper body) each skated and coach Ken Hitchcock said if they came out of practice feeling good, they would play. "He says he feels really good today, so that's a good sign," Hitchcock said of Bouwmeester, who's missed the past two games. "I would say for sure, if he has a good day today, he's going to play [Thursday]. Same with [Jokinen]; if he has a good day today, he's going to play [Thursday]." Defenseman Zbynek Michalek (concussion) skated Wednesday and is getting closer to making his Blues debut after being acquired prior to the NHL Trade Deadline. "Definitely I'm getting closer and closer," Michalek said. "I've been skating for a while now. I feel good." Goalie Brian Elliott will make his fourth consecutive start. The Blues began a stretch of nine games in 15 days Tuesday with a 5-4 victory against the Winnipeg Jets.
Flyers team scope: Since defeating the Blues on home ice, Philadelphia has lost three in a row, including a 2-1 home loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. The Flyers have taken one of a possible six points to fall nine points behind the Boston Bruins for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. Boston has two games in hand on Philadelphia, plus the Flyers are behind the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators. "Our goal is still to make the playoffs," general manager Ron Hextall told the Flyers website. "Until we're officially out, that will continue to be our goal. ... We've shown how good we can be, and at times we haven't been very good. That's the part that's frustrating because it's there." Goalie Ray Emery is the projected starter.

We gots to wins this's games's.

2 points out from Nashville with 2 games in hand. Who'd have thought?

I think this should be a really fun one to watch having played them recently. I think Simmonds and Backes mix it up. I can't wait.

Battra wrote:We gots to wins this's games's.

Are you declaring this a....MUST WIN GAME?

I expect a dismantling tonight. The boys aren't happy with the third period of Tuesday's game and they will want payback for last Thursday's debacle.

5-2 Blues (Tarasenko, Lehtera, Steen, Oshie x2)

PTS???

BLUUUUUUUES 3
Brochures 2

Let's kill these bastages.

Blues 4 (Tarasenko x2, Steen, Schwartz)

Flyers 2 (Simmonds, Voracek)

LET'S GO BLUES!!!

wizard pork sword wrote:

Battra wrote:We gots to wins this's games's.

Are you declaring this a....MUST WIN GAME?

WOAH'S!

It is in my house...my wife is a former Flyers fan....

So we always have to beat t hem.

That bobblehead looks more like a cross between Bill Clinton and Jean-Claude Van Damme.

foofighter wrote:That bobblehead looks more like a cross between Bill Clinton and Jean-Claude Van Damme.

I'd vote for that ticket.

While Bill sweet talks'em...

Van Damme gut punches them with the Death Touch!

Blues and Flyers....doesn't get much better than this. Always love seeing the orange and black make a visit.

Here we go again...SOB line or JOB line or BOP line or...come on Hitch.

Per Korac: Porter-Backes-Oshie, Schwartz-Lehtera-Tarasenko, Steen-Stastny-Jaskin, Ott-Goc-Reaves. Jokinen/Berglund extras.

He can't STAND to leave them alone. We are almost in the twilight of the regular season. He has to stop with the line juggling. I think it is great that Stastny gets Steen as a winger, but this isn't the time to make the switch. And how long into the game are these lines going to last? 2 min, 20 min? Rant over.

Notebly Blue wrote:Here we go again...SOB line or JOB line or BOP line or...come on Hitch.

Per Korac: Porter-Backes-Oshie, Schwartz-Lehtera-Tarasenko, Steen-Stastny-Jaskin, Ott-Goc-Reaves. Jokinen/Berglund extras.

He can't STAND to leave them alone. We are almost in the twilight of the regular season. He has to stop with the line juggling. I think it is great that Stastny gets Steen as a winger, but this isn't the time to make the switch. And how long into the game are these lines going to last? 2 min, 20 min? Rant over.

HONESTLY...

This is not a game we need to win.

Philly is a good team and I think it's important to see what some different line combos can do.

If a player goes down in the first round...it's important to know what your options are.

Who didn't love this card.....probably my favorite card of all time.

Notebly Blue wrote:Here we go again...SOB line or JOB line or BOP line or...come on Hitch.

Per Korac: Porter-Backes-Oshie, Schwartz-Lehtera-Tarasenko, Steen-Stastny-Jaskin, Ott-Goc-Reaves. Jokinen/Berglund extras.

He can't STAND to leave them alone. We are almost in the twilight of the regular season. He has to stop with the line juggling. I think it is great that Stastny gets Steen as a winger, but this isn't the time to make the switch. And how long into the game are these lines going to last? 2 min, 20 min? Rant over.

Interesting. Well, Porter definitely brings more physicality to the line-up than the two extras.

The ONLY benefit I see to these constant changes to line combos is getting people playing together in event of an injury. Yes, I tell myself this to calm my frustration.

Blues 4
Flyers 2

Schwartz with a hat trick
Pietrangelo shoots wide on an open net, Steen breaks through to pick up the puck off the boards and scores.

NHLTIM wrote:Who didn't love this card.....probably my favorite card of all time.

Mine was the 91? Upper deck Basil Mcray (spell check). That smile on his bloody face says it all.

BAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Yes, I just had to look that up.
I was lucky enough to see this man play...and yelled at him in Japanese.

Notebly Blue wrote:Here we go again...SOB line or JOB line or BOP line or...come on Hitch.

Per Korac: Porter-Backes-Oshie, Schwartz-Lehtera-Tarasenko, Steen-Stastny-Jaskin, Ott-Goc-Reaves. Jokinen/Berglund extras.

He can't STAND to leave them alone. We are almost in the twilight of the regular season. He has to stop with the line juggling. I think it is great that Stastny gets Steen as a winger, but this isn't the time to make the switch. And how long into the game are these lines going to last? 2 min, 20 min? Rant over.

He's left everything alone but the Oshie - Backes - Steen line, which has been terribly ineffective offensively in big games (including repeated post seasons).

I applaud him for trying to find someone to put on that line who is capable of getting to the center of the offensive ice.

He tried Jaskin there, but he needs (and has left alone) the chemistry he has with Stastny.

The legend of Taro is a must know for all true hockey fans.

Interested to find out (if we ever do) if this was a banishment of Bergy or if it is just a "maintenance day" with him being out of the lineup. Honestly, I wouldn't mind seeing Backes, Steen and Oshie sit a game or two between now and the end of the season, especially during a back-to-back.

Nice freaking GDT. Thanks guys, I will be reading this and listening on the radio at work tonight.