Briere Joins Giroux in All-Star Game
By Kevin K
An announcement was made today that Danny Briere will in fact join Claude Giroux in the All-Star Game. Briere is set to replace Jarome Iginla, who can’t play for personal reasons.
Danny Briere leads the Flyers in points (41) and goals (24) in the 2010-2011 season.
Briere brushed off his earlier All-Star snub calling it “politics”. Briere said he was just happy that he was going to the All-Star game with teammate Claude Giroux.
Briere said that the greatest part about making the All-Star Team is that he can bring his three sons with him.
The Superskills competition will be on January 29th at 7:00 pm on VERSUS with The All-Star game on January 30th at 4:00 pm on VERSUS.
Giroux Makes All-Star Team By Kevin KThe NHL All-Star Teams were announced today and Flyers' fans will be upset to learn that only one Flyers' player has made the team, Claude Giroux.“When I was a kid, it never came to my mind to have a chance to go there,” Giroux said Monday. “It would be a pretty special moment.” Giroux is well deserving of making the All-Star team, but should not be the only Flyer on the team. The Flyers leading goal-scorer, Danny Briere, and the teams leading scorer, Mike Richards are deserving to be on the team as well, however, they were snubbed.“If I was probably on any other team around the league I’d have a good shot. Not with this team. With so many guys having good years, it makes it difficult,” Briere said. “If I get to make it, great – it would be quite an honor. If not, then I’ll enjoy the time with my family.” According to Sam Carchidi, Briere ripped the NHL for naming just one Flyers player to All-Star team. Briere said his suspension may have played a role in NHL bypassing him. Other deserving players include LEAGUE LEADER in plus-minus defense-man Andrej Meszaros (+25). Meszaros has had a great first half of the season and should be included in the snub list for the Flyers. The Skills Competition occurs Jan. 29 and the All-Star Game on Jan. 30 on VERSUS in the U.S. and on TSN in Canada. Peter Laviolette will be a coach for the Eastern Conference during the All-Star game as well.Note: quotes from Stephen Whyno of Philly Sports Daily. Read more here: http://phillysportsdaily.com/flyers/2011/01/11/claude-giroux-is-flyers-only-all-star/
The Rise of Giroux
By. Casey Simpkins
BREAKING NEWS: ON NOVEMBER 8TH CLAUDE GIROUX SIGNED A THREE-YEAR $11.25M CONTRACT
When Bobby Clarke stepped up to the podium to announce the 22nd pick of 2006 NHL Entry Draft, he could barely remember Claude Giroux’s name. Four years later, he’s the first name on virtually every Flyers fan’s mind, and it won’t be long before he is a household name in the NHL for years to come.
To many NHL fans outside of the city of Philadelphia, Giroux’s 14 points through his first 13 games this season may come as a surprise, but here in Philly it is simply another indication of Giroux’s inevitable rise to the class of the NHL elite.
Everyone in the Flyers organization was well aware of Giroux’s potential when he was drafted, as he posted 123 points in 86 total games in his first year with the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. However, this was nothing compared to his next two years with the club, as he posted 276 points in 142 total games, including a ridiculous 51 points in 19 playoff games in 2008, when he earned playoff MVP honors and led the Olympiques to a QMJHL championship.
Following his junior championship run in 2008, Giroux got his first shot with the Philadelphia Phantoms, but he wasn’t there long. After 34 points in 33 games with the Phantoms, Giroux was called up to the Flyers and immediately began impressing Flyers fans. He instantly won us over with his hustle, soft hands, phenomenal stick skills, and highlight real passes, as he accumulated 27 points in his short 42 game rookie campaign with the Flyers. What made Claude even more of a fan favorite was his spectacular performance in the first round of the 2009 NHL playoffs. Despite the Flyers series loss to the rival Pittsburgh Penguins, Giroux was arguably the team’s best player as he was all over the ice and earned 5 points in 6 games, previewing a possible breakout season in 2010-2011.
In 2010-2011, Giroux was no longer a prospect, and was set play a huge role in the team’s shot at the Cup. However, with just 47 points in his first full season in the NHL, the uninformed observer would most likely be disappointed with Giroux’s output, but those numbers did not tell the story to his season. Giroux continued to show flashes of brilliance, but he was frequently paired with rookie James van Riemsdyk, who was very inconsistent throughout the year and totaled just 3 points following the Olympic break. Giroux put all of his doubters to rest when he buried the game winner in the shootout against the Rangers that sent the Flyers to the playoffs, and well we all know what happened from there. During the Flyers run to the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals, Claude recorded 21 points in 23 games, giving him a total of 26 points in 29 career playoff games and a reputation as the most clutch young player on the Flyers roster.
Thirteen games into this young NHL season, Claude Giroux is drawing comparisons to Peter Forsberg, and is quickly being considered as the most prolific playmaker on this extremely talented roster. With 7 goals and 7 assists thusfar, including 3 game winners and 3 shorthanded beauties, we’re all witnessing the rise of a future NHL superstar.
So, what has been your favorite Giroux moment so far in 2010? How do you think the rest of the season will play out for Claude and the Flyers? And what do you think the Flyers have to do to lock up Giroux so we can continue to see his rise to NHL stardom?
Flyers Win Game Three
By Kevin K
The Flyers came through in Game Three in dramatic fashion (okay it wasn't that dramatic) to the Chicago Blackhawks in an Overtime win 4-3.
The Flyers were able to get on the board first, with a first period goal by Danny Briere. The lead didn't last long in the second as the Blackhawks tied it quickly.
Scott Hartnell continues to have a good Stanley Cup run with the goal to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead in the second. I never say this, mainly because I have never been a fan of Hartnell, but right now he is playing well and I am glad he is coming into his own this postseason.
Late in the second, however, the Hawks came back to tie it at 2. Then in the 3rd, the Hawks broke the hearts of Flyers fans with a goal to give them the lead. Flyers fans are hard to put down though as 20 seconds later, the postseason hero Ville Leino comes up huge for the Flyers again to tie it at 3 and force the game into Overtime.
Before the Overtime period, the Flyers were clearly outplaying the Hawks throughout the game and at the end of the third period especially.
The Hawks came out fierce in the Overtime period, but not fierce enoguh as Michael Leighton set aside their shots.
Then the horn sounds as if the Flyers scored to win ! NBC Philly jumps the gun and posts the Flyers win, but wait .... the goal is under review and it is reviewed a no goal by Gagne.
Then with 5:59 left in the Overtime period, the Flyers started digging out of a hole with a goal by Claude Giroux! Giroux redirected a pass from Matt Carle and sent the Flyers home with a 4-3 victory in Game Three.
The series remains in Philly for Game Four as the Flyers look to even the series with another win.
While your here, check out the audio of WIP and Flyers Play By Play Man, Tim Saunders, on Giroux's goal
I would like to thank CBS Radio and it's Employee's for sending me the audio to share with all of the Philly Phans out there
Have and Hab Not ...
By Kevin K
The Flyers went into Montreal in Game Four, and shutout the Habs for the third time this Playoff Series.
The Canadiens had total momentum in the first ten minutes of the game, but then the Flyers took the game over. The Flyers started to out physical and out play the Habs throughout the first. Even though the first ended scoreless, the Flyers had clear momentum heading into the second period.
In the second, Giroux took over with a great goal which gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead. Then Ville Leino received a great pass from Chris Pronger and took it on the breakaway for another beautiful goal. After two periods of play the Flyers took over with a 2-0 lead.
In the third it was all defense for the Flyers, who was trying to keep that two goal lead. The Flyers, with hardly any shots in the third, played physical and strong defense in the third. The Habs pulled Halak early and the Flyers answered with Giroux's second goal of the game.
Michael Leighton put aside 17 of the 17 shots he faced today, and really felt the pressure in the first half of the first period.
The Flyers by far out played that Habs after the first ten minutes of the game. They kept the pressure on Halak and were able to solve him again.
This was a must win for the Flyers, who now have a 3-1 series lead heading into Game Five in Philadelphia on Monday.
The Flyers can take the Eastern Conference back at home now as they look forward to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Right now it looks as if the Flyers will face the Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup (who took a 3-0 lead over the Sharks on Friday Night).
The Flyers keep playing strong and hard as they now look to clinch the Eastern Conference.
LETS GO FLYERS !!!!!
Philly Phans Three Stars of the Game
1. Claude Giroux- His first goal gave the Flyers a boost of confidence that they haven't had since game two in Philly
2. Michael Leighton- Leighton looked back in form after giving up five goals in Game Three
3. Ville Leino- Leino continues to be the steal of the season, as he continues to impress the Flyers, and their fans.
FLYERS TAKE DEVILS OUT IN 5 GAMES
By Kevin K
Flyers fans were worried heading into last nights game five against the Devils. Why? Because Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne, two of the Flyers top scorers, are both out with foot fractures. Danny Briere put those worries to rest three minutes into the hockey game putting the Flyers up 1-0 and never looking back.
The Flyers are the number seven team in the Eastern Conference and knocked off the number two team last night.
Claude Giroux put home two goals of his own in the second period.
Ten years ago the Devils came back from being down three games to one. Brian Boucher and Marty Brodeur were both in net a decade ago.
"It's nice to end this tonight," said Boucher. "When you're up 3-1, they're looking for any sign of life that they can get. We did a great job."
Boucher saved 28 of 28 last night in his shut out victory.
1st Star: Claude Giroux
2nd Star: Brian Boucher
3rd Star: Daniel Briere
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