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Broad Street Hockey

A Lehigh Valley Phantoms blog. We talk about the AHL. That's it.

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Wednesday Morning Fly By: Now is the time

*Big Game 6 tonight for our boys, back on home ice with their third chance to knock the Penguins out for good. Game 7 would be a bad idea, and it’s easy to be feeling a little negative after two straight losses, but maybe we all need to settle down a little. Maybe. [ BSH ] *Did you hear Matvei Michkov was scratched in Game 5? Did you notice this? Anyone you know talking about it? Anyway maybe we need to settle down about that too. [ BSH ] *Charlie has some Thoughts on what it is that...

Flyers could turn to rookie Oliver Bonk for Game 6 in bold move

The Philadelphia Flyers are back home for Game 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night. After taking a 3-0 series lead, the Flyers have lacked the killer instinct to close out their cross-state rivals in their first two tries. Rick Tocchet has made a few lineup changes in this series, most notably taking Matvei Michkov out of the lineup in favor of Alex Bump in Game 5. He’s also switched things up on the blue line. Noah Juulsen got into Game 2 and stayed in the lineup fo...

Alex Bump rises to the occasion in Flyers playoff debut

While the Flyers were dealt with a tough loss last night in Pittsburgh , it wasn’t a game without its smattering of positives.  Though the results didn’t ultimately go their way, the Flyers made some adjustments to their approach and were able to build on their push late in Saturday’s game and deliver a more even showing on this time out. Their pace was better, and they were able to hold on to more pucks to set up some better chances throughout. They still had their share of chances left ...

The sky is not falling as the Flyers head home for Game 6 against Pittsburgh

Sean Couturier has been in this situation before. It was ages ago, but it was as close to the same set of circumstances as one can find. After manhandling the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 1, Game 2, and Game 3 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Quarter Final series against Sidney Crosby and company, the Flyers were mauled 10-3 at home by the Penguins in Game 4. The Flyers then headed back to Pittsburgh for Game 5, were down 3-2 at the end of the second and never tied the score, losing their second ...

Flyers scratching Matvei Michkov changes absolutely nothing

Despite the Flyers putting their cross-state arch rivals on the brink, sitting one game away from round two after a season that was almost a write-off, there is still one negative talking point that has gotten beaten to death for the past week or so. While the Flyers deserve plaudits for over-performing to a man in their round one series, it has cast a spotlight on some of their younger stars who haven’t been able to make an impact. After Denver Barkey got off the snide in Game 4 with a t...

Tuesday Morning Fly By: Going to need to turn this around

*The Flyers would’ve done themselves and all of us a favor by winning last night’s Game 4 in Pittsburgh. They did not do that. Recap . *As we all suspected, Matvei Michkov was scratched last night. It wasn’t the wrong move, given the circumstances. [ BSH ] *If you’re a subscriber over at Charlie’s website, you can check out his thoughts about the Michkov decision and what got us to this point. [ PHLY ] *Oh yeah dude you can definitely draw some conclusions about Rick Tocchet’s c...

3 lineup changes Flyers could make after Game 5 loss to Penguins

The Philadelphia Flyers just suffered a disheartening Game 5 loss where not a whole lot went wrong, but not a whole lot went right either. There were hiccups and major missed opportunities as the veteran players that the team relies on so much seemed to feel the pressure of killing off the Penguins, and some poor decisions were made. If you really wanted to be optimistic about the loss and not dwell on how the Flyers’ 3-0 series lead is now just a 3-2 series lead as they had back to Phila...

Takeaways: Flyers comeback falls short, drop Game 5 3-2 to Penguins

Tonight saw the series shift back to Pittsburgh for Game 5, with the Flyers looking to bounce back from a difficult loss on home ice on Saturday. And while the Flyers were able to come up with a bit more pace, it wasn’t enough to drive them past what the Penguins were able to throw at them, as they fell short for a second straight game. The basics First period: 2:45- Elmer Soderblom (Mantha, Wotherspoon) Second period: 3:17- Connor Dewar (Crosby, Lizotte), 3:29- Alex Bump (Ristolaine...

Flyers @ Penguins, Game 5: How to watch, lineups, and gamethread

The Philadelphia Flyers have a glorious opportunity to walk into Pittsburgh and hand them a third loss in the Penguins’ own building to kill their season and win the series in dominant fashion. They better not screw this up. It’s Game 5. Puck drop:  7:00 p.m. How to watch/listen: 📺: NBCSP/ESPN+ 📻: 97.5 The Fanatic Pregame reading It’s the story of the game. Matvei Michkov is going to sit this one out as Rick Tocchet thinks it’s best for the 21-year-old winger to take a break a...

3 Flyers who must step up to finish off the Penguins

The Flyers have jumped out to a 3-1 series lead over Pittsburgh with plenty of contributions from unlikely sources. Four defensemen have goals, a fifth had two primary assists in a game, 16 players have a point in the postseason, and 13 of them have multiple points. Twelve different players have scored a goal in four games. It’s been a complete team effort to get to where they are now. With the fourth and final win the only obstacle between the Flyers and the second round, there are three Flye...

What to expect from Flyers’ new-look lineup in Game 5

After losing 4-2 to the Penguins on Saturday night, the Philadelphia Flyers find themselves with the second of four proverbial kicks at the can to eliminate their longtime rivals in Game 5 on Monday night and move on to the second round. The fourth game is often the hardest won to win, but with the Flyers looking far more themselves in the second half of the game compared to the first half, they should start Game 5 on the right foot. However, following Sunday’s practice , there seems like ther...

Scratching Matvei Michkov is right move for Flyers — but it’s not the end of the world

When the Philadelphia Flyers put up a lackluster effort in their Game 4 loss on Saturday night, lineup changes were to be expected. So when Rick Tocchet showcased a new group of forwards and defensemen at practice on Sunday, that wasn’t much of a surprise. However, some were caught off guard by Matvei Michkov being the odd man out of the lineup, with fellow youngster Alex Bump replacing him on the third line. Of course, as we saw all season long, whenever the discourse about Michkov ...

Monday Morning Fly By: It’s fine

*Would a sweep have been fun? Duh, yeah, of course. Will a Gentleman’s Sweep be just as good? YUP. Flyers stumbled Saturday but you know what they say… they get knocked down, but they get up again. RECAP ! *Tonight’s game… well, lineup’s going to look ever-so-slightly different. [ BSH ] *Every now and again Dan Vladar delivers a less-than-stellar performance and unfortunately, Game 4 was one of them. [ Inquirer ] *If you’re a subscriber over at Charlie’s website you can check ou...

Rick Tocchet explains decision to scratch Matvei Michkov in playoffs

The Philadelphia Flyers might have a sizeable 3-1 series lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean every single player is playing up to their best. And after missing the opportunity to perform a sweep in Game 4 on Saturday, head coach Rick Tocchet is going to make some changes to his lineup. At practice on Sunday, before the team heads back to Pittsburgh to go and try to close out the series in Game 5 on Monday night, Tocchet revealed a ne...

Matvei Michkov scratched for Game 5 as Flyers shake up lineup

We are going to see a different lineup Monday night when the Philadelphia Flyers take the ice for Game 5 against the Penguins in Pittsburgh and it’s After suffering a disheartening loss in Game 4 on Saturday night, Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet has decided to shake something up voluntarily for the first time in this series. Aside from needing to put in defenseman Noah Juulsen on the bottom pairing because Emil Andrae suffered a minor injury — and kept him there even after Andrae recovere...

Denver Barkey taking lessons in Flyers first round playoff series

On home ice for last night’s Game 4, the Flyers learned in real time how difficult it is to sweep a playoff series in the National Hockey League. With a chance to take care of business and close out the series tidily in four games, the Flyers instead delivered their flattest showing of the postseason — lacking intensity at times, looking bogged down by the Penguins’ forecheck, and struggling to get much of anything going in the way of dangerous scoring chances. It was a game in which they...

Takeaways: Flyers suffer 4-2 loss to Penguins in Game 4 during sweep opportunity

The Flyers started slow, tried to make up for it with a decent third period, but in the end couldn’t sweep the Penguins. The result was a fifth game in Pittsburgh on Monday night after losing to the Pens 4-2 in Game 4. The basics First period: 14:24- Sidney Crosby (Erik Karlsson) (PPG) Second period: 1:03- Rickard Rakell (Unassisted), 15:40- Denver Barkey (Trevor Zegras, Cam York) Third period: 4:27- Kris Letang (Sidney Crosby, Rickard, Rakell), 7:03- Travis Konecny (Christian Dvorak...

Flyers vs Penguins, Game 4: How to watch, lineups, and gamethread

It’s a dull and drizzly day here in South Philadelphia, but the Flyers are looking to give the evening a bit of life. Game 4 against the Penguins is on deck, and the Flyers are preparing to go in for the kill — to continue building on all of their positive momentum and pull off a much-coveted sweep of this first round series. Puck drop:  8:00 p.m. How to watch/listen: 📺: NBCSP/TBS/ESPN+ 📻: 97.5 The Fanatic Pregame reading It’s been a busy last few days of Dan Vladar related up...

Dan Vladar will start Game 4 for Flyers after injury scare

The Philadelphia Flyers have given their entire fan base great news ahead of Game 4 against the Pittsburgh Penguins and we no longer have to be worried. Dan Vladar will be in the crease for his fourth consecutive start despite suffering a minor injury in the middle of Game 3 and sticking it out to finish the game and give the Flyers a 3-0 series lead. Now, they have a big opportunity to complete the S-word that we don’t really want to say just in case anyone believes in jinxes. Lin...

Owen Tippett trolls Sidney Crosby with ‘Crosby sucks’ message on signed puck

There’s always a slight chance it’s a doctored image, but a social media post this afternoon might fan some flames leading to tomorrow night’s Game 4 against the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins. A 14-second clip was posted this afternoon, showing a woman wearing a Travis Sanheim jersey approaching a vehicle with Flyers winger Owen Tippett in the driver’s seat. It apparently took place after Game 3 at Xfinity Mobile Arena, with the player leaving in his vehicle to head home. Th...

Trevor Zegras and Porter Martone are the Men We Need

One year ago, the Philadelphia Flyers were sitting on their couches, hoping the ping pong balls might fall their way at the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery. The rebuild was still very much a rebuild. Matvei Michkov had a strong rookie season, Jamie Drysdale found his way, and there were a few other improvements you could point to, but the Flyers were still searching for another X-factor or two to really get them to the next level. Well, it didn’t take too long for Danny Briere to find the nex...

Should the Flyers trust Sam Ersson to close out the Penguins in Game 4?

No road in the Stanley Cup is smooth sailing. There are bumps along the way. Nobody comes out unscathed. And, despite holding a rather commanding 3-0 lead in the series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Philadelphia Flyers might have hit their first road bump heading into Game 4 at home on Saturday night. Around the midway point of the third period on Wednesday night, with the Flyers leading 3-1, the Penguins were hoping to cut the deficit with pressure in the Flyers zone. The puck was...

5 Flyers who can deliver the knockout blow to the Penguins

We’re all dreaming of it. It would be too sweet. Maybe something that we don’t entirely deserve but something that is too good to not think about: Sweeping the Pittsburgh Penguins as they venture into a summer of unknowns and the Philadelphia Flyers of all teams killing this era of a team that we have despised forever. Evgeni Malkin is a pending unrestricted free agent, Kris Letang looks worse than Keith Yandle did during his year in Philadelphia, and Sidney Crosby is about to be left alo...