As I mentioned last week when discussing Nashville defenseman Shea Weber, the 2003 NHL draft produced more front-line talent than any class in recent memory. One of the teams that benefited the most is the Philadelphia Flyers. Thanks to their own first-round picks (No's 11 and 24) the Flyers came away with a pair of top centers in Jeff Carter and Mike Richards, and later the No. 7 overall pick, Braydon Coburn, in a one-sided trade (for Alexei Zhitnik!)with the Atlanta Thrashers. Six years later, Philadelphia has one of the best 1-2 punches in the league down the middle.
There were rumors swirling at last year's trade deadline that involved the Flyers reportedly sending Carter (and a first-round pick) to the Toronto Maple Leafs for puck-moving defenseman Tomas Kaberle. As good as Kaberle is, consider this an example of the best trades sometimes being the ones you never make.
Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin have already claimed a Hart Trophy in their young NHL careers as league MVP, while the only member of the new big three to not take home the hardware is Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin. Is this the year? Or will Ovechkin claim his second in a row?
After struggling on Sunday, Marc-Andre Fleury rebounded with a sensational performance on Tuesday night, stopping 44-of-45 shots in Pittsburgh's 3-1 against Philadelphia in game 4 of its Eastern Conference Quarterfinal.
No question about it, the Penguins' 24-year-old netminder was their best player, standing on his head much of the game, giving them an opportunity to win. The Flyers were consistently swarming the front of the net -- and firing shots from every possible angle on each of their eight power plays -- as Fleury was there every single time to make the stops.
When the Pittsburgh Penguins needed a big save on Friday night, Marc-Andre Fleury was there to make it. When they needed a big save in Sunday's 6-3 loss in Philadelphia -- or any save, for that matter -- they didn't get it. Actually, they didn't get much of anything from any player, with the lone exception of Evgeni Malkin, as the Philadelphia Flyers thoroughly dominated game 3, setting the stage for what could be an epic game 4 on Tuesday night.
Forget for one second, if you can, that Bill Guerin scored a pair of goals -- including the game-winner in overtime -- in Pittsburgh's 3-2 win over Philadelphia on Friday night. The biggest moment of this game, and the highlight of this game, was without question Marc-Andre Fleury's ridiculous save on Jeff Carter midway through the third period.
Exactly 1,230 regular season games have been played. We're down to the best eight teams in each conference. The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Wednesday night with four series lid-lifters.
In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Bruins rallied from a bit of a swoon around the All-Star Break to easily win the top seed. Even if you subscribe to the idea of Boston being favored because of their strong overall record, there are no sure things in these here playoffs. Who will threaten to knock the Bruins off their pedestal?
Hurricanes 3, Panthers 2: With the Montreal Canadiens in complete meltdown mode, the Florida Panthers entered Monday's game against Carolina with an opportunity to take over the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference with a win. Instead, the Panthers failed to win for the seventh time in their past nine games, dropping a 3-2 decision in overtime.
With the Panthers trailing, 2-1, late in the third period, Cory Stillman scored on a 5-on-3 advantage, sending the game to overtime. Just 1:37 into the extra period, Carolina's Ray Whitney one-timed a shot behind Tomas Vokoun for the game-winner.
On Tuesday, ESPN hockey writer Pierre Lebrun penned an entry on his blog about Dallas Stars forward Loui Eriksson and his under-the-radar, meteoric rise to 30-goal scorer in the NHL.
The basic premise of the article was essentially: this guy has more goals than a host of star players, and you probably don't know who he is.
February 25th, the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, PA.
6:43 PM, during pre-game warmups. Martin Biron gazes longingly at the ice, contemplating his place in the universe.Antero Niittymaki is in net, taking shots from teammates. Biron is hunched over in front of the Flyers' bench.
MB (thinking to himself): Oh boy. Things have really gone south lately, eh Marty? What happened? Things were so good in Buffalo. They loved me. I loved them. It was one big lovey love fest. Was it fate that sent me here? Or is it some, higher force?
Red Wings 4, Sharks 1: In the fourth -- and final -- regular season installment of Western Conference Finals Preview '09, Detroit picked up a 4-1 win over San Jose on Wednesday night. Henrik Zetterberg scored a pair of goals in the win, including a shorthanded marker early in the second period to give the Wings a commanding 3-0 lead.
Marian Hossa and Ville Leino also scored for Detroit, while Ty Conklin turned aside 34-of-35 shots in net. The loss snaps San Jose's four game winning streak, while the two teams split the season series.
FanHouse's Adam Gretz takes a look at his top 50 players in the NHL. No. 36 is Philadelphia Flyers forward Jeff Carter.
On Tuesday, ESPN hockey writer Pierre Lebrun penned 
February 25th, the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, PA.
