PHIALDELPHIA, Pa- After embarking on an eight game road trip through the holiday season, the Philadelphia Flyers are set to return to the Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday.
Eat Emery – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
Beginning the road stretch in Toronto on December 2oth, Ray Emery stood in net for Philadelphia, with Rob Zepp as his back up due to an injured Steve Mason.
With a fast paced, energy filled game; the Flyers took a 7-4 win against the Maple Leafs, Philadelphia goals by R.J. Umberger, Sean Couturier, Claude Giroux [2], Nicklas Grossmann, Scott Laughton and Michael Raffl.
With no time to spare, the Flyers were back on the ice the following night against the Winnipeg Jets.
Making his NHL goaltending debut at age 34, Zepp recorded his first NHL win in an overtime victory, 4-3. Jakub Voracek netted in the overtime stunner just 10 seconds into the sudden death. Vincent Lecavalier and Voracek each tallied two goals each in the game.
One final stop before the holiday break, the Minnesota Wild hoped to stop the orange and black.
Continuing their hot streak, the Flyers beat the Wild 5-2, goals by Couturier, Giroux, Simmonds Lecavalier and Raffl.
Taking on the Nashville Predators on December 27th, the Flyers faced a familiar face behind the bench. Former Flyers head coach, Peter Laviolette was behind the bench against his former team for the first time since being relieved from his duties in October 2013.
Despite their latest efforts, Laviolette’s Predators snapped Philadelphia’s three game winning streak in 4-1 victory. Captain Claude Giroux had the lone goal for the Flyers.
Steve Mason – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
Prior to Nashville’s game, Flyers announced Mason would make his return to the lineup in the upcoming game, sending Zepp back to the AHL to the Leigh High Valley Phantoms.
As promised, Mason stood in between the pipes against the Arizona Coyotes on December 29th.
Umberger posted the only two Flyers goals in the 4-2 loss.
Making his way back into the lineup after being a healthy scratch for 9 consecutive games, Michael Del Zotto took the ice against the Colorado Avalanche on New Year’s Eve.
In his first shift back on the ice, Del Zotto took a skate to the neck after getting tangled up with former Flyer, Daniel Briere. Going off the ice immediately to receive medical attention, the defenseman received twenty stitches and returned to the game following the first intermission.
Sending the game into overtime after a late third period goal from Colorado, Ryan O’Reilly gave his club the extra point in the 4-3 winner.
With two final games before returning home, the orange and black made their way back to the east coast to face the Carolina Hurricanes on January 2nd.
Down 2-0 in the third period, the Flyers sloppy efforts only continued panic on the ice. Midway through the period, Giroux took a skate to the back of the leg and did not return to the game, leaving the team without their leader.
Striking the only goal for Philadelphia, Chris VandeVelde sent the puck to the back of the net. The Hurricanes took the 2-1 win over the struggling Philadelphia club.
Turning around to face the New Jersey Devils the following night, the Flyers remained without their Captain.
Former Flyer, Jaromir Jagr recorded a hat trick, his first since March 22, 2006 against the Philadelphia Flyers. Jagr is the oldest NHL player to record a hattrick. “I like to score hat tricks, but I don’t like thing you said that I’m the oldest guy,” he said with a smile. “I don’t want to be the oldest guy, but I’m glad I scored.”
Claude Giroux injury a question mark as Flyers head home – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
With the Devils leading the Flyers 3-0 at the end of the first period, Emery was pulled from the net replacing him was Mason. Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds, Michael Raffl and Zac Rinaldo all dropped their gloves in frustration against the Devils.
Lecavalier and MacDonald were the only Flyers that registered a goal against New Jersey. The Devils took the 5-2 win, giving the Flyers a five game losing streak.
Following the game in New Jersey, NHL announced the Philadelphia Flyers violated the agreement by traveling during the holiday break and were fined a disclosed amount for their actions. Fines range from $10K to $100K.
The team took flight from Philadelphia to Nashville on December 26th; with break dates from 24th-26th.
“We were aware of the rule and certainly accept the league’s decision,” said Flyers General Manager Ron Hextall. “I was approached by the players and after giving it some thought, it was pretty hard not to allow them the best possible chance to win the game, given the fact they have shown the commitment that they want to do something that is best for the hockey club. In the end, we were willing to accept the consequences.”
With the road trip in the rearview mirror, the Flyers return home in hopes to turn their season around.
Dropping 5 out of 8 games on the road, Giroux and Voracek lead the Flyers with 9 points each on the road trip.
With the return of Giroux unknown, head coach Craig Berube is forced to make changes to his top line.
Playing on home ice 9 times in the month of January, the Flyers welcome the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night.
Puck drop between the Philadelphia Flyers and Ottawa Senators is set for 7 p.m.
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