Flyers vs Carolina Hurricanes

First Period: The team is playing against the all-star Eric Staal (named the captain of one of the all-star teams).  The Flyers had the past 4 days off and will start with Brian Boucher in net.  Generally, the team tends not to do as well when they have such a long period off.  However, the team started the game off aggressive with some good plays.  With a power play in only the first 2 minutes of the game from a high stick (maybe the Hurricanes are a little bitter from their last meeting in which the Flyers won 8-1?). Flyers had a lot of shots but not a lot of GOOD shots, which is essential.  Claude Giroux had  a good shot but nobody was there to pick up the rebound when it bounced off the goalie.  More people  need to be around the net in order to get these rebounds so there is a chance of scoring.  Despite the power play for the Hurricanes and the Flyers out-shooting them, the first period remained 0-0.
Second Period: Another good try by Giroux in the first minute but once again, not enough people for the rebound.  A power play for the flyers didn't go so well when Timonen got a penalty and made it a 4 on 4.  Defense and Boucher had a great penalty kill by blocking shot and plays.  With 7 minutes left in the 2nd, Laviolette calls one of his famous time outs which obviously didn't work because Mike Richards went to the penalty box for 2 minutes for slashing.  Not to mention Briere getting a penalty for hooking, even though it was countered with Ruutu getting a penalty.  The period ended scoreless, again.
Third Period: Jeff Carter started off the period right with the first goal of the game with an assist by Richards and Pronger.  Pronger showing his aggressive side again by getting a slashing penalty shortly after the goal.  The penalty was killed well with Boucher making good saves and keeping the lead.  The power play goes to the flyers after a retaliation on Coburn from rookie Skinner from the Hurricanes (even though there should be have been a 5 on 3, but the refs sometimes conveniently don't see things that would give the flyers an advantage).  Another power play for the flyers makes it the 5th this game.  First power play goal of the game scored by Danny Briere with a good passing setup by Giroux and Hartnell (Briere is now one of the NHL leaders in terms of goals with 27).  Only a few seconds later the Hurricanes scored making the game 2-1 and diminishing his dreams of the first shutout of the season.

Recap: Overall, the team played a lot better than they usually do when they have a long break.  Giroux's name was heard a lot this game but not too much from the other big names except for the goals by Carter and Giroux.  One of the problems that should be addressed is that there needs to be more forwards by the opposing net to get rebounds.  Lets hope the defense can cover more players so they don't have time to set up and score, so maybe, just maybe, one of the goalies can get the first shutout for the flyers (hopefully its Boucher because he had a great game with 29 saves).  Next game is Sunday against the LA Kings.