Vähän juttua Flyers neloskentästä:
"Flyers fourth line will feature some fighting
By Rob Parent,
rparent@delcotimes.com
VOORHEES, N.J. — The Flyers have a plan. That’s one positive improvement over where they were a year ago.
When they open the season Thursday night in Calgary, the Flyers will feature skill players on both offense and defense. But, along with that, comes a retro feel — a fourth line with a 38-year-old grinder for a center and a few guys with him who can goon it up.
First though, the Flyers will have to hope that Joffrey Lupul, one of their new skill forwards, is healthy enough to start the season.
Lupul has been out with a left wrist injury, but after a second examination Tuesday, he said he’ll try to play with it in the opener.
Presuming Lupul can go, he’ll be on a second line with Jeff Carter and another newbie winger, Scott Hartnell.
With R.J. Umberger on the trip, but probably unable to play until next week due to a broken finger, the Flyers will go with Phantoms promotee Denis Tolpeko, a 22-year-old Moscow native.
But, it’s that goofy, goon-y fourth line that everybody should have their eye on.
It will feature Jim Dowd, 38, with physical winger Jesse Boulerice, a former Flyer and Carolina Hurricane.
Both had been in training camp on try-outs and took advantage of the opportunity.
They’ll be joined by Phantoms grad Riley Cote and Ben Eager, two guys who usually enjoy fighting when needed.
Flyers G.M. Paul Holmgren was able to bring Dowd and Boulerice into the mix by waiving Denis Gauthier, who cleared waivers Tuesday and seems to be headed to Phantomville."