Eastern Quarters Game 2: Flyers at Capitals (0-1)

Martin Biron v. Cristobel Huet

As I mentioned yesterday, the Flyers obviously coughed up a great opportunity in Friday night's game when they gave up three goals in the 3rd to lose to Washington 5-4. Those three goals were equal to the number of shots the Flyers had in the same period. So if they weren't generating chances and if they weren't playing defense, what did the Flyers do that third period? That's a question John Stevens is going to have to answer.

Martin Biron did not play well in game one, and he will definitely have to be better. The Capitals scored a lot of goals over his shoulder, so maybe he needs to make an adjustment to not go down into his stance so soon. Some lineup adjustments on the blue line could help out as well.

Randy Jones is expected to be back this afternoon, and that leaves John Stevens with a dilemma: who do you take out of the lineup? Unfortunately, a lot of Flyers fans were upset when they woke up this morning and read Stevens saying it's between Lasse Kukkonen and Ryan Parent. Yes, I understand that they're both inexperienced, and yes, I understand that Kukkonen had a pretty bad giveaway on the game winner. However, Jaroslav Modry was on the ice for all five goals. That's not a coincidence. The guy just can't play hockey very well. I don't know if he's not focused because of his dad or if his injury is bothering him, but he hasn't played well. He's hurting the team.

Bill Meltzer has scratches. Whether or not Patrick Thoresen will be in the lineup is the only question about the forwards today.

Game 60: Flyers at Senators; Flyers Get Modry

Philadelphia Flyers: 30-24-5, 65 points
Ottawa Senators: 34-20-5, 73 points

Martin Biron v. Ray Emery

The Flyers head back to Canada and their nation's capital to try and stop the losing slide at seven. It will obviously be a tough task as the Senators are the best team in the East and have been for quite some time. After their acquisitions of Mike Commodore and Cory Stillman, they got even better. The Flyers are 2-0-0 against Ottawa this year, and have really stepped up their play to meet the challenge.

Martin Biron will start in net after getting the entire weekend off. Niittymaki played well in the first game earning him Sunday's start, but didn't build on the momentum. Who will get hot again?

The Senators are still at the top of the conference, but they've hit a pothole themselves. They've lost three straight games, including a blowout at the hands of the Sabres and a home and home sweep by New Jersey. They have the scoring talent to get out of it, but this is not the time to be slumping with Montreal right on their tail now.

Tonight, the Flyers not only have to deal with a tough team while on a bad losing streak, they have to deal with a ton of lineup changes. It seems like a player or two go down every game. You've lost Gagne, Lupul, Upshall, Downie, Tolpeko, Coburn and Hatcher for a while in this most recent stretch, and it really hurts guys to not be playing with the same teammates every night. Defensemen need cohesiveness with a pairing partner to position themselves correctly and chemistry among forwards can lead to a lot of goals. Claude Giroux will make his NHL debut tonight, and John Stevens might be hoping he can spark Briere into doing great things again.

Bill Meltzer tries to post the scratches, but he probably doesn't know much more than you or me.

ESPN and probably dozens of other sources inform us that the Flyers have traded a 3rd rounder to LA for Jaroslav Modry.

Modry has never been a huge offensive threat. He's only scored double digit goals once and his power play time has been reduced over the years. He's not a big hitter or shut down defenseman either, but he does bring experience and the ability to move the puck. His contract expires after this season, so it's not a bad band-aid to patch up this ailing defense.