Flyers at Stars
THE STORY: Philadelphia Flyers general manager Paul
Holmgren gave the City of the Brotherly Love a much-needed boost on
Tuesday. With the injured-depleted Flyers still reeling from the loss of
captain Chris Pronger to a severe concussion, Holmgren shared some
positive news on leading scorer Claude Giroux. "Claude was cleared to
resume all activity on Saturday. He is practicing hard and is listed as
day to day," Holmgren said in a statement. Giroux skated for the third
straight day on Tuesday, but is unlikely to return for
Wednesday's contest against the host Dallas Stars. Giroux suffered
concussion-like symptoms after absorbing a knee to the head from
teammate Wayne Simmonds. Speaking of Simmonds, his goal with 18.3
seconds remaining in regulation tied Monday's game against Colorado. The
Avalanche, however, went on to post a 3-2 win in a shootout. Atlantic
Division-leading Philadelphia will look to stave off a season-worst
three-game losing skid versus Dallas, against which it has won five in a
row. For their part, the Pacific Division-leading Stars collected their
fourth win in five contests when they opened a three-game homestand
with a 5-3 triumph over the reeling Anaheim Ducks on Monday.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Versus, TSN2
ABOUT THE FLYERS (20-8-4): LW Scott Hartnell is
certainly having a December to remember. Hartnell has scored a goal in
seven of the nine contests and now shares the team lead of 16 with
Giroux. After watching his season-best six-game winning streak go by the
boards in a 6-0 rout by Boston on Saturday, G Ilya Bryzgalov
momentarily righted the ship on Monday. The 31-year-old Russian stopped
25 of 27 shots, but allowed all three shootout attempts to reach the
back of the net. Bryzgalov does boast a 13-8-2 mark with two shutouts in
his career versus Dallas.
ABOUT THE STARS (19-12-1): Captain Brenden Morrow has
returned from his upper body injury with a flourish. He has recorded
four goals and three assists in six games. Richard Bachman has been
confirmed to start his sixth straight contest on Wednesday - and with
good reason. "He's played well and we're going to give him an
opportunity," Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said. "We're winning hockey
games and at the end of the day that's what we're about here. We're
trying to get wins and he's providing us with those." Bachman has posted
a 4-1-0 mark with a 2.25 goals-against average since being called up
from Texas of the American Hockey League.
OVERTIME:
1. Dallas' penalty-killing unit impressively denied all 15 opportunities
during its five-game road trip, but promptly allowed two power-play
goals in the victory over Anaheim.
2. Stars RW Adam Burish is expected to return after a 15-game absence with a broken hand.