Scouting Report: Blues vs Flyers 10-22-11
The Blues don’t see much of the Philadelphia Flyers. Tonight’s tilt is just the sixth meeting in eight years. For a little extra insight the services of Dustin Leed have been enlisted.
Dustin covers the Flyers for Lancaster Newspapers, The Fourth Period and his own site, TheHockeyGuys.net. You can follow him on Twitter, @D_LEED.
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The Flyers are one of six teams with a perfect Road record, but the only with three wins. At home their an even 1-1-1. What’s been the difference?
Dustin: This question has been brought up around here lately and I don’t have a specific answer for it. Some may believe it’s because of the youth on the Flyers roster, others may think it’s because of more pressure on the man between the pipes. — Ilya Bryzgalov. For me: bad luck. You look who they’ve played; Vancouver, Washington and Los Angeles… All three are considered to be contenders this season. Wins at home will come.
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After several seasons of not investing in goaltending, the Flyers went all in with Ilya Bryzgalov this summer. How much of a difference-maker has he been so far?
Dustin: Unfortunately for Flyers fans, I don’t think he’s been the “difference maker” that people have expected. He’s a really solid keeper, but more much of this season he hasn’t gone out and stole them a point or played spectacular. With that said, there shouldn’t be any more goaltending questions in Philadelphia — the Flyers made a bold statement this summer and will stick by their man.
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Much faith has been put in to Claude Giroux with the trading of Mike Richards and Jeff Carter. He is an outstanding player really coming in to his own now as the offensive workhorse for the Flyers scoring 5 goals and 8 points in six games. What type of player is he and how important is he to the team’s success?
Dustin: Claude Giroux is an absolute beauty. He really does everything for this Flyers team. If he is considered “elite” by many around the league, it will be “superstar” soon. Last year, in his second full season, he put up 76 points and this year is on even better pace. He does everything right and has some unbelievable hands and vision. He’s the complete package and I won’t be surprised if he finished in the top-5 in points this year.
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Matt Read and Sean Couturier are two rookies making an impact so far. Who are they and what do they bring to the Flyers?
Dustin: Matt Read and Sean Couturier have been real pleasant surprises for the Flyers this year. Read has good skill all over the ice — I wouldn’t say he does one thing special, but his game is very complete. He has awesome defensive awareness, a knack for the net and has played PP, PK and forward and the point on the PP. Couturier been really impressive as well. As an 18-year-old, Peter Laviolette has recently gone on the record to call him “our best defensive forward” which is stunning statement Couturier could use some muscle on his frame and work on his skating, but his defensive upside is incredible.
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Blues fans know and still love to this day current Philadelphia captain Chris Pronger. How is he doing these days. Now that he wears the “C”, are any differences from the Richards’ era noticeable?
Dustin: Pronger has been great. A little intimidating at times for the press 
— with Pronger as captain, the locker room has surprisingly been very laid back with Pronger in charge. Not at a lot has changed from last year to this year with him — the only thing is he now officially has the C.
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A big thanks to Dustin and please be sure to check out his Flyers podcast, Flyers Corner Radio.
