Philadelphia Flyers Daily Clips February 8, 2013

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1 Philadelphia Flyers Daily Clips February 8, 2013 FLYERS Headlines 1. Philadelphia Inquirer - Flyers Notes: Flyers need to improve on faceoffs 2. Philadelphia Inquirer - Observations on Flyers' shootout loss 3. Philadelphia Inquirer - Flyers fall to Panthers in shootout 4. Philadelphia Daily News - Panthers deny Flyers in shootout 5. Philadelphia Daily News - Timonen agrees to contract extension with Flyers 6. CSNPhilly.com - Flyers give up lead in shootout loss to Panthers 7. CSNPhilly.com - Timonen re-signs with Flyers; injury updates 8. CSNPhilly.com - Claude Giroux: Flyers are a 'desperate team' 9. CSNPhilly.com - Timonen feels next season will be his last 10. Delaware County Times - Flyers Scoop: Deal keeps Kimmo Timonen around for another year 11. Delaware County Times - Flyers miss their shot in shootout loss to Panthers 12. Bucks County Courier Times - Special teams cost Flyers in shootout loss 13. Bucks County Courier Times - Timonen signed to 1-year contract extension 14. Camden Courier Post - Callahan: Keep Bryzgalov out of shootouts 15. Camden Courier Post - Flyers get shot down in shootout... again 16. Camden Courier Post - Flyers notes: Timonen commits to one-year extension 17. Philadelphiaflyers.com - Flyers sign Kimmo Timonen to contract extension 18. NHL.com - Revived Panthers get revenge over Flyers in shootout 19. NHL.com - Flyers sign Kimmo Timonen to contract extension 20. TSN.ca - Huberdeau, Mueller score SO goals; lift Panthers past Flyers 21. TSN.ca - Flyers, Timonen agree on one-year contract extension 22. ESPN.com - Flyers extend Kimmo Timonen PANTHERS Headlines (Flyers last opponent) 1. Sun Sentinel Panthers pay back Flyers with 3-2 shootout victory 2. Miami Herald Florida Panthers topple Philadelphia Flyers in shootout 3. Miami Herald FLYING HIGH IN PHILLY: Panthers Win Again, Top Flyers 3-2 in Shootout Huberdeau, Mueller Get SO Goals Weiss First Goal is a Biggun HURRICANES Headlines (Flyers next opponent) 1. News Observer Ward, Harrison lift Hurricanes past Senators, Hurricanes.nhl.com Hurricanes rally to beat Senators 3-2 in OT NHL Headlines 1. NHL.com Bruins trade Thomas to Islanders 2. NHL.com Islanders lift suspension, add Visnovsky to roster 3. TSN.ca Islanders acquire G Thomas to reach salary cap floor 4. ESPN.com Tim Thomas traded to Islanders PHANTOMS Headlines 1. Glen Falls Post Star - Phantoms attempting to regroup

2 2. The Saratogian - AHL: Phantoms look to fix inconsistencies Friday night against Syracuse FLYERS Articles 1. Philadelphia Inquirer - Flyers Notes: Flyers need to improve on faceoffs Sam Carchidi Claude Giroux needs some help. The Flyers captain went into Thursday's game among the NHL leaders by being successful on 55.4 percent of his faceoffs. Despite his success, the Flyers had won just 46.5 percent of their draws, putting them 28th in the 30-team NHL. Put another way: If you take away Giroux, the rest of the Flyers had won just 40.9 percent of their faceoffs. As a result, the Flyers are getting less zone time and frequently seem to be on the defensive side of the puck. Here are the other Flyers and their faceoff percentages entering Thursday: Sean Couturier, 45.3 percent; Brayden Schenn, 41.8 percent; Max Talbot, 33.3 percent; Ruslan Fedotenko, 30.2 percent; and Danny Briere, 14.3 percent. Briere, bothered by a wrist injury, just started taking faceoffs this season and had won just one of seven. "I think through time and experience and getting stronger, you gain lessons in the faceoff circle and become better schooled at it - and better equipped to handle guys who have been around a long time," coach Peter Laviolette said before Thursday's game against Florida. There is a direct correlation between faceoff success and victories. Heading into Thursday's games, the top three faceoff teams - Boston, San Jose, and Detroit - were a combined The bottom three faceoff teams - the Flyers, Edmonton, and Buffalo - had a combined record of Timonen signs As reported in Wednesday's Inquirer, defenseman Kimmo Timonen has signed a oneyear, $6 million extension with the Flyers, who made it official Thursday. Timonen, who will turn 38 next month, could have been an unrestricted free agent in July. He has a $6.3 million cap hit this season. An all-star last season, Timonen has recovered from offseason back surgery. He had a goal and five assists in the first 10 games.

3 "We have a lot of young kids here... and Kimmo's a good role model," general manager Paul Holmgren said. "You couldn't ask for a better guy." Injury updates Wayne Simmonds, who sat out his third straight game with a concussion, seems on track to play Saturday afternoon against Carolina. "He still doesn't feel quite right, but obviously he's getting better," Holmgren said. Holmgren gave encouraging reports on Andrej Meszaros (shoulder) and Scott Hartnell (broken foot), saying both may be able to resume skating next week. Both might return to the lineup in two weeks. 2. Philadelphia Inquirer - Observations on Flyers' shootout loss Sam Carchidi 1. Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov has been superb this season, but he has still struggled mightily on breakaways. Hence, the two goals in two shootout tries against him Thursday were not surprising. 2. The Flyers top line of Claude Giroux (three shots), Danny Briere (four) and Tye McGinn (three) put lots of pressure on Jose Theodore, but the goalie had all the answers and deserved the No. 1 star. 3. If the Flyers would have played the third period like they did the OT, they would have gotten two points. The Flyers sat back and were passive in the third period. Again. They have been outscored 12-5 in the third period this season. They managed just five shots in the third. In the Sean Couturier-dominated OT, they spent most of the five minutes in Florida s end and had all five shots during the extra session. Theodore was the difference. 4. After his two-goal game against Tampa Bay Tuesday, it was natural to expected Tom Sestito to get more playing time. Didn t happen. The big winger played just 4:18, but he managed three hits. 5. Defenseman Luke Schenn seems to be getting more consistent. He led the teams in hits (four) and blocked shots (three) while playing 23: The Flyers have scored two goals or fewer in nine of their 11 games. Is a trade for a high-scoring winger in the works? If it happens, it won t be until after the Flyers see what they have with Wayne Simmonds and Scott Hartnell in the lineup for a while, I m told.

4 Simmonds (concussion) may return Saturday against Carolina, while Hartnell (broken foot) and defenseman Andrej Meszaros could be back in two weeks. 7. The Flyers power play had been hot lately, but it was miserable in its two third-period advantages, collecting one shot, total. The power-play failure cost them a win. 8. Florida looked like a different team with top-line forwards Stephen Weiss (game-tying PP goal) and former Flyer Kris Versteeg in the lineup. Both were injured and missed the Panthers 7-1 loss to the visiting Flyers on Jan The Flyers and shootouts go together like Gary Bettman and Don Fehr. The Flyers are now in lifetime shootouts. 10. The coaches must have told Jake Voracek to stop bypassing shots. The winger had four shots and scored his second goal of the season. He had a total of seven shots in his previous six games. 11. The Flyers' finally had an edge in faceoffs as they won 54 percent of the draws. 12. Mike Knuble, still going strong at 40, had his best game of the young season. Breakaways. Kimmo Timonen on signing a one-year, $6 million extension: Family is first to me, and my family loves it here, so the decision was easy. Timonen said he was 99 percent sure that next season will be his last one..matt Read scored his sixth goal in six career games vs. Florida..Briere on the Flyers first period: Instead of being on the offensive, we were on our heels..the Flyers will have an optional 12:15 p.m. practice Friday in Voorhees. 3. Philadelphia Inquirer - Flyers fall to Panthers in shootout Sam Carchidi Twelve nights after they routed the Panthers in Florida, the Flyers had to huff and puff to try to get a victory in a rematch Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Didn't happen. Florida jolted the Flyers in a shootout, 3-2, and ended the home team's two-game winning streak. In the shootout, Jonathan Huberdeau and Peter Mueller easily beat goalie Ilya Bryzgalov. Down at the other end, Florida goalie Jose Theodore stopped Matt Read and Claude Giroux, making the Flyers all-time in shootouts.

5 "It's frustrating to lose a point," winger Mike Knuble said. "If it's an 80-game season, you don't sweat it as much, but when you're trying to climb the ladder, you need everything you can get." Led by Sean Couturier, the Flyers (4-6-1) dominated the overtime, getting all five shots in the extra five minutes. But Theodore had all the answers, forcing the shootout. Florida tied it at 2 on Stephen Weiss' power-play goal with 11 minutes, 25 seconds left in regulation. The Flyers had killed 17 of 18 penalties in the last three games before Weiss scored from deep inside the right circle. The Flyers have been outscored, 12-5, in the third period this season. The Flyers had two power plays after Weiss' goal, but they managed a total of one shot during those four minutes. "That was our chance to win the game," defenseman Kimmo Timonen said. Read gave the Flyers a 2-1 lead early in the second period. In two games against the Panthers this season, Read has four goals, including his first career hat trick in a 7-1 win Jan. 26. "Give credit to my linemates," Read said. Last night, no one did more work on Read's goal than Knuble, the 40-year-old who refuses to show his age. With the score tied at 1, Knuble tried to score on a wraparound. He took several whacks at the puck - Theodore argued that he had it frozen and that play should have been whistled dead - before it squirted out to Read, who lifted it high into the net with 17:18 left in the second period. "That goal," Read said, "was all Knuble. It was just sitting there, and I put it in." Florida had taken a 1-0 first-period lead as Jack Skille fired a shot from the high slot that went past Timonen, caromed off Bryzgalov, and trickled into the net. Less than a minute later, Jakub Voracek hesitated before his shot from the right circle appeared to deflect off the stick of defenseman Brian Campbell and past Theodore on the short side. Screening forward Tye McGinn blocked Theodore's view, and the game was tied with 8:16 left in the first period. It was the Flyers' fourth power-play goal in their last six chances over three games. Overall, the Flyers weren't happy with their play in the opening 20 minutes. "We didn't put a lot of pucks on the net, and we were second on every puck in the first period," Voracek said.

6 "I don't know what it is or how to fix it, but we've been coming out flat every game," Read said. 4. Philadelphia Daily News - Panthers deny Flyers in shootout Frank Seravalli IT HAD all the makings of a classic, call-it-from-a-mile-away trap game. The Flyers were coming off their most impressive - and most important - win of the young season, topping a tough Tampa Bay team Tuesday in a nationally televised game in both the United States and Canada. It was an emotion-sapping win. The next opponent was a less-than-scintillating draw in Florida, the same team the Flyers thumped by six goals less than 2 weeks ago. It was the Panthers' worst beating in almost 6 calendar years. This time, the only problem was that Florida brought with them three key pieces - Kris Versteeg, Stephen Weiss and Erik Gudbranson - who weren't in the lineup on Jan. 26. And the Flyers didn't bring the same jump. They started flatter than South Philly the day after the Mummers Parade. "The start was bad," the Flyers' Kimmo Timonen said. "We can't come out and play like that in the first period. Every game matters. And if I can say why we lost one point today, that's probably because of the first period." Despite two power plays in the final 8 minutes of regulation, and a bevy of scoring threats in the extra session, most of the Flyers' players still pointed to their first period as the reason they lost the extra point in Thursday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Panthers. Looking for their first three-game winning streak of the season, the Flyers were just beginning to climb the Eastern Conference ladder. Through Thursday's action, the Flyers are one point back of a tie for eighth place - but they are tied with four other teams, including the Panthers. "You can't take a victory in the past to heart," said Matt Read, who has scored all four of his goals this season against Florida. "They were a different team tonight. They got their star players back for the game and we took it just like any other game." It was the Flyers' first game past regulation this season. Jonathan Huberdeau and Peter Mueller bested Ilya Bryzgalov on two straight shots to win the shootout; Read and Claude Giroux were held scoreless by Jose Theodore.

7 The Flyers are all-time in shootouts. "It's the same story, it seems," Danny Briere said. "I felt we probably shouldn't have gotten there, and found a way to win it before. I think it's the first period I would like to have back. We were a little slow out of the gate. Maybe if we come out a little better, we jump ahead 1-0 instead of playing from behind." The Flyers were actually able to overcome their uninspired start, crawling out of the first frame with a 1-1 score thanks to Jake Voracek's power-play goal. Special teams reared their ugly heads in the third period, causing the Flyers to not only blow their 2-1 lead but also miss out on a go-ahead goal. Weiss knotted the game on the power play. The Flyers' second power-play unit failed to follow up on the momentum built by the first. "That's how you improve your spot in the standings, capitalizing right there, being timely," Mike Knuble said. "It was a real timely situation for us to score and pull out a win with 5 or 6 minutes left. It's frustrating to not be able to manufacture more." The Flyers' power play is 3-for-34 in their seven losses, including Thursday's power-play goal by Voracek, and 6-for-16 in their four wins. The difference is night and day. So, too, was their effort in the first period - compared to both Jan. 26 and Tuesday's win over Tampa. "It's frustrating to lose a point tonight," Knuble said. "If it's an 80-game season, you don't sweat it so much. But we're trying to climb the ladder and you need everything you can get. Slap shots Claude Giroux started the game 7-for-7 on faceoffs before finishing at 60 percent. He has won more than he has lost in eight of 11 games this season... Florida forward Alex Kovalev was a healthy scratch... Matt Read has six goals in six career games against Florida, and four in his last two thanks to his hat trick on Jan Philadelphia Daily News - Timonen agrees to contract extension with Flyers Frank Seravalli BARRED FROM speaking to his players during the lockout, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren had a twinge of nerves every time he read an update about Kimmo Timonen in the newspaper. Not only was Timonen struggling for motivation to stay in shape during the 113-day ordeal, but he was also becoming accustomed to being an everyday dad.

8 "I was reading his quotes throughout the lockout," Holmgren said. "When he was liking this, being able to watch his kids play, I was a little nervous about that." For Holmgren and the Flyers, the question of whether Timonen would return next year for a seventh season didn't rest in their hands. It was up to Timonen. So, when Timonen and Holmgren met Monday for a long conversation, Holmgren jumped at the opportunity to re-sign his blue line's steadying influence. The two sides officially agreed to a 1-year, $6 million extension that will keep him a Flyer through the season. "Kimmo is still a very good player for us, a key guy to get signed," Holmgren said. "We have a lot of young kids here that are watching the older players and how they respond to winning, losing, whether the coach yells at the team, what the media says. He's a good role model." The $6 million price seems expensive, given the fact that the salary cap is dropping from $70.2 million to $64.3 million next season. He earns only a prorated $3 million this season, the final year of a 6-year, $38 million deal. Some believe Timonen received fair market value - what he would have on the open market this summer. And with an already-thin defense corps, the Flyers couldn't take any chances on not having him back. With Timonen, the Flyers have $62 million committed to 19 players already - including Chris Pronger, whom they can bury on the long-term injury list to receive cap relief. He also will retain a no-movement clause in the new deal, meaning Timonen would need to sign off on any trade or assignment to the minors. Timonen turns 38 next month. He barely finished last season on one leg, before opting for offseason back surgery. He has dealt with an injury nearly every season, from a blood clot in his leg to wonky knees and everything in between. But Holmgren didn't have any reservations about Timonen's health. "You run that risk with young guys, too," Holmgren said. "He's a strong little guy. He has been through a lot, but he also plays through a lot. That's part of being a good pro, you just tie your skates up and get out there and play even though you might be dealing with something nagging. "Kimmo does a good maintenance program on the injuries that he has had; I don't anticipate any issues there. He's a good soldier and a good Flyer." Timonen has molded young players, from Braydon Coburn and Matt Carle to Luke Schenn, into bonafide NHL defensemen. "I think when you play with Kimmo, he really settles the game down," coach Peter Laviolette said. "He makes a good pass, he thinks the game through. When you get to

9 play with a guy like Kimmo, guys that make the right plays, it's almost like you're a step ahead of the game." Simmonds update Wayne Simmonds missed his third straight game Thursday with a concussion. Though the Flyers did not hold a pregame skate, Simmonds skated with the scratches and coaching staff Thursday morning and did not feel any ill-effects. He remains a possibility to play Saturday against Carolina and already has been cleared for contact. "It's just a question of when he feels he's ready to go," Holmgren said. "He still doesn't feel quite right, is the way he said it to me today." Hartnell, Mez progress Scott Hartnell had the large cast removed from his surgically repaired left foot this week and could return to skating as early as next week. Hartnell, the Flyers' leading goal-scorer from last year, fractured his big toe on Jan. 22. Even better news, defenseman Andrej Meszaros could return to skating sooner than that. Meszaros has been out since Jan. 24 with a shoulder joint injury. Both players were given a 4-week timetable for their returns. "They're both on track for that 4-week period," Holmgren said. "We're still a couple weeks away from them." 6. CSNPhilly.com - Flyers give up lead in shootout loss to Panthers Tim Panaccio A listless start. And two wasted power-play chances in the third period in which the best the Flyers could muster was one puny shot. Twice now, the Flyers have had a chance to piece together a three-game winning streak. Twice they ve failed. All the good vibes from Tuesday s thrilling victory over Tampa Bay faded into the cold air Thursday night at Wells Fargo Center against a far lesser opponent, as the Florida Panthers won 3-2 in a shootout.

10 We need to find a way to show up, especially at home in the first period. It s huge, Flyer captain Claude Giroux said. We need those points right now and we re a desperate team at the start of the season, so we need those points. They need to stockpile some points before heading to Canada for back-to-back games next week against Toronto and Winnipeg. So picking up at least one was important. Yet, you don t want to be looking back in April and seeing how you threw points away against Buffalo, Washington and Florida when they were there for the taking. Panther rookie Jonathan Huberdeau, age 19, won it during the shootout, the only part of Ilya Bryzgalov s game that remains poor from a year ago. Sometimes guys, you gotta give them credit, Bryzgalov said of Huberdeau s backhand/forehand move. They are skilled and working on some moves. Most of the Flyers placed the blame on a tepid opening period. I think that has been the story all year, Matt Read said. I don t know what it is or how to fix it, but we have been coming out flat every game. Against Tampa Bay it was the first time we came out and we took control after the opening faceoff and we have to learn from that and take it to teams right away. Danny Briere said the leadership group talked specifically about building off the Tampa win and not allowing an early letdown against the Panthers, especially in the first period. We were a little slow out of the game and gave them the momentum they needed, Briere said. Instead of being on the offense, we were on our heels. Maybe if we come out better we jump to a 1-0 lead instead of playing from behind. The first period I d like to have back. How does it happen after such a competitive game two days earlier? You play such a high-tempo game with a lot of emotion, it s tough to come back right away with the same kind of effort, Briere said. You see it all the time, everywhere. We tried to warn about it -- everybody was talking about it today. Tough to find that jump in emotion. The Flyers had some untimely penalties in this one. Like a tripping call on Bruno Gervais near the mid-point of the third period, leading 2-1.

11 Steven Weiss used what appeared to be a partial screen to go top shelf and tie it. The Flyers had killed off 17 of 18 power plays until that point. Even then, the Flyers had two power plays in the final nine minutes, yet failed to mount a really serious challenge on Jose Theodore. That, too, was pivotal. We just couldn t get the pucks to settle down, Read said. Both units out there too much of the puck going along the wall and we couldn t get it set up. When we did get it set up we weren t just making the simple plays and getting pucks to the net. I think at a time like that when it s a tie game, late in the game, we ve got to get pucks to the net and look for rebounds, a dirty goal. It just didn t happen for us tonight and we have to keep working on that and learn how to close out games. Mike Knuble felt the same way. The guys on the second unit, myself included, we couldn t quite get a handle on it, but when things are going your way that s how you improve your spot in the standings, capitalizing right there, being timely, like a timely goal, he said. Real timely situation for us to score and pull out a win with five or six minutes left. It s frustrating to not be able to manufacture more. We ve manufactured a lot in the overtime and had a great overtime and probably deserved a little bit better in that. The Panthers had more bite this time as Weiss and Kris Versteeg were back in their lineup. Both were injured during the 7-1 loss to the Flyers on Jan. 26. Peter Laviolette talked about a carryover of an excellent all-around game, yet that didn t happen. No energy, no jam, no nothing at the start. So which was worse? The start or two, wasted third-period power plays? Well, I don t think you want either one of them, Laviolette said. You know you want your power play to be effective and there were some good looks, not the ones in the third period. And certainly I don t think it had the same tempo as the second period, parts of the third period and the overtime. The first period in general just seemed quiet. Both sides. Jack Skille made it 1-0 at 10:52 on a shot that bounced under Bryzgalov -- a soft goal. The only redeeming part of the period came at 11:44 when Jakub Voracek tied it with a power-play goal.

12 He faked ever so short from the right circle, then unloaded into the net off an assist from Kimmo Timonen, who agreed to a one-year contract extension for $6 million on Thursday (see story). Other than that, nothing that period. The overall intensity on both sides picked up in the second period as did Bryzgalov s play. He faced eight shots and most of them were quality in nature. It also helped that the Flyers took the lead at 2:42 on Read s fourth goal of the season against Florida. Credit Knuble for doing some tough digging at the net, standing his ground at the right post, trying to tuck it under Theodore. The puck squirted out near the circle where Read popped it into the net, making it 2-1. Bryzgalov had several good saves in the second half of that period, including one on Shawn Mattias and two on Brian Campbell. He also had a nifty shorthanded save on Marcel Goc, as well. We had opportunities to get the point and we did not find success, Bryzgalov said. Bottom line. Loose pucks The Flyers were 4-7 in shootouts last season. Including this loss, they are in 65 shootouts all-time. 7. CSNPhilly.com - Timonen re-signs with Flyers; injury updates Tim Panaccio The Flyers officially welcomed back Kimmo Timonen for next season with a one-year, $6 million contract extension on Thursday night. Timonen, who turns 38 in March, will remain the highest-paid Flyers defenseman. Given the organization s injury situation, depleted depth, and lack of puck movers with offensive pop, his signing is no small thing. He s been one of those dependable players, coach Peter Laviolette said. He brings a lot of experience to our team. With a young team you lean on guys like that. He plays through a lot of pain. He is reliable and dependable night in and night out. He is a good example for our guys.

13 The deal came together on Monday even though talks began over the summer. General manager Paul Holmgren said Timonen had requested some time and some games to see how he came off back surgery before committing. He wanted to make sure how he felt, Holmgren said. This was an on-going thing. Bothered by back pain many times over the past five seasons, Timonen has shown the ability to repeatedly plow through injury right into the playoffs while averaging 41 points as a Flyer. He led the club s blue line with 43 points last season. He s played good for us and we ve gone through a systems change with how we play in our own end, Holmgren said. All are adjusting to that a little bit. Kimmo plays in all situations for us. He plays a lot of minutes [almost 23 a game]. He s a key guy for us. Given the Flyers waited too long last summer and lost Matt Carle to free agency, it was apparent they weren t going to take a chance in allowing Timonen to explore the open market this July. Yes, $6 million is a lot to pay a 38-year-old next season, but the fact remains, even when Andrej Meszaros returns from his current shoulder injury, Timonen is still the Flyers No. 1 defenseman. It s no coincidence Laviolette has him paired with the young Luke Schenn. While Schenn is a big, physical guy, who hits and blocks shots, he is neither overly mobile nor adroit with the puck. Timonen protects him to some extent while also acting as a mentor. They ve been a nice pair, Laviolette said. When you play with Kimmo, he really settles the game down. He makes a good pass. He thinks the game through. When you play with a guy like that it really benefits. That is not to take anything away from Luke, because I think he has done a nice job since he got here. When you get to play with a guy like Kimmo or Chris Pronger, guys that make the right plays on the ice, it s almost like you are a step ahead of the game. Their decision-making or thought process is that they give you plays or help you with plays or positioning just by their reactions on the ice. Even with talking on the bench with someone in practice you can learn a lot. It s been a good pair for us so far. Timonen underwent offseason surgery to remove herniated disk fragments from his back. During the lockout, he chose to rehab in the U.S. rather than play overseas. He rested his legs and appears in top form. Kimmo looks good out there right now, Laviolette said. He s not one of the guys who went over there and played.

14 You go through training camp and he s looked like he hasn t missed a beat. He s been a strong player for us. Holmgren echoed that he likes how Timonen interacts with the younger players on this club. I couldn t ask for a better guy, he said. His current 6-year, $37.8 million contract had a $6.33 million cap hit. That deal was signed on June 18, 2007, after a trade from Nashville that also brought Scott Hartnell to the Flyers. He s a good solider and has been a good Flyer, Holmgren said. Simmonds update Wayne Simmonds, recovering from a concussion, did not play against Florida on Thursday night. Holmgren said Simmonds didn t feel quite right. He also said it was undetermined whether Simmonds would get into a contact practice before returning to the lineup. The Flyers play Carolina on Saturday. He did good today, his tests are OK, it s a question as to when he feels he is ready go, Holmgren said, adding that Saturday was a possibility. Hartnell, Meszaros update Hartnell had the cast removed from his left foot today, Holmgren said. He might start skating next week. Hartnell has a broken bone in that foot. Holmgren said Meszaros might also begin skating this weekend but both appear on track for a four-week recovery. 8. CSNPhilly.com - Claude Giroux: Flyers are a 'desperate team' John Gonzalez It was right there for them. Then it slipped away. The Flyers had a one-goal lead in the third period of Thursday s game against the Panthers at Wells Fargo Center. Things looked good. Six games earlier, in Florida, the Flyers throttled the Panthers and won by six goals. It appeared as though the orange and black would get a second victory over Florida in as many games this season. It seemed that way, but it didn t go down that way.

15 The Flyers gave up a power-play goal in the third period that tied the contest. They had chances to win in overtime that didn t work out. Then they watched the Panthers first two skaters score during the shootout. And that was that. Florida won, 3-2 (see story). The Flyers picked up a point, but they didn t seem so happy about it. They are now. Almost a quarter of the lockout-shortened season is already gone -- just like that, while you were blinking or getting up to get a beverage from the fridge. One point would be fine on most nights in most seasons, but this year is different. After the game, Claude Giroux did not look happy. He stood in the locker room with his arms folded and gave his appraisal of the situation. It was not a cheery take on the team's affairs. We need those points, Giroux said. We need that shootout win. We ve got to get it done. That wasn t all. He went further. We re a desperate team right now, Giroux added. The Flyers played with energy and urgency in the overtime, but Giroux and several other players didn t pat themselves on the back of their sweaters for it. Quite the opposite, actually. To hear them tell it, anything they did right on Thursday was overshadowed by what went wrong: their slow start in the first period and their missed opportunities on two power plays in the third period. We should be a desperate team, Kimmo Timonen said when asked if he agreed with Giroux s assessment of the season. But the way we came out in the first period, that s not a desperate team. That has to be a good teaching point for us moving forward. Every game matters. Every period matters. We re not the team that s We can t afford to lose the first period like that. Based on that, I think we lost a point [on Thursday]. Peter Laviolette didn t disagree. He said the first period just seemed quiet. He wasn't so thrilled with the rest of the game, either. We had opportunities in the middle period and on the power plays, chances to win a game and we didn t do it, Laviolette said. It is how things have gone for them this year. There have been chances to win but not enough actual victories. After being one of the best offensive teams in the league a year ago, the Flyers have scored more than two goals just twice in 11 games. It is not what they or anyone else expected. In any other season, the slow start would be unfortunate -- something on the order of a mild irritation. Again, this is not any other season. The slow start is clearly chafing them. You can hear the frustration in so many answers to so many different questions.

16 I don t know what it is or how to fix it, said Matt Read, who scored his fourth goal of the season. We ve been coming out flat every night. Read shook his head a little as he talked. His frustration was evident. He couldn t hide it. None of them can. When it s a tie game late in the game, you ve got to get pucks to the net and look for rebounds, a dirty goal, Read continued. It just didn t happen. We need to keep working on that. We need to learn how to close out games. The Flyers picked up a point on Thursday. They didn t sound too excited about it. That s how it goes when the season is shorter and accelerated. The desperation sets in quicker. 9. CSNPhilly.com - Timonen feels next season will be his last Tim Panaccio One more year. That s all Kimmo Timonen plans in the NHL. His one-year, $6 million extension will represent his 15th season in (see story). That's it. Ninety-nine percent sure that's my last, he said. At what point did he figure he had another season left in him? I talked with [general manager] Paul [Holmgren] before the season started and he wanted to know where I'm at with playing one more year, Timonen said. I said, well coming off the lockout, coming out from back surgery, give me about 10 games. I want to see how I feel. I want to still feel like I can play [at a] top level, and a couple days ago I talked to [Holmgren], I said I feel pretty good and it was pretty easy after." 10. Delaware County Times - Flyers Scoop: Deal keeps Kimmo Timonen around for another year Rob Parent PHILADELPHIA The Flyers made official a contract extension for Kimmo Timonen Thursday, a 1-year, $6 million deal that should keep Timonen here through next season. That time frame seems about right for him.

17 While the lockout likely benefited Timonen in returning from offseason back surgery, one more year beyond this season not only gives him time to think about his future, but also something he prizes a year from now the 2014 Olympic Games. During training camp, Timonen said he d like to extend his contract a year or two for two primary reasons. No. 1, of course, is the Stanley Cup championship that has eluded him in a 15-year career. That s the only reason I m still here, Timonen, who turns 38 next month, said during the six-day camp last month. But he also expressed interest in participating in what would be his fifth Olympic Games. He s hoping he can accomplish that before heading back home to Finland sooner or later. Timonen has talked about wanting to return to his homeland possibly before his 13-yearold son starts high school. In a year or two, we have to make a decision, whether we re going to stay here or move back, Timonen said during camp. Because I don t think we can put him in a position of starting high school here and then moving back. If Timonen sticks around for a while, he might be looking to extend his career further in Philadelphia, whether it s in a uniform or in some other role with the team. For now, Timonen is almost like a coach on the ice. When you play with Kimmo, he really settles the game down, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said. He thinks the game through, and when you play with a guy like that, it really benefits you. Timonen s new partner this year, Luke Schenn, has extolled the virtues of playing with the veteran. He plays against other teams top lines all the time, Schenn said. He s so calm with the puck, never gets himself in trouble. He s not the flashiest, but he s steady and consistent. Timonen came over from Nashville as a free agent along with fellow free agent Scott Hartnell in the summer of Holmgren had traded for both players negotiating rights. Timonen was a leader from his first days in the Flyers locker room. Through 407 games with the Flyers, Timonen has scored 28 goals and garnered an unreal 183 assists. This from a former 10th round draft pick (No. 250 overall) of the Los Angeles Kings in Twenty years later...

18 We have a lot of young kids here that watch the older players and how they respond, Holmgren said. Whether winning or losing, or whether a coach yells at the team, all different things. Kimmo is a great role model for every player. You couldn t ask for a better guy. NOTES: Holmgren said Wayne Simmonds went through a fairly easy skate with the coaches Thursday, but still didn t participate in contact work. His (concussion) tests were OK; it s just a question of when he feels he s ready to go, Holmgren said. I would say he has a chance to play Saturday. Holmgren added Simmonds would probably be cleared for a full contact practice Friday: He still doesn t feel quite right, Holmgren said. That s what he said to me today. But obviously he s feeling better.... Hartnell (fractured foot) had his cast removed and will step up the intensity of his rehab next week. Andrej Meszaros (shoulder) will likely be skating sooner than that. An optimistic time frame for both returning to game action would be two weeks. 11. Delaware County Times - Flyers miss their shot in shootout loss to Panthers Rob Parent PHILADELPHIA There was one major difference in the Florida Panthers Thursday night from when they last played the Flyers. Unlike that first meeting between the teams on Everglades ice two weeks ago, the Panthers were somewhat interested in playing this game. At least that s the way it appeared, as the Panthers, a playoff team a season ago that has risen from its short-season slumber to gain points in four straight games, matched the Flyers grinding stride for grinding stride at Wells Fargo Center. Unfortunately for the Flyers, there isn t much of a difference in the way they approach shootouts. They don t score enough in them, and as sharp as goalie Ilya Bryzgalov has been this season, he still lags behind most of his counterparts in these silly shootout things. Bryzgalov was beaten twice easily in a short shootout on this night as the Panthers stole away a 3-2 win. The Flyers (4-6-1) are in games settled by shootouts since they were introduced starting in This one was particularly ugly. Bryzgalov wasn t even close to 19-year-old Jonathan Huberdeau s opening offering in the shootout, and that s all it would take. For the Flyers, Matt Read and Claude Giroux couldn t beat Jose Theodore, who made 30 saves and two more in the shootout in a game that the Flyers dominated for long stretches late in regulation and overtime.

19 Sometimes you ve got to give the guys credit, Bryzgalov said. They re skilled. They work on some moves. Especially when they actually show up for work. The memory of a 7-1 home loss to the Flyers Jan. 26 still painfully fresh, the Panthers (4-5-1) were definitely different on this night. They have their top two forwards, Stephen Weiss and Kris Versteeg, back from injuries, and they had a little run to build on for this game. Nonetheless, the Flyers appeared well on their way to another win over the Panthers in the second period when Mike Knuble who played his first game of the season the last time these teams met crashed into Theodore s crease, wreaking havoc and setting up Read for what could have been a winning goal. While Knuble s work down low bodes well for the immediate future of a Flyers team in need of scoring help, it didn t prevent the shootout because Weiss was in the lineup this time. Weiss tied the game in the third period, and Theodore stoned the Flyers in overtime. The Flyers outshot the Panthers 5-zip in the five-minute extra session and must have launched a dozen other shots that were either blocked or slipped just wide of the Florida goal in that span. Too little, too late. Sharper on the power play, solid on the penalty kill and with a goalie in Bryzgalov who still doesn t appear in need of rest, the Flyers have recovered from their lousy start to the season. What they haven t done is change enough trends. They re still starting games too slowly. And they still lag behind most clubs when it comes to shootout savvy. We had opportunities to win the game but we don t, Bryzgalov said. But we have to continue on. It was the Panthers who forged a lead 10:52 into the game when appropriately named Jack Skille burst through center ice, took a pass from Dmitry Kulikov and fired a shot that hit Bryzgalov in the shoulder pad and deflected into the net. Less than a minute later, the Flyers employed their invigorated power play to tie the game. Jakub Voracek carried the puck deep into the left circle and let go a shot that appeared to tick off Florida s Brian Campbell on its way through a short side hole past Theodore at the 11:44 mark for 1-1.

20 For the Flyers, however, it wasn t good enough. We were a little slow out of the gate, Danny Briere said. Instead of being on the offense, we were on our heels. Maybe if we came out a little better, we could ve jumped to a 1-nothing lead instead of playing from behind. Early in the second, Knuble pounded away at the puck while two Panthers stood by dumbly. Knuble didn t wait for a stoppage whistle, which should have been blown because Theodore had the puck frozen. But Knuble moved Theodore s glove away with his stick, allowing Read to grab the puck and sky it over the pack and in for a 2-1 lead. But a third-period penalty call on Bruno Gervais changed all that. He was in the box mere seconds before Weiss wristed a shot through a screen that beat Bryzgalov at 8:35 and knotted the game at deuce. The Panthers would then slip into survival mode during two Flyers power plays and killed them off. It was a bad sign. We had a couple of chances at the end of the game; we had a couple of chances in the overtime to win it, Voracek said. But we didn t and they buried their (shootout) shots. That was it. 12. Bucks County Courier Times - Special teams cost Flyers in shootout loss Wayne Fish PHILADELPHIA -- Protecting a third-period lead is usually a Flyers forte. But not Thursday night, thanks to one failed penalty kill and two missed opportunities on the power play. The Flyers came into the game against Florida when leading after two periods. They led the Panthers by a goal after 40 minutes but couldn t hold the edge and lost in a shootout 3-2 at the Wells Fargo Center. In the shootout, the Panthers scored twice, while goalie Jose Theodore stopped Matt Read and Claude Giroux. No surprise there. The Flyers always have trouble with shootouts. They were 4-7 last year and are alltime. A penalty to Bruno Gervais at the 8:25 mark of the third period led to Stephen Weiss tying goal just 10 seconds later to make it 2-2. On the flip side, the Flyers had four minutes of power-play time in a span of five minutes and could generate only one shot. Slow start, uninspired finish. That was enough to stop the Flyers modest winning streak at two.

21 It s frustrating to lose a point, Mike Knuble said. If it s an 80-game season, you don t sweat it so much. We re trying to climb the ladder here, so you need everything you can get. We were back on our heels a little in the third. Those power plays, that was a meaningful time. It was frustrating not being able to manufacture more. Added Kimmo Timonen: We almost had back-to-back (power plays) in the third period. That was the chance to win the game. Penalties will happen but unless we can take the stupid ones (out) the better we are. There were some bright spots. Such as, if Matt Read played the Florida Panthers every game, he would probably be on track for the Hall of Fame. The second-year player has played six career games against the Panthers and has six goals to show for it. Read was at it again in this game, connecting for a goal at 2:44 of the second period to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead. Read, who registered his first career hat trick in a 7-1 win at Florida on Jan. 26, was the beneficiary of some nice grinding work by Knuble in front of Theodore for his goal. While Knuble fell to the ice, he managed to break the puck loose, Read took control at the lower edge of the right circle and fired it into the net. The Panthers broke on top in the first period when Jack Skille scored at 10:52. But the Flyers evened it at 11:44, with Jake Voracek scoring on a power play. No doubt this was a better lineup than the one in Florida 12 days ago, with Kris Versteeg and Weiss back in action. They added some of their personnel back, coach Peter Laviolette said. They ve been playing well of late. They re really a good-skating, skilled team with the puck as they come through the neutral zone. We had opportunities in the middle period and the power plays (in the third). We had chances to win the game and we didn t do it. In the shootout, Jonathan Huberdeau and Peter Mueller scored for the Panthers. Asked if he s frustrated by his lack of success in the shootout, Bryzgalov replied, I don t care. Give them some credit. They re skilled players and they have some moves. We had opportunities to get the point but we didn t succeed. That s the bottom line. Just the one penalty to Gervais might have been the difference in this game.

22 We know we have to stay out of the box, Claude Giroux. Any power play goals are going to kill us. The penalty kill is getting better and we re doing a good job. But, at the end of the day, we just have to stay out of the box. Danny Briere thought the turning point was way back in the first period when the Flyers fell behind early. In the first period we were a little slow out of the gate, Briere said. Instead of being on the offense, we were on our heels. Maybe if we come out a little better maybe we jump to a one-nothing lead instead of playing from behind. I think that it s the first period I would like to have back. Hartnell improving Scott Hartnell had the cast on his broken right foot removed Thursday. He hopes to skate next week and possibly play in about two weeks. Hartnell suffered the fracture in a Jan. 22 game at New Jersey when he was hit with a shot by Timonen. Simmonds still on hold General manager Paul Holmgren said Wayne Simmonds (concussion) might be able to practice Friday and, if so, could be possible for Saturday s game against Carolina. 13. Bucks County Courier Times - Timonen signed to 1-year contract extension Wayne Fish PHILADELPHIA When the Flyers announced a one-year contract extension for top defenseman Kimmo Timonen on Thursday, you could almost hear the sighs of relief coming from the front office. The extension, reportedly in the $6 million range, will keep Timonen on the roster through the end of the season. We are pleased to announce that we have signed Kimmo Timonen to a one-year contract extension, general manager Paul Holmgren said. Kimmo s presence on the ice for us and in our locker room is invaluable. We look forward to him continuing his all-around play for us. Players and coaches say that the 37-year-old Timonen hasn t lost a step, even though he s coming off back surgery in Timonen s partner this season, Luke Schenn, says that Timonen has been very helpful in making the adjustment from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Flyers.

23 It s a huge honor and a privilege, obviously, Schenn said before Thursday night s game against Florida. He s been around for a long time, he s an all-star. The big thing is, he s such a calm presence out there. He never gets too rattled, always on a pretty even keel. Definitely a good opportunity to play with him. Timonen plays in all situations, serves as assistant to captain Claude Giroux and logs big minutes. He plays against other teams top lines all the time, Schenn said. He s so calm with the puck, never gets himself in trouble. He s not the flashiest but he s steady and consistent. Timonen declined to comment about the contract offer, apparently until it s official. Coach Peter Laviolette said Timonen is valued for his dependable play. He s there all the time. He brings experience to our team, Laviolette said. I think with a young team certainly you lean on a guy like that. He plays through a lot of pain, he s reliable, dependable, night in, night out. He s a good example for the young guys. Like Schenn, Laviolette likes the way Timonen maintains his composure in almost all situations. When you play with Kimmo, he really settles the game down, Laviolette said. He makes a good pass, he thinks the game through. When you play with a guy like Kimmo or Chris Pronger, guys that make the right play, it s almost like you re a step ahead of the game. Even on the bench at practice, when you re paired with him, you learn a lot. Timonen is currently finishing up a six-year contract he signed in 2007 when he came over in a trade from the Nashville Predators. He s a four-time Olympian for Finland and hopes to make it five at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. So far, no ill aftereffects of the back surgery. Kimmo looks good out there right now, Laviolette said. He didn t play (during the lockout). He looks like he hasn t missed a beat. He s been a strong player for us. 14. Camden Courier Post - Callahan: Keep Bryzgalov out of shootouts Kevin Callahan PHILADELPHIA Once again, Ilya Bryzgalov looked lost in the woods. Thursday night, the Flyers mercurial netminder didn t disappear until the shootout. Bryz whiffed like he didn t have a glove or a stick in allowing two shootout goals by Florida. But, the Flyers failed to support their goalie by missing both attempts. So, with