FLYERS NEWS

The Flyers returned to action tonight, as they welcomed the Florida Panthers to the Wachovia center. The last time these 2 teams met, Florida delivered a stunning victory so the Flyers were looking for a measure of revenge in thid one. They got it and then some. They played probably their best defense of the season thus far, allowing just 18 shots on goal, and Ray Emery saved 17 of them. So Florida could really never get anything going in the Flyer's zone. The Flyer's meanwhile, couldn't stop creating scoring opportunities with 5 scores on 38 shots. Danny Briere scored early in the 1st period, Aaron Asham scored early in the 2nd period, Simon Gagne scored on the power play late in that period(his first goal of the season), Danny Briere scored on the power play again early in the 3rd period and finally late in the period James Van Riemsdyk capped off the scoring to finish off a 5-1 win with his 1st career goal. So the Flyers really looked like a different team tonight then the one that took the ice the last time these two teams met. The Flyers have now won 2 in a row and are back to looking like the team that started the season 3-0, rather than that team that lost to the Panthers. The win tonight really was a team effort with several top Orange and Black performers. Briere had a 2 goals and an assist, JVR had a goal and an assist, and Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, and Chris Pronger each had 2 assists. You just hope the Flyers can keep playing like this now for the rest of the season. The only black eye for the Flyers on the night was a vicious hit delivered by Richards on David Booth in the 2nd period that left Booth in the hospital with a concussion and Richards kicked out of the game and possibly facing a suspension. Replays clearly the show the hit was legal, as Richards never left his feet and led with his shoulder rather than his helmet. If Booth had not made the mistake of turning his head away from the play which left it vulnerable to Richard's hit. If Booth had only kept his head facing forward he would taken the hit on his shoulder rather than his head. Hopefully, Booth who actually scored the Panthers only goal on the night, will be okayand the penalties levied on Richards won't be too harsh.