Flyers notes: van Riemsdyk shines in loss

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Thursday, April 14, 2011
Posted: 11:52 p.m.
By Tim Panaccio and Sarah Baicker
CSNPhilly.com
At just 21-years-old, James van Riemsdyk is the youngest member of the Flyers rosterbut Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center, you wouldnt have guessed it.

In a tight-checking game that the Buffalo Sabres ultimately stole, 1-0, van Riemsdyk was one of the best players on the ice from start to finish.

He said a lot of it had to do with the playoff atmospherewhich has finally arrived.

I think you could feel it at the morning skate today that guys were just that much more focused, that much more ready to go, van Riemsdyk said with a slight smile. And well have to be ready to go off on the hop Saturday.

That van Riemsdyk, now in his sophomore year, has a year of playoffs under his belt certainly helps. Thursday, in 12 minutes, 29 seconds on ice, he sent three shots in on Sabres goalie Ryan Miller (second on the team behind Mike Richards), and had what was easily the Flyers best chance all night.

Being in the playoffs, the crowd was great, and it definitely got us fired up a little bit, van Riemsdyk said. Hopefully we can get one by him next time, we just need to keep at.
No Zherdev
He might have played well in the Flyers final five games, but Nikolay Zherdev didnt make the cut for Game 1.

Thats because Flyers coach Peter Laviolette decided he wanted more checkers in his lineup, and used two primary checking lines, moving Dan Carcillo to the fourth line with Blair Betts and Darroll Powe.

Mike Richards anchored the other checking unit with Andreas Nodl and Kris Versteeg.

When push came to shoveliaterallyLaviolette opted for a more physical approach, keeping Carcillo in and moving him down over the skill of Zherdev. How this plays out over the series will be interesting to watch.
The helmet
Sergei Bobrovskys helmet was designed by the master himself, Franny Drummond, whos done a number of Flyer helmets, including Brian Boucher and other NHL goalies out of his shop in Langhorne, Pa.

Drummond said that Bobrovsky asked for Rocky on his helmet.

I offered to do Drago for him, Drummond said, meaning the Russian boxer who lost to Rocky IV. He said, no, he lost.

Obviously, Bobrovsky only wants to be associated with winners, not loserswhether its boxing or hockey.Omen
You want an omen? Flyer fans are always looking for omens.

Well, heres one you wont like: In the previous eight all-time meetings between the Flyers and Sabres during the playoffs, the team that won Game 1 also won the series. Thats a trend the Flyers have to end.
Not offended
At the morning skate, 5-foot-5 Nathan Gerbe said he wasnt offended at how Dan Carcillo patted him on the head in the last meeting at Buffalo.

No not at all, Gerbe said. Ive heard it since Day One of my life, so its something Ive lived with, Ive rolled with. Other players in this league have, too, so I know its something you have to go through.

He said others have done it to him, as well.

I think maybe in the minors or something, Gerbe said. Im a small player. You cant be surprised.
Game winner
Heres Patrick Kaleta's take on his winning goal:

I just went to the net. It started off with a good play by Gerbs (Nathan Gerbe) down low being hard on the puck and then Goose (Paul Gaustad) with a great pass to Grag (Marc-Andre Gragnani) and Grags with a good shot and I just went to the net and finished my rebound.
The goalie
Miller was sensational with 35 saves.

"You want to come out and establish that we can skate with these guys and come out and play our system and win a game," he said. "We still think that they have a load of experience, and theyve showed that theyve been down and out before. So we certainly were not going to be comfortable."
Radio switch
In addition to Saturday's Game 2 being broadcast on 94.1 WYSP, Monday's broadcast of Game 3 will also move to WYSP. The Sixers-Heat series will be on WIP for Games 1 and 2.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net or Sarah Baicker at sbaicker@comcastsportsnet.com
Related: Flyers blanked in Game 1 defeat to SabresDespite loss, Bobrovsky proves he can hang tough

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