Bourdon proving to be perfect fit for Flyers

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WASHINGTONRookie defenseman Marc-Andre Bourdon looks like a perfect fit for the Flyers these days.

He got his first NHL goal on Tuesday during a 5-1 rout of the Capitals.

Yet if you talk to the Flyers scouting department, the unit will say flat out he has played better in the NHL than he ever did as a Phantom. Bourdon plays a positional-sound game paired with Matt Carle.

General manager Paul Holmgren noted that since the organization demoted Bourdon last year, sending him to the Eastern League for five games, he seems to have gotten the message.

With him, it was about fitness, Holmgren said. Hes a big, thick kid but something happened over the summer. It was like a light bulb went off. He started to train better and took it seriously, and it shows.

I had a concussion last year and finished the season in the East Coast and it made me realize you dont have several chances like that in your life, Bourdon said. I worked really hard this summer and changed my practice habits and it paid off.

When the Flyers were in Anaheim, the 6-foot, 206-pound Bourdon said the biggest difference between the NHL and AHL was that players at this level know where to be on the ice.

Some guys are unbelievable in the AHL and rack up so many points and never make it to the NHL, Bourdon said. Some guys can still do the job in the AHL, but when they get here theyre really good.

I just feel more comfortable here. Guys are in the right spot, everyone knows the system. When I take the puck into the corner, theres always an outlet for me and I play with Matt Carle, who is really smart. It makes it easier.

Road warriors
The Flyers improved to 11-3-1 on the road. Per Elias Sports Bureau, the Flyers have never had 11 wins in their first 15 road games until now.

The previous high was the 1979-80 season, when Pat Quinns Flyers were 9-1-5 through the first 15 road games. That was the season of their famed 35-game unbeaten streak.

Peter Laviolettes club is on pace for 30 road wins, which would shatter the franchise record of 24 road wins set in 2002-03. That year, the Flyers were 8-4-3 through their first 15 road games.

Hartnell down
Yeah, he fell at least once against the Caps, but he also scored his 200th career goal (15th of the season).

Hartnells six-game goal streak is the longest goal-scoring streak for a Flyer since Jeff Carter scored in six consecutive games from Feb. 8 to March 3, 2010, which surrounded the Olympic break.

He could tie his career-high for overall consecutive games with a point (seven) on Thursday in Montreal.

Hartnells streak ties Patric Hornqvist of Nashville as the longest goal-scoring streak in the NHL right now.
Loose pucks
The Flyers recalled enforcer Tommy Sestito. He was on the scratch sheet for this game. Sestito has two games remaining on his five-game, preseason suspension and will serve them here and in Montreal on Thursday.This is the first time the Flyers have beaten Washington in regulation since Feb. 24, 2009. The Caps were 7-0-3 against the Flyers in the 10 previous games.It was also just the fourth time in 24 games against the Flyers that Alex Ovechkin didnt get a point.Jody Shelleys assist on Bourdons goal was his first point since he scored a goal on Jan. 14, 2011 at Atlanta.

E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net.

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