Wayne Simmonds never got the kind of offensive chances or power-play minutes he gets here as a Flyer when he toiled under Terry Murray with the LA Kings.
Hes getting opportunities here and with the second half of the season already underway, the Flyers' lanky winger has 15 goalstwo Thursday against Nashvilleand is one away from his career high.
He now has four points in two games this season against the Predators.
I guess I like playing against them, Simmonds said smiling after a 4-1 win. I think the change of scenery helped me out a little bit.
Ive just been trying to work hard around the net and pick up little things. Ive watched Hartsy Scott Hartnell a lot, and a lot of guys Ive played with in the past. I just try to learn.
I played my first three years of my career in LA. Obviously, I loved it. When I realized I was coming to Philadelphia, I talked to a lot of people. This is a first-class organization. They do a great job with their teams here. I was happy ... Im in a good spot right now.
His 10 shots against the Preds were a career high, beating the nine he got on March 14, 2009 against San Jose as a King.
NHL
Loose pucks
Simmonds now has three two-goal games in his career. ... The last Flyer to have 10 shots in a game was Jaromir Jagr on Dec. 2 at Anaheim. ... Matt Reads goal made this the 13th out of the teams last 15 games in which a rookie has scored a goal, including 10 of the last 11. He leads all NHL rookies with 16 goals. ... Claude Giroux was 11 for 18 (61 percent) on faceoffs. He has been 50 percent or higher in 10 of his last 11 games. ... Girouxs two-point game pulls him within two points of Evgeni Malkin for the league lead in scoring. The Penguins' center has 59 points. ... The Flyers now have a power-play goal in five consecutive games. They are 8 for 20 (40 percent) over that span.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net