Schenn salvaging season after shaky start

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Rookie Brayden Schenn is among the few Flyers right now who has any offensive edge to his game.

Six of his eight goals have come since the second half of the season began, all of them after his return to the lineup from a concussion.

His recent streak shows four goals in his last six games playing on a line with Danny Briere and Wayne Simmonds.

Hes playing with a lot more confidence and confidence goes a long way, Briere said. When youre feeling good out there and not thinking and allowing the game to come to you, its a lot easier. Hes probably feeling really light and hes getting chances every time to score.

The Flyers talk about getting their swagger back starting Thursday night against Buffalo. Well, maybe they can follow the lead of the 20-year-old Schenn.

This time of year, I think every team goes through slumps, Schenn said. Right now its our team its happening to. We really havent been through one like what we have now. These two, three days off here should get us recharged and ready for games this week. Theyre huge. The way to get that swagger back is to play for each other and not worry about anything else.

Schenn is trying to salvage a season gone awry from the very start. A shoulder injury in training camp, coupled with the clubs salary cap issues, left him off the roster at seasons start.

Then a fractured foot greeted his return in late October, followed by a concussion in early December.

The last injury was the one that took the worst toll on him, even though he missed two less games (nine) than he did with the foot injury.

Staying positive is the key even though I had had a few other injuries this year, Schenn said. The concussion took me a while to get going. Theyre not easy to come back from. Just staying positive and having an upbeat attitude brings you energy. Thats the way I went about it.

Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said recently that with Schenn, it was all about making him feel as though he was contributing to the team after a series of injuries that wiped out last summers total preparation.

You train all summer, you come to camp and you hope to come in and have an impact and then there are substantial injuries and substantial time, Laviolette said.

I do think it takes away from everything, your timing, your game conditioning and everything you need to play. I do feel like now he is getting it back and finding his way out there.

Pairing Schenn with the wiry Simmonds seems to have ignited the physical side of Schenn. Both go hard to the net and can be deceptively strong in one-on-one battles.

I still feel I have a long way to go to get better, Schenn said. Just trying to take positive steps to get better game by game. I see myself as a top two line player and I feel I can fill that role. Im not saying Im there right now. Still a ways to go. I feel I have a lot more to give here.

Being physical just gets me into the game. Thats a part of my game which I try to use to my advantage as much as I can. It helps not just me but my linemates getting on pucks when were physical.

Briere said he feels the line is starting to come around since Schenn joined it. The Flyers will need offensive depth for any sustained playoff run.

I really like the look of it right now, Briere said.

Carnival time
Sundays 35th Annual Flyers Wives Carnival at Wells Fargo Center will air live from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. with Flyers broadcasters Steve Coates, Jim Jackson and Bill Clement bringing viewers the action on CSN.

The Carnival will replay on Sunday at 8 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet and Monday, Feb. 20 at 10 p.m. on The Comcast Network. The Carnival will also be available on Comcast ON DEMAND beginning Monday, February 20.

Carnival tickets, as low as 15, are available now exclusively through ComcastTIX at 1-800-298-4200, online at ComcastTIX.com, in person at the Wells Fargo Center box office, or available at the door. For more information on the Carnival visit FlyersCarnival.com.

In addition to the Flyers broadcasters, Comcast SportsNets Flyers beat reporter Lisa Hillary, Flyers Postgame Live analyst Al Morganti, radio announcers Tim Saunders and Chris Therien, and Flyers anthem singer Lauren Hart will chip in with interviews from the floor.

Since its inception, the Flyers Wives have raised nearly 23 million through Flyers Charities and Global Spectrum Charities.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net

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