UNIONDALE, N.Y.Matt Read was always a versatile player in college.
Whatever needed to be done at Bemidji State, he was more than willing to do it on the ice.
Late in the game, I could be playing wing or center, it would depend, said the Flyers rookie who has a five-game goal streak going into tonights game against the Islanders.
Throughout my childhood, I played different roles. I played defense a couple years, played wing for a couple years and then center for a couple years, so Im glad its helped me out.
Then in college, all four years I was on power play and penalty kill. It becomes natural. The more time you are out there it seems the more you understand the game.
Heading into Wednesdays game, the 25-year-old center remains a strong Calder Trophy candidate with 14 points, third best among all rookies.
Hes played center, wing, special teams and has moved up and down the lineup on various lines.
Reads nine goals lead all NHL rookies.
NHL
There was an expectation about Matt from the organization that he would be a good player for us, in talking to Paul Holmgren and John Paddock and Chris Pryor, coach Peter Laviolette said.
Having watched him as much as they did, they wanted this guy. They signed him. He went to the minors and they were thoroughly impressed with the way he played at Adirondack.
From there, you get presented an opportunityHes come up here and made the most of that opportunity, to the point where he is relied upon as a multi-functional player.
Laviolette said he has never coached a more versatile rookie than Read.
When you have players like that on the bench, theyre a real positive for your team, Laviolette said. Different roles, different lines, defensively and offensively. Different positions. And hes a good person, too.
Now Read says hes conscious of having scored a goal in five straight games (six overall).
But I dont think about it, he said. Every game is an important game. I just want to do as much as I can to help the team out.
Read admits he in a groove right now.
I have a little bit more confidence now going into the game, yeah, he said. I dont know if in my mind its get a goal or get a point tonight, but its more of I want to be a plus-player tonight and setup my linemates as best as I can for my team.
According to ELIAS, Ron Flockhart holds the Flyer rookie goal streak at eight games; Rick Tocchet has the overall record of having scored 13 goals over nine straight games, but it's not the club rookie record.
No, better not to know, he said, laughing.
Jagr, Coburn back
Czech winger Jaromir Jagr, who missed the last two games with a groin pull, will return this evening.
So will defenseman Braydon Coburn, who has been given medical clearance to play.
Coburn suffered a bruised kidney at Winnipeg.
Im glad Im back, thats the important thing, Jagr said. Hopefully, my legs are gonna be good. Thats the main thing to me.
Jagr did not do any sprints to test his groin on the ice, though he did do some off-ice sprinting in the hallways outside the Flyers dressing room.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net