Claude Giroux didnt have to think twice when asked who was the best linemate hes ever had.
Paul Byron, Giroux said on Tuesday, referring to his former Gatineu teammate in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Between 2006 and the end of the 2007-08 season, Giroux and Byron combined for 144 goals.
Yeah, in junior, Giroux said. Its not the same thing, obviously.
Today, Giroux is second in the NHL in scoring with 19 pointsnine goals, 10 assists. Six Flyers are in double-figure scoring.
Girouxs on pace to score 53 goals.
I dont like to think about that kind of stuff, he said. I like to think short-term pretty much and think of the next game. I think when I start thinking about long-term and stuff like that, thats when Im not as focused for a game.
NHL
Speaking of goal scoring, remember all the angst about how the Flyers were going to make up for the 78 goals they lost by trading Jeff Carter, Ville Leino and Mike Richards?
Fourteen games into the season, the Flyers lead the league in goal production with 56. Their goal differential is plus-12 but the thing is, they are 13 goals ahead of last years pace after 14 games.
The wins? They had nine last season and 19 points vs. eight this season and 18 points. Pretty much the sameExcept for the goals.
I didnt realize we were ahead, said Danny Briere, who has four goals and 12 points. We had a couple of blowouts. We caught some teams in a bad stretch of their season, Ottawa and Columbus come to mind.
At the same time, a lot of guys are stepping up. Sean Couturier to start with. Nobody expected that. Max Talbot, who has five already.
Claude who is even ahead of last years pace. Jaromir Jagr, you can go on and on. Its very impressive. Its good for everybody. When you get on the scoreboard.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net