(SportsNetwork.com) – For a moment, the Philadelphia Flyers’ road trip
appeared to go from bad to disaster.
However, the Flyers seem to have avoided the worse in regards to Claude
Giroux and may have their captain on the ice Saturday night versus the New
Jersey Devils in the finale of an eight-game swing.
Philadelphia won the first three games of its epic road trip, but has dropped
four in a row since (0-3-1) and appeared to have lost Giroux to a significant
injury during Friday night’s 2-1 setback to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Giroux became tangled up with Carolina defenseman Justin Faulk early in the
third period and Faulk’s skate cut the back of Giroux’s left leg. The
Philadelphia forward had to be helped off the ice and did not put any weight
on the leg, but the Flyers announced after the game that he is probable for
this game.
“I’m not a doctor or anything but I’m pretty lucky there,” said Giroux, who is
tied for third in the NHL with 43 points.
“I knew I got hit and I tried to put pressure on it, but it felt really weird.
I didn’t feel really good so I kind of panicked a little bit, but the doctors
did a good job.”
With Giroux a possibility for this game, the Flyers can focus on trying to
snap their losing streak after getting 24 saves by Steve Mason in a solid
effort last night and a goal from Chris VandeVelde.
Vincent Lecavalier continued his current surge for Philadelphia with an
assist, giving him four goals and five points on the road trip.
Ray Emery may start for the Flyers tonight and has solid numbers over his
career versus the Devils. He is 8-4-2 in this matchup with a 1.85 goals
against average, .932 save percentage and two shutouts, making 17 saves on 18
shots in a victory on Dec. 11.
The Devils were also in action on Friday night as they hosted the Montreal
Canadiens and suffered a 4-2 loss despite getting some players back into the
lineup.
Forwards Michael Ryder (mumps), Patrik Elias (mumps) and Martin Havlat
(illness) all returned, with Ryder scoring to end a 21-game goal drought. Mike
Cammalleri also scored in the third period along with Ryder, while backup
Keith Kinkaid made 22 saves.
“In the third period we came back and we had a power play. We had great looks
on it, but didn’t finish it,” said Devils president and general manager Lou
Lamoriello.
New Jersey fell to 2-7-3 in its last 12 games and did see defenseman Peter
Harrold exit in the first period after getting hit in the face by a stick. His
status for this game is unknown.
No. 1 netminder Cory Schneider figures to draw the start for the Devils and is
1-2-0 in his career against the Flyers with a 3.03 GAA and .915 save
percentage in three games (2 starts).
The Devils split two meetings with the Flyers earlier this season in
Philadelphia and have lost the past two at home in this series.
