By Brianna Spause
Special Features/Web Editor
The outcome of the much anticipated hockey season wasn’t greeted with nearly the same enthusiasm as the return of the NHL. Philadelphia’s own, the Flyers devastatingly lost the first three games of the season, but have been slowly making a comeback.
The Feb. 12 away contest against the New York Jets puts the Broad Street Bullies at 6-7, ranked 10th in the league.
With 48 games crammed into a 99 day season, much stress has been put on the team, which has been demonstrated physically. Assistant captain was shelved for the season opener with a hairline fracture to the wrist. He, along with Zac Rinaldo – previously out with a leg injury – have made a successful return to the ice.
Fellow teammates have not been so lucky however. The list begins with Scott Hartnel, followed by Andrej Mezaros, Marc-Andre Bourdon, Matt Walker and ends with Chris Pronger, who has been officially retired from the team. Pronger suffered a serious concussion in the 2011-2012 season which he has not been able to recover from.
In Pronger’s absence, head coach Peter Laviolette was proud to announce 25-year-old Claude Giroux as the franchise’s ninth team captain.
“An elite player and tremendous player for our club, it’s been fun to watch with Claude.” Laviolette said. “He certainly has established himself as a terrific leader in our locker room.”
The 2013 season has proved successful for many individual players. In a Jan. 26 game against the Florida Panthers, Matt Read scored his first career hatrick, securing a Philadelphia win, 7-1. In his second season with the Flyers, goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov has done a commendable job of carrying the team in the absence of a united defense.
In the past 11 games, Bryzgalov has averaged a 92.3 percent save percentage, and has gained respect as a result of obvious improvement from last season.
In a shortened season, every game counts, so only the future will hold the fate of the NHL players. Tune in tomorrow, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. to witness the game against rivals, the New Jersey Devils, unfold.
