Philadelphia Flyers

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The Philadelphia Flyers have taken the NHL by storm in December and have won nine games in a row. How have they managed this impressive streak?

Philadelphia Flyers winger Dale Weise has been suspended three games by the NHL for an illegal check to the head of Anaheim Ducks defenseman Korbinian Holzer during the team's 3-2 loss on Thursday night. 

According to the Flyers, Weise was suspended without pay.  

Weise—who signed a four-year, $9.4 million dollar contract with the Flyers in July—has not tallied a goal or assist in Philadelphia's first four games this season. 

Although the season is young, the Flyers have not been strangers to lengthy suspensions. 

Center Brayden Schenn was suspended for the first three games of the 2016 season dating back to a hit on the Washington Capitals' T.J. Oshie in last year's playoffs, while defenseman Radko Gudas was slapped with a six-game ban for interference against the Boston Bruins' Austin Czarnik during the preseason. 

According to CSNPhilly.com's Jordan Hall, the Flyers have been suspended an NHL-high 12 games to this point in the 2016 campaign. 

The Philadelphia Flyers and center Brayden Schenn announced a new four-year contract Monday, avoiding arbitration in the process.

Schenn, 24, had a career high with 59 points (26 goals, 33 assists) in 2015-16. The restricted free agent was set for an arbitration hearing Monday, where he was asking for a $5.5 million salary.   

Bob McKenzie of TSN reported the new deal has an average annual value of $5.125 million. While that number is closer to Schenn's asking price, the Flyers get two extra years of his prime—a period in which he might be playing at a below-market level.

The fifth overall pick in 2009, Schenn has slowly come into his own over the last three seasons. He's played at least 80 games in each campaign and set career highs in scoring while reducing his propensity for penalties. 

“I think I’ve come a long way and I still feel like I can get better and will get better,” he told reporters in April. “I finally felt this year like I had to be one of our go-to guys or one of the guys who tried to get the job done each night. I think that’s part of the reason guys like [Wayne Simmonds], Jake [Voracek] or [Claude Giroux] try to hold me accountable each night to perform and be good out there."

Schenn will serve a three-game suspension to begin 2016-17 after hitting Washington Capitals winger T.J. Oshie in the head during their first-round playoff series.

When he gets back, expectations will be higher than ever. Schenn emerged last season as a leader and potential All-Star for the first time; he's now being paid like a foundational piece of the future.

That the Flyers allowed the situation to go right down to the wire, however, may speak to some hesitance on their part. Their offer wound up being pushed $800,000 per season, not an insignificant amount of money under the NHL's cap. With needs on the first two lines, general manager Ron Hextall may wind up having to pinch a bit more than he expected for next season's cap.

Philadelphia Flyers star defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere will be out for 10 to 12 weeks following offseason surgery.

According to ESPN.com, the Calder Trophy finalist will receive procedures Tuesday on his right hip and lower abdomen. 

Gostisbehere Expected to Be Healthy for Training Camp

Gostisbehere should be ready to go by training camp in September, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Sam Carchidi.

The Courier-Post's Dave Isaac reported that Gostisbehere dealt with the injuries during the Flyers' postseason series against the Washington Capitals:

Philadelphia tried to fight back from a 3-0 series deficit before falling in Game 6. Gostisbehere scored a goal and added an assist during the series.

His average of 0.33 points per game in the playoffs was below his regular-season production, which may have been partly due to the injuries. The 23-year-old put up 46 points in 64 games, or 0.72 points per game.

Gostisbehere was left off Team North America's initial 16-man roster for the upcoming World Cup of Hockey. Team North America is comprised of players under the age of 23 from the continent.

However, North America head coach Todd McLellan thinks highly of Gostisbehere, per NHL.com's Adam Kimelman:

The tournament will begin Sept. 17, per NHL.com, so Gostisbehere should be healthy if chosen to join the final roster.

Gostisbehere will have an entire summer to heal and rehab, so his play should not suffer. He is one of the bright young defensemen in the league, so look for him to put together a solid sophomore season.

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Evgeny Medvedev has been charged with "driving under the influence, possession of a controlled substance and use or possession of drug paraphernalia" stemming from a police stop, according to Laura McCrystal of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Per McCrystal, Medvedev was officially charged last week after police in Lower Moreland, Pennsylvania, stopped him last month and found his blood alcohol level was more than 0.16 percent, which is more than twice the legal limit.

McCrystal noted the police also cited Medvedev for "driving without a license, disregarding traffic lanes and not using headlights."

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 15 for five misdemeanor charges. 

The 33-year-old spent 13 years playing in the Russian Superleague and Kontinental Hockey League with Mechel Chelyabinsk, Metallurg Serov, Severstal Cherepovets and Ak Bars Kazan.

Medvedev's deal with the Flyers was for only one season. It's unclear what his NHL future could hold. He told Alessandro Seren Rosso of TheHockeyWriters.com in March that he "truly [wants] to keep on playing here," though he did admit there had been no contract negotiations at that point.

The Flyers signed Medvedev in May 2015. He appeared in 45 games this season, recording 12 points with four goals and eight assists while finishing fifth on the team in defensive point shares with 2.3, per Hockey-Reference.com.

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Evgeny Medvedev was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence Wednesday, according to police. No charges have been filed in the case.  

Vince Lattanzio of NBC Philadelphia reported Medvedev was stopped in Montgomery County around 2:45 a.m. overnight. Lower Moreland police Chief Pete Hasson told the outlet the NHL player has been released from custody while the police wait for toxicology results.

Medvedev spent the first 13 years of his career playing in Russia starting in 2002. He made stops with the Mechel Chelyabinsk, Metallurg Serov, Severstal Cherepovets and Ak Bars Kazan before signing his NHL contract with the Philadelphia Flyers last May.

The 33-year-old Russian blueliner enjoyed a solid debut season in Philly. He tallied up four goals, nine assists and a plus-five rating across 45 games.

His time with the franchise is likely over, though. Wayne Fish of the Burlington County Times provided the response from general manager Ron Hextall about whether the Flyers planned to re-sign the veteran defender: "I would say we're probably leaning toward not."

He'll be an unrestricted free agent after signing a one-year, $3 million deal, per Spotrac.

Medvedev's status will likely remain in limbo until the legal situation plays out unless it's resolved before the start of free agency in early July. The NBC Philadelphia report provided no timetable for when police expect the toxicology results to be back.

Philadelphia Flyers center Scott Laughton was involved in a scary incident on Wednesday during his team’s postseason game against the Washington Capitals and was removed from the ice on a stretcher.

Continue for updates.

Laughton Conscious as Taken Out of Game

Wednesday, April 20

ESPN's Linda Cohn described it as a "frightening scene" and said Laughton crashed into the boards. She confirmed he was conscious as he was taken off on the stretcher.

SportsCenter added Laughton "appeared to have movement in his limbs," and CSN Philly shared an image of the forward being taken off the ice:

Laughton played 71 games this season and tallied 21 points with 14 assists and seven goals. He is not one of the team's primary offensive contributors and averaged less than 11 minutes of ice time per game this season, but he provides important depth along the lines.

He is also only 21 years old and has a bright future ahead of him.

The Flyers were down three games to zero to the Capitals in their first-round playoff series coming into Wednesday's contest, but Laughton's long-term health is clearly the primary concern for the Flyers after such an alarming play.

Things got a little out of hand at Wells Fargo Center on Monday.

In Game 3 of their first-round matchup with the Washington Capitals, the Philadelphia Flyers, down two games in the series and in the middle of a rout, were handed a slew of penalties halfway through the third period. Fans were upset and proceeded to hurl the light-up bracelets they were given before the game onto the ice.

Flyers public address announcer Lou Nolan did not agree with the reaction from the crowd. He condemned the tossing of the bracelets, pleading with the fans to "show class," per Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Capitals made it a four-goal lead on the subsequent power play, and the wristbands sprouted wings yet again.

Philadelphia was eventually penalized for delay of game after at least an estimated 50 bracelets hit the ice, to which Nolan announced along with a disapproving, "Way to go!"

The Capitals won 6-1, thanks largely to a franchise-high five power-play goals in a Stanley Cup playoff game.

[Twitter, h/t Philadelphia Inquirer]

Ed Snider, a co-founder of the Philadelphia Flyers franchise who previously served as an owner to the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, has died. He was 83. 

Snider's children released a statement Monday via the Flyers' official website:

Our Dad was loved and admired for his big heart, generosity of spirit and dedication to his family. Despite his considerable business achievements and public profile, he was first and foremost a family man. He never missed a birthday, important family event or the opportunity to offer encouragement. We turned first to him for advice in our personal and professional lives. We grew up tagging behind him in arenas, stadiums and locker rooms; and his players, management and team personnel were our extended family. He treated his employees with respect regardless of rank or position, and the man they called “Mr. Snider” always would have preferred simply to be called “Ed.”

An entrepreneur who made his early mark with a record company, Snider had been a mainstay on the Philadelphia sports scene for decades. He was a minority owner of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1960s and then was instrumental in founding the Flyers in 1966. His empire would later acquire the city's famed Spectrum arena, which was floundering before Snider took over it.

Snider's ownership group went on to spearhead a decades-long run of success, in part by creating the Spectacor holding company for the Flyers and the Spectrum. The Flyers won the Stanley Cup in 1974 and 1975, eventually making six more finals with Snider as the primary owner.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman released a statement calling Snider the "soul and spirit" of the Flyers organization:

Snider was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988. He is also a member of the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame and United States Hockey Hall of Fame.

Comcast purchased a majority stake in Spectacor in 1996, later going on to purchase the 76ers. The cable company allowed Spectacor to keep a minority stake as part of the deal. The 76ers were later sold to a group led by Joshua Harris.

Flyers President Paul Holmgren released a statement via the team's official website:

Today, the Philadelphia Flyers, the city of Philadelphia and the National Hockey League have lost a true icon. Mr. Snider is the face of the Flyers franchise. He is revered and loved by all of his current and former players and has the utmost respect of the entire hockey world. Mr. Snider’s passion and drive to be the best has made the Flyers brand one of the most recognizable in all of sports. His desire to always have the best team possible for this city and for our fans is a true testament to his passion for the Flyers and his will to win. On this sad day, our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Snider’s wife, Lin; his children—Craig, Jay, Lindy, Tina, Sarena and Sam; as well as all of his grandchildren. Mr. Snider will be truly missed by all of us but his spirit along with the culture he created and instilled will live on with the Flyers organization forever.

The Flyers will wear a patch on their jerseys during the postseason to commemorate Snider, per Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Flyers winger Jakub Voracek paid tribute to Snider on Twitter after news of his passing broke:

Snider is survived by his six children, his wife, Lin, and grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at the Wells Fargo Center in Snider's honor at an unknown date in the future.

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The Philadelphia Flyers (37-25-13) are looking to return to the postseason after missing out last year, and beating the Metropolitan Division-leading Washington Capitals (54-16-5) on Wednesday night, as home betting underdogs at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark, would certainly help their chances.

Philadelphia has alternated wins and losses in the team’s last seven games and hopes to earn its second consecutive victory for the first time since March 16 with just seven games remaining in the regular season, starting with Wednesday night's matchup.

The Flyers would also love to take advantage of a loss Tuesday by the Detroit Red Wings, who have made the playoffs the past 24 seasons and remain tied with them for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference despite playing two more games.

Philly visits Detroit in a key matchup on April 6 that will help decide which of the two will make it. Until then, the Flyers will try to beat the Capitals for the second time this year after edging them 4-3 as plus-196 road underdogs (bet $100 to win $196) on January 27.

Washington won the other two meetings this season by a combined score of 8-4 and does not have much to play for now that the Presidents’ Trophy—awarded to the team with the best record—has already been clinched.

The Caps could end up meeting Philly in the first round if the latter finishes as the second wild-card team, which would be the case if the postseason started today.

The Caps are just 5-4 in their last nine games and begin a three-game road trip at Philadelphia before visiting the Colorado Avalanche and Arizona Coyotes. They then wrap up the regular season with three of four at home.

The over is 2-0-1 in the past three meetings between the teams after the under cashed in each of the previous four, according to the Odds Shark NHL Database. However, Washington has seen the under go 2-0-1 in its last three overall.

The under is also 2-1-1 in the past four for the Flyers, who saw their previous three all land on the No. 5 to result in pushes. In fact, only one of Philly’s last nine games has seen less than five goals scored dating back to March 12.