James van Riemsdyk

For One Leaf It's A Familiar Position Facing Elimination

May 12, 2013

A collaboration by John Russo and Lukas Hardonk

History has a tendency to repeat itself, especially in the sports world.

Three years removed from making history, one Maple Leafs winger finds himself in a similar position, one he was in when he was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2010 post season.

Ironically enough, James van Riemsdyk is looking to fuel another comeback against the Boston Bruins. Though the Leafs have started their comeback being down 3-1 in the series as opposed to the steep hole the Flyers faced in the 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals when down 3-0 to the Bruins, the same mantra goes for Toronto: one game at ...

Flyers Look Foolish A Year Removed From Trading Vezina Finalist Sergei Bobrovsky

May 8, 2013

John Russo

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Since dealing two of the franchise's most prominent stars of the 2000's, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, it seems the Philadelphia fan base has surgically dissected every single move made by the Flyers front office.

The two most scrutinized moves in the past two years though are the dealings of young stars James van Riemsdyk and Sergei Bobrovsky. To be fair, the former was an even trade that benefited both the Flyers, who got Luke Schenn, and the Maple Leafs, who landed the scorer in van Riemsdyk.

As for the latter, Bobrovsky was traded this past offseason to the Columbus Blue Jackets where he won the starting job over now-current Flyers back-up goaltender Steve Mason. After turning the Blue Jackets around and nearly making the post season, Bobrovsky is a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the league's best goaltender.

(Pictured: Serge Bobrovsky against the Stars on April 25, 2013. Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images)

Flyers Making Due With "Patchwork Defense"

April 17, 2013

John Russo

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“Patchwork” may not be the nicest word to use to describe Philadelphia’s defensive situation right now, but it is the most appropriate.

After last night’s 4-2 win at home over division rival New York, Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette was asked a question that was worded in a way which Laviolette had to point out.

"They probably wouldn’t like to be called that, if I was guessing," Laviolette said when asked about his “patchwork defense,” drawing some laughs from the reporters after the game.

He was quick to follow with praise for some of the guys stepping in at the most desperate of times.

(Pictured: Kimmo Timonen (left) and Luke Schenn (right) during warm-ups. Photo by John Russo/The Checking Line)

Flyers Look to Keep Rolling In Toronto

April 4, 2013

John Russo

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Riding a three-game winning streak, the Flyers look to make it four. They go to Toronto to face the Maple Leafs, who are also on a three-game run.

After Six Failed Attempts, .500 Seems to Be Elusive For Flyers

February 26, 2013

John Russo

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Six times the Flyers attempted to get their record back to .500 and six times they have failed so far this season.

At 9-11-1, you have to start to wonder why that has been the case. It happened again last night when the Flyers dropped a home game 4-2 to the Maple Leafs, playing flat for the first 50 minutes of the game.

Is it mental? Are they snake-bitten? Or is this all just one big coincidence? Regardless, the Flyers need to earn every point they can get their hands on because this is a shortened season and every point matters just a little bit more if a team wants to make the playoffs.

(Pictured: Ilya Bryzgalov cannot stop a rebound shot by Mikhail Grabovski in the third period. Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

Van Riemsdyk Returns to Philly; Invisible In Leafs Win

February 26, 2013

John Russo

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The last man on the ice for warm ups was James van Riemsdyk.

Fans were decked in orange and black as well as blue and white no. 21 jerseys all through the Wells Fargo Center before the Flyers 4-2 loss on Monday to Toronto. Decorated with signs, there were a handful of people awaiting the return of the man they call "JvR."

So when the Toronto Maple Leafs left winger finally walked down the visitor's tunnel for the first time and hopped onto the ice, he received some scattered applause from the fans who were ready to acknowledge the returning young star.

(Pictured: James van Riemsdyk shoots on goal against his former team. Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

Flyers Struggle to Get to the .500 Hump Again; Lose to Toronto, 4-2

February 25, 2013

John Russo

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Getting to .500 has been an uphill battle for the Flyers and it continued on Monday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

An absolute sluggish outing until the final half of the third period cost the Flyers a chance to even up in the standings and get some much-needed points. And though the Leafs were almost equally as sluggish, they came out with the 4-2 win in Philadelphia.

Perhaps the Flyers are pressing to get to .500, but whatever it is, the effort was poor once again. Head coach Peter Laviolette didn't think they were pressing though.

(Pictured: Jakub Voracek battles with Toronto's Cody Franson in front of goalie Ben Scrivens. Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)

JvR Returns to Philadelphia as the Flyers Host the Maple Leafs

February 25, 2013

John Russo

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Former Flyers winger James van Riemsdyk returns to Philadelphia for the first time since being traded this off season for Luke Schenn. He already has a goal against his former team back in Toronto and he is looking for more.

Second period flurry buries Flyers

February 11, 2013

Chris Bengel

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After controlling the level of play through most of the first period, the Flyers were simply outplayed in every way, shape, and form in the second period.

In just the opening 4:10 of the second stanza, the Toronto Maple Leafs scored three unaswered goals on their way to a 5-2 win over the Flyers.

The first goal came on a rebound that bounced off Bryzgalov's pad and right onto enforcer Colton Orr's stick. It was Orr's 12th career goal in over 400 career games and was his first against the Flyers.