Top Line: Peter Laviolette looks finished in Philly, third period blahs, more links
Flyers bench boss Peter Laviolette seems primed to take the fall for one of this season’s most disappointing teams. (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
By Allan Muir
A notated guide to this morning’s must-read hockey stories:
• Is the Peter Laviolette era coming to an end in Philadelphia? The Flyers’ rock-bottom effort in a 5-2 loss to New Jersey had all the hallmarks of a team playing to get its coach fired.
• That little deal to acquire Andrei Loktionov keeps paying dividends for the Devils. A lousy fit for the physical style of the Kings, he’s looked right at home in New Jersey.
• Is a willingness to settle games in the shootout leading to third-period malaise?
• After his effort to win tickets to Thursday night’s game in Dallas was denied, we’ll have to wait and see if Bobby Ryan shows up for the game against the Stars.
• Jamie Benn and Brenden Morrow are doubtful against the Ducks, meaning that the scouts who have been trailing the Stars may end up hanging out downstairs like they did Tuesday night.
• Sidney Crosby opens up on visors, fighting and concussions with Mike Zeisberger.
• Brad Marchand is mixing in a little more skill with his customary swagger for the Bruins. Come on, admit it…no matter how much you hate him, you’d take him on your team in a heart beat.
• It’s amazing that Jake Gardiner didn’t fire his agent immediately after Tuesday night’s freedom tweets. If he was going to be called up to Toronto at some point this season, that door has probably slammed shut.
• The Vancouver Canucks are wondering why it’s open season on Alex Burrows. No doubt he takes a beating out there, but I’m not sure he gets it any worse than anyone else who makes a living in the goal mouth.
