 (Photo: Tim Kolupanowich/CM) Rinaldo suffered the injury in the second period of Wednesday night's 5-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens. The Flyers had newly acquired Jay Rosehill was in the lineup last night against the Maple Leafs to give the Flyers a physical presence. The 22 year old had 3 goals and 2 assists in 32 games this season but he leads the team with 143 hits, which ranks fourth in the NHL. - Steve Dolan Follow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3 Follow Whiz Wit on Twitter @WhizWitSports
 The Flyers pulled within two points of the eighth and final playoff spot with last night’s 5-4 overtime with against the Capitals. With thirteen games to play, the Flyers are still within reach. With the loss of Max Talbot, the Flyers could be in the market for another gritty veteran known for playing two-way hockey. A man that would fit that description is Sharks forward Ryane Clowe and it sounds like it might be happening quicker than fans realize. The St. John's Telegram’s Robin Short is reporting that the Sharks trading Clowe to the Flyers is “all but done” citing sources. Short cites other sources that claim the Flyers already have a multi-year contract extension in place with the winger. This comes out hours after Flyers beat writer Dave Isaac noted that the Sharks had two scouts in attendance for last night’s game against Washington, including San Jose’s Director of Pro Scouting. On the heels of the Telegram’s report, ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun tweeted that a possible Clowe trade could happen today and he followed it up with a list of teams interested in the forward beginning with the Flyers. The 30 year old has no goals and 11 assists this season in 28 games. Last year the 6’2” 225 lbs. right wing had 17 goals and 28 assists for 45 points. His best season came in 2010-11 when he registered 24 goals and 38 assists for 62 points. Is this an April Fool’s Joke? It seemed like it at first but not so much anymore. It has been no secret that Clowe has been on the trade block and he does fit the type of player the Flyers like on their team. - Steve DolanFollow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3Follow Whiz Wit on Twitter @WhizWitSports
 There is growing optimism around the country that the NHL and NHLPA will resolve the lockout soon and the season will get underway with a mid-January start. The sides are certainly close but they have been close in the past as well so practice caution with optimism. Nonetheless, the league must be prepared for a season if a deal is reached within the next week. Many believe that there still could be a 48 game season. Flyers fans are looking ahead towards January 19th which is the date that the season would start if a deal is reached. The Flyers are currently scheduled to take on the Calgary Flames at the Wells Fargo Center the afternoon of the 19th with Penn State taking on Vermont later that night. But the 48 game schedule means teams will only play in-conference opponents. With the January 19th opponent slated to change, would the NHL schedule the hated Penguins for the opening game? Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune writes that the NHL is, indeed, considering opening the NHL season with one of its most bitter rivalries.
“Though multiple sources said plans are subject to change, the Penguins likely would face the Flyers in Philadelphia for a nationally televised matinee on Jan. 19 if the NHL and its Players‘ Association agree on a new labor contract…
A 48-game schedule will preserve most of the previously booked arena dates, but matchups will change because clubs will play only in-conference opponents. Clubs would play seven games against division opponents and a home and road game against each of 10 remaining conference teams, the sources said.” The Flyers ended the Penguins season last year in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The series was highlighted by Claude Giroux and Sidney Crosby going at it, the lack of goaltending for both teams, and the continuous bad blood between the two teams. It made for great television and was exactly the kind of thing the NHL wants to capitalize on. It would certainly be the icing on the cake if the lockout ends with the Flyers taking on the Penguins in Philadelphia. -Steve Dolan
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 On Saturday, the Los Angeles Kings will have another chance to put an end to the 2011-12 NHL season. The Kings, aka "Flyers West" are now 15-3 during these cup playoffs and poised to make history if they can win one of the next three games, which in all likelihood they will most certainly do. The Kings are currently up on the New Jersey Devils 3-1. If this series is anything like the other three that the Kings have had this postseason, they will be raising the cup this Saturday in Jersey. The Kings have not lost more than two games in any series so far this postseason. An incredible feat that can be attributed to their goalie, Jonathan Quick. Quick has had an incredible playoffs, and is a front runner for the Conn Smythe Trophy. This year's Stanley Cup is a tough one for Flyers fans to watch and be happy with the result after everything is all said and done. One side has the Devils, a team that the Flyers should have beat, could have beat, but were simply outplayed and beaten in five games. The Devils are not a very likable team, not just that they are a Atlantic Conference rival, but players like Marty Brodeur, Ilya Kovalchuk, Clarkson, Elias, I could go on but you get the picture. Theres just something about this team that is annoying as a Flyers fan. So the fact that the Flyers could have won their series with the Devils and the unpopular personalities on their team, I find it difficult to find myself "pulling" for them. You may call me bitter, and in that case, go right ahead, because its hard not to feel a little anger to the team that knocked you out of the playo
Now we come to the Kings. A very interesting team, with tons of connections to the Flyers. Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne, Justin Williams, have all played with the Flyers. But the storyline of the year has been the trading away of both Richards and Carter. It's hard personally, to not feel just a little bit jealous of the success they are about to enjoy. Carter, who spent the beginning of the year on the worst team in hockey, ended up on what seems to be the best, and is about to spend a day with the cup. I mentioned in the beginning about how its hard to root for either of these teams, and the fact that Richards and Carter, who were traded away not even a year ago, are going to win the cup. As a Flyers fan, and speaking to other fans, it's hard to come to terms with. But when it comes down to it, its hard not to feel good for guys like Simon Gagne, who has played forever with such heart and intensity, only to come up short before. Richards and Carter still have years ahead of them, and may win another cup, may not, but for guys like Gagne, this is their best opportunity. And it's for those reasons that I feel like it is more appropriate for Flyers fans to root for Flyers West on Saturday Night. LA is not a championship starved city in the least bit, but the Kings have never won anything. ever. So in that regard, Flyers fans can sympathize. Go Kings.
Game 5 is Saturday, June 9th, @ 8pm on NBC
 If tonight’s Game 3 is half as entertaining as Game 3 in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. the Penguins, everyone is in for a treat. If tonight’s game is like Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. the Devils, Flyers fans are not going to be happy. The Flyers head to Newark tonight to take on the Devils in Game 3 with the series tied at one game apiece. Game 2 was a lot like Game 1 except it was the Flyers who controlled the first period and the Devils responded by taking control of the second and third periods. The Flyers were not happy with their overall play in the second and third periods on Tuesday night and they made it clear after the game that they want to change things for tonight. “This was one of those days you watch tape and you learn from it and make sure everybody is ready on Thursday (to) win the game,” said defenseman Kimmo Timonen. The Flyers are 34-33 all-time and 3-1 against the Devils in Game 3s. The Flyers are going to have to go back to work on the power play tonight against the Devils to give themselves a chance. They scored 12 power play goals against the Penguins in 23 opportunities but are only 1-for-11 this round against the Devils despite the fact the Devils allowed nine power play goals in 27 opportunities in the first round against the Panthers. The Devils seem to be getting their swagger back that allowed their penalty kill to set a modern day record by killing off 89.6% of power plays in the regular season. The Flyers are going to rely on the “G” line of Claude Giroux, Jaromir Jagr, and Scott Hartnell tonight as they head into the Prudential Center. The G line registered just four shots, no points, and each player was -1 in Tuesday night’s loss. Keeping with the pattern throughout the playoffs for the Flyers, the team that scored the first goal lost. In the Flyers eight playoff games, the team that scored first is 1-7 with the only victory coming in the Flyers Game 6 clincher at home vs. Pittsburgh. Danny Briere is going to play a key role for the Flyers tonight. He is tied with teammate Giroux for the NHL lead in goals (7) in the playoffs and has three goals in his last three games but has seemingly fallen asleep at times on defense. The Flyers are going to need to play with desperation and have all five guys on the ice playing defense. Ilya Bryzgalov played a stellar game on Tuesday but the defense (both defensemen and forwards) did not back him up. Bryzgalov made 31 saves on 34 shots and really did not stand a chance on a number of the goals. The Flyers need to play better defense and, in keeping with the theme from the first round, keep playing solid offensive hockey. The Flyers did not register a shot on goal in the second period until there was only 1:27 left in the period. The Flyers were outshot 12-2 in the second period and 35-20 in the game. The Flyers need to continue their offensive assault if they want to be successful tonight. As for the Devils, Zach Parise and Travis Zajac have carried the team when they needed it and Martin Brodeur has answered the call for them in the first two games of the series. Parise registered a goal and an assist in Sunday’s overtime loss and added another assist in Tuesday’s 4-1 win. Zajac has a goal in each of the first two games and his goal in Game 2 put the Devils up 3-1 and seemingly broke the Flyers’ back. Zajac has five goals in the playoffs for the Devils, including the Game 6 overtime winner against the Panthers that forced a Game 7 that the Devils would ultimately win in double overtime. The Devils 4-1 win on Tuesday was the first time they have won in the playoffs when trailing after two periods since April 26, 2003 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Devils rookie defenseman Adam Larsson, who played in his first NHL playoff game Tuesday, scored the game tying goal for his first NHL playoff point. He might need to keep up his offensive presence as forward Ilya Kovalchuk is still listed as day-to-day on the injury report and his status for tonight’s game is still unknown. Puck drop is slated for 7:40 pm. The game can be seen on the NBC Sports Network and heard on 94.1 WIP. -Steve Dolan Follow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3 Follow Whiz Wit on Twitter @WhizWitSports
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