Flyers Prospect Weekend Recap: 27th-29th

FLYERS HOCKEY IS ONLY A COUPLE DAYS AWAY!!!

Lets take a look at what the Flyers prospects were up to this weekend.

Michael Raffl was sent down to the Phantoms on Friday and was forced to miss Adirondack's first pre-season game. He made up for that in their second pre-season game of the weekend scoring the Phantoms only two goals of the game.

Petr Straka picked up the primary assist on both of Raffl's goals. On the first one Straka forced a turnover and then found an open Raffl. The assist was more of, I think, a text book Straka play where he entered the zone took a shot with Raffl cleaning up the rebound.The faster Straka makes an impact in the AHL the better shot he has at making it up to the Flyers.

Jason Akeson also had great weekend. He picked up a goal and an assist in the Phantoms first pre-season game skating on a line with Kris Newbury and Tye McGinn. Though he didn't get on the score sheet in the second game Sunday he apparently played very well.

How Raffl and Akeson have preformed in the pre-season could be a big deal. A lot of people think the Flyers are looking for another winger. There is still a chance that Scott Laughton only plays 9 games before being sent back to juniors. The Flyers have a short period at the start of the season where things are kind of in limbo. This opens the door for guys like Raffl and Akeson to play there way into the NHL with a few games in the AHL. Akeson has played this game before, starting last years lockout season in the ECHL.

Taylor Leier had another strong weekend with the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL, After scoring a goal in a game tuesday, he picked up another goal in the Winterhawks game Saturday night. Possibly more important than the goal was the fact that before the game Leier was named Captain of the Winterhawks. Leadership is clearly something the Flyers look for in a player. The fact that he has been named captain of such a powerhouse team is a big deal. Leier has 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists) in 4 games. Portland plays again Wednesday.

Anthony Stolarz had another strong game for the London Knights Friday night. He stopped 36 of 39 shots in a 6-3 win. Stolarz is starting to make a case for himself being the starter for the US World Junior team, but its still early and his main competition Jon Gillies hasn't even begun play this year. He didn't play in London's 6-3 loss Sunday. He currently leads all OHL goalies with a 1.50 GAA and a .957% Save percentage. London plays again Wednesday.

Tyrell Goulbourne had a minor weekend. He was a -1 in one game played and didn't drop the mitts. He did start the game, but he didn't factor in the scoring. Goulbourne, who I thought could take a step forward season, has yet to impact the score sheet or fight (what he was drafted to do). He and his Kelowna Rockets play again Wednesday.

Samuel Morin missed both of Rimouski's games this weekend and another game and their game Tuesday night with an injury. The injury, suffered in last Sunday's game against Quebec, isn't serious and he could be back in time for Rimouski's games next weekend.

In the USHL Fredric Larsson was a -2 with no points in two games for Youngstown. David Drake was even in a 4-0 loss for Des Moines. Terrance Amorosa is apparently being held out due to injury and has not yet played this season.

Merrick Madsen who was slated to to play with David Drake and the Des Moines Buccaneers but has since been demoted to the Minot Minotauros of the NAHL. It's a lower league, but it was the same league Anthony Stolarz was playing when he was drafted. I also don't know how long he'll stay in the NAHL considering how poor Des Moines goaltending has been so far this season. In his first game he gave up 2 goals on 20 shots.

Robert Hagg has had a slightly reduced role in his last two games with MODO. He has seen his ice time drop, but not significantly considering a handful of games his TOI has been boosted by playing in overtime. He didn't score over the weekend and remains with 2 points (2 assists) in 6 games. MODO plays again Tuesday.

Valeri Vasiliev is starting to get increased responsibility with Spartak Moscow. He picked up his first point of the season (an assist) in a game against Jakub Kovar and Avtomobilist Yekanterinburg. In his two games over the weekend he played over 16 minutes including multiple shirts in overtime in both games. That does mean he could see a drop in TOI when Spartak doesn't go into OT, but it also means he has more responsibility with the team. TOI may be hard to come by, Spartak usually dresses 7 or 8 defenseman with Deron Quint, arguably the best Defenseman in the KHL right now, gobbling up 25 to 30 minutes a night. Vasiliev is still regularly finishing 4th on his team in ice time and shifts. Vasiliev is currently playing HC Yugra and Vasiliev has skated just under 13 minutes, his minutes were probably reduced because of his Spartak trailing in one goal game. Spartak Moscow plays again Wednesday.

Jakub Kovar has gotten back to form after suffering a punishing loss to Barys Astana. In the two games since his 7 goal drubbing Kovar has allowed 3 goals in 50 shots. So far this season he has a .927 Save % and a 2.21 GAA. If you take out that one Barys game he has a .949 Save % and a 1.49 GAA. Kovar and Avtomobilist play later today and again Wednesday.