head coach: Wayne Cashman

roster: C - Eric Lindros, Chris Gratton, Dan LaCroix, Joel Otto, Vaclav Prospal. LW - Rod Brind'Amour, Dan Kordic, John LeClair, Shjon Podein, Colin Formes. RW - John Druce, Pat Falloon, Trent Klatt, Dainius Zubrus. D - Paul Coffey, Eric Desjardins, Chris Joseph, Janne Niinimaa, Luke Richardson, Kjell Samuelsson, Petr Svoboda, Chris Therien. G - Ron Hextall, Garth Snow.

injuries: Ron Hextall, g (strained neck, day-to-day). !-- End Injuries -->

transactions: Oct 21 - Acquired left wing Mike Maneluk from the Ottawa Senators for future considerations, reassigned Maneluk to Philadelphia of the American Hockey League; Oct 30 - Reassigned goaltender Neil Little and left wing Colin Forbes to Philadelphia of the American Hockey League.

standings:

Eastern Conference - Atlantic Division   
Team         GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA   
Philadelphia 16   8   5   3    19   48   40
New Jersey   12   8   4   0    16   41   23
Washington   14   7   5   2    16   44   36
NY Islanders 13   6   5   2    14   40   33
NY Rangers   15   3   6   6    12   36   41
Florida      13   3   7   3     9   28   42
Tampa Bay    13   2   9   2     6   23   43

game results:

10/21 Tampa Bay       W 7-1
10/23 Calgary         W 4-3
10/27 New Jersey      L 5-0
10/29 St. Louis       L 3-2
10/31 at Washington   T 2-2
11/01 Dallas          T 3-3

team news:

by Eric Meyer, Philadelphia Correspondent

IT RHYMES WITH "CHUMP"...

No reason to be nervous...ok maybe a few reasons. The Flyers are in a bit of a slump. The Flyers are now winless in their last four games. They are a combined 1-for-19 during that stretch on the power play and have scored three or more goals just once.

There are certain players who can't be held responsible for this little slide. First, let's start with the venerable John LeClair. In case you've been away from the action a little bit and haven't been keeping up with all that's been going on with the Flyers, just know that in 1997-98, John LeClair has been nothing short of spectacular.

Yes, he's second the Flyers in points to Eric Lindros. Yes, he's number one in league in goals scored with 12. Yes, he's a plus 8, which is again second to only Eric Lindros. BUT...in the last two weeks, he's been da bomb!

Against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Mr. LeClair notched his eighth goal of the season while picking up an assist to boot. Only Eric Lindros would outshine Mr. LeClair in that game. Lindros would tally five points on a goal (the 200th of his career to place him ninth on the all-time Flyers goal-scoring list, two goals behind eighth place Gary Dornhoefer) and four assists against the hapless 'Ning. In fact, before I continue on with the exploits of John LeClair, let's give some props to the third member of the top line, Vaclav "Vinnie" Prospal. Playing for the injured Dainius Zubrus, Prospal got his second and third goals of the season to go with two assists, giving him three goals and seven assists in a nine-game span.

Okay, back to LeClair and on to the Flyers next game at home at CoreStates against Calgary. Once again it was LeClair who would help the Flyers to a huge win with a big goal in the third period, the only one of the final frame for either team, giving the Flyers a 4-3 wins over the lowly Flames. The top line of Lindros, LeClair and Prospal would combine for almost half of the Flyers' shot total (16 out of 34). Garth Snow saved 20 of 23 Flame shots and the defense came up huge when it had to, but LeClair would once again be the difference for the Flyers. His goal against the Flames gave him at least one tally in six straight games.

After being dominated by the New Jersey Devils at CoreStates in their next game, LeClair would get his tenth goal of the season in the Flyers' following game at home against the Blues. Despite, losing the game, 3-2, LeClair looked solid against St. Louis.

Next game: in Landover against the Caps. With Dainius Zubrus enjoying his second game back on the top line, LeClair scored his eleventh goal of the season. Zubrus and Eric Lindros would get the helpers on that goal. However, the Flyers would only skate to a 2-2 tie.

Finally, the Flyers returned home to face the Dallas Stars. Despite another goal from LeClair, his twelfth of the season, the Flyers would skate to yet another tie, 3-3.

And then of course we have Eric Lindros. Yes, he leads the team in points with 22. He leads the team in assists with 15 and is second on the team in goals with 7. He also leads the team in plus/minus at a plus 10 clip. Despite having his goal-scoring problems on the power play, big number 88 has had few problems generating points and big plays at even strength, getting five points against the Lightning, and assists against the Flames, Blues, Caps and Stars.

LITTLE HELP PLEASE...

Hey, first line, you've done your job. Hey, Rod Brind'Amour, you look okay out there. Hey, goaltending, well with the exception of the New Jersey game, not too shabby. But fellas! How about some goal-scoring help from the other lines!

Here's some quick facts:

• Chris Gratton - No goals since opening night and only seven points in fifteen games
• Paul Coffey - Benched against the St. Louis Blues for what Head Coach Wayne Cashman termed some "refocusing"
• Shjon Podein - Just one goal and two assists in 15 games for the team this year. He's gone pointless in his last four games.
• Joel Otto - 0 points.

BENCHED!

When was the last time Paul Coffey, one of the greatest defensemen of all time, was ever benched. Well, damned if I know, but he sure hasn't ever been benched before while a member of the Flyers. Maybe it was the struggling power play, maybe it was his not-so solid defensive play in the early going this season, or maybe it was his measly four points (all assists) thus far, but nonetheless, Paul Coffey was dressed in street clothes for the Flyers home game against the Blues. Consensus seems to have it that the Flyers simply have might have six better defensemen than Paul Coffey on a given night.

INJURED...

Ron Hextall has bitten the dust, err, ice. The play took place as Dallas' Jamie Langenbrunner scored a game tying-goal in the second period of a 3-3 hockey game with the Flyers on Sunday. Dallas' Bob Errey took the initial shot, but with Paul Coffey sprawling to help block the shot, Hexie was caught in the head with knee from the Flyer defenseman. Hextall would finish the period with a strained neck, but would be yanked for backup Garth Snow for the third period. Hextall is listed as day-to-day.

BACK IN THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE...

John LeClair will be back. That's right, the man who helped lead the US to a huge World Cup win over Canada in the 1996 World Cup will be back to anchor a strong team in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Also back for the US will be center Joel Otto.

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