The Flyers Report
Phantoms of the past and present continue to have an impact on the Flyers as they head into the second round this upcoming weekend. Forward Brayden Schenn, recalled from Adirondack on October 19, notched his first career NHL playoff goal in Game 1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. It tied the game in the third period after the Flyers trailed 3-0. A game the Flyers eventually won in overtime 4-3. The Saskatoon native finished the first round with two goals and six points in their 4-2 series victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Rookie Matt Read, an unsigned free agent out of Bemidji State, spent the end of the 2010-2011 season with Adirondack. He tallied seven goals and 13 points in just 11 games with the Phantoms last season. Read competed with Edmonton Oilers FW Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Colorado Avalanche FW Gabriel Landeskog for the Calder Trophy much of the season. He was among the leaders in Rookie scoring with 24 goals and 47 points and tallied his first career postseason goal in a 8-4 victory in Game 3. Black Ace Erik Gustafsson got his first taste in the postseason when fellow defensemen Nick Grossman and Marc Andre Bourdon fell out of the lineup. Gustafsson did not disappoint, scoring his first career NHL postseason goal in Game 6 as the Flyers clinched the first round series. Fellow Phantoms teammates Harry Zolnierczyk, Ben Holmstrom and Brandon Manning have all spent time with the Flyers this season. Each are preparing as if they will be playing in their first career postseason game. While most players practice with either the Flyers or the Black Aces, Manning has been practicing with the Black Aces in the early sessions and then joining the Flyers in the later sessions. Michael Leighton has stepped in when they have needed a third goaltender in warm-ups or in practice. Last season, Eric Wellwood was a part of the Black Aces. A year later, Wellwood has cracked the Flyers lineup. | 
