The Philadelphia Flyers have been doing well so far this season. A large part of this success is due to the renewed success of Senators ex-pat Ray "Rayzor" Emery.  Emery is in the top ten of NHL goalies in four categories. He is 8th in victories with nine out of thirteen games played, 8th in save percentage with a healthy .922, and has one shut-out (good for 7th). Rayzor being Raysor, he is also 5th in penalty minutes.



We all followed the roller-coaster ride that was Ray Emery's career in Ottawa, from the glory days when he backstopped the Senators to the Stanley Cup Finals, to his fall from grace the next year. Late for practices, fighting with teammates, pulled over more than 30 times for speeding offenses and a case of road rage. But it is likely the 12-13-4 record, couple with the 3.13 GAA and .890 save percentage that convinced the Senators to buy out his contract.

After a stint in the Russian KHL, where he made a mark both for his excellent play, and punching a staff member who was trying to force him to wear a sponsor's cap when pulled from a game, the Flyers took a chance on Emery. They awarded him a one-year $1.5 million contract, and the Rayzor hasn't looked back. He is making the most on his second chance at a significant NHL career.

He freely admits that he played his card wriong with the Sens. That he expected that, having led them to a Stanley Cup final, he could rest on his laurels for a bit. He says he has learned from his experience, and that he has to work for to get his dues.

And work he does. His great numbers are not because of some great blueliners in front of him, far from it. He faces almost 30 shots per game and only allows 2.27 goals on average. The Flyers have been riding on his rediscovered poise, and now stand in 6th place of the Eastern Conference, a point ahead of the Senators.

Tonight's game will be interesting on so many levels. I can't wait.