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Flyers host Canucks in home opener

Oct 12, 2011 - 7:18 PM (Sports Network) - The Flyers' season-opening road trip included a victory over the defending Stanley Cup champions and their first regular season shutout in more than 18 months.

Philadelphia and its new-look roster now gets to drop the puck on its 2011-12 home schedule looking to start a season 3-0 for the second time in three seasons, and will do so against the defending Western Conference-champion Vancouver Canucks.

The Flyers overhauled their roster this past offseason, trading away captain Mike Richards and former 40-goal scorer Jeff Carter while adding goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov and signing Jaromir Jagr amongst other new additions.

Bryzgalov was brought in to add stability to the club's goaltending situation and has been quick to contribute. After helping Philadelphia knock off Boston in its season opener last Thursday, Bryzgalov turned aside all 20 shots faced on Saturday to down New Jersey, 3-0.

Bryzgalov collected the 24th shutout of his career and the blanking was the first for the Flyers in the regular season since April 6, 2010.

Claude Giroux scored his second goal in as many games, rookie Matt Read netted his first career goal and Wayne Simmonds, acquired from the Kings in the Richards deal, lit the lamp for the first time as a Flyer.

"I think collectively we did a good job as a whole," said Simmonds. "We stress team defense and I think we all back-checked hard, we all took care of what we had to do and we got the shutout for Bryz."

Philadelphia is 8-4-1-1 in its previous 14 home openers at Wells Fargo Center and the new Flyers should be greeted with open arms tonight.

"I'm expecting the fans to go crazy," said Simmonds. "I've heard a lot about the fans and how they always expect the best and I think that's awesome."

The Canucks do present a challenge for the Flyers. Not only did they fall one game short of winning the Stanley Cup, but last year also set new franchise records for most road wins (27) and road points (58) in a season. They picked up a 3-2 win at Columbus on Monday to open a four-game swing and move to 15-4-1 in their last 20 regular season road games.

After Roberto Luongo took a shootout loss to Pittsburgh in Vancouver's opener last week, Cory Schneider stepped in on Monday and made 23 saves to clinch the win. He came up big with a stop on a penalty shot in the third frame and Cody Hodgson tallied the game-tying goal minutes later. Alexandre Burrows later netted the game-winner in the frame.

"He was great tonight," Hodgson said of Schneider. "He's solid every time you put him in the net."

Both Henrik Sedin (charley horse) and Marco Sturm (wrist) missed practice on Tuesday with minor injuries suffered on Monday, but head coach Alain Vigneault pointed out that both players were able to finish the game and said they should play tonight.

The Canucks picked up a 6-2 home victory over the Flyers last year to win their second straight in this series. They have also won their last two trips to Philadelphia, where they haven't lost since Nov. 13, 2003.