The Flyers split their camp in half today and had a pair of two-period scrimmages.

Some highlights:

-Jeff Carter scored two goals in the opener.
-Johan Backlund was shaky, allowing five goals.
-Once again, Mika Pyorala made an impression with fine-two way play skating mostly along side Carter and Scott Hartnell. Pyorala probably has passed Patrick Maroon on the depth chart (Maroon also skated on Carter's line) and has a real legit shot of making the final roster now.
-David Laliberte had a nice goal in the second scrimmage, which proved to be the game-winner as Ray Emery pitched a shutout in goal.
-Even though they didn't score, coach John Stevens was impressed with the line of Claude Giroux centering Danny Briere and James Van Riemsdyk. Look for that line to get a look in at least one of the upcoming exhibition games.
-Riley Cote buried defensemen Brennan Yadlowski - who is in camp on an amateur tryout contract - with a brutal check in the second game. Yadlowski had to be helped off the ice and was evaluated by team trainers. He seemed o.k. afterwards. Cote said he felt sorry he hit the kid so hard.
-Simon Gagne played in the scrimmage, but don't expect him in the lineup right away during the preseason. A team source said the plan is for Gagne to skip the first two preseason games, but to play in Toronto Saturday.
-At the end of the second scrimmage, Van Riemsdyk had a phenomenal breakaway goal that beat Emery during a shootout drill. The crowd ooohhed and aaahhhed at the goal and deservedly so. Van Riemsdyk told me after the scrimmage he intends on making the team out of camp. I still think he'll follow Giroux's path instead - half season with the Phantoms, then get the call up.
-Stevens can't stop talking about the Finns in camp. We know he's high on Pyorala, but he's also been pumping up defenseman Joonas Lehtivouri. Methinks he's shooting up the depth chart as well, but probably falls just short of making the team.
-As for who is going on the trip for the 3 exhibition games this week, the Flyers are taking 35 players. I'll provide the list in a minute, but John Stevens said there are a handful of other guys not going who would still get consideration for the final roster. That said, I think your 2009-2010 Flyers roster comes from this within this list:

Goalies: Ray Emery, Brian Boucher, Johann Backlund.

Defensemen: Chris Pronger, Matt Carle, Kimmo Timonen, Braydon Coburn, Ryan Parent, Randy Jones, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, Danny Syvret, Oskars Bartulis, Joonas Lehtivouri, Logan Stephenson.

Forwards: Mike Richards, Simon Gagne, Jeff Carter, Scott Hartnell, Danny Briere, Claude Giroux, Darroll Powe, Ian Laperriere, Daniel Carcillo, Blair Betts, Arron Asham, Riley Cote, Mark Bell, Andreas Nodl, Jonathon Kalinski, Krys Kolanos, Jared Ross, Matt Clackson, David Laliberte.

Look for more on the Flyers in tomorrow's print edition of the Daily Times or on Delcotimes.com