Not just another game for Emery

Where the heck have you been!?! I've been sitting right here at my computer for the last week or so, patiently awaiting your return. I mean, you only went out for a pack of cigarettes! Your dinner just kept getting colder and colder, and then I got tired of looking at it so I put it in you desk drawer.

I'm not sure why I put it there. I was upset at the time. By the way, your desk is covered in ants. I don't think its related to the dinner thing.

Oh yeah, and the Flyers have won THREE games since you walked out. Three. And O-K Tollefson and James van Riemsdyk got hurt. I hope your happy...

What's that? It was actually I who abandoned you while all of this was taking place? But, that's impossible. I'm usually so reliable... oh wait. No I'm not. Apologies.

Look, I blame school and the poor economy for my absence. And swine flu. I had swine flu. That's where I was. Cough, cough. Still think I have a touch of it, so you may want to stay away. The doctor said I got it from eating some undercooked bacon... or something.

Hey! The Flyers play at home against the Ottawa Senators tonight! Game starts at 7 p.m. Rumors were floating around about Danny Briere and possibly JVR playing tonight, but who knows? We will see come game time.

Honestly though, there is exactly ONE story on people's minds as this game approaches and that is Ray Emery taking on his former team. The very same team that ran him out of Canada, out of the NHL and all the way to the KHL.

Emery has been a revalation in his first two months with the Flyers, going 9-3-1 while displaying the form that helped lead the Senators to the Stanley Cup finals in 2007.

Here are three things to watch.

1.) Balanced offense- This is big for the Flyers, but its HUGE for the Senators, who for the last few years were a one line team with Danny Heatly, Danny Alfredsson and Jason Spezza carrying the entirety of the offensive load. Now, Heatly is a Shark and the team actually has a second line capable of putting pucks in the net. Mike Fisher has put up impressive numbers thus far this season and never count out newcomer Alex "The Enigma" Kovalev, who always likes to make life difficult for the orange and black.

2.) Ray Emery- Razor needs to keep his world famous emotions in check as he takes on his old team. He can't get caught trying to do too much or over-thinking things.

3.) Put pressure on Ottawa's goalie- The duo of Pascal LeClaire and Brian Elliot have not impressed so far this season. They have a combined 2.83 GAA and .897 S%. Both have dominated in their past, and the Flyers will have to work to make sure they aren't the team that turns things around for the Sens netminders.

Player to Watch: Ray Emery