Progress report on the Flyers

It's hard to believe, but with Thanksgiving just days away, the Flyers (11-5-3) already have reached the quarter pole in their march toward the playoffs. With enough games played to sort contenders from pretenders, that means it's time for the dreaded quarter report card that we used to hate getting:

OFFENSE

Grade: A

For a few hours Saturday afternoon, Claude Giroux held the NHL scoring lead with 26 points before Toronto's Phil Kessel snatched it back that night in a 7-1 win over Washington. Jaromir Jagr is on pace for 76 points, which would provide a better-than-expected return on his $3.3 million salary. Scott Hartnell (17 points) has been rejuvenated, skating with Jagr and Giroux. Matt Read and Max Talbot have combined to score 14 goals. And the Flyers still haven't gotten what they thought they would out of Wayne Simmonds (eight points) and injured rookie Brayden Schenn (no points) from that trade with Los Angeles.

Key stats: 71 goals in 19 games for NHL-best 3.74 goals-per-game average; league-high 28 points by rookies.

Flyers say: "We're a talented team," Simmonds said recently. "From Line 1 to Line 4, every one can score. It's nice."

DEFENSE

Grade: B-

Undoubtedly, the Flyers' defense corps has been steady this season. Their six regular defensemen have combined for a plus-16 rating. But even they would tell you there is room for improvement on a unit that costs north of $23.5 million - or nearly 40 percent of the $64.3 million salary cap. Rookie Erik Gustafsson has brought some much-needed speed to the unit.

Key stats: 57 goals-against in 19 games, 3.00 goals-against-per-game average is 20th in NHL; Kimmo Timonen (11 points) and Chris Pronger (12) are in the top 25 in scoring among defensemen.

Flyers say: "I think we're starting to develop a little chemistry with our goalie," Braydon Coburn said. "I expected it to happen, it's just time and experience, and it develops. It just takes time."

GOALTENDING

Grade: B

He said he was "lost in the woods" on Oct. 27. Now, Ilya Bryzgalov has rounded into the form everyone expected when the $51 million man signed in June. Meanwhile, Sergei Bobrovsky has been plagued by two starts against a Winnipeg team that has crushed the Flyers for 15 goals in two games, which has pushed his goals-against average to a league-worst 3.66 among those with a minimum of six appearances. Bryzgalov is on pace for 58 starts.

Key stats: Bryzgalov: 8-4-2, 2.65 GAA, .905 save percentage; Bobrovsky: 3-1-1, 3.66 GAA, .877 save percentage.