Frank Seravalli: Flyers' midterm grades are in

RALEIGH, N.C. - When the final horn sounded on the Capitals and Kings last night in Los Angeles, it officially marked the end of the first half of play in the NHL's arduous, 1,230-game season.

With that, it's time to break out the red Sharpie and pass out grades to the Flyers at the midterm, putting them into perspective with our Nov. 21 report card:

OFFENSE

Through the first 40 games, the Flyers rank second in goals per game (3.43) and third in total goals (137). They trail only Boston in goals per game and the Bruins and Vancouver in total goals. Those are two teams that met in last year's Stanley Cup finals.

With Scott Hartnell, on pace to shatter a career high in points, Art Ross Trophy finalist Claude Giroux and renaissance man Jaromir Jagr, the Flyers may have the top line in the East. They may, in fact, have their first trio of point-per-game players since 1995-96 if Hartnell and Jagr squeeze out just a few more tallies in the second half.

Matt Read is tied for the rookie lead in goals. It's amazing to think that James van Riemsdyk and Sean Couturier have been so quiet, yet the offense is still this productive. Jakub Voracek and Wayne Simmonds are both on pace for career highs in points.

Midterm: A

Quarter: A

DEFENSE

Turnovers are the name of the game - and the defense has been committing too many of them recently. Take, for example, the win over Chicago last Thursday. Matt Carle, Braydon Coburn and Andreas Lilja all forced brutal passes up the middle and one of them resulted in an early Blackhawks lead. Kimmo Timonen's solid offensive season (third among "D" in assists) has masked his age and lack of speed. Andrej Meszaros has been half the player he was last season. Marc-Andre Bourdon has filled in nicely for Chris Pronger, but with Lilja, the Flyers are vulnerable in depth defense, just as they were last season. Another injury among the top four could be catastrophic.

Midterm: C+

Quarter: B-

GOALTENDING