Barry Ashbee Trophy

2.94: Goals against per game for the Flyers in 2013. 141: Total goals allowed in 48 games. 10th: Rank in team defense in East. 2.83: Goals against per game for the Flyers in 2011-12. 46-40-52: Goals allowed by period for the Flyers, from first to third. The Flyers allowed the fifth-most goals league-wide in both the first and third periods, arguably the two biggest junctures of any hockey game. 68 percent: Goals the Flyers allowed at even strength, five-on-five play.

Flyers president Ron Ryan said yesterday that the team had fully cooperated with the NHL's internal investigation into allegations that Rick Tocchet, a former Flyer and Phoenix assistant coach, operated a gambling syndicate. Investigators from the league office reportedly have interviewed nearly 50 people throughout the NHL, including a half-dozen Flyer players and staffers last week, to try to determine what people might have known about the alleged operation. The NHL will finish their interviews with the Flyers in the weeks ahead, Ryan said.

TWO KEY FLYERS defensemen face an offseason of doubt, as both Nicklas Grossmann and Andrej Meszaros try to bounce back from serious injuries. Meszaros is perhaps the biggest question mark moving forward, as he has played just 73 games over the last 18 months. Meszaros was at the Skate Zone on Sunday to conduct his exit interview and he was seen wearing a shoulder immobilizing device. He is 3 weeks removed from a surgery that both repaired and strengthened his left shoulder - something he injured on two separate occasions in this 48-game season.

First-year goalie Roman Cechmanek last night received the Bobby Clarke Trophy as this year's most valuable Flyer, as selected by a panel of Philadelphia sportswriters and sportscasters. That award, and others, were presented before the game against the Florida Panthers at the First Union Center. Cechmanek went into the game with 33 victories, and was second among NHL leaders in goals-against average (2.00), save percentage (.923), and shutouts (10). His 10 shutouts are the most since Bernie Parent's 12 in 1974-75, when the Flyers won their second Stanley Cup. Dan McGillis broke Eric Desjardins' six-year run by winning the Barry Ashbee Trophy as the Flyers' outstanding defenseman.

Naturally, the Flyers want the Rangers to consider all possibilities. This is the time of year when the training-room door slams tight. As long as a limb is still attached to a body, an injured player will remain on a day-to-day basis. So, the word is not official. But do not count out Ilkka Sinisalo and Peter Zezel from making meaningful contributions in the first round of the playoffs, which begin Wednesday night at the Spectrum. Sinisalo, whose cracked foot was too painful to skate on Friday, will try again this morning.

Tim Kerr caught an accidental stick near the left eye late in the second period last night and had to leave the Flyers' 2-2 tie with Washington. Doctors at Wills Eye Hospital did not feel it was necessary to hold Kerr overnight, and the Flyers expressed confidence that he would be able to play in the playoff opener Wednesday night at Landover, Md. "I can't see out of it right now," Kerr said upon his return from the hospital after the game. "But I think that's from the drops they gave me. They want to check me again today.

There were few surprises last night as the Flyers handed out their annual awards. There were, however, plenty of boos and a few homemade signs. The Bobby Clarke Trophy, given by a panel of sportswriters and sportscasters to the team's most valuable player, went to Mark Recchi. The forward leads the NHL with 60 assists and leads the Flyers with 86 points. Recchi also leads the league in power-play assists (32) and power-play points (39). When the announcement was made before the game against the Atlanta Thrashers, fans at the First Union Center booed the mention of general manager Clarke's name.

The Flyers were out of playoff contention before last night's season finale against the Detroit Red Wings at the Spectrum, but they still had a chance to achieve something. Unfortunately for the Flyers, they would have had to lose the game to do it. The Flyers entered the game with 70 points, and the Red Wings came in with 69. Had the Flyers lost, they would have jumped ahead of Detroit in the selection order for June's amateur draft. But the teams tied, 3-3, so the Flyers will pick fourth in the draft, and the Red Wings third.

Speedy right winger Jake Voracek, who has blossomed into one of the NHL's top scorers, was named the Flyers' most valuable player before Thursday's home finale against the New York Islanders. "Obviously, I would switch it for the playoffs," he said. In a vote of media members, Voracek won the Bobby Clarke Trophy as MVP, and Kimmo Timonen captured the Barry Ashbee Trophy as the team's best defenseman. Acquired along with a draft pick - it turned out to be Sean Couturier - in a 2011 deal that sent Jeff Carter to Columbus, Voracek entered Thursday with a career-high 21 goals in 46 games.

For the longest time, many thought the No. 2 emblazoned on the back of Mark Howe's familiar orange Flyers sweater was symbolic. Some thought Mark Howe skated in the shadow of his famous father, Gordie "Mr. Hockey" Howe, who was his teammate for the first seven years of his career. Others thought it was his always finishing second, such as when he was twice a runner-up for the Stanley Cup (1985 and 1987). Or when he was a three-time finalist for the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman (1983, 1986, and 1987)

2.94: Goals against per game for the Flyers in 2013. 141: Total goals allowed in 48 games. 10th: Rank in team defense in East. 2.83: Goals against per game for the Flyers in 2011-12. 46-40-52: Goals allowed by period for the Flyers, from first to third. The Flyers allowed the fifth-most goals league-wide in both the first and third periods, arguably the two biggest junctures of any hockey game. 68 percent: Goals the Flyers allowed at even strength, five-on-five play.

TWO KEY FLYERS defensemen face an offseason of doubt, as both Nicklas Grossmann and Andrej Meszaros try to bounce back from serious injuries. Meszaros is perhaps the biggest question mark moving forward, as he has played just 73 games over the last 18 months. Meszaros was at the Skate Zone on Sunday to conduct his exit interview and he was seen wearing a shoulder immobilizing device. He is 3 weeks removed from a surgery that both repaired and strengthened his left shoulder - something he injured on two separate occasions in this 48-game season.

Speedy right winger Jake Voracek, who has blossomed into one of the NHL's top scorers, was named the Flyers' most valuable player before Thursday's home finale against the New York Islanders. "Obviously, I would switch it for the playoffs," he said. In a vote of media members, Voracek won the Bobby Clarke Trophy as MVP, and Kimmo Timonen captured the Barry Ashbee Trophy as the team's best defenseman. Acquired along with a draft pick - it turned out to be Sean Couturier - in a 2011 deal that sent Jeff Carter to Columbus, Voracek entered Thursday with a career-high 21 goals in 46 games.

ILYA BRYZGALOV has appeared in 98 games with the Flyers since signing a 9-year, $51 million contract in 2011. There is no reason he should play in another one - at least not this season. The most obvious question facing Paul Holmgren this summer is whether to use one of his compliance buyouts on Bryzgalov. The Flyers' front office seems split on the idea. It would be easy to cut Bryzgalov loose and write off $1.63 million for each of the next 14 years as a bad debt - something all major businesses sometimes do after making a risky acquisition.

IN THE LAST calendar year, Andrej Meszaros has played only seven hockey games. Yet, in many ways, a big part of the Flyers' playoff hopes hinge on his play - and his health - over the final 21 games of the season. When he can finally get adjusted and comfortable, Meszaros is a top-four defenseman with the ability to transform the Flyers' defense. So far, the defense - easily the Flyers' biggest weakness - has been divided into two categories. There are the hulking, lumbering blueliners, such as Nick Grossmann and Luke Schenn.

CLAUDE GIROUX'S mantel just got a little more crowded. Despite a push from a career season by linemate Scott Hartnell, Giroux cleaned up when the Flyers handed out their annual, end-of-year awards at the Wells Fargo Center on Thursday night before their final home game of the regular season. Giroux collected the prestigious Bobby Clarke Trophy as team MVP and also added the Toyota Cup because he accumulated the most three-stars points on the team. Giroux has a career-high 93 points, the most by any Flyer since Eric Lindros' 93 in 1998-99.

FOR THE LONGEST time, many thought the No. 2 emblazoned on the back of Mark Howe's familiar orange Flyers sweater was symbolic. Some thought Mark Howe skated in the shadow of his famous father, Gordie "Mr. Hockey" Howe, who was his teammate for the first 7 years of his career. Others thought it was he was always finishing second, such as when he was twice a runner-up for the Stanley Cup (in 1985 and 1987). Or when he was a three-time finalist for the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman (in 1983, 1986 and 1987)

What: Pregame ceremony with video montage, guest speakers, and raising of his No. 2 banner to permanently hang in the rafters. When: Tonight, 7 o'clock, before Flyers vs. Red Wings Where: Wells Fargo Center CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Born: May 28, 1955, Detroit Height/Weight: 5-11, 190 Teams: Flyers, Hartford Whalers, Detroit Red Wings (NHL) Houston Aeros, New England Whalers (WHA) Inducted into Flyers Hall of Fame on March 15, 2001. Inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame on Nov. 14, 2011 Accolades: Four-time NHL All-Star (1981, 83, 86, 88)

For the longest time, many thought the No. 2 emblazoned on the back of Mark Howe's familiar orange Flyers sweater was symbolic. Some thought Mark Howe skated in the shadow of his famous father, Gordie "Mr. Hockey" Howe, who was his teammate for the first seven years of his career. Others thought it was his always finishing second, such as when he was twice a runner-up for the Stanley Cup (1985 and 1987). Or when he was a three-time finalist for the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman (1983, 1986, and 1987)

Eric Desjardins, one of the best defensemen in the Flyers' history, was named the club's player-development coach yesterday. "Eric will be a great asset to the organization as he works with our young drafted players, helping them to prepare their game for the next level," general manager Paul Holmgren said. "Eric was a great Flyer, and his experience will be invaluable to the young players in our system. " In the newly created position, Desjardins will work with the coaching staffs of the Flyers and the Phantoms, their American Hockey League affiliate.