Martin Biron stopped 29 shots, 11 in the third period alone, as the Philadelphia Flyers extended their unbeaten streak in Vancouver to 14 games over nearly 20 years, edging the Canucks, 3-2, at GM Place.
The Flyers have not lost in British Columbia since a 5-3 setback at Pacific Coliseum on January 17, 1989, posting 10 wins and four ties over that span.
Jeff Carter, Scott Hartnell and Jonathon Kalinski hit the net for the Flyers, who overcame the early loss of forward Simon Gagne to snap a two-game losing streak.
Daniel Sedin and Ryan Kesler tallied for the Canucks, who have lost three of their last four games.
Starter Curtis Sanford allowed two goals on nine shots in 20 minutes of play, then Cory Schneider finished the game strongly, allowing one goal on 20 shots.
Facing a one-goal deficit, the Canucks dominated for stretches of the third period. Biron kept the home team at bay with a half-dozen quality saves in the first 10 minutes.
Hartnell had a clean breakaway with seven minutes remaining, but Schneider managed to get his pad extended to stop the shovel shot from the crease.
Biron then came up with a huge glove save on Steve Bernier with 6 1/2 minutes remaining, stoning the forward from the edge of the crease.
Schneider was pulled for an extra attacker with 1:20 remaining and Mike Knuble was penalized for slashing with 20 seconds left. Despite the 6-on-4 advantage, Philly won several key faceoffs and didn't allow any quality chances as time ran out.
Gagne departed only 15 seconds into the contest, the victim of a questionable hit from Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa and did not return.
Unbowed, the visitors took a 1-0 lead as Carter upped his league-leading goal total to 27, converting a pass from Matt Carle into a backhander past Sanford at 3:16.
Sedin countered with a power-play wrister with 3:06 left in the first, sneaking a shot off Biron's shoulder and under the crossbar.
Hartnell restored Philly's lead 45 seconds later, unloading a slapshot from the left circle high and inside the right post.
Schneider spelled Sanford to start the second but the move didn't pay off as Kalinski picked up his first career goal 2:36 into the second period, tapping home an errant Josh Gratton pass from the slot.
The Flyers kept up the offensive pressure but couldn't add to their cushion.
Kesler's redirection of an Alex Burrows dish from the left circle brought Vancouver within 3-2 with just over eight minutes left in the frame.
Game Notes
Philadelphia improved to 7-0-1 since GM Place opened prior to the 1995-96 season...Flyers defensemen Kimmo Timonen returned to the lineup after missing only one game due to a cracked bone in his ankle...During the contest, the Canucks announced the acquisition of goaltender Jason LaBarbera from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2009 draft...Philadelphia continues its six-game road trip on Friday in Anaheim while Vancouver heads to Nashville on Thursday.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Around The Rink
To end the calendar year 2008, this edition will solely feature what I imagine could be the New Year's Resolutions/New Year's Needs for all 30 NHL clubs.
Anaheim: Relocation to an area of North America whose fan base is a captive
audience during the Winter months; Look into getting a more representative
sample of celebrity fans other than Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Snoop Dogg.
Atlanta: To find about seven more talented forwards and defenseman to
complement Ilya Kovalchuk; short of that, lighter fluid and a book of matches
for a public bonfire for those hideous third jerseys.
Boston: Not to let the Curse of Gord Kluzak and Cam Neely hit the team when it
is finally giving long-suffering fans a real reason to give a damn again.
Buffalo: Hire a disgraced Sallie Mae executive to teach the franchise how to
creatively stash away enough money to get Chris Drury, Danny Briere, J.P.
Dumont, Dmitri Kalinin and Jay McKee back.
Calgary: Provide an all-expenses paid, one-way vacation to the South Seas for
Iron Mike Keenan after Game 82.
Carolina: Check waiver wire, minor leagues and Europe, then call Paul Holmgren
to see how many more former Philadelphia Flyers team can stock on roster.
Chicago: Bribe Mother Nature with bratwurst and Air Jordans to ensure it's not
50 degrees and drizzly on New Year's Day.
Colorado: Work up courage to quietly take Joe Sakic aside and strongly suggest
that he retire immediately; take Joe's measurements at said meeting for bronze
statue to be placed outside Pepsi Center.
Columbus: Relocation to Winnipeg.
Dallas: Hold a parade of shame for Sean Avery's departure with open
convertibles at Dealey Plaza; assassinate him, label it a "conspiracy" and
blame everyone from the Commies to the CIA.
Detroit: Do everything possible to keep Marian Hossa beyond this season; sign
Chris Chelios to 10-year, $50 million contract which legally binds him to play
until he's 56.
Edmonton: Shift expenditures away from goal-scoring forwards and into Rogaine
for Kevin Lowe.
Florida: In an effort to further draw in fans from all across the entire span
of South Florida, place new arena in middle of Everglades.
Minnesota: Repeat this mantra over and over until it sticks: We are ruining
the league with choking defense. We are ruining our players by teaching how to
play choking defense. We will never win unless we learn to score.
Montreal: Encourage fans to stuff the ballot boxes for the All-Star game
because it's the franchise's birthright to steal the spotlight for their 100th
season.
Los Angeles: Get Tom Cruise to find some "psychiatric help" for team. Players
will be so busy trying to figure out what the hell an operating thetan is that
it'll take the shame away from all the losing.
Nashville: Work on making all the financial shenanigans between the team, city and
league a lot less conspicuous and less able to be dug up by mid-level accidental
investigative reporting.
New Jersey: Corneal and retinal transplants for upper management so they can
see the true wages of winning three Stanley Cups with stifling defense and
goaltending in the masses of empty seats at each home game.
New York Islanders: Lather, rinse. Repeat about 400,000 times or more as
necessary. Use that soap that mechanics or people who stuff newspapers at the
Inquirer have, because the stains ain't coming off too easily.
New York Rangers: Check to make sure rest of 19-year-old prospects are not
doing pot/coke/steroids/other illegal drugs and not stash them on teams in
foreign countries that don't have enough money for medical equipment; remind
selves that they can't win by trying to score exactly two goals a game.
Ottawa: To remember you have to fill the other nine forward spots with people
other than Heatley, Spezza and Alfredsson; remember that they can win 20 games
this season but if six of them are against Toronto all is forgiven.
Philadelphia: To manufacture deals to return R.J. Umberger and Patrick Sharp;
Briere's departure by injury or trade; shiny new head coach; to make
sure the next time the kids get restless and ready to party, to let them know
they can afford to have the girls imported instead of going out and stealing
them from penniless frat guys trying to score with their girlfriends.
Phoenix: For Wayne Gretzky to man up, fall on his sword and admit that nothing
he will ever do can change what is essentially a perpetually just-below-.500
franchise.
Pittsburgh: To teach Sidney Crosby to act more like a man on the ice,
including but not limited to getting him to understand that punching a player
from behind in his groinal region is not a good idea; moreover that someone
will record it live, post it to any video-compatible web site and fan the
flames of hatred for you and the organization.
San Jose: Must beat Ducks. Must beat Red Wings. Must convince Joe Thornton to
shoot more.
St. Louis: Even if they go out and play a bad game, treat 'em all to a viewing
of Paul Blart: Mall Cop and a group hug. Looks like they really need it.
Tampa Bay: Contraction, then hit the beach and the strip clubs.
Toronto: Promise to muzzle and/or punish general manager Brian Burke for every
time after the eighth occasion his remarks get him in trouble with the
Canadian/American/international media/other 29 clubs/owners/NHL
management/commissioner.
Vancouver: Find out if Steve Moore's family put a hex on the team; find better
colors for jerseys; find better jerseys.
Washington: Make enough room on the bandwagon for all the fans who suddenly
want to Rock the Red; protect owner Ted Leonsis from Russian mafia shakedown;
tell fans not to wait until the series is over to hit Jeff Carter in the head
with bottles.
Anaheim: Relocation to an area of North America whose fan base is a captive
audience during the Winter months; Look into getting a more representative
sample of celebrity fans other than Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Snoop Dogg.
Atlanta: To find about seven more talented forwards and defenseman to
complement Ilya Kovalchuk; short of that, lighter fluid and a book of matches
for a public bonfire for those hideous third jerseys.
Boston: Not to let the Curse of Gord Kluzak and Cam Neely hit the team when it
is finally giving long-suffering fans a real reason to give a damn again.
Buffalo: Hire a disgraced Sallie Mae executive to teach the franchise how to
creatively stash away enough money to get Chris Drury, Danny Briere, J.P.
Dumont, Dmitri Kalinin and Jay McKee back.
Calgary: Provide an all-expenses paid, one-way vacation to the South Seas for
Iron Mike Keenan after Game 82.
Carolina: Check waiver wire, minor leagues and Europe, then call Paul Holmgren
to see how many more former Philadelphia Flyers team can stock on roster.
Chicago: Bribe Mother Nature with bratwurst and Air Jordans to ensure it's not
50 degrees and drizzly on New Year's Day.
Colorado: Work up courage to quietly take Joe Sakic aside and strongly suggest
that he retire immediately; take Joe's measurements at said meeting for bronze
statue to be placed outside Pepsi Center.
Columbus: Relocation to Winnipeg.
Dallas: Hold a parade of shame for Sean Avery's departure with open
convertibles at Dealey Plaza; assassinate him, label it a "conspiracy" and
blame everyone from the Commies to the CIA.
Detroit: Do everything possible to keep Marian Hossa beyond this season; sign
Chris Chelios to 10-year, $50 million contract which legally binds him to play
until he's 56.
Edmonton: Shift expenditures away from goal-scoring forwards and into Rogaine
for Kevin Lowe.
Florida: In an effort to further draw in fans from all across the entire span
of South Florida, place new arena in middle of Everglades.
Minnesota: Repeat this mantra over and over until it sticks: We are ruining
the league with choking defense. We are ruining our players by teaching how to
play choking defense. We will never win unless we learn to score.
Montreal: Encourage fans to stuff the ballot boxes for the All-Star game
because it's the franchise's birthright to steal the spotlight for their 100th
season.
Los Angeles: Get Tom Cruise to find some "psychiatric help" for team. Players
will be so busy trying to figure out what the hell an operating thetan is that
it'll take the shame away from all the losing.
Nashville: Work on making all the financial shenanigans between the team, city and
league a lot less conspicuous and less able to be dug up by mid-level accidental
investigative reporting.
New Jersey: Corneal and retinal transplants for upper management so they can
see the true wages of winning three Stanley Cups with stifling defense and
goaltending in the masses of empty seats at each home game.
New York Islanders: Lather, rinse. Repeat about 400,000 times or more as
necessary. Use that soap that mechanics or people who stuff newspapers at the
Inquirer have, because the stains ain't coming off too easily.
New York Rangers: Check to make sure rest of 19-year-old prospects are not
doing pot/coke/steroids/other illegal drugs and not stash them on teams in
foreign countries that don't have enough money for medical equipment; remind
selves that they can't win by trying to score exactly two goals a game.
Ottawa: To remember you have to fill the other nine forward spots with people
other than Heatley, Spezza and Alfredsson; remember that they can win 20 games
this season but if six of them are against Toronto all is forgiven.
Philadelphia: To manufacture deals to return R.J. Umberger and Patrick Sharp;
Briere's departure by injury or trade; shiny new head coach; to make
sure the next time the kids get restless and ready to party, to let them know
they can afford to have the girls imported instead of going out and stealing
them from penniless frat guys trying to score with their girlfriends.
Phoenix: For Wayne Gretzky to man up, fall on his sword and admit that nothing
he will ever do can change what is essentially a perpetually just-below-.500
franchise.
Pittsburgh: To teach Sidney Crosby to act more like a man on the ice,
including but not limited to getting him to understand that punching a player
from behind in his groinal region is not a good idea; moreover that someone
will record it live, post it to any video-compatible web site and fan the
flames of hatred for you and the organization.
San Jose: Must beat Ducks. Must beat Red Wings. Must convince Joe Thornton to
shoot more.
St. Louis: Even if they go out and play a bad game, treat 'em all to a viewing
of Paul Blart: Mall Cop and a group hug. Looks like they really need it.
Tampa Bay: Contraction, then hit the beach and the strip clubs.
Toronto: Promise to muzzle and/or punish general manager Brian Burke for every
time after the eighth occasion his remarks get him in trouble with the
Canadian/American/international media/other 29 clubs/owners/NHL
management/commissioner.
Vancouver: Find out if Steve Moore's family put a hex on the team; find better
colors for jerseys; find better jerseys.
Washington: Make enough room on the bandwagon for all the fans who suddenly
want to Rock the Red; protect owner Ted Leonsis from Russian mafia shakedown;
tell fans not to wait until the series is over to hit Jeff Carter in the head
with bottles.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Flyers begin road trip; get crushed by surging Chicago
courtesy of the Sports Network
Brian Campbell and Dave Bolland both registered a goal and an assist, as the scorching Chicago Blackhawks bested the Philadelphia Flyers, 5-1, at the United Center.
Andrew Ladd, Patrick Sharp and Kris Versteeg also scored for the Blackhawks, who equaled a franchise record with their eighth straight win. Patrick Kane and Martin Havlat collected two assists apiece, while Nikolai Khabibulin made 17 saves to improve his record to an incredible 11-1-4 this season.
The Blackhawks last won eight straight from January 4-21, 1981 and originally set the record from December 9-26, 1971.
Mike Richards had the lone goal for the Flyers, who are 2-2-1 over their last five games and suffered their first defeat to Chicago since November 6, 2001, snapping a six-game winning streak.
Martin Biron, who returned from a bout with the flu, made his first start since December 13 and was victimized for five goals on 38 shots.
Philadelphia opened its annual post-Christmas expedition, a season-high six- game trek.
The surging Blackhawks came out strong. Havlat fired a quick shot from the top of the right circle and Biron made the initial stop, but Ladd followed up the play and slammed the rebound into the empty net at the 1:13 mark of first period.
Sharp, a former Flyer who was dealt to Chicago along with Eric Meloche in exchange for disappointing Matt Ellison and a third-round draft choice on December 5, 2005 in one of the most lopsided trades in Philadelphia history, scored 1:22 later to give the Blackhawks an early two-goal edge.
The league's reigning rookie of the year, Patrick Kane, intercepted a clearing attempt in the Philadelphia zone and dished to the slot for an uncovered Sharp, who rifled a wrister over the glove hand of Biron.
Amid a goalmouth scramble, Arron Asham continued to dig away at the puck and Richards eventually was able to bang it home at 7:42.
Biron was the story in a scoreless middle stanza, one in which Philadelphia was thoroughly outplayed and outshot 14-1. Khabibulin did not have to make a save until the 18:12 mark as the Flyers matched the franchise record for fewest shots in a period.
Chicago began the third period on a two-man advantage, and a laser by Campbell from the right point beat Biron high to the glove side a mere 39 seconds into the frame.
Versteeg lit the lamp at 4:07 with a pair of Flyers in the penalty box to make it 4-1 and Bolland found the back of the net a minute later.
Game Notes
Biron appeared in his 400th career game and 100th as a Flyer...Chicago has outscored opponents, 36-11 during their eight-game winning streak...The Blackhawks improved to 9-0-1 in the month of December, while Philadelphia fell to 8-2-2...Prior to the contest, the Blackhawks activated defenseman Aaron Johnson from injured reserve...It was only Chicago's second win over Philadelphia since November, 1996.
Brian Campbell and Dave Bolland both registered a goal and an assist, as the scorching Chicago Blackhawks bested the Philadelphia Flyers, 5-1, at the United Center.
Andrew Ladd, Patrick Sharp and Kris Versteeg also scored for the Blackhawks, who equaled a franchise record with their eighth straight win. Patrick Kane and Martin Havlat collected two assists apiece, while Nikolai Khabibulin made 17 saves to improve his record to an incredible 11-1-4 this season.
The Blackhawks last won eight straight from January 4-21, 1981 and originally set the record from December 9-26, 1971.
Mike Richards had the lone goal for the Flyers, who are 2-2-1 over their last five games and suffered their first defeat to Chicago since November 6, 2001, snapping a six-game winning streak.
Martin Biron, who returned from a bout with the flu, made his first start since December 13 and was victimized for five goals on 38 shots.
Philadelphia opened its annual post-Christmas expedition, a season-high six- game trek.
The surging Blackhawks came out strong. Havlat fired a quick shot from the top of the right circle and Biron made the initial stop, but Ladd followed up the play and slammed the rebound into the empty net at the 1:13 mark of first period.
Sharp, a former Flyer who was dealt to Chicago along with Eric Meloche in exchange for disappointing Matt Ellison and a third-round draft choice on December 5, 2005 in one of the most lopsided trades in Philadelphia history, scored 1:22 later to give the Blackhawks an early two-goal edge.
The league's reigning rookie of the year, Patrick Kane, intercepted a clearing attempt in the Philadelphia zone and dished to the slot for an uncovered Sharp, who rifled a wrister over the glove hand of Biron.
Amid a goalmouth scramble, Arron Asham continued to dig away at the puck and Richards eventually was able to bang it home at 7:42.
Biron was the story in a scoreless middle stanza, one in which Philadelphia was thoroughly outplayed and outshot 14-1. Khabibulin did not have to make a save until the 18:12 mark as the Flyers matched the franchise record for fewest shots in a period.
Chicago began the third period on a two-man advantage, and a laser by Campbell from the right point beat Biron high to the glove side a mere 39 seconds into the frame.
Versteeg lit the lamp at 4:07 with a pair of Flyers in the penalty box to make it 4-1 and Bolland found the back of the net a minute later.
Game Notes
Biron appeared in his 400th career game and 100th as a Flyer...Chicago has outscored opponents, 36-11 during their eight-game winning streak...The Blackhawks improved to 9-0-1 in the month of December, while Philadelphia fell to 8-2-2...Prior to the contest, the Blackhawks activated defenseman Aaron Johnson from injured reserve...It was only Chicago's second win over Philadelphia since November, 1996.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Jones heads to Phantoms; next stop Flyers
Courtesy of the Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that they have assigned defenseman Randy Jones to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms, for conditioning purposes, according club General Manager Paul Holmgren.
Jones, 27, has missed the first 30 games of this season recovering from surgery performed on his right hip on October 15, 2008.
The 6’2”, 200-pound defenseman recorded five goals and 26 assists for 31 points and 58 penalty minutes in 71 regular season games for the Flyers last season. He finished third on the team in plus/minus (+8) and set new career highs for goals, assists, points and games played in a single season. He recorded two assists and four penalty minutes in 16 playoff games as the Flyers reached the Eastern Conference Finals.
In 170 career NHL regular season games over the last four seasons, Jones has registered nine goals and 52 assists for 61 points and 112 penalty minutes. He was originally signed as a free agent by the Flyers on July 24, 2003.
The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that they have assigned defenseman Randy Jones to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms, for conditioning purposes, according club General Manager Paul Holmgren.
Jones, 27, has missed the first 30 games of this season recovering from surgery performed on his right hip on October 15, 2008.
The 6’2”, 200-pound defenseman recorded five goals and 26 assists for 31 points and 58 penalty minutes in 71 regular season games for the Flyers last season. He finished third on the team in plus/minus (+8) and set new career highs for goals, assists, points and games played in a single season. He recorded two assists and four penalty minutes in 16 playoff games as the Flyers reached the Eastern Conference Finals.
In 170 career NHL regular season games over the last four seasons, Jones has registered nine goals and 52 assists for 61 points and 112 penalty minutes. He was originally signed as a free agent by the Flyers on July 24, 2003.
Flyers win fifth straight, bury Avalanche
Simon Gagne and Mike Richards recorded a goal and two assists each as Philadelphia topped Colorado, 5-2, at the Wachovia Center.
Mike Knuble, Jeff Carter and Joffrey Lupul also tallied for the Flyers, who have won five games in a row.
Antero Niittymaki, in place of the flu-ridden Martin Biron, made 29 saves for the win and improved to 6-1-2 on the season.
"We've had some good bounces lately," said Flyers head coach John Stevens. "If you go back a little bit to the beginning of the year, I thought the first six games we had some unfortunate bounces. It just seems like the harder you work the bounces turn in your direction."
Paul Stastny and David Jones scored for the Avalanche, who have dropped two of three. Peter Budaj allowed five goals on 24 shots in defeat.
Colorado got on the board 9:23 into the contest while on the power play. Stastny won a right-circle draw forward to the boards. Two players overskated the puck as it caromed back into the slot, and Stastny picked it up and tucked it home.
Knuble then tied the game on the man advantage with 8:23 to play in the first, redirecting a Richards feed from the top of the crease. Carter completed a 2- on-1 with Gagne for a short-handed goal with 1:48 remaining in the period.
Lupul's wrister from the right circle found its way through a screen for a 3-1 Flyers lead with 8:36 left in the second.
One minute, 18 seconds later, Richards was credited with his 13th goal of the season. He took a shot from 25 feet out that was deflected in front, bounced off the top of the boards, the top of the net and down Budaj's back before crossing the goal line.
"He does a lot of things right out there, so I guess you get those types of bounces when you have the puck all game and you're shooting," Lupul said of Richards' lucky bounces on the score.
Philly wasted a late 5-on-3 power play and saw Colorado climb within 4-2 on its following advantage as Jones redirected a T.J. Hensick shot out of midair with 1:21 left in the period.
Kimmo Timonen's power-play blast from the point was tipped home by Gagne 2:14 into the third and gave the Flyers a 5-2 edge, and the home team clamped down from there to post the victory.
"It wasn't really a 5-2 game," said Avs head coach Tony Granato. "I thought we did a lot of things we wanted to especially early in the game, but they found a way to hang on there. The goalie made some saves when he had to. We tried. We ran out of gas a little bit towards the end, but they've won a lot of games lately for a reason."
Game Notes
Philly had not beaten Colorado since a 2-1 overtime win in Denver on December 27, 2002, and had not bested the Avs at home since a 5-4 overtime decision on October 28, 1999...Knuble's tally was his 100th as a Flyer...Carter's tally was the club's 12th shorthanded goal...Lupul's score gave him 10 on the season, the sixth Flyer to do so this season...Timonen picked up two assists, giving him six in the last two games...Richards extended his point streak to eight games...Budaj has given up four or more goals in three of his last four starts. It was also the sixth time this year that he has surrendered five or more goals.
Mike Knuble, Jeff Carter and Joffrey Lupul also tallied for the Flyers, who have won five games in a row.
Antero Niittymaki, in place of the flu-ridden Martin Biron, made 29 saves for the win and improved to 6-1-2 on the season.
"We've had some good bounces lately," said Flyers head coach John Stevens. "If you go back a little bit to the beginning of the year, I thought the first six games we had some unfortunate bounces. It just seems like the harder you work the bounces turn in your direction."
Paul Stastny and David Jones scored for the Avalanche, who have dropped two of three. Peter Budaj allowed five goals on 24 shots in defeat.
Colorado got on the board 9:23 into the contest while on the power play. Stastny won a right-circle draw forward to the boards. Two players overskated the puck as it caromed back into the slot, and Stastny picked it up and tucked it home.
Knuble then tied the game on the man advantage with 8:23 to play in the first, redirecting a Richards feed from the top of the crease. Carter completed a 2- on-1 with Gagne for a short-handed goal with 1:48 remaining in the period.
Lupul's wrister from the right circle found its way through a screen for a 3-1 Flyers lead with 8:36 left in the second.
One minute, 18 seconds later, Richards was credited with his 13th goal of the season. He took a shot from 25 feet out that was deflected in front, bounced off the top of the boards, the top of the net and down Budaj's back before crossing the goal line.
"He does a lot of things right out there, so I guess you get those types of bounces when you have the puck all game and you're shooting," Lupul said of Richards' lucky bounces on the score.
Philly wasted a late 5-on-3 power play and saw Colorado climb within 4-2 on its following advantage as Jones redirected a T.J. Hensick shot out of midair with 1:21 left in the period.
Kimmo Timonen's power-play blast from the point was tipped home by Gagne 2:14 into the third and gave the Flyers a 5-2 edge, and the home team clamped down from there to post the victory.
"It wasn't really a 5-2 game," said Avs head coach Tony Granato. "I thought we did a lot of things we wanted to especially early in the game, but they found a way to hang on there. The goalie made some saves when he had to. We tried. We ran out of gas a little bit towards the end, but they've won a lot of games lately for a reason."
Game Notes
Philly had not beaten Colorado since a 2-1 overtime win in Denver on December 27, 2002, and had not bested the Avs at home since a 5-4 overtime decision on October 28, 1999...Knuble's tally was his 100th as a Flyer...Carter's tally was the club's 12th shorthanded goal...Lupul's score gave him 10 on the season, the sixth Flyer to do so this season...Timonen picked up two assists, giving him six in the last two games...Richards extended his point streak to eight games...Budaj has given up four or more goals in three of his last four starts. It was also the sixth time this year that he has surrendered five or more goals.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Biron out with flu-like symptoms
Flyers starting goaltender Martin Biron is out for tonight's game against Colorado after the club said he came down with flu-like symptoms.
That was backed up by Tim Panaccio and Ed Moran on DNL.
The club called up Phantoms goaltender Scott Munroe as the backup, since Antero Niittymaki will get the start in Biron's place.
That was backed up by Tim Panaccio and Ed Moran on DNL.
The club called up Phantoms goaltender Scott Munroe as the backup, since Antero Niittymaki will get the start in Biron's place.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Avery officially done in Dallas
According to TSN of Canada, the Dallas Stars have let Sean Avery go.
Avery has officially served his six-game league-imposed suspension for sexually-suggestive remarks two weeks ago in Calgary but the club will not have him back.
As far as the Stars are concerned, let the healing begin.
As for Avery, to paraphrase a line from Trainspotting, with counseling and God's help, he might conquer this terrible affliction...
The NHL has officially gone Dr. Phil/Oprah insane with the way they are treating this guy. More on this later in the week.
Avery has officially served his six-game league-imposed suspension for sexually-suggestive remarks two weeks ago in Calgary but the club will not have him back.
As far as the Stars are concerned, let the healing begin.
As for Avery, to paraphrase a line from Trainspotting, with counseling and God's help, he might conquer this terrible affliction...
The NHL has officially gone Dr. Phil/Oprah insane with the way they are treating this guy. More on this later in the week.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Flyers cap miracle comeback with SO win over Hurricanes
by Jeff Kruczynski
The Sports Network
Scott Hartnell notched his fourth career hat trick and Simon Gagne scored the deciding goal in the shootout, as the Philadelphia Flyers stormed back from a four-goal third period deficit to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes, 6-5, at the Wachovia Center.
In what has become a broken record, the Flyers faced off against Carolina for fourth time in the last 16 days, with Philadelphia winning the season series (3-0-1).
Gagne was the first shooter in the extra segment and he deked to his left before stuffing the puck on the forehand past Michael Leighton, who committed early on the poke check. After Tuomo Ruutu was denied by Philadelphia's Antero Niittymaki, Mike Richards went to the backhand and roofed the puck over Leighton. Niittymaki then made a glove save on Rod Brind'Amour to preserve the win.
The victory marked just the second time in franchise history the Flyers trailed by four goals in the third period and came back to win.
Gagne scored the tying goal with 1:44 remaining in regulation and Scottie Upshall also lit the lamp for the Flyers, who have rebounded from a horrific 0-3-3 start to the 2008-09 campaign, going 15-4-3 over their next 22 tilts. Jeff Carter and Andrew Alberts both collected two assists, while Niittymaki made 26 saves.
Eric Staal registered two goals and an assist for the Hurricanes, who have dropped four of their last five games. Ruutu finished with three helpers, while Leighton surrendered five goals on 37 shots.
"We played some fine hockey for 40 minutes and in the third we got a lesson in fore check pressure," said Carolina head coach Paul Maurice.
Trailing 5-1 at the beginning of the third period, Hartnell scored at the 1:42 mark, and the Flyers crawled back within two as the former first-round pick completed the hat trick at 7:12 on the power play.
Philadelphia continued to chip away. Leighton turned aside Lasse Kukkonen's drive from the top of the right circle, but Upshall was able to bury the rebound with 4:52 remaining.
Gagne then capped the remarkable comeback with 1:44 to play in regulation. Shortly after Carolina rookie defenseman Brett Carson vacated the penalty box, the Flyers worked the puck deep in the Hurricanes' territory. Mike Knuble sent a backhand pass to Gagne at the right side of the goal. His first try was stopped, but Gagne continued to whack away and eventually banged it home.
Philadelphia killed off a penalty in the extra session to send the game to a shootout.
"I was disappointed with the way we played the first two periods," said Flyers head coach John Stevens. "It seemed like our role players were really providing the energy and physical play, but we were allowing their skill people to hurt us. Staal looked like a man possessed tonight. We were having a tough time containing him. I just asked them to go out and play 20 minutes the right way. I never had any idea that we could come back from that kind of hole against a team that was playing so well."
Staal gave the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead 61 seconds into the game, beating Niittymaki on the backhand, for his 300th career point.
The Hurricanes struck again early in the second period. Justin Williams held the puck along the left boards near the offensive blueline and dished across to Matt Cullen, roaring down the right wing. Cullen continued to drive the net and managed to flip the puck past Niittymaki at the 2:10 mark.
Sergei Samsonov then banged in the rebound of a Staal shot at 9:28, 11 seconds after Hartnell's power-play marker put Philadelphia on the board.
Carolina used the power play to build a four-goal cushion.
From behind the cage, Ray Whitney fed an uncovered Joni Pitkanen, whose one- timer from inside the left circle found the back of the net with 7:52 remaining in the middle stanza.
A laser off the stick of Staal, his team-leading 11th tally of the season, eluded Niittymaki with 4:47 left in the frame, and Carolina carried a seemingly comfortable 5-1 advantage into the second intermission.
"He (Stevens) came in and basically said we were playing like a bunch of pansies," Hartnell stated when asked what Stevens said after the second period.
Game Notes
Knuble's assist gave him 400 career points...Philadelphia has had 14 of its 15 games at home this season decided by one goal (8-4-3)...Carolina defenseman Bryan Rodney made his NHL debut...Before the game, the Hurricanes placed defenseman Frantisek Kaberle on injured reserve...The Flyers are 8-0-3 in the last 11 meetings with Carolina.
The Sports Network
Scott Hartnell notched his fourth career hat trick and Simon Gagne scored the deciding goal in the shootout, as the Philadelphia Flyers stormed back from a four-goal third period deficit to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes, 6-5, at the Wachovia Center.
In what has become a broken record, the Flyers faced off against Carolina for fourth time in the last 16 days, with Philadelphia winning the season series (3-0-1).
Gagne was the first shooter in the extra segment and he deked to his left before stuffing the puck on the forehand past Michael Leighton, who committed early on the poke check. After Tuomo Ruutu was denied by Philadelphia's Antero Niittymaki, Mike Richards went to the backhand and roofed the puck over Leighton. Niittymaki then made a glove save on Rod Brind'Amour to preserve the win.
The victory marked just the second time in franchise history the Flyers trailed by four goals in the third period and came back to win.
Gagne scored the tying goal with 1:44 remaining in regulation and Scottie Upshall also lit the lamp for the Flyers, who have rebounded from a horrific 0-3-3 start to the 2008-09 campaign, going 15-4-3 over their next 22 tilts. Jeff Carter and Andrew Alberts both collected two assists, while Niittymaki made 26 saves.
Eric Staal registered two goals and an assist for the Hurricanes, who have dropped four of their last five games. Ruutu finished with three helpers, while Leighton surrendered five goals on 37 shots.
"We played some fine hockey for 40 minutes and in the third we got a lesson in fore check pressure," said Carolina head coach Paul Maurice.
Trailing 5-1 at the beginning of the third period, Hartnell scored at the 1:42 mark, and the Flyers crawled back within two as the former first-round pick completed the hat trick at 7:12 on the power play.
Philadelphia continued to chip away. Leighton turned aside Lasse Kukkonen's drive from the top of the right circle, but Upshall was able to bury the rebound with 4:52 remaining.
Gagne then capped the remarkable comeback with 1:44 to play in regulation. Shortly after Carolina rookie defenseman Brett Carson vacated the penalty box, the Flyers worked the puck deep in the Hurricanes' territory. Mike Knuble sent a backhand pass to Gagne at the right side of the goal. His first try was stopped, but Gagne continued to whack away and eventually banged it home.
Philadelphia killed off a penalty in the extra session to send the game to a shootout.
"I was disappointed with the way we played the first two periods," said Flyers head coach John Stevens. "It seemed like our role players were really providing the energy and physical play, but we were allowing their skill people to hurt us. Staal looked like a man possessed tonight. We were having a tough time containing him. I just asked them to go out and play 20 minutes the right way. I never had any idea that we could come back from that kind of hole against a team that was playing so well."
Staal gave the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead 61 seconds into the game, beating Niittymaki on the backhand, for his 300th career point.
The Hurricanes struck again early in the second period. Justin Williams held the puck along the left boards near the offensive blueline and dished across to Matt Cullen, roaring down the right wing. Cullen continued to drive the net and managed to flip the puck past Niittymaki at the 2:10 mark.
Sergei Samsonov then banged in the rebound of a Staal shot at 9:28, 11 seconds after Hartnell's power-play marker put Philadelphia on the board.
Carolina used the power play to build a four-goal cushion.
From behind the cage, Ray Whitney fed an uncovered Joni Pitkanen, whose one- timer from inside the left circle found the back of the net with 7:52 remaining in the middle stanza.
A laser off the stick of Staal, his team-leading 11th tally of the season, eluded Niittymaki with 4:47 left in the frame, and Carolina carried a seemingly comfortable 5-1 advantage into the second intermission.
"He (Stevens) came in and basically said we were playing like a bunch of pansies," Hartnell stated when asked what Stevens said after the second period.
Game Notes
Knuble's assist gave him 400 career points...Philadelphia has had 14 of its 15 games at home this season decided by one goal (8-4-3)...Carolina defenseman Bryan Rodney made his NHL debut...Before the game, the Hurricanes placed defenseman Frantisek Kaberle on injured reserve...The Flyers are 8-0-3 in the last 11 meetings with Carolina.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Fun for the Feeble Minded
My co-workers and I usually go back and forth about the NHL and hockey in general.
Usually it starts with insults from non-hockey fans who get stuck writing stories about or who are assigned NHL games on any given night and always ends with me picking apart every argument they make about hockey sucking because, despite my love for the game, I agree with most of their logic that the league itself sucks.
Still, what came out of those always wearying quasi-complaints/discussions was a pretty golden idea: what if the next NHL expansion team employed nothing but former Flyers who are still active players?
The Winnipeg Blue Jackets
Head Coach: Kevin Dineen
Assistant Coaches: Keith Acton, Rick Tocchet
Goaltenders: Brian Boucher, Michael Leighton
Defensemen: Dennis Seidenberg, Kim Johnsson, Joni Pitkanen, Freddy Meyer, Denis Gauthier, Alexandre Picard, Jim Vandermeer.
Forwards:
First Line: Rod Brind'Amour, R.J. Umberger, Dainius Zubrus
Second Line: Justin Williams, Patrick Sharp, Ruslan Fedotenko
Third Line: Patrick Thoresen, Michal Handzus, Jon Sim
Fourth Line: Todd Fedoruk, Jim Dowd, Kyle Calder
Captain: Brind'Amour.
Usually it starts with insults from non-hockey fans who get stuck writing stories about or who are assigned NHL games on any given night and always ends with me picking apart every argument they make about hockey sucking because, despite my love for the game, I agree with most of their logic that the league itself sucks.
Still, what came out of those always wearying quasi-complaints/discussions was a pretty golden idea: what if the next NHL expansion team employed nothing but former Flyers who are still active players?
The Winnipeg Blue Jackets
Head Coach: Kevin Dineen
Assistant Coaches: Keith Acton, Rick Tocchet
Goaltenders: Brian Boucher, Michael Leighton
Defensemen: Dennis Seidenberg, Kim Johnsson, Joni Pitkanen, Freddy Meyer, Denis Gauthier, Alexandre Picard, Jim Vandermeer.
Forwards:
First Line: Rod Brind'Amour, R.J. Umberger, Dainius Zubrus
Second Line: Justin Williams, Patrick Sharp, Ruslan Fedotenko
Third Line: Patrick Thoresen, Michal Handzus, Jon Sim
Fourth Line: Todd Fedoruk, Jim Dowd, Kyle Calder
Captain: Brind'Amour.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Gagne rescues Flyers with third-period power-play goal
Simon Gagne's power-play goal late in the third period lifted Philadelphia over the New York Islanders, 4-3, at the Wachovia Center.
Jeff Carter and Arron Asham also lit the lamp for the Flyers, who have won three of four. Darroll Powe registered his first NHL tally, and Mike Richards picked up two assists.
Martin Biron stopped 24 shots to record his ninth straight win over the Islanders.
Andy Hilbert, Doug Weight and Blake Comeau scored for the Islanders, who wasted a two-goal lead and suffered their fourth consecutive loss.
Yann Danis took the loss after allowing all four goals on 25 shots.
Gagne put the Flyers on top, 4-3, with 8:52 left in regulation, taking a backhand pass from Richards and one-timing the puck from the left circle into the net just inside the right post. The goal came just 11 seconds after Islanders defenseman Brendan Witt went off for interference.
Biron and the Flyers' defense clamped down from there, only allowing a handful of New York chances at even strength and with the extra skater for New York in the final minute.
The Islanders struck first, on a power play at 9:23, as Hilbert redirected Chris Campoli's pass from the left boards past Biron.
Weight followed 1:11 later by batting in a loose puck, but Asham scored his second of the season a little more than 90 seconds after for Philadelphia's opening tally of the contest.
Powe followed the rebound of a Richards shot for his first career tally 8:09 into the second period and a 2-2 tie, and Carter stashed home a loose puck for a one-goal lead with 3:58 left in the second.
Comeau's wrister changed direction off the stick of Flyers defenseman Lasse Kukkonen and dipped through Biron 2:17 into the third.
Game Notes
The Flyers have won seven in a row over the Islanders and 10 of the last 11 meetings, including all three this season, and each of the 11 have been decided by three goals or less...Carter tied Buffalo's Thomas Vanek for the league lead in goals with 20...Danis got the nod after Joey McDonald started the previous 17 games...Biron last lost to the Isles on March 24, 2007, a 4-3 setback in Philadelphia...The Flyers continue their four-game homestand Thursday against Carolina, and the Islanders continue their four-game road swing in Pittsburgh on Thursday.
Jeff Carter and Arron Asham also lit the lamp for the Flyers, who have won three of four. Darroll Powe registered his first NHL tally, and Mike Richards picked up two assists.
Martin Biron stopped 24 shots to record his ninth straight win over the Islanders.
Andy Hilbert, Doug Weight and Blake Comeau scored for the Islanders, who wasted a two-goal lead and suffered their fourth consecutive loss.
Yann Danis took the loss after allowing all four goals on 25 shots.
Gagne put the Flyers on top, 4-3, with 8:52 left in regulation, taking a backhand pass from Richards and one-timing the puck from the left circle into the net just inside the right post. The goal came just 11 seconds after Islanders defenseman Brendan Witt went off for interference.
Biron and the Flyers' defense clamped down from there, only allowing a handful of New York chances at even strength and with the extra skater for New York in the final minute.
The Islanders struck first, on a power play at 9:23, as Hilbert redirected Chris Campoli's pass from the left boards past Biron.
Weight followed 1:11 later by batting in a loose puck, but Asham scored his second of the season a little more than 90 seconds after for Philadelphia's opening tally of the contest.
Powe followed the rebound of a Richards shot for his first career tally 8:09 into the second period and a 2-2 tie, and Carter stashed home a loose puck for a one-goal lead with 3:58 left in the second.
Comeau's wrister changed direction off the stick of Flyers defenseman Lasse Kukkonen and dipped through Biron 2:17 into the third.
Game Notes
The Flyers have won seven in a row over the Islanders and 10 of the last 11 meetings, including all three this season, and each of the 11 have been decided by three goals or less...Carter tied Buffalo's Thomas Vanek for the league lead in goals with 20...Danis got the nod after Joey McDonald started the previous 17 games...Biron last lost to the Isles on March 24, 2007, a 4-3 setback in Philadelphia...The Flyers continue their four-game homestand Thursday against Carolina, and the Islanders continue their four-game road swing in Pittsburgh on Thursday.
Monday, December 08, 2008
Flyers bits...
...on the off day.
First, something that only seemed to escape notice until the Lightning came to town on Tuesday - the number of close games the Flyers have played in already this season.
More than once on the all-too-rare network TV broadcast Saturday night at Carolina, Jim Jackson and Keith Jones openly campaigned for some games with a little more breathing room.
As it stands now, the orange and black have played 26 games this season. An amazing 21 of those have seen a result within two goals, including each of the last eight. Last year, at this juncture, the club played 27 contests with a mere 16 of them within two goals. Even the misery of two seasons ago saw 18 of the first 25 games decided by one or two tallies.
Call it parity, call it coaching, whatever. It's going to catch up to clubs playing so close to the vest one way or another - and soon. If this is the way the NHL is going, it's not going to bode well.
It's not like there are a spate of back-and-forth 6-5 or 7-6 games. The majority have been low-scoring slugfests where each team gives their all for 65 minutes plus shootout. It will wear on them and the quality of play will be affected in March, April and beyond.
There is no shame in a blowout. More goal-scoring talent has to be revealed in these games or else the league is going to totally revert to what the Minnesota Wild have been doing since 2000.
There's still hope that once the mythical fully-healthy lineup does come to the Flyers, their collective talent can separate them from the pack on more than a few coming nights. Until then, it's going to be white-knuckle time at the Wach and other arenas.
Simon Gagne's departure from this past Thursday's game due to dehydration raises all sorts of suspicious questions, except this one seems to have gone unasked: How can a finely-honed athlete, with capable training staff which is supposed to monitor fluids, allow this to happen? Flu or not, if Gagne is ready to play, he's gotta be taken care of by staff well enough to be out there for the whole game.
I don't think there's any truth to conspiracy theories linking that to his prior concussions, but the times are long past over when a player says he can play and nobody bats an eye until something goes wrong.
The club is in the middle of a great stretch which should be the biggest boost yet in their quest to rise in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference.
From November 28 through December 20, Philly will see eight of 11 games played on South Broad Street. Thus far, it's been a dicey 3-1-1, and in each game you could say there were turning points which could have turned the wins into losses, including Saturday's fluke OT winner by Jeff Carter.
Tomorrow begins a stretch of four in a row on home ice, facing the Islanders, Hurricanes, Penguins and Avalanche. Three wins would look awfully nice on the ledger, and points in all four are obviously acceptable.
At 13-7-6, the club is third in the Atlantic and sixth in the East. They are only six points behind the punchless (and largely goalless) Rangers with four games still in hand. It's possible that they could make it out of this month with 20 wins.
The scenario of having Randy Jones and Ryan Parent back on defense echoes on from the 1999-2000 season.
Keith Jones and Rod Brind'Amour missed the start of the season and the club foundered without much offense or toughness. Jones came back after 6 weeks, Brindy arrived in early December and the club began to roll from the holidays on. The 2008-09 team probably has more raw talent and definitely more youth than that one.
Finally, a personal recollection.
When I was in third grade, it was the second week in December when I caught a horrible case of the flu and missed school for an entire week. It was also the first time I ever failed to watch or listen to more than one Flyers game in my life (excluding late West Coast games).
Back then, from December 7-14, 1986, the Flyers sliced through Edmonton (5-2), Vancouver (6-3) and Calgary (5-3) at home, then lost to Minnesota (4-5) and beat Winnipeg (4-1) on the road. I have zero first-hand recollection of any of those. I have the Vancouver game on tape, thanks to my grandparents and it happened to be Bob Froese's last start in goal here.
Even when I got hit with the flu during my junior year of high school in 1995, I caught all four games during the illness, including the 7-0 rout in Montreal where John LeClair scored a hat trick in his first game against the Habs.
Lucky for me, the first post-codeine haze contest happened to be the night Dave Poulin and Tim Kerr rained destruction on the Islanders, 9-4, at the Spectrum. Plus, that Christmas, I got a TV in my bedroom so after that, sick, well or sleepless, I caught every game broadcast on Channel 57 until I went to college.
First, something that only seemed to escape notice until the Lightning came to town on Tuesday - the number of close games the Flyers have played in already this season.
More than once on the all-too-rare network TV broadcast Saturday night at Carolina, Jim Jackson and Keith Jones openly campaigned for some games with a little more breathing room.
As it stands now, the orange and black have played 26 games this season. An amazing 21 of those have seen a result within two goals, including each of the last eight. Last year, at this juncture, the club played 27 contests with a mere 16 of them within two goals. Even the misery of two seasons ago saw 18 of the first 25 games decided by one or two tallies.
Call it parity, call it coaching, whatever. It's going to catch up to clubs playing so close to the vest one way or another - and soon. If this is the way the NHL is going, it's not going to bode well.
It's not like there are a spate of back-and-forth 6-5 or 7-6 games. The majority have been low-scoring slugfests where each team gives their all for 65 minutes plus shootout. It will wear on them and the quality of play will be affected in March, April and beyond.
There is no shame in a blowout. More goal-scoring talent has to be revealed in these games or else the league is going to totally revert to what the Minnesota Wild have been doing since 2000.
There's still hope that once the mythical fully-healthy lineup does come to the Flyers, their collective talent can separate them from the pack on more than a few coming nights. Until then, it's going to be white-knuckle time at the Wach and other arenas.
Simon Gagne's departure from this past Thursday's game due to dehydration raises all sorts of suspicious questions, except this one seems to have gone unasked: How can a finely-honed athlete, with capable training staff which is supposed to monitor fluids, allow this to happen? Flu or not, if Gagne is ready to play, he's gotta be taken care of by staff well enough to be out there for the whole game.
I don't think there's any truth to conspiracy theories linking that to his prior concussions, but the times are long past over when a player says he can play and nobody bats an eye until something goes wrong.
The club is in the middle of a great stretch which should be the biggest boost yet in their quest to rise in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference.
From November 28 through December 20, Philly will see eight of 11 games played on South Broad Street. Thus far, it's been a dicey 3-1-1, and in each game you could say there were turning points which could have turned the wins into losses, including Saturday's fluke OT winner by Jeff Carter.
Tomorrow begins a stretch of four in a row on home ice, facing the Islanders, Hurricanes, Penguins and Avalanche. Three wins would look awfully nice on the ledger, and points in all four are obviously acceptable.
At 13-7-6, the club is third in the Atlantic and sixth in the East. They are only six points behind the punchless (and largely goalless) Rangers with four games still in hand. It's possible that they could make it out of this month with 20 wins.
The scenario of having Randy Jones and Ryan Parent back on defense echoes on from the 1999-2000 season.
Keith Jones and Rod Brind'Amour missed the start of the season and the club foundered without much offense or toughness. Jones came back after 6 weeks, Brindy arrived in early December and the club began to roll from the holidays on. The 2008-09 team probably has more raw talent and definitely more youth than that one.
Finally, a personal recollection.
When I was in third grade, it was the second week in December when I caught a horrible case of the flu and missed school for an entire week. It was also the first time I ever failed to watch or listen to more than one Flyers game in my life (excluding late West Coast games).
Back then, from December 7-14, 1986, the Flyers sliced through Edmonton (5-2), Vancouver (6-3) and Calgary (5-3) at home, then lost to Minnesota (4-5) and beat Winnipeg (4-1) on the road. I have zero first-hand recollection of any of those. I have the Vancouver game on tape, thanks to my grandparents and it happened to be Bob Froese's last start in goal here.
Even when I got hit with the flu during my junior year of high school in 1995, I caught all four games during the illness, including the 7-0 rout in Montreal where John LeClair scored a hat trick in his first game against the Habs.
Lucky for me, the first post-codeine haze contest happened to be the night Dave Poulin and Tim Kerr rained destruction on the Islanders, 9-4, at the Spectrum. Plus, that Christmas, I got a TV in my bedroom so after that, sick, well or sleepless, I caught every game broadcast on Channel 57 until I went to college.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Handling of Avery Incident gives NHL, others maximum exposure
OK, so Dallas Stars forward and renowned pest Sean Avery went on what amounts to Canadian national television prior to Tuesday's game between the Stars and Flames in Calgary.
He makes a snide remark about Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf's girlfriend, the lovely Elisha Cuthbert, and the fact that fellow players have had a recent habit of picking up whoever he's dumped.
He uses the term "sloppy seconds" when you know it couldn't have been worse without crossing the line into having his words bleeped. Consult your urban dictionary for the full explanation.
Almost immediately, condemnation cascaded down quicker Niagara Falls all over the airwaves throughout North America. Avery was given an immediate indefinite suspension pending a hearing with Gary Bettman and was denounced publicly by Stars owner Tom Hicks and by co-general managers Les Jackson and Brett Hull.
That's what I know so far.
I've also been able to figure out a few more things because of the way the situation has played out over the last few days:
It exposed the NHL as excitement-killing frauds.
It exposed the Dallas Stars' ownership and management, along with the commissioners' office as a bunch of cocktail-swilling petty bourgeoisie hypocrites more intent on protecting their investment and good name than backing the ones who make them money.
It exposed the Stars players as nothing more than good company men, in lockstep with the company line to save their own asses.
It exposed all of English Canada as the bunch of prudes they've been rumored to be.
It also exposed both the American and Canadian sports media machine as a bunch of frauds.
First, the league itself. Through the efforts of Bettman, the distant owners and the influence of the competition committee, fighting in its truest spirit - that of settling scores between two players with beef and allowing teams to vent their collective frustration against each other - has been eradicated.
Even if Avery hadn't been removed from the lineup for his own "protection," it is unlikely Phaneuf would have gotten one chance on the ice to settle the score. That is, if he even payed the comment enough mind to warrant a showdown.
Time was, two players could paw at each other at least three times in one game before any instigator, misconduct or suspensions were discussed. But the days of Tie Domi, Bob Probert, Rob Ray and even Eric Lindros laying down the law and keeping things settled between players are long gone.
Without the impending threat (or inevitability if you like fighting) of two tough guys throwing hands, that Dallas-Calgary game was quickly boiled down to what Year Four of The New NHL has become: a boring chess match between coaches, where the only goals are derided as defensive mistakes instead of creative offense.
It ended 3-1 for the Stars. Yawn.
Next, I can't believe how quickly Stars owner Tom Hicks and Bettman swooped in to make the first sword cut and pour the vinegar in. A statement from the commish's office I could see, but for the club owner to throw one of his big free agent signings under the bus before consulting with Avery or team staff first? Ridiculous.
If I were Avery, I'd ask for a trade ASAP because it's obvious the man who pays your salary doesn't think your worth much. Which is odd, because in spite of all your bad press and circus act, Hicks brought you to Dallas from New York because the Stars were in dire need of an enforcer with scoring touch.
Funny how the worm has turned on that one.
Plus, how credible is it that Bettman suspended Avery indefinitely for what amounted to a 30 second sound bite, while ignoring exactly all of the far-more-harmful vicious hits to the head this season?
Again, time was that the rivalries between players, coaches and organizations permitted that kind of sparring and didn't make a spectacle.
Avery was wrong to air the dirty laundry usually reserved for the faceoff circle in a public forum, but it is hardly a shame or a scandal to anyone involved, least of all the venerable institution of hockey - which is still a fifth-tier sport in America even if it's first in the hearts of Canadians.
I'm even more incredulous that Hull - one of the biggest critics of the decline in the game when he played and the one who reportedly pressed for Avery's acquisition - all of a sudden decided to use his ample voice to turn against his former Red Wing roommate and side with the owner.
What should have happened was that Hicks, the club's two general managers, PR staff and Avery meet as soon as the comments were made to hash out a solution. The club should have issued a statement condemning the action but reminding folks that Avery, for better or worse, is one who stirs the pot in the name of competition and intrigue.
It shouldn't matter if the higher-ups in the organization have a distaste for Avery in spite of the signing - you at least have to protect your own in the opening salvo of a media firestorm. The Stars failed to do that in spades.
Avery's being shunned like Dan Quinn was back in November, 1992, when the veteran forward was allegedly involved in a rape while with the North Stars. Quinn found no support from the franchise, was immediately released, and his career never regained momentum though he played five more seasons.
I'm wondering at what point hockey players in general progressed from highly-paid automatons to black sheep children whose high-society parents have to publicly shun in order to save face at the country club.
Maybe we've reached that point now. If so, what garbage.
Regardless, what hypocrites the Stars are to invite the circus into the house but kick it out after the elephants soil the carpet.
Those close to the club when the Avery signing was complete in July knew that the players themselves were against it. They knew what they were getting from being the opposition for so many years.
Then, goaltender Marty Turco publicly lamented about Avery after he exchanged words with fans on November 1 in Boston after a testy, old-fashioned brawling game. Now this. It's appalling that there's not one man in the room who has jumped to Avery's defense.
That's shameful in and of itself, that his own teammates have spoken volumes with their silence on the matter. They should have done their part to let management know they could take care of the matter internally.
I presume that his teammates were not under any kind of threat if they felt otherwise. There was no danger of benching, demotion, or trade for even one player to come to Avery's aid, and when Avery tried to offer an apology on Wednesday before a public statement, his teammates rejected it.
What's come to light reminds me of a quote from a Billy Joel song: "Say a word out of line, you find out your friends you had are gone forever."
My job requires me to watch a ton of television and a ton of games each shift. This time of year when I work nights, I preview my NHL slate of the evening by watching TSN of Canada, the nation's answer to ESPN's SportsCenter.
The outrage from Avery's comments poured in from each of the four panelists on the NHL segment: host Brian Engblom, hockey insider Bob McKenzie, former NHL pest Keith Jones and former Tampa Bay head coach John Tortorella.
To a man, each expressed their displeasure with the incident. What's not shocking is that the first three men who objected are Canadian-born. What is surprising, is that notorious Boston-bred lout Tortorella, never one to hide his opinions, fell in lockstep with his colleagues.
Honestly, I don't get it. I thought Universal Rule Number One of sports media is to create conversation, drama and controversy with which to suck in the viewer.
All four panelists consciously did neither, unless you believe that all four were covering their rear ends since the TSN studios are located in Toronto, the de facto Canadian home of NHL operations.
It's not too hard to see how Bettman could have whispered down the lane that nobody, not even the media anywhere in the hockey sphere, were to challenge the official league stance.
All of them, Tortorella in particular, missed the chance to even create some inter-panel heated dialogue and failed.
I'm replaying what it would have been like in my head as I write this, and it's fantastic. A bonanza of buzz. It ends with Tortorella staring over at McKenzie, screaming "Shut Yer Yap!!"
Plus, what little coverage there was on the ESPN behemoth (Matthew Barnaby, I'm looking at you) was a hollow echo of the party line from the Great White North. And you know if ESPN can't make a big deal out of something, there are internal mechanisms at work to squash the effort.
Still, for all the furor, all that came out was something mildly derogatory about the dating habits of a rival player. It was a classic quote, an all-timer. A true non-sequitur except with (gulp) a PG-13 edge!
I can't take all this contrived and strangely robotic finger-pointing, hell-fire and damnation. It's too suspicious and fraudulent and looks too much like hockey's version of The Stepford Wives.
Sorry, naysayers in the U.S. and abroad, Avery's paragraph of glory was neither profane nor vulgar. It did not bring disrepute to the Dallas Stars, the Calgary Flames, Avery, Phaneuf, Cuthbert, or the National Hockey League.
I will stake whatever I'm worth in this life and say that the majority of hockey fans or sports fans in North America alike laughed heartily at the implication. I'm sure, like me, they found the intent appropriate but the venue not so much.
This proves the NHL is becoming the closest thing to Puritanism since John Calvin. First, they took away much of the blood and guts and honor and entertainment from fighting. Now, they're taking away a player's right to gamesmanship through the media by bringing ye olde hammer down on naughty, evil, suggestive innuendo.
Avery finally met with Goodman Gary on Friday, during which the erstwhile moral arbiter of the league imposed a six-game ban without pay. Included in that penalty is a stipulation that he receive anger-management training and other counseling.
What's next? A league-mandated appointment on Dr. Phil's couch some time after
that's all finished?
For the hairshirt he now wears, Avery's public apology released Wednesday afternoon should have been enough. After that? Maybe a team-imposed stint watching games from the press box. That's all.
It's a fact that Avery is known to be a total jackass. It still doesn't make what has transpired over the last few days right, or proper, or poetic justice.
It's not Sean Avery who is a fraud of a player with lack of "respect for the game." It's everyone else involved, with his individual overblown sense of outrage and false propriety who are the frauds this time.
What garbage.
He makes a snide remark about Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf's girlfriend, the lovely Elisha Cuthbert, and the fact that fellow players have had a recent habit of picking up whoever he's dumped.
He uses the term "sloppy seconds" when you know it couldn't have been worse without crossing the line into having his words bleeped. Consult your urban dictionary for the full explanation.
Almost immediately, condemnation cascaded down quicker Niagara Falls all over the airwaves throughout North America. Avery was given an immediate indefinite suspension pending a hearing with Gary Bettman and was denounced publicly by Stars owner Tom Hicks and by co-general managers Les Jackson and Brett Hull.
That's what I know so far.
I've also been able to figure out a few more things because of the way the situation has played out over the last few days:
It exposed the NHL as excitement-killing frauds.
It exposed the Dallas Stars' ownership and management, along with the commissioners' office as a bunch of cocktail-swilling petty bourgeoisie hypocrites more intent on protecting their investment and good name than backing the ones who make them money.
It exposed the Stars players as nothing more than good company men, in lockstep with the company line to save their own asses.
It exposed all of English Canada as the bunch of prudes they've been rumored to be.
It also exposed both the American and Canadian sports media machine as a bunch of frauds.
First, the league itself. Through the efforts of Bettman, the distant owners and the influence of the competition committee, fighting in its truest spirit - that of settling scores between two players with beef and allowing teams to vent their collective frustration against each other - has been eradicated.
Even if Avery hadn't been removed from the lineup for his own "protection," it is unlikely Phaneuf would have gotten one chance on the ice to settle the score. That is, if he even payed the comment enough mind to warrant a showdown.
Time was, two players could paw at each other at least three times in one game before any instigator, misconduct or suspensions were discussed. But the days of Tie Domi, Bob Probert, Rob Ray and even Eric Lindros laying down the law and keeping things settled between players are long gone.
Without the impending threat (or inevitability if you like fighting) of two tough guys throwing hands, that Dallas-Calgary game was quickly boiled down to what Year Four of The New NHL has become: a boring chess match between coaches, where the only goals are derided as defensive mistakes instead of creative offense.
It ended 3-1 for the Stars. Yawn.
Next, I can't believe how quickly Stars owner Tom Hicks and Bettman swooped in to make the first sword cut and pour the vinegar in. A statement from the commish's office I could see, but for the club owner to throw one of his big free agent signings under the bus before consulting with Avery or team staff first? Ridiculous.
If I were Avery, I'd ask for a trade ASAP because it's obvious the man who pays your salary doesn't think your worth much. Which is odd, because in spite of all your bad press and circus act, Hicks brought you to Dallas from New York because the Stars were in dire need of an enforcer with scoring touch.
Funny how the worm has turned on that one.
Plus, how credible is it that Bettman suspended Avery indefinitely for what amounted to a 30 second sound bite, while ignoring exactly all of the far-more-harmful vicious hits to the head this season?
Again, time was that the rivalries between players, coaches and organizations permitted that kind of sparring and didn't make a spectacle.
Avery was wrong to air the dirty laundry usually reserved for the faceoff circle in a public forum, but it is hardly a shame or a scandal to anyone involved, least of all the venerable institution of hockey - which is still a fifth-tier sport in America even if it's first in the hearts of Canadians.
I'm even more incredulous that Hull - one of the biggest critics of the decline in the game when he played and the one who reportedly pressed for Avery's acquisition - all of a sudden decided to use his ample voice to turn against his former Red Wing roommate and side with the owner.
What should have happened was that Hicks, the club's two general managers, PR staff and Avery meet as soon as the comments were made to hash out a solution. The club should have issued a statement condemning the action but reminding folks that Avery, for better or worse, is one who stirs the pot in the name of competition and intrigue.
It shouldn't matter if the higher-ups in the organization have a distaste for Avery in spite of the signing - you at least have to protect your own in the opening salvo of a media firestorm. The Stars failed to do that in spades.
Avery's being shunned like Dan Quinn was back in November, 1992, when the veteran forward was allegedly involved in a rape while with the North Stars. Quinn found no support from the franchise, was immediately released, and his career never regained momentum though he played five more seasons.
I'm wondering at what point hockey players in general progressed from highly-paid automatons to black sheep children whose high-society parents have to publicly shun in order to save face at the country club.
Maybe we've reached that point now. If so, what garbage.
Regardless, what hypocrites the Stars are to invite the circus into the house but kick it out after the elephants soil the carpet.
Those close to the club when the Avery signing was complete in July knew that the players themselves were against it. They knew what they were getting from being the opposition for so many years.
Then, goaltender Marty Turco publicly lamented about Avery after he exchanged words with fans on November 1 in Boston after a testy, old-fashioned brawling game. Now this. It's appalling that there's not one man in the room who has jumped to Avery's defense.
That's shameful in and of itself, that his own teammates have spoken volumes with their silence on the matter. They should have done their part to let management know they could take care of the matter internally.
I presume that his teammates were not under any kind of threat if they felt otherwise. There was no danger of benching, demotion, or trade for even one player to come to Avery's aid, and when Avery tried to offer an apology on Wednesday before a public statement, his teammates rejected it.
What's come to light reminds me of a quote from a Billy Joel song: "Say a word out of line, you find out your friends you had are gone forever."
My job requires me to watch a ton of television and a ton of games each shift. This time of year when I work nights, I preview my NHL slate of the evening by watching TSN of Canada, the nation's answer to ESPN's SportsCenter.
The outrage from Avery's comments poured in from each of the four panelists on the NHL segment: host Brian Engblom, hockey insider Bob McKenzie, former NHL pest Keith Jones and former Tampa Bay head coach John Tortorella.
To a man, each expressed their displeasure with the incident. What's not shocking is that the first three men who objected are Canadian-born. What is surprising, is that notorious Boston-bred lout Tortorella, never one to hide his opinions, fell in lockstep with his colleagues.
Honestly, I don't get it. I thought Universal Rule Number One of sports media is to create conversation, drama and controversy with which to suck in the viewer.
All four panelists consciously did neither, unless you believe that all four were covering their rear ends since the TSN studios are located in Toronto, the de facto Canadian home of NHL operations.
It's not too hard to see how Bettman could have whispered down the lane that nobody, not even the media anywhere in the hockey sphere, were to challenge the official league stance.
All of them, Tortorella in particular, missed the chance to even create some inter-panel heated dialogue and failed.
I'm replaying what it would have been like in my head as I write this, and it's fantastic. A bonanza of buzz. It ends with Tortorella staring over at McKenzie, screaming "Shut Yer Yap!!"
Plus, what little coverage there was on the ESPN behemoth (Matthew Barnaby, I'm looking at you) was a hollow echo of the party line from the Great White North. And you know if ESPN can't make a big deal out of something, there are internal mechanisms at work to squash the effort.
Still, for all the furor, all that came out was something mildly derogatory about the dating habits of a rival player. It was a classic quote, an all-timer. A true non-sequitur except with (gulp) a PG-13 edge!
I can't take all this contrived and strangely robotic finger-pointing, hell-fire and damnation. It's too suspicious and fraudulent and looks too much like hockey's version of The Stepford Wives.
Sorry, naysayers in the U.S. and abroad, Avery's paragraph of glory was neither profane nor vulgar. It did not bring disrepute to the Dallas Stars, the Calgary Flames, Avery, Phaneuf, Cuthbert, or the National Hockey League.
I will stake whatever I'm worth in this life and say that the majority of hockey fans or sports fans in North America alike laughed heartily at the implication. I'm sure, like me, they found the intent appropriate but the venue not so much.
This proves the NHL is becoming the closest thing to Puritanism since John Calvin. First, they took away much of the blood and guts and honor and entertainment from fighting. Now, they're taking away a player's right to gamesmanship through the media by bringing ye olde hammer down on naughty, evil, suggestive innuendo.
Avery finally met with Goodman Gary on Friday, during which the erstwhile moral arbiter of the league imposed a six-game ban without pay. Included in that penalty is a stipulation that he receive anger-management training and other counseling.
What's next? A league-mandated appointment on Dr. Phil's couch some time after
that's all finished?
For the hairshirt he now wears, Avery's public apology released Wednesday afternoon should have been enough. After that? Maybe a team-imposed stint watching games from the press box. That's all.
It's a fact that Avery is known to be a total jackass. It still doesn't make what has transpired over the last few days right, or proper, or poetic justice.
It's not Sean Avery who is a fraud of a player with lack of "respect for the game." It's everyone else involved, with his individual overblown sense of outrage and false propriety who are the frauds this time.
What garbage.
Hockey East Tidbits
Courtesy of Hockeyeastonline.com
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey announced today that five Hockey East student-athletes were named to the 22-player roster for its 2009 U.S. National Junior Team. The squad will participate at the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Under-20 Championship, commonly referred to as the World Junior Championship, in Ottawa, Ontario, Dec. 26, 2008- Jan. 5, 2009. Hockey East led the way among the six Division I NCAA conferences with five selections.
Boston College’s Jimmy Hayes (Dorchester, Mass.), New Hampshire’s James van Riemsdyk (Middletown, N.J.) Boston University’s Colin Wilson (Greenwich, Conn.) were among the 13 forwards selected to Team USA. On defense, UNH’s Blake Kessel (Verona, Wis.) and BU’s Kevin Shattenkirk (New Rochelle, N.Y.) were chosen as two of the seven defensemen on the U.S. squad.
van Riemsdyk, who was chosen second overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers and was a member of the 2007 U.S. National Junior Team that won a bronze medal at the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship in Leksand and Mora, Sweden. He is currently tied for 11th nationally in points per game at 1.36 and leads the Wildcats’ roster in points with 19 points. His 14 points in league play this season ranks first among conference skaters.
WAKEFIELD, Mass. – The Hockey East Association is pleased to announce that Boston College’s Brian Gionta has been named Hockey East’s Best Goal Scorer as the league continues its 25th Anniversary celebration. Gionta was chosen in a vote comprised of Hockey East fans and members of the league’s 25th Anniversary Committee.
“Brian was a crowd favorite while he was here,” said commissioner Joe Bertagna. “He was skilled. He was tough. And it wouldn’t surprise me if his five-goal night might earn him another fan honor down the line."
As a senior in 2000-01, Gionta also earned a National Championship while a member of the BC Eagles when his team topped North Dakota 3-2 in overtime. Gionta finished his stellar career at the Heights as Hockey East’s All-Time leading goal scorer, posting 83 goals in 96 career league contests. Gionta was named Hockey East Player of the Year in his senior season (2000-01) and was Hockey East Rookie of the Year in 1997-98. Gionta is the only player in Hockey East history to be named to the All-Star team in all four seasons of play. He was also a four-time All-American with the Eagles.
On January 27, 2001, Gionta performed one of the most memorable feats in league history when he scored five goals on five shots in the first period of a 7-2 win against Maine at Conte Forum.
Gionta is in his seventh season in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils. He won a Stanley Cup with the Devils in the 2002-2003 season and in 2006 he set the franchise mark for goals in a single-season with 48.
“He’s the one guy here at Boston College who really turned BC back in the right direction. Of all my recruits that I’ve recruited here to Boston College, he was the catalyst that made the change to bring us back to become a national power. He was a phenomenal player and the best pure goal scorer that I’ve seen in college hockey. It was a real pleasure and honor to coach him for four years,” said Eagles Head Coach Jerry York.
The remaining players that finished in the Top Ten voting for Best Goal Scorer were (in alphabetical order): Chris Drury (BU), David Emma (BC), Rob Gaudreau (PC), Nathan Gerbe (BC), Scott Harlow (BC), Jim Montgomery (ME), Jon Morris (UML), Scott Pellerin (ME) and Jean-Yves Roy (ME).
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey announced today that five Hockey East student-athletes were named to the 22-player roster for its 2009 U.S. National Junior Team. The squad will participate at the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Under-20 Championship, commonly referred to as the World Junior Championship, in Ottawa, Ontario, Dec. 26, 2008- Jan. 5, 2009. Hockey East led the way among the six Division I NCAA conferences with five selections.
Boston College’s Jimmy Hayes (Dorchester, Mass.), New Hampshire’s James van Riemsdyk (Middletown, N.J.) Boston University’s Colin Wilson (Greenwich, Conn.) were among the 13 forwards selected to Team USA. On defense, UNH’s Blake Kessel (Verona, Wis.) and BU’s Kevin Shattenkirk (New Rochelle, N.Y.) were chosen as two of the seven defensemen on the U.S. squad.
van Riemsdyk, who was chosen second overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers and was a member of the 2007 U.S. National Junior Team that won a bronze medal at the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship in Leksand and Mora, Sweden. He is currently tied for 11th nationally in points per game at 1.36 and leads the Wildcats’ roster in points with 19 points. His 14 points in league play this season ranks first among conference skaters.
WAKEFIELD, Mass. – The Hockey East Association is pleased to announce that Boston College’s Brian Gionta has been named Hockey East’s Best Goal Scorer as the league continues its 25th Anniversary celebration. Gionta was chosen in a vote comprised of Hockey East fans and members of the league’s 25th Anniversary Committee.
“Brian was a crowd favorite while he was here,” said commissioner Joe Bertagna. “He was skilled. He was tough. And it wouldn’t surprise me if his five-goal night might earn him another fan honor down the line."
As a senior in 2000-01, Gionta also earned a National Championship while a member of the BC Eagles when his team topped North Dakota 3-2 in overtime. Gionta finished his stellar career at the Heights as Hockey East’s All-Time leading goal scorer, posting 83 goals in 96 career league contests. Gionta was named Hockey East Player of the Year in his senior season (2000-01) and was Hockey East Rookie of the Year in 1997-98. Gionta is the only player in Hockey East history to be named to the All-Star team in all four seasons of play. He was also a four-time All-American with the Eagles.
On January 27, 2001, Gionta performed one of the most memorable feats in league history when he scored five goals on five shots in the first period of a 7-2 win against Maine at Conte Forum.
Gionta is in his seventh season in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils. He won a Stanley Cup with the Devils in the 2002-2003 season and in 2006 he set the franchise mark for goals in a single-season with 48.
“He’s the one guy here at Boston College who really turned BC back in the right direction. Of all my recruits that I’ve recruited here to Boston College, he was the catalyst that made the change to bring us back to become a national power. He was a phenomenal player and the best pure goal scorer that I’ve seen in college hockey. It was a real pleasure and honor to coach him for four years,” said Eagles Head Coach Jerry York.
The remaining players that finished in the Top Ten voting for Best Goal Scorer were (in alphabetical order): Chris Drury (BU), David Emma (BC), Rob Gaudreau (PC), Nathan Gerbe (BC), Scott Harlow (BC), Jim Montgomery (ME), Jon Morris (UML), Scott Pellerin (ME) and Jean-Yves Roy (ME).
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Briere to Miss 4-to-5 weeks
Courtesy of the Sports Network
Flyers center Danny Briere will miss the next four to five weeks with a groin strain.
Briere left Tuesday's 4-3 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Lightning after taking a hit in the second period. Prior to that contest, he had missed 14 of the previous 16 games with a series of injuries.
In only nine games played this season, Briere has five goals and four assists with 10 penalty minutes.
Ed. note Briere was totally ineffective and invisible during his little ice time in the game. For anyone interested, look up the record without Briere this year as opposed to without. It's surprising.
Flyers center Danny Briere will miss the next four to five weeks with a groin strain.
Briere left Tuesday's 4-3 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Lightning after taking a hit in the second period. Prior to that contest, he had missed 14 of the previous 16 games with a series of injuries.
In only nine games played this season, Briere has five goals and four assists with 10 penalty minutes.
Ed. note Briere was totally ineffective and invisible during his little ice time in the game. For anyone interested, look up the record without Briere this year as opposed to without. It's surprising.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Subplots Abound As Lightning Come to Philly
On the table are a couple intriguing questions and plots surrounding tonight's Flyers-Lightning contest:
After dropping two easily winnable games in a row over the weekend, can the Flyers prevent this from becoming yet another frustrating losing streak?
So far, it's been six down, four up, three down, one and one, six up, then two down.
How will Rick Tocchet's return to the Delaware Valley play out now that he's the opposing head coach?
Tocchet, who was the Phoenix Coyotes' assistant coach upon his exposure in a gambling scandal in early 2006, hasn't been back to Philly since the last time the Yotes played here in 2003. He now presides over a mess of a Tampa Bay club still searching for an identity.
Will the Flyers ever be able to solve their half-decade-long string of frustration at home against Tampa Bay?
The Bolts have won eight of nine matchups here since the 2003-04 season, plus two of three in that playoff series we all still see in our nightmares.
How effective can Danny Briere be if and when he returns to the lineup, presumably sufficiently rested?
That remains to be seen. Putting him on what is in effect a third line with Andreas Nodl and Joffrey Lupul just because you don't want to break up the Gagne-Richards-Knuble pairing is an interesting gamble. On one hand, it gives #48 less ice time which may be good to test the groin. On the other hand, you're burying him on what is in effect a third line with two guys he has barely played alongside.
After dropping two easily winnable games in a row over the weekend, can the Flyers prevent this from becoming yet another frustrating losing streak?
So far, it's been six down, four up, three down, one and one, six up, then two down.
How will Rick Tocchet's return to the Delaware Valley play out now that he's the opposing head coach?
Tocchet, who was the Phoenix Coyotes' assistant coach upon his exposure in a gambling scandal in early 2006, hasn't been back to Philly since the last time the Yotes played here in 2003. He now presides over a mess of a Tampa Bay club still searching for an identity.
Will the Flyers ever be able to solve their half-decade-long string of frustration at home against Tampa Bay?
The Bolts have won eight of nine matchups here since the 2003-04 season, plus two of three in that playoff series we all still see in our nightmares.
How effective can Danny Briere be if and when he returns to the lineup, presumably sufficiently rested?
That remains to be seen. Putting him on what is in effect a third line with Andreas Nodl and Joffrey Lupul just because you don't want to break up the Gagne-Richards-Knuble pairing is an interesting gamble. On one hand, it gives #48 less ice time which may be good to test the groin. On the other hand, you're burying him on what is in effect a third line with two guys he has barely played alongside.
Gratton clears waivers, sent to Phantoms; Room for Briere to return?
Flyers' hired goon Josh Gratton cleared waivers on Tuesday, and was subsequently shipped across the street and down one level to the Phantoms. He had been held without a point but racked up 31 penalty minutes in 11 games with the Flyers.
The move was not unexpected, as Danny Briere apparently pronounced himself fit to return to the lineup against Tampa Bay following the morning skate.
Briere has missed nine straight games and 14 of the last 16 contests trying to recover from a groin injury which everyone still maintains has nothing to do with his earlier stomach muscle pulls which required surgery.
In addition, it is still a question whether or not Jeff Carter will dress for tonight's game since he's battling shoulder problems. Carter leads the team and is second in the NHL with 16 goals entering play.
The move was not unexpected, as Danny Briere apparently pronounced himself fit to return to the lineup against Tampa Bay following the morning skate.
Briere has missed nine straight games and 14 of the last 16 contests trying to recover from a groin injury which everyone still maintains has nothing to do with his earlier stomach muscle pulls which required surgery.
In addition, it is still a question whether or not Jeff Carter will dress for tonight's game since he's battling shoulder problems. Carter leads the team and is second in the NHL with 16 goals entering play.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Flyers keep rolling with win in Carolina
Simon Gagne picked up three points on two goals and an assist to lead Philadelphia over Carolina, 3-1, in the front end of a home-and-home series at RBC Center.
Matt Carle scored the other goal for the Flyers, who upped their season-best win streak to six games. Antero Niittymaki stopped 27 shots for his third win of the season and second in as many starts.
Chad LaRose provided the lone tally for the Hurricanes, who have dropped three in a row. Cam Ward took the loss despite allowing just two goals on 26 shots.
In a 4-on-4 situation early in the third period, Philly took a 2-1 lead 2:05 in, as rookie defenseman Luca Sbisa fed Carle for a wrister from the right wing to cap a 3-on-1 break.
The Hurricanes flew at Niittymaki consistently from there, unloading 11 shots and just missing several more good chances, but the Finnish netminder stood strong in net.
Ward went to the bench for an extra attacker with 1:40 remaining, and after several Carolina rushes were foiled, Gagne hit the empty net with less than a second left to clinch it.
The Flyers took a 1-0 lead 5:52 into the contest. Jeff Carter's shot from 15 feet was blocked by bodies in front. From the left side, Scott Hartnell managed to poke the puck loose for a waiting Gagne, who tapped it home from the right side.
LaRose evened the score 1:52 into the second, shoveling home his own rebound from the low slot.
Game Notes
Gagne extended his point streak to nine games...Carle's tally was his first with the club and second of the year...The Flyers have won five of the last six meetings over the Hurricanes and three straight in Raleigh...Prior to the game, Carolina activated defenseman Frantisek Kaberle from injured reserve...Hurricanes forward Scott Walker left the game midway through the second period and did not return due to a lower-body injury...LaRose has scored in three straight games...Both clubs meet in Philadelphia on Friday.
Matt Carle scored the other goal for the Flyers, who upped their season-best win streak to six games. Antero Niittymaki stopped 27 shots for his third win of the season and second in as many starts.
Chad LaRose provided the lone tally for the Hurricanes, who have dropped three in a row. Cam Ward took the loss despite allowing just two goals on 26 shots.
In a 4-on-4 situation early in the third period, Philly took a 2-1 lead 2:05 in, as rookie defenseman Luca Sbisa fed Carle for a wrister from the right wing to cap a 3-on-1 break.
The Hurricanes flew at Niittymaki consistently from there, unloading 11 shots and just missing several more good chances, but the Finnish netminder stood strong in net.
Ward went to the bench for an extra attacker with 1:40 remaining, and after several Carolina rushes were foiled, Gagne hit the empty net with less than a second left to clinch it.
The Flyers took a 1-0 lead 5:52 into the contest. Jeff Carter's shot from 15 feet was blocked by bodies in front. From the left side, Scott Hartnell managed to poke the puck loose for a waiting Gagne, who tapped it home from the right side.
LaRose evened the score 1:52 into the second, shoveling home his own rebound from the low slot.
Game Notes
Gagne extended his point streak to nine games...Carle's tally was his first with the club and second of the year...The Flyers have won five of the last six meetings over the Hurricanes and three straight in Raleigh...Prior to the game, Carolina activated defenseman Frantisek Kaberle from injured reserve...Hurricanes forward Scott Walker left the game midway through the second period and did not return due to a lower-body injury...LaRose has scored in three straight games...Both clubs meet in Philadelphia on Friday.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Evil Claude is back...
Not much in the NHL or the world in general shocks me these days, but I had to do a double-take when I read the following sentence last week on the TSN of Canada news page:
"Claude Lemieux signs in the AHL after a two-game stint in China."
Then, on Monday:
"Claude Lemieux signs professional try-out contract with Worcester Sharks, expected to make return to NHL soon."
Whaaaa?
I mean, people didn't take Guy Lafleur too seriously when he came back with the New York Rangers and Quebec Nordiques in the late 80s, and he was a certified Hall-of-Famer upon retirement; Though Lemieux built a reputation as an invaluable playoff performer he also cemented a rep as an opportunistically dirty player, so much so that I can't imagine anyone thinking this comeback try is serious.
He's 43. He hasn't played in the NHL since 2003. Before that, he was locked out of the league and without a contract for all of the 2000-01 season and most of 2001-02 until Phoenix rescued him from the scrap heap. He played in friggin' China to start his way back to the NHL.
Off the top of my head, I can think of a dozen former NHL players who gave up when they realized the post-cancelled-season game was played at a faster pace. What makes Lemieux think he can catch up after an undefined period in the AHL - which, by the way, has changed drastically since he last skated down there in the mid-1980s - and then make the big step against athletes half his age?
Who knows? There are probably 10 teams who might bite on Claude as a sideshow attraction.
I'd figure Toronto first and foremost because they've been flat ever since the new NHL phased out Tie Domi and that Darcy Tucker took his circus act to Denver.
Atlanta, Florida, Nashville and Columbus are all currently having trouble with attendance with the former two showing an alarming number of empty seats in the lower level.
Dallas is looking for its nasty edge in all three zones once again, and besides, Lemieux finished his career with the Stars six years ago. Los Angeles could use a Tiger Williams-type to get the young charges going, and Colorado ranks near the bottom of the league in hits - a fact lamented in the Denver Post today.
Ottawa and Buffalo also lack a hard edge to complement each's smooth offensive attack, while Tampa Bay probably could use an extra forward or seven because it simply hasn't had enough time to buy up all remaining spare parts to stock its roster.
While you're mulling over the implications of #22 running amok once again, here's a link to Claude's greatest hits just as an Av against the Detroit Red Wings.
"Claude Lemieux signs in the AHL after a two-game stint in China."
Then, on Monday:
"Claude Lemieux signs professional try-out contract with Worcester Sharks, expected to make return to NHL soon."
Whaaaa?
I mean, people didn't take Guy Lafleur too seriously when he came back with the New York Rangers and Quebec Nordiques in the late 80s, and he was a certified Hall-of-Famer upon retirement; Though Lemieux built a reputation as an invaluable playoff performer he also cemented a rep as an opportunistically dirty player, so much so that I can't imagine anyone thinking this comeback try is serious.
He's 43. He hasn't played in the NHL since 2003. Before that, he was locked out of the league and without a contract for all of the 2000-01 season and most of 2001-02 until Phoenix rescued him from the scrap heap. He played in friggin' China to start his way back to the NHL.
Off the top of my head, I can think of a dozen former NHL players who gave up when they realized the post-cancelled-season game was played at a faster pace. What makes Lemieux think he can catch up after an undefined period in the AHL - which, by the way, has changed drastically since he last skated down there in the mid-1980s - and then make the big step against athletes half his age?
Who knows? There are probably 10 teams who might bite on Claude as a sideshow attraction.
I'd figure Toronto first and foremost because they've been flat ever since the new NHL phased out Tie Domi and that Darcy Tucker took his circus act to Denver.
Atlanta, Florida, Nashville and Columbus are all currently having trouble with attendance with the former two showing an alarming number of empty seats in the lower level.
Dallas is looking for its nasty edge in all three zones once again, and besides, Lemieux finished his career with the Stars six years ago. Los Angeles could use a Tiger Williams-type to get the young charges going, and Colorado ranks near the bottom of the league in hits - a fact lamented in the Denver Post today.
Ottawa and Buffalo also lack a hard edge to complement each's smooth offensive attack, while Tampa Bay probably could use an extra forward or seven because it simply hasn't had enough time to buy up all remaining spare parts to stock its roster.
While you're mulling over the implications of #22 running amok once again, here's a link to Claude's greatest hits just as an Av against the Detroit Red Wings.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Carter, Richards save the day as Flyers top Coyotes in OT
Mike Richards scored the game-winning goal 1:35 into overtime as Philadelphia rallied to top Phoenix, 4-3, at the Wachovia Center.
Richards and Jeff Carter broke out 2-on-1 from center ice with Richards handling the puck. He faked a shot as he slid from the left to right wing and hit the net to the far side as Carter provided a screen.
Carter tied the game late in regulation and added an assist on the deciding score. Scott Hartnell and Mike Knuble also tallied for the Flyers, who have won four in a row.
"It's an important two points for us to end this week," noted Flyers head coach John Stevens.
Martin Biron won his second start in as many days by stopping 25 shots.
"We battled hard to win," Biron said. "When you're down after two, it's hard to win a game in this league."
Daniel Carcillo, Martin Hanzal and Todd Fedoruk scored for the Coyotes, who have dropped five straight games.
Mikael Tellqvist took the loss despite making 30 saves.
After wasting an early power-play chance, the Flyers took a 1-0 lead 6:18 into the contest as Hartnell's shot from the left side deflected off a Phoenix defenseman and trickled over the goal line.
The Coyotes evened the game on the power play with 1:10 left in the first, as Biron's clearing attempt from the behind the net went right to Carcillo for an easy goal.
Phoenix went up 2-1 with 50.9 seconds left in the second period. After several Coyotes shifts inside the Flyers' zone which saw multiple shots blocked, Hanzal managed to shoot one past Biron while being dragged down by Hartnell.
Tellqvist slid on his back and flashed the glove to deny Matt Carle on a Flyers man advantage early in the third, but seconds later, Kimmo Timonen's point shot was deflected out of midair by Knuble for the tying goal at 5:08.
Fedoruk then gave the Coyotes a 3-2 lead with 5:14 left in regulation when his bouncing shot from the slot knuckled by Biron.
Biron was called to the bench with roughly 1:10 remaining, but before he reached the bench for the extra skater, Carter redirected a Richards feed for a 3-3 deadlock with 1:07 to play.
Richards was sent off for an interference penalty with 50 seconds left in the third but Phoenix had little offensive flow on the advantage.
"They're a good hockey club. It's a tough building to play in," said Coyotes head coach Wayne Gretzky. "I was disappointed in the power play in overtime than them scoring late in the third. That was the most frustrating part tonight."
Game Notes
Carter has 14 goals on the season, one fewer than league-leader Thomas Vanek of the Buffalo Sabres. He also has five goals in his last five games...It was Knuble's second goal in his last eight contests...The Flyers improved to 24-9-0 all time at home against the Jets/Coyotes franchise and won at home over Phoenix for the first time since December, 2003...Fedoruk picked up his first goal since October 25 and tallied in his first game back in Philadelphia after being dealt away by the Flyers in 2007.
Richards and Jeff Carter broke out 2-on-1 from center ice with Richards handling the puck. He faked a shot as he slid from the left to right wing and hit the net to the far side as Carter provided a screen.
Carter tied the game late in regulation and added an assist on the deciding score. Scott Hartnell and Mike Knuble also tallied for the Flyers, who have won four in a row.
"It's an important two points for us to end this week," noted Flyers head coach John Stevens.
Martin Biron won his second start in as many days by stopping 25 shots.
"We battled hard to win," Biron said. "When you're down after two, it's hard to win a game in this league."
Daniel Carcillo, Martin Hanzal and Todd Fedoruk scored for the Coyotes, who have dropped five straight games.
Mikael Tellqvist took the loss despite making 30 saves.
After wasting an early power-play chance, the Flyers took a 1-0 lead 6:18 into the contest as Hartnell's shot from the left side deflected off a Phoenix defenseman and trickled over the goal line.
The Coyotes evened the game on the power play with 1:10 left in the first, as Biron's clearing attempt from the behind the net went right to Carcillo for an easy goal.
Phoenix went up 2-1 with 50.9 seconds left in the second period. After several Coyotes shifts inside the Flyers' zone which saw multiple shots blocked, Hanzal managed to shoot one past Biron while being dragged down by Hartnell.
Tellqvist slid on his back and flashed the glove to deny Matt Carle on a Flyers man advantage early in the third, but seconds later, Kimmo Timonen's point shot was deflected out of midair by Knuble for the tying goal at 5:08.
Fedoruk then gave the Coyotes a 3-2 lead with 5:14 left in regulation when his bouncing shot from the slot knuckled by Biron.
Biron was called to the bench with roughly 1:10 remaining, but before he reached the bench for the extra skater, Carter redirected a Richards feed for a 3-3 deadlock with 1:07 to play.
Richards was sent off for an interference penalty with 50 seconds left in the third but Phoenix had little offensive flow on the advantage.
"They're a good hockey club. It's a tough building to play in," said Coyotes head coach Wayne Gretzky. "I was disappointed in the power play in overtime than them scoring late in the third. That was the most frustrating part tonight."
Game Notes
Carter has 14 goals on the season, one fewer than league-leader Thomas Vanek of the Buffalo Sabres. He also has five goals in his last five games...It was Knuble's second goal in his last eight contests...The Flyers improved to 24-9-0 all time at home against the Jets/Coyotes franchise and won at home over Phoenix for the first time since December, 2003...Fedoruk picked up his first goal since October 25 and tallied in his first game back in Philadelphia after being dealt away by the Flyers in 2007.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Woo!
Martin Biron made 40 stops for his first shutout of the season as the Flyers blanked Buffalo, 3-0, at HSBC Arena.
Jeff Carter scored twice including an empty-netter and Scott Hartnell also lit the lamp for Philly, which has won four of five and has points in each of its last five contests.
It was the first shutout in Buffalo since Tommy Soderstrom turned the trick in a 2-0 victory on December 27, 1993 at the Aud.
The Flyers return home to face Wayne Gretzky's Phoenix Coyotes tomorrow night.
Jeff Carter scored twice including an empty-netter and Scott Hartnell also lit the lamp for Philly, which has won four of five and has points in each of its last five contests.
It was the first shutout in Buffalo since Tommy Soderstrom turned the trick in a 2-0 victory on December 27, 1993 at the Aud.
The Flyers return home to face Wayne Gretzky's Phoenix Coyotes tomorrow night.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Around the Rink
We're Going Streaking
On Sunday night, the Flyers extended their win streak over the Atlanta Thrashers to 12 consecutive games with a 4-3 win. In this 30-team league, it's almost impossible to find runs like this between any two clubs.
The last time the orange and black lost to the perching birds was November 18, 2005 in Philadelphia - a game which saw Atlanta rally from a two-goal deficit with two minutes left in regulation and win 6-5 in overtime.
Included in the run is backup goaltender Antero Niittymaki's personal 11-game win streak over the Thrashers, which also encompasses a 10-game run against fellow Finn and Atlanta crease-guard Kari Lehtonen.
Doing him one better is Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood, who holds the longest current streak against one club. His little run against the Tampa Bay Lightning was just extended to 17 in a row. Including last Tuesday's come-from-behind 4-3 road victory, Ozzie has never lost to the Bolts, a perfect 17-0-0 lifetime record.
At one time, the Flyers had quite a few unbeaten runs which lasted decades, mostly revolving around games at the Spectrum. After the infamous incident in January, 1972 where the Blues fought the home fans, the Flyers didn't drop a game to St. Louis until November, 1988 - 34 contests later.
Pittsburgh endured an epic stretch of misery, not earning a win here from January, 1974 until February, 1989, a mind-boggling run of 42 consecutive contests. They did get us back for a while in the mid 90s, but the Flyers also ran off 13 straight home wins over the Pens from March, 1995 until November, 2000.
Another decade-plus long streak came at the expense of the Los Angeles Kings. Philly exited Southern California 21 times from November, 1973 until January, 1985 before they lost a contest at the fabulous Forum.
Those mighty multiple Cup winning Montreal Canadiens set the standard, owning the Detroit Red Wings when both were paired in the Norris Division in the 70s.The Habs, who dominated the NHL from 1973 until 1979, did not allow a Wings win in either city 23 consecutive times (18-0-5) from 1974 to 1978.
Edmonton's Oilers also did a number on the Vancouver Canucks during a three-year stretch in the 1980s. The dynastic offensive machine went unbeaten over the then-doormats of the Smythe Division from March, 1985 through the end ofthe 1987-88 season, a span of 24 games.
News on the streak front is not all good for the home club, though. They have one outstanding blemish which is a 20-year drought in Detroit, the longest in terms of time and in games between two teams in one location currently in the NHL.
November 4, 1988 was the last time the Flyers won at Joe Louis Arena. In a portend of what was to come, the winning goal was scored by Murray Craven late in the third period, as he was hit flush in the face by a stick.
As it stands today, the run of bad luck is 0-13-2 after a 6-3 loss in January, 2006. The last time they managed even a tie on the road was almost 12 years ago. They'll have to wait until St. Patrick's Day to reverse the misfortune.
For Atlanta, its own misfortune may continue twice more this season, on January 21 at the Wachovia Center and February 8 at Philips Arena.
Eating Crow
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman used several media outlets earlier in the month to trumpet the fact that the league showcased an increase in offense.
According to his numbers, as revealed on the NHL Network, goals-per-game in the league stood at 5.9 per contest. That's apparently the best since October,2005.
However, the turnaround was very quick. Each week, the league releases its Three Stars, and for the first full week in November, three goaltenders madethe list: Boston's Tim Thomas, Vancouver's Roberto Luongo and Washington'sBrent Johnson.
That in itself is not the story, but what each did to earn the honor is of note.
Thomas recorded back-to-back shutouts over Edmonton and Vancouver as the B's went on their annual early West Coast trip; Luongo reeled off three straight whitewashes over Nashville, Phoenix, Minnesota and wound up not allowing a goal in over 200 minutes; Johnson posted a goals-against well under two.
Flying in the face of the official numbers from the season's first month are these tidbits: Luongo leads with five shutouts in just 16 starts; There are five goaltenders with GAA's of two or lower - Luongo (1.76), LA's Erik Ersberg (1.95), Henrik Lundqvist of the Rangers (1.99), San Jose's Brian Boucher (1.99) and Niklas Backstrom from Minnesota (2.00).
Also, two-thirds of all goaltenders with at least seven starts this year are posting save percentages of .900 or higher, with Thomas at the head of the class at .945.
What Bettman and others who take an optimistic view of the NHL always forget, is that there are so many teams that one can take the same set of statistics and create an entirely alternate view.
Unlike the early going last season and the two prior, no single team has scored more than seven
goals in any one game. Only Atlanta, Buffalo, Calgary and Pittsburgh have reached that total before a shootout.
Through six weeks, just nine clubs (led by Detroit, 3.56) are scoring at a 3.00 goals per game pace or better, with revamped Tampa Bay recording the lowest per game total at 2.01.
Remembering Pelle
On this date 23 years ago, the Flyers won their franchise-record 13th straight game with a 5-4 overtime decision over the New York Islanders. Philly rebounded from a 4-1 deficit in the second period and won when Murray Craven's prayer from behind the goal line deflected off the stick of Isles netminder Billy Smith.
It happened one week after the tragic accident which ended Pelle Lindbergh's life at age 26.
By now the story behind Pelle's unfortunate end has been passed down among two generations of Flyers fans. The impact he made on those who witnessed games he started is lasting.
Given the fact that his shortened but legendary career never reached its full potential, I think it's a fitting tribute that his jersey remains unofficially retired.
The contest which followed his memorial service on November 14, 1985 was one of the best hockey games I've seen. The Oilers came to town as the second-best team in the NHL, and with the best offense. The Flyers on the other hand, were 12-2-0, sported the most points in the league, and put a 10-game win streak on the line.
Two periods flew by with the score tied, 1-1, and rookie Darren Jensen made a handful of great saves in each period. Four Flyers scores, including a pair of early power-play markers, in a wild six-score third period sealed it.
Aside from his performance on the ice, Pelle's legacy can be encapsulated in two simple lessons:
1) Your dreams are always within reach.
2) Don't drink and drive.
On Sunday night, the Flyers extended their win streak over the Atlanta Thrashers to 12 consecutive games with a 4-3 win. In this 30-team league, it's almost impossible to find runs like this between any two clubs.
The last time the orange and black lost to the perching birds was November 18, 2005 in Philadelphia - a game which saw Atlanta rally from a two-goal deficit with two minutes left in regulation and win 6-5 in overtime.
Included in the run is backup goaltender Antero Niittymaki's personal 11-game win streak over the Thrashers, which also encompasses a 10-game run against fellow Finn and Atlanta crease-guard Kari Lehtonen.
Doing him one better is Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood, who holds the longest current streak against one club. His little run against the Tampa Bay Lightning was just extended to 17 in a row. Including last Tuesday's come-from-behind 4-3 road victory, Ozzie has never lost to the Bolts, a perfect 17-0-0 lifetime record.
At one time, the Flyers had quite a few unbeaten runs which lasted decades, mostly revolving around games at the Spectrum. After the infamous incident in January, 1972 where the Blues fought the home fans, the Flyers didn't drop a game to St. Louis until November, 1988 - 34 contests later.
Pittsburgh endured an epic stretch of misery, not earning a win here from January, 1974 until February, 1989, a mind-boggling run of 42 consecutive contests. They did get us back for a while in the mid 90s, but the Flyers also ran off 13 straight home wins over the Pens from March, 1995 until November, 2000.
Another decade-plus long streak came at the expense of the Los Angeles Kings. Philly exited Southern California 21 times from November, 1973 until January, 1985 before they lost a contest at the fabulous Forum.
Those mighty multiple Cup winning Montreal Canadiens set the standard, owning the Detroit Red Wings when both were paired in the Norris Division in the 70s.The Habs, who dominated the NHL from 1973 until 1979, did not allow a Wings win in either city 23 consecutive times (18-0-5) from 1974 to 1978.
Edmonton's Oilers also did a number on the Vancouver Canucks during a three-year stretch in the 1980s. The dynastic offensive machine went unbeaten over the then-doormats of the Smythe Division from March, 1985 through the end ofthe 1987-88 season, a span of 24 games.
News on the streak front is not all good for the home club, though. They have one outstanding blemish which is a 20-year drought in Detroit, the longest in terms of time and in games between two teams in one location currently in the NHL.
November 4, 1988 was the last time the Flyers won at Joe Louis Arena. In a portend of what was to come, the winning goal was scored by Murray Craven late in the third period, as he was hit flush in the face by a stick.
As it stands today, the run of bad luck is 0-13-2 after a 6-3 loss in January, 2006. The last time they managed even a tie on the road was almost 12 years ago. They'll have to wait until St. Patrick's Day to reverse the misfortune.
For Atlanta, its own misfortune may continue twice more this season, on January 21 at the Wachovia Center and February 8 at Philips Arena.
Eating Crow
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman used several media outlets earlier in the month to trumpet the fact that the league showcased an increase in offense.
According to his numbers, as revealed on the NHL Network, goals-per-game in the league stood at 5.9 per contest. That's apparently the best since October,2005.
However, the turnaround was very quick. Each week, the league releases its Three Stars, and for the first full week in November, three goaltenders madethe list: Boston's Tim Thomas, Vancouver's Roberto Luongo and Washington'sBrent Johnson.
That in itself is not the story, but what each did to earn the honor is of note.
Thomas recorded back-to-back shutouts over Edmonton and Vancouver as the B's went on their annual early West Coast trip; Luongo reeled off three straight whitewashes over Nashville, Phoenix, Minnesota and wound up not allowing a goal in over 200 minutes; Johnson posted a goals-against well under two.
Flying in the face of the official numbers from the season's first month are these tidbits: Luongo leads with five shutouts in just 16 starts; There are five goaltenders with GAA's of two or lower - Luongo (1.76), LA's Erik Ersberg (1.95), Henrik Lundqvist of the Rangers (1.99), San Jose's Brian Boucher (1.99) and Niklas Backstrom from Minnesota (2.00).
Also, two-thirds of all goaltenders with at least seven starts this year are posting save percentages of .900 or higher, with Thomas at the head of the class at .945.
What Bettman and others who take an optimistic view of the NHL always forget, is that there are so many teams that one can take the same set of statistics and create an entirely alternate view.
Unlike the early going last season and the two prior, no single team has scored more than seven
goals in any one game. Only Atlanta, Buffalo, Calgary and Pittsburgh have reached that total before a shootout.
Through six weeks, just nine clubs (led by Detroit, 3.56) are scoring at a 3.00 goals per game pace or better, with revamped Tampa Bay recording the lowest per game total at 2.01.
Remembering Pelle
On this date 23 years ago, the Flyers won their franchise-record 13th straight game with a 5-4 overtime decision over the New York Islanders. Philly rebounded from a 4-1 deficit in the second period and won when Murray Craven's prayer from behind the goal line deflected off the stick of Isles netminder Billy Smith.
It happened one week after the tragic accident which ended Pelle Lindbergh's life at age 26.
By now the story behind Pelle's unfortunate end has been passed down among two generations of Flyers fans. The impact he made on those who witnessed games he started is lasting.
Given the fact that his shortened but legendary career never reached its full potential, I think it's a fitting tribute that his jersey remains unofficially retired.
The contest which followed his memorial service on November 14, 1985 was one of the best hockey games I've seen. The Oilers came to town as the second-best team in the NHL, and with the best offense. The Flyers on the other hand, were 12-2-0, sported the most points in the league, and put a 10-game win streak on the line.
Two periods flew by with the score tied, 1-1, and rookie Darren Jensen made a handful of great saves in each period. Four Flyers scores, including a pair of early power-play markers, in a wild six-score third period sealed it.
Aside from his performance on the ice, Pelle's legacy can be encapsulated in two simple lessons:
1) Your dreams are always within reach.
2) Don't drink and drive.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Wait a minute...
According to the Flyers' OTF blog, Lasse Kukkonen will move from defense to center due to injuries to Danny Briere (out 5-7 days with a left groin strain, officially unrelated to his early return from surgery) and Riley Cote.
Also heard unsubstantiated rumors that Kukkonen was placed on waivers.
What in the hell is going on here?
I can only figure if they lose tonight in Pittsburgh that something big might come by the weekend and Kukkonen being placed on waivers has something to do with it.
Even Panaccio is mum for the moment, both on HockeyBuzz and ComcastPhilly.
Also heard unsubstantiated rumors that Kukkonen was placed on waivers.
What in the hell is going on here?
I can only figure if they lose tonight in Pittsburgh that something big might come by the weekend and Kukkonen being placed on waivers has something to do with it.
Even Panaccio is mum for the moment, both on HockeyBuzz and ComcastPhilly.
One Small Step for the Deer Killing Network
Release courtesy of Versus Network
NOVEMBER 11 TELECAST OF RED WINGS/PENGUINS IS most-watched regular-season game ON VERSUS among households.
Network’s NHL Viewership Continues Positive Growth Trend Through First Six Weeks of Regular Season.
NEW YORK, N.Y. (November 13, 2008)—VERSUS, the network that celebrates real competition and the exclusive cable television home of the National Hockey League (NHL), earned its most-watched regular-season game among households (364,645) for the Detroit Red Wings/Pittsburgh Penguins 2008 Stanley Cup Final rematch on November 11; beating the Red Wings/Toronto Maple Leafs 2008-09 U.S. regular-season opener on October 9.
The game garnered a .5 national HH rating, matching the best rating for a regular-season NHL game ever on the network. Locally, Pittsburgh received a 5.8 HH rating and Detroit delivered a 3.3 HH rating, making VERSUS the #1 rated cable network in both markets for the 7:00-9:45 p.m. ET period.
Through the first six weeks of the 2008-09 regular season (11 games) as compared to the same time period last year (12 games), the network has seen gains in HH impressions (up 7%), total viewership (up 14%), and increases across all key male demos: Men 18-34 (up 29%), Men 18-49 (up 35%) and Men 25-54 (up 21%).
Ed. note: It was one hell of a game, 13 goals including a three-score reversal in the last half of the third period plus overtime. Wish more teams in future matchups would throw caution to the wind despite the burden of a national audience and give the thousands of fans who have VS more thrills like this.
NOVEMBER 11 TELECAST OF RED WINGS/PENGUINS IS most-watched regular-season game ON VERSUS among households.
Network’s NHL Viewership Continues Positive Growth Trend Through First Six Weeks of Regular Season.
NEW YORK, N.Y. (November 13, 2008)—VERSUS, the network that celebrates real competition and the exclusive cable television home of the National Hockey League (NHL), earned its most-watched regular-season game among households (364,645) for the Detroit Red Wings/Pittsburgh Penguins 2008 Stanley Cup Final rematch on November 11; beating the Red Wings/Toronto Maple Leafs 2008-09 U.S. regular-season opener on October 9.
The game garnered a .5 national HH rating, matching the best rating for a regular-season NHL game ever on the network. Locally, Pittsburgh received a 5.8 HH rating and Detroit delivered a 3.3 HH rating, making VERSUS the #1 rated cable network in both markets for the 7:00-9:45 p.m. ET period.
Through the first six weeks of the 2008-09 regular season (11 games) as compared to the same time period last year (12 games), the network has seen gains in HH impressions (up 7%), total viewership (up 14%), and increases across all key male demos: Men 18-34 (up 29%), Men 18-49 (up 35%) and Men 25-54 (up 21%).
Ed. note: It was one hell of a game, 13 goals including a three-score reversal in the last half of the third period plus overtime. Wish more teams in future matchups would throw caution to the wind despite the burden of a national audience and give the thousands of fans who have VS more thrills like this.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Briere in trouble again?
Panaccio is talking right now on CSN's DNL saying that Danny Briere hurt his groin in yesterday's game against the Islanders.
Video has apparently isolated an incident after his late-second-period goal when the pull could have happened.
The Flyers are saying this is not connected with his sudden return after missing six games from abdominal surgery, but generally everything in the lower body is connected in some way, specifically when a skate stride is involved.
He's also talking about Scott Hartnell's benching and the possibility that any dissention exists between the players and the coaching staff. Seems like there may be because in the Stevens quote they played back, the head coach broke out the old "you guys are making more out of it than we are..." classic beginnings of some bad rumblings behind the scenes.
Just got word that Briere is out for Thursday and there is no timetable for his return.
Video has apparently isolated an incident after his late-second-period goal when the pull could have happened.
The Flyers are saying this is not connected with his sudden return after missing six games from abdominal surgery, but generally everything in the lower body is connected in some way, specifically when a skate stride is involved.
He's also talking about Scott Hartnell's benching and the possibility that any dissention exists between the players and the coaching staff. Seems like there may be because in the Stevens quote they played back, the head coach broke out the old "you guys are making more out of it than we are..." classic beginnings of some bad rumblings behind the scenes.
Just got word that Briere is out for Thursday and there is no timetable for his return.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Hall of Fame Night
Glenn Anderson and Igor Larionov are the former NHL players to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto this evening.
Ed Chynoweth and linesman Ray Scapinello are also set to be enshrined in the Builder and Referee/Linesman categories respectively.
Check out Anderson and Larionov's career stats.
Speaking of the Hall, once again former Flyers Mark Howe and Tim Kerr have been passed over once again. More on Kerr's question later.
Ed Chynoweth and linesman Ray Scapinello are also set to be enshrined in the Builder and Referee/Linesman categories respectively.
Check out Anderson and Larionov's career stats.
Speaking of the Hall, once again former Flyers Mark Howe and Tim Kerr have been passed over once again. More on Kerr's question later.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
And the wave has started to come crashing down again
by Bob Herpen
Sports Network Writer
Vinny Prospal netted the game-winner in the second period and Mike Smith made 35 stops as Tampa Bay snuck by Philadelphia, 2-1, at the Wachovia Center.
Jussi Jokinen also lit the lamp for the Lightning, who stopped a two-game losing streak and have won four of six.
In his return after missing only six games from abdominal surgery, Daniel Briere scored the lone goal for the Flyers, who have dropped three in a row.
Martin Biron was the hard-luck loser after a 20-save performance.
"It's odd when we're scoring goals in bunches and couldn't keep them out of our net. Now we are keeping them out of our net and we are not scoring, said Flyers head coach John Stevens. "To me it has to start from not giving up as much at our net. That is where this thing is going to turn around. I think we did that tonight and that is a step in the right direction."
With a one-goal edge, Smith and the Tampa Bay defense continued to frustrate the Flyers in the third period, keeping the home team away from the front of the net.
The Flyers also wasted a power-play chance with 7:31 left in regulation, then couldn't muster a solid chance with Biron pulled in the final minute.
A tense first period did not lack for action. Two Flyers shots hit posts early on and midway through, Biron stoned Vincent Lecavalier on a clean breakaway, getting his left pad on the shot before it crossed the goal line.
Philly was awarded a lengthy 5-on-3 advantage after Lightning players Adam Hall and Marek Malik were sent off 24 seconds apart. Briere capitalized by stashing a rebound home at 17:20 for a two-man edge tally.
It was the only shot Smith let slip by during the Flyers' 18-shot first-period barrage.
In the second period, Tampa tied the game on Jokinen's wrister at 7:58, then went ahead when Prospal finished off a 3-on-1 break at 13:35.
Jeff Carter had barely missed a chance to put the Flyers ahead before the Lightning broke out the other way off the rebound. After Martin St. Louis led the rush up the right wing, Lecavalier got the puck in the slot and dished to the former Flyer who beat Biron on the short side.
"We played a good defensive game tonight and we had our opportunities," said Flyers captain Mike Richards. "We had two mistakes, they scored two goals, and we didn't capitalize on our chances."
Game Notes
Tampa has won 14 of the last 17 meetings...Prospal had two stints with Philadelphia (1996-98; 2008)...On Friday, the Flyers acquired defenseman Matt Carle from Tampa Bay in exchange for defenseman Steve Eminger and forward Steve Downie. Carle played almost 26 minutes and was a minus-one...The club also recalled Josh Gratton from the Phantoms...Briere now has 20 points (10G, 10A) in 26 career games against the Lightning.
Sports Network Writer
Vinny Prospal netted the game-winner in the second period and Mike Smith made 35 stops as Tampa Bay snuck by Philadelphia, 2-1, at the Wachovia Center.
Jussi Jokinen also lit the lamp for the Lightning, who stopped a two-game losing streak and have won four of six.
In his return after missing only six games from abdominal surgery, Daniel Briere scored the lone goal for the Flyers, who have dropped three in a row.
Martin Biron was the hard-luck loser after a 20-save performance.
"It's odd when we're scoring goals in bunches and couldn't keep them out of our net. Now we are keeping them out of our net and we are not scoring, said Flyers head coach John Stevens. "To me it has to start from not giving up as much at our net. That is where this thing is going to turn around. I think we did that tonight and that is a step in the right direction."
With a one-goal edge, Smith and the Tampa Bay defense continued to frustrate the Flyers in the third period, keeping the home team away from the front of the net.
The Flyers also wasted a power-play chance with 7:31 left in regulation, then couldn't muster a solid chance with Biron pulled in the final minute.
A tense first period did not lack for action. Two Flyers shots hit posts early on and midway through, Biron stoned Vincent Lecavalier on a clean breakaway, getting his left pad on the shot before it crossed the goal line.
Philly was awarded a lengthy 5-on-3 advantage after Lightning players Adam Hall and Marek Malik were sent off 24 seconds apart. Briere capitalized by stashing a rebound home at 17:20 for a two-man edge tally.
It was the only shot Smith let slip by during the Flyers' 18-shot first-period barrage.
In the second period, Tampa tied the game on Jokinen's wrister at 7:58, then went ahead when Prospal finished off a 3-on-1 break at 13:35.
Jeff Carter had barely missed a chance to put the Flyers ahead before the Lightning broke out the other way off the rebound. After Martin St. Louis led the rush up the right wing, Lecavalier got the puck in the slot and dished to the former Flyer who beat Biron on the short side.
"We played a good defensive game tonight and we had our opportunities," said Flyers captain Mike Richards. "We had two mistakes, they scored two goals, and we didn't capitalize on our chances."
Game Notes
Tampa has won 14 of the last 17 meetings...Prospal had two stints with Philadelphia (1996-98; 2008)...On Friday, the Flyers acquired defenseman Matt Carle from Tampa Bay in exchange for defenseman Steve Eminger and forward Steve Downie. Carle played almost 26 minutes and was a minus-one...The club also recalled Josh Gratton from the Phantoms...Briere now has 20 points (10G, 10A) in 26 career games against the Lightning.
Saturday, November 08, 2008
The Reshaping Has Begun
Paul Holmgren decided to flex his muscles for the first time this season, dealing the subpar semi-goon Steve Downie and spare defenseman Steve Eminger to Tampa for defenseman Matt Carle.
If this move was intended to upgrade a defense suffering the loss of two key skaters and which is in the bottom third of the league, awesome. If this deal is some kind of veiled message to the club to start performing better, I fail to see the threat.
Carle is now with his third organization in less than three seasons. He was the 2006 Hobey Baker Award winner out of the University of Denver, where he was part of back-to-back national titles in 2004 and 2005.
He jumped to the NHL late in the 05-06 season and scored 11 goals two years ago with the Sharks. In the offseason, he was shuffled to Tampa Bay in the deal for Dan Boyle, but with the logjam of bodies there coupled with the immediate need for help on the backline, Carle comes to Philly in time to face his former team on Saturday.
I don't know the genesis of any expectations for Downie, but after all the crap died down from the McAmmond incident I guess the Flyers found out he wasn't anything more than an inconsistent third-or-fourth liner. With Arron Asham and Glen Metropolit performing well and the inexplicable inclusion of Jared Ross, Downie was locked out.
Even though he spent one month as a Flyer, I'm still not sure exactly why Holmgren acquired Eminger in the first place. However, it worked out because the club stockpiled so many bodies than Homer did not have to give up a prime draft pick or another Phantom to get equal value in a trade.
In the short run, the Flyers did take care of a problem that I'm not sure John Stevens was able to see at first: the lack of defensemen plus Danny Briere's absence created too much of a defensive strain on key forwards.
It's another plus for Holmgren - a clear need was created and the problem was addressed quickly.
Coming into tonight, the Flyers have lost two in a row after a four-game win streak, to clubs (Edmonton and Ottawa) which use speed. In each setback (5-4 on Sunday and 4-1 on Thursday) the Flyers clearly had trouble containing players who use the center of the ice, pinpoint passing and react to the puck instead of playing a predetermined zone or dump-and-chase.
Carle, presumably, gives the defense more speed to match opposition speed. He also provides a less hesitant shot on the power play.
I'd also like to see more positive indicators in the talks to get Brendan Shanahan here.
Shanny, being a veteran with his ear to the ground and friends in high places, might not take too kindly if he hears that the discussions are nothing more than an organizational ploy to get the Flyers to play better; still, the fact that the gravelly and serious Holmgren said the talks were serious sends a signal once again that good changes are once again within reach.
If this move was intended to upgrade a defense suffering the loss of two key skaters and which is in the bottom third of the league, awesome. If this deal is some kind of veiled message to the club to start performing better, I fail to see the threat.
Carle is now with his third organization in less than three seasons. He was the 2006 Hobey Baker Award winner out of the University of Denver, where he was part of back-to-back national titles in 2004 and 2005.
He jumped to the NHL late in the 05-06 season and scored 11 goals two years ago with the Sharks. In the offseason, he was shuffled to Tampa Bay in the deal for Dan Boyle, but with the logjam of bodies there coupled with the immediate need for help on the backline, Carle comes to Philly in time to face his former team on Saturday.
I don't know the genesis of any expectations for Downie, but after all the crap died down from the McAmmond incident I guess the Flyers found out he wasn't anything more than an inconsistent third-or-fourth liner. With Arron Asham and Glen Metropolit performing well and the inexplicable inclusion of Jared Ross, Downie was locked out.
Even though he spent one month as a Flyer, I'm still not sure exactly why Holmgren acquired Eminger in the first place. However, it worked out because the club stockpiled so many bodies than Homer did not have to give up a prime draft pick or another Phantom to get equal value in a trade.
In the short run, the Flyers did take care of a problem that I'm not sure John Stevens was able to see at first: the lack of defensemen plus Danny Briere's absence created too much of a defensive strain on key forwards.
It's another plus for Holmgren - a clear need was created and the problem was addressed quickly.
Coming into tonight, the Flyers have lost two in a row after a four-game win streak, to clubs (Edmonton and Ottawa) which use speed. In each setback (5-4 on Sunday and 4-1 on Thursday) the Flyers clearly had trouble containing players who use the center of the ice, pinpoint passing and react to the puck instead of playing a predetermined zone or dump-and-chase.
Carle, presumably, gives the defense more speed to match opposition speed. He also provides a less hesitant shot on the power play.
I'd also like to see more positive indicators in the talks to get Brendan Shanahan here.
Shanny, being a veteran with his ear to the ground and friends in high places, might not take too kindly if he hears that the discussions are nothing more than an organizational ploy to get the Flyers to play better; still, the fact that the gravelly and serious Holmgren said the talks were serious sends a signal once again that good changes are once again within reach.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
If the writers are smart enough to figure it out, then why not the coach?
Panaccio has come up with yet another compelling argument for the struggles the club has seen in the early going.
Click on his blog from Hockey Buzz and see if you don't agree - not just with him but also with captain Mike Richards.
If this is the start of something heading in the direction I think it's heading, i.e. philosophical clashes between head coach (two-year extension) and youth leader (12-year extension) it could be a very interesting Winter around here.
Click on his blog from Hockey Buzz and see if you don't agree - not just with him but also with captain Mike Richards.
If this is the start of something heading in the direction I think it's heading, i.e. philosophical clashes between head coach (two-year extension) and youth leader (12-year extension) it could be a very interesting Winter around here.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Chickens Roosting Once More...
I couldn't be happier for hearing the report from TSN of Canada that Devils sure-fire Hall-of-Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur will miss at least three months following elbow surgery.
It seemed so harmless at the time...
He goes down to cover the low spots around the net during Saturday night's romp over the deadweighted Atlanta Thrashers, then suddenly leaves the ice and doesn't return. Kevin Weekes filled in admirably thereafter.
A statement on the Devils website by GM Lou Lamoriello confirms that Brodeur will have surgery to fix torn bicep tendons but no timetable.
It's not too hard to find a quote on the recovery period, though.
I had been saying this for years, that it was ultimately unfair and harmful to Brodeur for the club to ride him so hard for so long. With the exception of a few years in the late 90's, it's been #30 starting 95% of the games and all of the playoffs.
Here's the breakdown since he assumed the starting role in his second full season:
1994-95: 40 of 48
1995-96: 77 of 82
1996-97: 67 of 82
1997-98: 70 of 82
1998-99: 70 of 82
1999-00: 72 of 82
2000-01: 72 of 82
2001-02: 73 of 82
2002-03: 73 of 82
2003-04: 75 of 82
2005-06: 73 of 82
2006-07: 78 of 82
2007-08: 77 of 82
2008-09: 10 of 10
The percentage of starts/appearances over the last two-plus seasons is especially staggering when you consider he'd done it at 34,35 and 36 years of age. He's been in the NHL since he was 19.
Brodeur is one of the most physically and technically sound players in league history with an ego to boot. Factoring in all the postseason action he's seen, he could easily play into his mid-40's if New Jersey went and got him legitimate backups over the years.
We all know he wants to play. Still, it's a wonder that GM Lou Lamoriello, who has had no problem shipping players and coaches away at the drop of a hat, hasn't yet
sat Marty down and told him he's going to have to cut back in order to be of great service to the team.
After all, it's been clear through the three Stanley Cup titles that Brodeur has been THE marquee player - the one with the guts and talent upon which the franchise's success has been sustained.
In spite of his competitive nature, why not sit him down coming off the cancelled season three years ago and have a plan in place to keep him as the Number One, but gradually reduce his starts? It wouldn't have hurt his pride so much as this surgery might hurt him physically.
Now the Devils are going to have to - finally - come to terms with what kind of on-ice product they've really had all these years. Fans rarely sold out the Meadowlands, and now the same pattern struck the Rock even with Brodeur patrolling the crease.
Kevin Weekes and Scott Clemmensen are going to have to come up with games of their lives on a routine basis to keep the Devils in contention for a playoff berth. Starting right now.
It seemed so harmless at the time...
He goes down to cover the low spots around the net during Saturday night's romp over the deadweighted Atlanta Thrashers, then suddenly leaves the ice and doesn't return. Kevin Weekes filled in admirably thereafter.
A statement on the Devils website by GM Lou Lamoriello confirms that Brodeur will have surgery to fix torn bicep tendons but no timetable.
It's not too hard to find a quote on the recovery period, though.
I had been saying this for years, that it was ultimately unfair and harmful to Brodeur for the club to ride him so hard for so long. With the exception of a few years in the late 90's, it's been #30 starting 95% of the games and all of the playoffs.
Here's the breakdown since he assumed the starting role in his second full season:
1994-95: 40 of 48
1995-96: 77 of 82
1996-97: 67 of 82
1997-98: 70 of 82
1998-99: 70 of 82
1999-00: 72 of 82
2000-01: 72 of 82
2001-02: 73 of 82
2002-03: 73 of 82
2003-04: 75 of 82
2005-06: 73 of 82
2006-07: 78 of 82
2007-08: 77 of 82
2008-09: 10 of 10
The percentage of starts/appearances over the last two-plus seasons is especially staggering when you consider he'd done it at 34,35 and 36 years of age. He's been in the NHL since he was 19.
Brodeur is one of the most physically and technically sound players in league history with an ego to boot. Factoring in all the postseason action he's seen, he could easily play into his mid-40's if New Jersey went and got him legitimate backups over the years.
We all know he wants to play. Still, it's a wonder that GM Lou Lamoriello, who has had no problem shipping players and coaches away at the drop of a hat, hasn't yet
sat Marty down and told him he's going to have to cut back in order to be of great service to the team.
After all, it's been clear through the three Stanley Cup titles that Brodeur has been THE marquee player - the one with the guts and talent upon which the franchise's success has been sustained.
In spite of his competitive nature, why not sit him down coming off the cancelled season three years ago and have a plan in place to keep him as the Number One, but gradually reduce his starts? It wouldn't have hurt his pride so much as this surgery might hurt him physically.
Now the Devils are going to have to - finally - come to terms with what kind of on-ice product they've really had all these years. Fans rarely sold out the Meadowlands, and now the same pattern struck the Rock even with Brodeur patrolling the crease.
Kevin Weekes and Scott Clemmensen are going to have to come up with games of their lives on a routine basis to keep the Devils in contention for a playoff berth. Starting right now.
Saturday, November 01, 2008
I'm Still Not Convinced
Four wins in a row.
After six losses.
Their record after one month is 4-3-3. Still, cut it any way you want, there is no mathematical solution which says the Flyers are above .500. They began the year with six losses. Three happened to be beyond regulation, and last time I checked those aren't treated like ties used to be.
This club is really 4-6. Inconsistently consistent. Incredibly streaky. And incredibly lucky.
Realistically, you can't lose 'em all. Still, two wins on back-to-back nights against New Jersey should be mitigated by the fact that the Devils have traditionally been a club which surges in the second half.
Plus, Atlanta is one of the least talented, heartless and moribund teams in the league. Finally, the Flyers were noticeably outplayed for the latter half of the Islanders home game only to be rescued by another fluke deflection score by Jeff Carter.
There are three tests right away next week which will really gauge how close this team can rebound. Sunday, a surprising Edmonton team comes in fresh from a win in Carolina. Thursday, the Flyers head to Ottawa and next Saturday the revamped Lightning visit the soon-to-be-renamed home arena.
Any combination from 7-3-3 to 4-3-6 is possible, such is the shift in play throughout any given game during John Stevens' tenure.
After six losses.
Their record after one month is 4-3-3. Still, cut it any way you want, there is no mathematical solution which says the Flyers are above .500. They began the year with six losses. Three happened to be beyond regulation, and last time I checked those aren't treated like ties used to be.
This club is really 4-6. Inconsistently consistent. Incredibly streaky. And incredibly lucky.
Realistically, you can't lose 'em all. Still, two wins on back-to-back nights against New Jersey should be mitigated by the fact that the Devils have traditionally been a club which surges in the second half.
Plus, Atlanta is one of the least talented, heartless and moribund teams in the league. Finally, the Flyers were noticeably outplayed for the latter half of the Islanders home game only to be rescued by another fluke deflection score by Jeff Carter.
There are three tests right away next week which will really gauge how close this team can rebound. Sunday, a surprising Edmonton team comes in fresh from a win in Carolina. Thursday, the Flyers head to Ottawa and next Saturday the revamped Lightning visit the soon-to-be-renamed home arena.
Any combination from 7-3-3 to 4-3-6 is possible, such is the shift in play throughout any given game during John Stevens' tenure.
The Most Compelling Argument Yet to Abolish the Shootout
Back from our (hopefully) regularly-scheduled Phillies revelry...
This game from last night at Honda Center in Anaheim should be self-evident as to why ties finished after 65 minutes of play should be returned to the NHL.
I heard from my co-worker (a non-hockey fan with some knowledge of the sport) who had to write the game last night that by the 10th round, nobody had the energy - much less the imagination - to try and score.
After some legendarily elongated shootout rounds over the last three-plus years, it's time for the NHLPA to speak up with volume. Sending the fans home with either a win or a loss result for "entertainment purposes" is not a valid excuse for these guys to get worn out.
I can't say about 1-1 or 2-2 deadlocks, but I'm pretty damn sure that a 6-6 tie is more than a return investment on the fan's dollar.
This game from last night at Honda Center in Anaheim should be self-evident as to why ties finished after 65 minutes of play should be returned to the NHL.
I heard from my co-worker (a non-hockey fan with some knowledge of the sport) who had to write the game last night that by the 10th round, nobody had the energy - much less the imagination - to try and score.
After some legendarily elongated shootout rounds over the last three-plus years, it's time for the NHLPA to speak up with volume. Sending the fans home with either a win or a loss result for "entertainment purposes" is not a valid excuse for these guys to get worn out.
I can't say about 1-1 or 2-2 deadlocks, but I'm pretty damn sure that a 6-6 tie is more than a return investment on the fan's dollar.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Two Wins. What Do You Want, a Parade?
So, last weekend was great for fans of the orange and black.
Two wins over the New Jersey Devils, on back-to-back nights, no less. The
first two wins of the season after six in the tank.
I bet you think they've turned the corner. That enough heat has come off John
Stevens and that his job is suddenly secure.
Think again.
It was inevitable, the wins. Whether it happened on Friday in New Jersey or
Tuesday against perennial punching-bag Atlanta or next Sunday against
Edmonton, there would be a 'W' posted, maybe several in a row. That's
just the nature of a bloated 30-team league. Ebb and flow at unexpected times.
I have to laugh at the suggestion that two victories over the Devils,
including one that snapped an oh-for-four-year streak on the road, is any
positive referendum on John Stevens' ability.
Remember, last year's club was just as deceptively streaky. The only
difference thus far is that this year's model chose to start the year with six
in the loss column rather than waiting until just before Christmas to hit the
skids.
Sure, there's a better than average chance that win number three is going to
happen at Philips Arena tonight.
After 10 consecutive wins over the Thrashers, no reason to believe that the
11th isn't forthcoming. That would create the deceptively egalitarian record
of 3-3-3 for the Flyers with one more game before October concludes.
But the fact remains that the team's "star" forward is gone for a month. Two
of the defenseman counted on to carry some significant minutes are out long
term. And, of course, the coaching staff is the kind which most likely will
not be able to squeeze much blood from a shrinking stone for long.
We've already seen the first couple chapters of "Coaching for Dummies" cracked
open. There have been demotions to the minors and radical line switching.
Any further losses and then the benchings follow. After that? Nothing. Paul
Holmgren steps in to do what his hires cannot.
Isn't that a clear indictment of the coaches, that the general manager has to
step in before the first month is over?
The threat was there as of Thursday night, that if a win was not forthcoming
changes would be made. Now two wins in succession are enough to call off the
dogs?
Moreso than the numbers, is the club's repeated inability to play a full
contest. Sleepwalking through last Tuesday's first period cost them the San
Jose game. On Friday, at least they got the bad period out of the way in the
first, and turned a 3-2 deficit into a 6-3 result.
Jersey came back and controlled the game for long stretches in the second and
third period after Philly went up by one. Had it not been for a fluke
deflection, we'd most likely be talking about one point on Saturday for a
loss.
It's clear by now that the M.O. of the club will not change as long as
Stevens, Craig Berube, Joe Mullen and Jack McIlhargey are in charge. You can't
try to solve your problems by simply working harder within the system. Ask
Bill Barber.
All that's left is to take each win as it comes, whenever it comes, and hope
that Holmgren is allowed to make the right choices at the right time.
Two wins over the New Jersey Devils, on back-to-back nights, no less. The
first two wins of the season after six in the tank.
I bet you think they've turned the corner. That enough heat has come off John
Stevens and that his job is suddenly secure.
Think again.
It was inevitable, the wins. Whether it happened on Friday in New Jersey or
Tuesday against perennial punching-bag Atlanta or next Sunday against
Edmonton, there would be a 'W' posted, maybe several in a row. That's
just the nature of a bloated 30-team league. Ebb and flow at unexpected times.
I have to laugh at the suggestion that two victories over the Devils,
including one that snapped an oh-for-four-year streak on the road, is any
positive referendum on John Stevens' ability.
Remember, last year's club was just as deceptively streaky. The only
difference thus far is that this year's model chose to start the year with six
in the loss column rather than waiting until just before Christmas to hit the
skids.
Sure, there's a better than average chance that win number three is going to
happen at Philips Arena tonight.
After 10 consecutive wins over the Thrashers, no reason to believe that the
11th isn't forthcoming. That would create the deceptively egalitarian record
of 3-3-3 for the Flyers with one more game before October concludes.
But the fact remains that the team's "star" forward is gone for a month. Two
of the defenseman counted on to carry some significant minutes are out long
term. And, of course, the coaching staff is the kind which most likely will
not be able to squeeze much blood from a shrinking stone for long.
We've already seen the first couple chapters of "Coaching for Dummies" cracked
open. There have been demotions to the minors and radical line switching.
Any further losses and then the benchings follow. After that? Nothing. Paul
Holmgren steps in to do what his hires cannot.
Isn't that a clear indictment of the coaches, that the general manager has to
step in before the first month is over?
The threat was there as of Thursday night, that if a win was not forthcoming
changes would be made. Now two wins in succession are enough to call off the
dogs?
Moreso than the numbers, is the club's repeated inability to play a full
contest. Sleepwalking through last Tuesday's first period cost them the San
Jose game. On Friday, at least they got the bad period out of the way in the
first, and turned a 3-2 deficit into a 6-3 result.
Jersey came back and controlled the game for long stretches in the second and
third period after Philly went up by one. Had it not been for a fluke
deflection, we'd most likely be talking about one point on Saturday for a
loss.
It's clear by now that the M.O. of the club will not change as long as
Stevens, Craig Berube, Joe Mullen and Jack McIlhargey are in charge. You can't
try to solve your problems by simply working harder within the system. Ask
Bill Barber.
All that's left is to take each win as it comes, whenever it comes, and hope
that Holmgren is allowed to make the right choices at the right time.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Break 'Em Up!
Two games against the Devils on back-to-back days...and TWO WINS!!
Jeff Carter's deflection goal late in OT gives John Stevens' embattled boys a 3-2 win over Los Diablos at the soon-to-be-renamed arena on South Broad.
The best part of all this, is the Flyers somehow managed to vault from 14th in the East all the way to a temporary five-way tie for seventh.
Jeff Carter's deflection goal late in OT gives John Stevens' embattled boys a 3-2 win over Los Diablos at the soon-to-be-renamed arena on South Broad.
The best part of all this, is the Flyers somehow managed to vault from 14th in the East all the way to a temporary five-way tie for seventh.
Sarah Palin, Bad Luck Charm to NHL Teams
The erstwhile Republican VP is spreading her smiles, sunshine and hip flexor injuries to the nation's midsection, and a St. Louis Blue goaltender is caught in the crossfire.
Can't we arrange a visit to Madison Square Garden or the Verizon Center in DC next?
Can't we arrange a visit to Madison Square Garden or the Verizon Center in DC next?
Well, That Was Interesting...
Call off the search for a new head coach!
The Flyers won last night in Jersey for the first time since March, 2004!
Read all about it here and here, and get the boxscore here.
It's never easy, though, as the club learned it will be without Briere for a month. Eerie shades of 1993, where shortly after the Phils lost the WS to Toronto, Eric Lindros missed six weeks with a knee injury.
The Flyers won last night in Jersey for the first time since March, 2004!
Read all about it here and here, and get the boxscore here.
It's never easy, though, as the club learned it will be without Briere for a month. Eerie shades of 1993, where shortly after the Phils lost the WS to Toronto, Eric Lindros missed six weeks with a knee injury.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Sharks Put Final Bite on Flyers in Shootout Win
Joe Pavelski was credited with the winner while Jeremy Roenick notched the deciding goal in the shootout, as the San Jose Sharks kept the Philadelphia Flyers winless on the season with a 7-6 victory at the Wachovia Center
Pavelski tallied first for
“I think you look to the stats of last year, and we went with the stats of last year, [Pavelski] and I were one and two,” said Roenick of the shootout. “I might be an old goat, but sometimes the puck goes in the net.”
Roenick went 5-for-8 in the round last season, while Pavelski hit at a 10-for-14 clip for
Patrick Marleau recorded four points on two goals and two assists for the Sharks, who recorded their most goals in any one game against the Flyers since arriving in the NHL in 1991. Pavelski added a goal and two assists as did Devin Setoguchi and Ryane Clowe. Dan Boyle also picked up a score.
Evgeni Nabokov won despite allowing a season-worst six goals in regulation on 29 shots.
Joffrey Lupul picked up his first two goals of the year and Scott Hartnell added a season-best three assists for the Flyers, who are the lone winless team in the NHL at 0-3-3 despite posting a season-high in goals. Danny Briere scored the game-tying goal late in regulation while Scottie Upshall, Jeff Carter and Mike Richards each lit the lamp once.
Antero Niittymaki got the start but was pulled after one period for giving up four goals on 15 shots. Biron finished the contest by making 18 saves but was saddled with the loss.
“You score six goals that should be enough to win,” added Flyers head coach John Stevens. “You look at the games we played, there are a lot of games we have scored enough to win. I thought tonight we created a lot of opportunities offensively but it’s no secret, you get your goals against down, you win hockey games.”
With Philly on the power play and Biron on the bench for an extra attacker, Briere emerged from a goalmouth scrum with 1:05 left in regulation to lift the puck over Nabokov to produce a 6-6 tie.
The score capped a comeback for the beleaguered home club, which led 1-0 early but continually had to play from behind for the remainder of the contest.
Carter notched the game’s first goal only 51 seconds in, an unassisted short-handed tally with a little help from a deflection off a
Richards then tied the score at 12:04, as he took a dish from Andreas Nodl, skated through the Sharks’ zone and floated a wrister through a screen. It was the first NHL point for the youngster, called up from the AHL’s Phantoms on Tuesday.
Marleau’s first of the game at 15:45 gave the visitors the lead, but Upshall slid a rebound through Nabokov on the backhand at 17:54 for a 3-3 game on another man-advantage goal.
However, Setoguchi managed to tuck in a bouncing puck through traffic in the crease with 39 seconds to play in the first, and
Biron came out for the start of the second, and Lupul took a Hartnell feed on the right wing, waited for Nabokov to commit, and roofed a shot high and just inside the left post at 3:30 for a 4-4 deadlock.
The Sharks took a 5-4 edge with 7:08 to play in the second as Biron lost track of Marcel Goc’s shot in his pads and Boyle tipped home the loose puck in the crease.
It was 6-4 only 47 ticks into the third as Marleau converted a Goc pass, but Philly got within one just 17 seconds later as Richards won a right-circle draw and Lupul slammed the puck home.
“We’ve got to keep working hard. It’s disappointing, the way we thought we finally came back the last couple [goals],” said Briere. “In the game at
The Flyers have never opened a season in their 42-year history without a win in their first six games. They get two cracks at the New Jersey Devils on Friday and Saturday (at home) to pick up that elusive first victory.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
The Skinny on the New Kid
Andreas Nodl gets his first crack at the NHL tonight as the Flyers play San Jose at Wachovia Center.
He is rumored to be on a line with Jeff Carter and Scottie Upshall.
I will be in attendance. I'm glad I'll be there because if I were at home, rampant channel flipping will have me screaming and cursing at both this game and Game 1 of the World Series. At least being in my element will mostly take my mind off the Phils-Rays.
Still, I know in my heart only one Philadelphia team is fated to win, and I have no idea which one will get the nod.
He is rumored to be on a line with Jeff Carter and Scottie Upshall.
I will be in attendance. I'm glad I'll be there because if I were at home, rampant channel flipping will have me screaming and cursing at both this game and Game 1 of the World Series. At least being in my element will mostly take my mind off the Phils-Rays.
Still, I know in my heart only one Philadelphia team is fated to win, and I have no idea which one will get the nod.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
NHL Board of Governors Talk Expansion/Relocation
Just when you thought a 30-team NHL was bloated enough, comes word out of Toronto that there is talk of putting a second team in the Toronto region. Apparently, it's an enticement for presumed Hamilton franchise owner and millionaire Jim Balsillie.
Read about it here.
Read about it here.
You Can't Lose 'Em All, Can You?
So, Step One in John Stevens' master plan ripped right from "Coaching for Dummies" to jump-start a moribund team has failed.
Predictably, Saturday night's game in San Jose was a reunion for the line of last year dubbed "Octoberfest" with Danny Briere centering Simon Gagne and Mike Knuble. The line picked up five points (2 goals for Briere, 2 assists for Knuble, goal for Gagne) but the other three reconstituted lines plus the defense only registered five points in a 5-4 overtime loss.
Add to that, the fact that the club was outgunned on the shot board 44-15 through regulation despite holding a 3-1 lead late in the second period.
So, what's next in the ol' bag of tricks for an 0-3-2 squad? My guess is more line shuffling, followed by benchings and stern lectures.
The first "shakeup" already occurred on Monday, when Steve Downie and Jared Ross were sent to the Phantoms. Well...Duh. Neither did much of anything yet this season.
With Wednesday's game a little more than 24 hours away, you'd think a little bit more action and rumors would be generated behind the scenes, but the best that can be dug up at the moment is that Andreas Nodl will get the call to the Big Show.
That infusion of unproven youth will do little to change the chemistry of a club which is still in search of a win. Oddly enough, the radio broadcast on Saturday praised what they termed a full 60-plus-minute minute effort - which is news even to anyone listening to the game. Anyone who saw the game can deduce that Antero Niittymaki was the sole hero, and well, just look at the stats.
Four days off before facing the same club again with the home crowd won't be enough to really turn things around, win or not. Besides, didn't I see a quote on Tuesday from Stevens saying that getting away from home was going to be just the thing to correct the slide?
It's amazing he still has full faith of the front office when the numbers ultimately don't add up. It's like Stevens is stuck on long division, when everyone else has graduated to calculus. I mean, there are reports that the club doesn't really have a sense of urgency because it's only October.
THAT - if anything else - points to a primary lack of ability on Stevens' part as well as the coaching staff. Again, you can use the argument of "they're professionals, they shouldn't have to be prodded at this level," but, OK then, what's the need for head coaches by that logic? Former head coaches Mike Keenan and Ken Hitchcock are master motivators, who knew that when X's and O's failed, a twist in psychology can provide a necessary boost on a team or one-on-one level.
God forbid, all 19,750 fans on Wednesday would - gasp - BOO the home team for an effort that does not equate with a victory. The Flyers just can't have that, although the league dictates that 41 of 82 games must be played on home ice. Mere effort now is not a thing that should be rewarded.
What Panaccio, Ed Moran, Wayne Fish and others keep quoting is that the 1999-2000 club started the year 0-5-1 before reversing field. That team won the Atlantic and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals where...well...you know...
BUT - that team at various points had the likes of Lindros, LeClair, Desjardins, Recchi, McGillis, Primeau, Tocchet, Berube, Vanbiesbrouck et al, coached by Roger Neilson and shephered by Craig Ramsay. In other words, veterans who knew how and when to take it upon themselves to maybe move away from the rigid system in place and go on emotion and instinct.
This Stevens-led club is a batch of kids with some veteran spice, one which is too solidly entrenched in the dump-and-chase, defense-first mentality that does not seem to permit adjustments or a way to rally once the team is behind. In other words, unless the coaching staff recognizes how and when to adjust, their skaters will be stuck in the same endless pattern.
Which leads back to the question of when exactly will the Flyers win a game?
This week there are three chances, none of which are cakewalks. Tomorrow, all San Jose has to do is circle the net like Saturday and the Flyers might not be able to stop them. Then comes back-to-back, home-and-road games with the Devils on Friday and Saturday.
New Jersey still has this way of choking off any offensive flow and capitalizing on mistakes, and can easily win 1-0 or 2-1 both nights. The systems which Brent Sutter and Stevens employ are eerily similar, but my money's on the Horned Ones because they always seem to bring that little bit extra most times.
After that, it's a matchup in Atlanta on October 28 against the Thrashers - whom Philly has beaten 10 times in a row and 14 of 16. There might be a bit of symmetry because Stevens' first win behind the bench two years ago was a 3-2 shootout decision over Atlanta.
Whatever happens, the Flyers need more, or any production from the following: Scottie Upshall (2 assists, 5 games); Scott Hartnell (1 goal, 5 games); Joffrey Lupul (0 points, 5 games). In addition, Asham and Metropolit must bring something more than fists and energy on the fourth line.
Even then, they need several of those guys besides the top line and Carter/Richards (combined 6 goals and 8 points) to contribute to out-hustle and outscore the opposition. Thus far, it's been feast or famine. That seems to be a tall order at this juncture.
Just in case you were wondering, according to FOX 29, it's only 1 day, 6 hours, 26 minutes until coverage of Game 1 of the World series begins.
Predictably, Saturday night's game in San Jose was a reunion for the line of last year dubbed "Octoberfest" with Danny Briere centering Simon Gagne and Mike Knuble. The line picked up five points (2 goals for Briere, 2 assists for Knuble, goal for Gagne) but the other three reconstituted lines plus the defense only registered five points in a 5-4 overtime loss.
Add to that, the fact that the club was outgunned on the shot board 44-15 through regulation despite holding a 3-1 lead late in the second period.
So, what's next in the ol' bag of tricks for an 0-3-2 squad? My guess is more line shuffling, followed by benchings and stern lectures.
The first "shakeup" already occurred on Monday, when Steve Downie and Jared Ross were sent to the Phantoms. Well...Duh. Neither did much of anything yet this season.
With Wednesday's game a little more than 24 hours away, you'd think a little bit more action and rumors would be generated behind the scenes, but the best that can be dug up at the moment is that Andreas Nodl will get the call to the Big Show.
That infusion of unproven youth will do little to change the chemistry of a club which is still in search of a win. Oddly enough, the radio broadcast on Saturday praised what they termed a full 60-plus-minute minute effort - which is news even to anyone listening to the game. Anyone who saw the game can deduce that Antero Niittymaki was the sole hero, and well, just look at the stats.
Four days off before facing the same club again with the home crowd won't be enough to really turn things around, win or not. Besides, didn't I see a quote on Tuesday from Stevens saying that getting away from home was going to be just the thing to correct the slide?
It's amazing he still has full faith of the front office when the numbers ultimately don't add up. It's like Stevens is stuck on long division, when everyone else has graduated to calculus. I mean, there are reports that the club doesn't really have a sense of urgency because it's only October.
THAT - if anything else - points to a primary lack of ability on Stevens' part as well as the coaching staff. Again, you can use the argument of "they're professionals, they shouldn't have to be prodded at this level," but, OK then, what's the need for head coaches by that logic? Former head coaches Mike Keenan and Ken Hitchcock are master motivators, who knew that when X's and O's failed, a twist in psychology can provide a necessary boost on a team or one-on-one level.
God forbid, all 19,750 fans on Wednesday would - gasp - BOO the home team for an effort that does not equate with a victory. The Flyers just can't have that, although the league dictates that 41 of 82 games must be played on home ice. Mere effort now is not a thing that should be rewarded.
What Panaccio, Ed Moran, Wayne Fish and others keep quoting is that the 1999-2000 club started the year 0-5-1 before reversing field. That team won the Atlantic and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals where...well...you know...
BUT - that team at various points had the likes of Lindros, LeClair, Desjardins, Recchi, McGillis, Primeau, Tocchet, Berube, Vanbiesbrouck et al, coached by Roger Neilson and shephered by Craig Ramsay. In other words, veterans who knew how and when to take it upon themselves to maybe move away from the rigid system in place and go on emotion and instinct.
This Stevens-led club is a batch of kids with some veteran spice, one which is too solidly entrenched in the dump-and-chase, defense-first mentality that does not seem to permit adjustments or a way to rally once the team is behind. In other words, unless the coaching staff recognizes how and when to adjust, their skaters will be stuck in the same endless pattern.
Which leads back to the question of when exactly will the Flyers win a game?
This week there are three chances, none of which are cakewalks. Tomorrow, all San Jose has to do is circle the net like Saturday and the Flyers might not be able to stop them. Then comes back-to-back, home-and-road games with the Devils on Friday and Saturday.
New Jersey still has this way of choking off any offensive flow and capitalizing on mistakes, and can easily win 1-0 or 2-1 both nights. The systems which Brent Sutter and Stevens employ are eerily similar, but my money's on the Horned Ones because they always seem to bring that little bit extra most times.
After that, it's a matchup in Atlanta on October 28 against the Thrashers - whom Philly has beaten 10 times in a row and 14 of 16. There might be a bit of symmetry because Stevens' first win behind the bench two years ago was a 3-2 shootout decision over Atlanta.
Whatever happens, the Flyers need more, or any production from the following: Scottie Upshall (2 assists, 5 games); Scott Hartnell (1 goal, 5 games); Joffrey Lupul (0 points, 5 games). In addition, Asham and Metropolit must bring something more than fists and energy on the fourth line.
Even then, they need several of those guys besides the top line and Carter/Richards (combined 6 goals and 8 points) to contribute to out-hustle and outscore the opposition. Thus far, it's been feast or famine. That seems to be a tall order at this juncture.
Just in case you were wondering, according to FOX 29, it's only 1 day, 6 hours, 26 minutes until coverage of Game 1 of the World series begins.
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