Boston University and the University of Vermont, both from Hockey East, highlight the final four schools in the NCAA men's ice hockey tournament, set for April 9-11 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC.
The Terriers won the Hockey East regular season and playoff titles, finishing the year as the top-ranked school in the nation, garnering the overall top seed for the tourney. BU gained its first Frozen Four berth since 1997 by routing Ohio State, 8-3, on Saturday and conference-rival New Hampshire on Sunday by a 2-1 count to take the Northeast region.
Vermont, which finished fourth in the stacked conference, captured the East region with victories over former ECAC foe Yale on Friday, then a disputed 3-2 double-overtime triumph Saturday against Air Force.
The Miami-Ohio RedHawks are the lone Central Collegiate Hockey Association team in the field, gaining the semifinals after toppling top-seed Denver, then Minnesota-Duluth in the West region on Friday and Saturday.
Bemidji State, from College Hockey America, rounds out the field after taking the Midwest region following a 4-1 triumph over Cornell on Sunday to reach its first Frozen Four in school history. The Beavers, which were the fourth seed in the grouping, also dispatched regional top-seed Notre Dame on Saturday to become the first team from outside the traditional four powerhouse conferences to reach the national semis.
For the semifinal round on Thursday, April 9, Boston University squares off against Vermont and Bemidji State looks to continue its run by facing Miami- Ohio.
The winner of both will meet on Saturday, April 11, for the national championship. Boston College took home the 2008 title, topping Notre Dame.
Monday, March 30, 2009
45 Saves by Thomas, Recchi's late score doom Flyers
Tim Thomas made 45 saves and Mark Recchi picked up the game-winner early in the third period, as Boston clipped Philadelphia, 4-3, at Wachovia Center.
Milan Lucic added a pair of goals and Dennis Wideman also tallied for the Bruins, who have won three games in a row. Boston picked up its 48th win of the season and has 106 points, seven more than idle Washington and tops in the Eastern Conference.
Claude Giroux picked up a goal and assist for the Flyers, who launched a season-high 48 shots on goal but lost for the second time in their last six games.
Philadelphia still sits one point ahead of idle Carolina for fourth in the Eastern Conference.
Mike Richards and Simon Gagne lit the lamp and Antero Niittymaki took the loss after allowing four goals on 31 shots.
Recchi put the Bruins ahead by two with 4:21 played in the third period, a one-handed poke at a rebound which sailed over Niittymaki.
Gagne finally answered for the Flyers, shoving home a loose puck in the crease with 1:12 left in regulation, but that was as close as the home team got.
Giroux put the Flyers up 1-0 4:56 into the contest. Danny Briere dished to Arron Asham in the slot, and after his shot was turned away by Thomas, the rebound came right to the young winger for a tap-in.
Lucic drew Boston even with 9:21 left in the first, redirecting a cross-ice feed by Michael Ryder.
Wideman blasted a shot from the high slot for a 5-on-3 goal with 6:05 to play in the first, then Lucic tallied again inside three minutes left and the Bruins led 3-1 after one period.
Thomas made an acrobatic diving glove save to stone Scott Hartnell with the Bruins down two men early in the second period, but the Flyers drew within one at 17:49 as Richards deflected Ryan Parent's point shot with the shaft of his stick while facing away from the net.
Game Notes
The clubs split the season series, 2-2-0, with each club winning twice on the road...The Flyers missed forward Riley Cote with an injured left finger, and called up forward Andreas Nodl from the Phantoms...The Bruins have won four straight and six of seven in Philadelphia dating back to January, 2006...Bruins forward Phil Kessel missed the game with an undisclosed injury.
Milan Lucic added a pair of goals and Dennis Wideman also tallied for the Bruins, who have won three games in a row. Boston picked up its 48th win of the season and has 106 points, seven more than idle Washington and tops in the Eastern Conference.
Claude Giroux picked up a goal and assist for the Flyers, who launched a season-high 48 shots on goal but lost for the second time in their last six games.
Philadelphia still sits one point ahead of idle Carolina for fourth in the Eastern Conference.
Mike Richards and Simon Gagne lit the lamp and Antero Niittymaki took the loss after allowing four goals on 31 shots.
Recchi put the Bruins ahead by two with 4:21 played in the third period, a one-handed poke at a rebound which sailed over Niittymaki.
Gagne finally answered for the Flyers, shoving home a loose puck in the crease with 1:12 left in regulation, but that was as close as the home team got.
Giroux put the Flyers up 1-0 4:56 into the contest. Danny Briere dished to Arron Asham in the slot, and after his shot was turned away by Thomas, the rebound came right to the young winger for a tap-in.
Lucic drew Boston even with 9:21 left in the first, redirecting a cross-ice feed by Michael Ryder.
Wideman blasted a shot from the high slot for a 5-on-3 goal with 6:05 to play in the first, then Lucic tallied again inside three minutes left and the Bruins led 3-1 after one period.
Thomas made an acrobatic diving glove save to stone Scott Hartnell with the Bruins down two men early in the second period, but the Flyers drew within one at 17:49 as Richards deflected Ryan Parent's point shot with the shaft of his stick while facing away from the net.
Game Notes
The clubs split the season series, 2-2-0, with each club winning twice on the road...The Flyers missed forward Riley Cote with an injured left finger, and called up forward Andreas Nodl from the Phantoms...The Bruins have won four straight and six of seven in Philadelphia dating back to January, 2006...Bruins forward Phil Kessel missed the game with an undisclosed injury.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Cote out, Nodl in
Riley Cote apparently hurt his finger during last night's Flyers-Islanders game (presumably in a fight) and will not play.
Andreas Nodl once again makes a trip across parking lots to fill the spot on the roster.
Antero Niittymaki is the confirmed starter.
Andreas Nodl once again makes a trip across parking lots to fill the spot on the roster.
Antero Niittymaki is the confirmed starter.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Richards gets shootout winner as Flyers rally past Islanders
Mike Richards notched the winner in the second round of the shootout, as the Philadelphia Flyers rallied from a two- goal third-period deficit to edge the New York Islanders, 4-3, at Nassau Coliseum.
Martin Biron foiled Frans Nielsen to open the second round before Richards tucked a shot off the right post and just beyond the right pad of Yann Danis. Biron then easily halted a weak shot from Mark Streit to end the game in the Flyers' favor.
Joffrey Lupul tallied twice and Scott Hartnell once for the Flyers, who have won three of their last four games and remained in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 92 points.
Following Pittsburgh's win over the Rangers earlier Saturday and Carolina's victory against New Jersey later Saturday, Philly moved one point ahead of the Hurricanes and two ahead of the Penguins.
Biron extended his personal winning streak over the Islanders to 11 games, making 30 saves.
Radek Martinek, Jeff Tambellini and Streit scored for the Islanders, who have dropped four of five and could not sustain the momentum from Friday's surprise 2-0 win in Detroit.
Danis took the loss despite a 33-save performance.
The Islanders took a 1-0 lead with 5:48 to play in the first period. Nate Thompson won a left-circle draw to Tim Jackman, who dished back to Martinek for a shot which changed direction on its way to the back of the net.
New York looked poised to go up 2-0 with a power-play score from Nielsen at the first-period buzzer, but a review determined the puck did not cross the goal line before time expired.
Tambellini did provide a two-goal lead for the Isles, batting a puck out of mid-air while facing away from the net 3:03 into the second period.
The Flyers began the third period by wiping out their two-goal deficit in a little less than four minutes.
Lupul darted down the right wing from end-to-end and slipped a shot behind Danis at the 4:24 mark.
Hartnell tied the game at 6:38, alertly backhanding the rebound of Jeff Carter's initial shot before Lupul lifted a backhander home on a breakaway at 7:58.
However, Streit followed Kyle Okposo's rebound and tucked it between Biron's pads for a 3-3 deadlock just 51 seconds later.
Despite six shots and spirited play, neither team could finish a chance in overtime.
Game Notes
The Flyers have won all five meetings this year, and have taken nine in a row and 12 of 13 from the start of last season...Lupul notched his 100th career tally. He has 43 in two seasons with Philadelphia...Okposo finished with two assists for the Islanders.
Martin Biron foiled Frans Nielsen to open the second round before Richards tucked a shot off the right post and just beyond the right pad of Yann Danis. Biron then easily halted a weak shot from Mark Streit to end the game in the Flyers' favor.
Joffrey Lupul tallied twice and Scott Hartnell once for the Flyers, who have won three of their last four games and remained in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 92 points.
Following Pittsburgh's win over the Rangers earlier Saturday and Carolina's victory against New Jersey later Saturday, Philly moved one point ahead of the Hurricanes and two ahead of the Penguins.
Biron extended his personal winning streak over the Islanders to 11 games, making 30 saves.
Radek Martinek, Jeff Tambellini and Streit scored for the Islanders, who have dropped four of five and could not sustain the momentum from Friday's surprise 2-0 win in Detroit.
Danis took the loss despite a 33-save performance.
The Islanders took a 1-0 lead with 5:48 to play in the first period. Nate Thompson won a left-circle draw to Tim Jackman, who dished back to Martinek for a shot which changed direction on its way to the back of the net.
New York looked poised to go up 2-0 with a power-play score from Nielsen at the first-period buzzer, but a review determined the puck did not cross the goal line before time expired.
Tambellini did provide a two-goal lead for the Isles, batting a puck out of mid-air while facing away from the net 3:03 into the second period.
The Flyers began the third period by wiping out their two-goal deficit in a little less than four minutes.
Lupul darted down the right wing from end-to-end and slipped a shot behind Danis at the 4:24 mark.
Hartnell tied the game at 6:38, alertly backhanding the rebound of Jeff Carter's initial shot before Lupul lifted a backhander home on a breakaway at 7:58.
However, Streit followed Kyle Okposo's rebound and tucked it between Biron's pads for a 3-3 deadlock just 51 seconds later.
Despite six shots and spirited play, neither team could finish a chance in overtime.
Game Notes
The Flyers have won all five meetings this year, and have taken nine in a row and 12 of 13 from the start of last season...Lupul notched his 100th career tally. He has 43 in two seasons with Philadelphia...Okposo finished with two assists for the Islanders.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Coyotes apparently staying in Phoenix for time being
Courtesy of NHL.com
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says the financially struggling Phoenix Coyotes are actively seeking investors or possibly new ownership, but reiterated that the team won't be relocated.
"Our goal is to bring in new capital and make this franchise solvent," Bettman said Thursday night while attending the Coyotes game against the Edmonton Oilers. "That's our direction, and at this point moving the franchise elsewhere is not on the table."
The Coyotes have reportedly lost US$200 million since current owner Jerry Moyes brought the team in 2001, and are projected to lose another $30 million this season.
Bettman said the Coyotes are actively engaging with potential investors, whom he would not identify.
The Coyotes will miss the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season and have had only two sellouts in 37 home games.
In a recent survey, Glendale residents rejected the notion of taxpayer money to help provide financial assistance to the team.
"We're looking for an infusion of capital and thinking about nothing else," Bettman said. "We're talking to a number of people, but there's no sense of urgency."
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says the financially struggling Phoenix Coyotes are actively seeking investors or possibly new ownership, but reiterated that the team won't be relocated.
"Our goal is to bring in new capital and make this franchise solvent," Bettman said Thursday night while attending the Coyotes game against the Edmonton Oilers. "That's our direction, and at this point moving the franchise elsewhere is not on the table."
The Coyotes have reportedly lost US$200 million since current owner Jerry Moyes brought the team in 2001, and are projected to lose another $30 million this season.
Bettman said the Coyotes are actively engaging with potential investors, whom he would not identify.
The Coyotes will miss the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season and have had only two sellouts in 37 home games.
In a recent survey, Glendale residents rejected the notion of taxpayer money to help provide financial assistance to the team.
"We're looking for an infusion of capital and thinking about nothing else," Bettman said. "We're talking to a number of people, but there's no sense of urgency."
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Panthers double up Flyers on Hartnell Wig Night
Brett McLean and David Booth netted third-period goals as Florida held off Philadelphia, 4-2, at Wachovia Center.
Cory Stillman and Radek Dvorak also tallied for the Panthers, who halted a three-game losing streak and won for just the third time in 10 contests. Florida remained in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, two points out of a playoff berth after eight-seed Montreal topped Tampa Bay.
Craig Anderson stopped 40 shots to register his 13th win of the season.
"I think we've been playing pretty well, but we haven't gotten the results," said Anderson of his club, which had wasted late leads in setbacks to Columbus and Buffalo in the last week. "What other teams do is out of our control. If we do the best we can then we'll see where the chips lay."
Jeff Carter and Scott Hartnell provided offense for the Flyers, who saw their three-game win streak snapped. Philadelphia, the four-seed in the conference, failed to put more distance between itself and idle Carolina, which holds fifth place with 89 points, one behind the Flyers.
Martin Biron allowed three goals on 27 shots in defeat.
McLean converted a pass from Nick Boynton from a Flyers turnover for a 3-2 Panthers lead 2:38 into the third period.
From there, the Panthers did their best to get in the Flyers' way for the remainder of regulation.
When Kimmo Timonen was sent off for interference with 2:15 to play, Philly kept pressing on offense with Biron pulled but Dvorak scored into the empty net with 32.5 seconds to go to ice the Florida victory.
"We've got to do a better job of getting in lanes and blocking shots," Hartnell offered. "We have a couple games in hand on some teams but we have got to take control of our own destiny."
Stillman deflected home Jay Bouwmeester's floating point shot for a power-play score and 1-0 Florida lead with 8:35 left in the first period.
In a deliberately-paced second period, Hartnell had the best Flyer chance to tie the game but hit the post with over six minutes remaining, but Carter came right back to finish off a 2-on-1 with a wrister from the left wing at 14:07.
Only 23 seconds later, a Panthers' odd-man rush resulted in Keith Ballard's shot being kicked out by Biron right to Dvorak for a tap-in and 2-1 Florida edge.
Carter and Hartnell teamed up to tie the game with 3.8 seconds left in the period, as the former found a loose puck behind the net and dished back to the latter for a one-timer over Anderson's glove.
Game Notes
Florida has won two of the three meetings this season, and has won four of the last five games in Philadelphia...Prior to the contest, the Flyers recalled defenseman Danny Syvret from the Phantoms under emergency conditions, as a precaution against Timonen's unknown illness...The clubs play one more time this year, in Philadelphia, on April 7...The Flyers play at the Islanders on Saturday.
Cory Stillman and Radek Dvorak also tallied for the Panthers, who halted a three-game losing streak and won for just the third time in 10 contests. Florida remained in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, two points out of a playoff berth after eight-seed Montreal topped Tampa Bay.
Craig Anderson stopped 40 shots to register his 13th win of the season.
"I think we've been playing pretty well, but we haven't gotten the results," said Anderson of his club, which had wasted late leads in setbacks to Columbus and Buffalo in the last week. "What other teams do is out of our control. If we do the best we can then we'll see where the chips lay."
Jeff Carter and Scott Hartnell provided offense for the Flyers, who saw their three-game win streak snapped. Philadelphia, the four-seed in the conference, failed to put more distance between itself and idle Carolina, which holds fifth place with 89 points, one behind the Flyers.
Martin Biron allowed three goals on 27 shots in defeat.
McLean converted a pass from Nick Boynton from a Flyers turnover for a 3-2 Panthers lead 2:38 into the third period.
From there, the Panthers did their best to get in the Flyers' way for the remainder of regulation.
When Kimmo Timonen was sent off for interference with 2:15 to play, Philly kept pressing on offense with Biron pulled but Dvorak scored into the empty net with 32.5 seconds to go to ice the Florida victory.
"We've got to do a better job of getting in lanes and blocking shots," Hartnell offered. "We have a couple games in hand on some teams but we have got to take control of our own destiny."
Stillman deflected home Jay Bouwmeester's floating point shot for a power-play score and 1-0 Florida lead with 8:35 left in the first period.
In a deliberately-paced second period, Hartnell had the best Flyer chance to tie the game but hit the post with over six minutes remaining, but Carter came right back to finish off a 2-on-1 with a wrister from the left wing at 14:07.
Only 23 seconds later, a Panthers' odd-man rush resulted in Keith Ballard's shot being kicked out by Biron right to Dvorak for a tap-in and 2-1 Florida edge.
Carter and Hartnell teamed up to tie the game with 3.8 seconds left in the period, as the former found a loose puck behind the net and dished back to the latter for a one-timer over Anderson's glove.
Game Notes
Florida has won two of the three meetings this season, and has won four of the last five games in Philadelphia...Prior to the contest, the Flyers recalled defenseman Danny Syvret from the Phantoms under emergency conditions, as a precaution against Timonen's unknown illness...The clubs play one more time this year, in Philadelphia, on April 7...The Flyers play at the Islanders on Saturday.
No defenseman slated to be missing for Scott Hartnell Wig Night
According to Anthony SanFilippo of the Delco Times, Danny Syvret was recalled from the Phantoms under emergency conditions.
The late update was that Kimmo Timonen was not feeling well and Syvret was his insurance. Timonen is, in fact, in the lineup.
The late update was that Kimmo Timonen was not feeling well and Syvret was his insurance. Timonen is, in fact, in the lineup.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Of the NHL and Hockey East
This weekend, the Flyers finally snapped to attention and won a pair of extra-crucial road games in Buffalo and Pittsburgh.
The short-term effect is that it kept the Sabres out of the bottom of the playoff seeding and kept Penguins at bay, and now the orange and black are two points ahead for that important four-spot and home ice in the first round.
The long-term effect should be interesting. Philly has 11 games left, Pittsburgh only eight. Games in hand are tricky, because you can waste them just as easily as you can use them to distance yourself.
For the remainder of the month the schedule is: home vs New Jersey; home vs Florida; at NY Islanders; home vs Boston. All four are eminently winnable, and all four are also eminently losable.
The Devils and Bruins are looking to shore up the 1 and 2 spots. The Panthers are fighting for a playoff berth, and the Islanders are locked into the "spoiler or play for pride" role which got them odd things like a 7-3 win over Jersey two weeks ago.
Points in all are a must, but wins in all is the best scenario.
After basically taking yesterday "off," in a 4-1 loss which saw Martin Brodeur give up three questionable scores, you can bet he'll start tonight and suddenly recover than laser-like focus. Plus, you know he just likes to torture us.
Winning this game 1-0 should be the focus of John Stevens' gameplan. If the Flyers start thinking they have to score to win, it's over. That's the diabolical beauty of Devils '09 - this time of year, the mindset is still akin to Devils '98.
All those glib cliches about "playing 60 minutes" have got to come to fruition tonight and over the last 3 weeks of the season. It shouldn't be too hard, because this club has taken so many shifts off, they should have some reserves in the tank.
Also, Martin Biron has got to play like every goal he gives up should be his last - like Ron Hextall. He was lucky that those two fluke scores on Friday didn't come back to haunt his teammates, then played like he owed his club some stellar netminding yesterday. He has to back that up once again before he would have a likely rest either Thursday against Florida or Saturday at the Island.
Now something totally removed from the Flyers and playoffs. Alex Ovechkin's 50th goal celebration.
It was joyous. It was original. It was ridiculous.
He's crossed the line.
Nonetheless, it's so amusing to see hypocrites like Don Cherry and Rick Tocchet over-react on TV.
Where was Cherry's outrage in 1993 when rookie foreigner Teemu Selanne did his duck hunt impersonation when he broke Mike Bossy's rookie goal-scoring record?
Lightning head coach Rick Tocchet professed his indoctrination into the NHL of the old days of the Spectrum and said if that happened in his day, it would have been a three-hour first period.
Yet, why didn't he even attempt to send one of his team's tough guys on the ice to send a message to Number 8 and his Capitals teammates? If he felt strongly enough, he should have risked one of his boys getting an instigator and even a game misconduct for answering that supposed indiscretion of The Code.
The NHL has changed way too much from even 10 years ago, that now even guys in their 40's sound like dinosaurs whose time has long since passed. Forget Cherry, who at 70-something looks ever closer to Skeletor in garish, insanely clashing and blinding suits.
Ovechkin's been warned. He's gotta tone it down. Even Jaromir Jagr got the message once, and stopped his idiotic salutes before he became merged with the advertisements on the boards.
On to college hockey...
I refuse to be an impartial or quasi-professional when discussing the politics of Hockey East rooting interest in this or any space.
It flat-out sucked big time that BC lost in the semifinals on Friday. Even worse they had to go down against perennial pain-in-the-ass Boston University. Atomic-level anger that the Eagles were up 2-0 before BU converted three goals in 44 seconds in the third period to wrap up the game. Nuclear explosions that BU suddenly has the Number One overall seed in the NCAA tournament.
Well...that's OK. Because we all know Jack Parker is more provincial than most coaches. He's satisfied with the Beanpot but can't get his boys to rise to the occasion on the national stage. It's been that way since BU last won a title in 1995.
Still...if you're Jerry York, you gotta have a fire lit under your ass which translates to your team. You can't let BU have one stretch of less than a minute doom your effort (one year removed from a national championship), not after you've upended New Hampshire two straight on their own home ice to start the playoffs.
To be honest, I didn't see them losing to BU. I didn't see them losing to either UMass-Lowell or even Northeastern in the final. The HE playoff title and an automatic berth was there for the taking.
Instead, it's the first time since 2002 the Eagles are sitting at home instead of reaching for glory in late March and early April. Coincidentally, that's what occurred in 2001 when all the rats left the ship for NHL careers and it took five years to get back to the national finals. I hope the cycle is shorter this time around.
I don't know who I will root for as the field of 16 is narrowed down to the Frozen Four in DC in two weeks. I sure as hell know who I will be rooting against.
The short-term effect is that it kept the Sabres out of the bottom of the playoff seeding and kept Penguins at bay, and now the orange and black are two points ahead for that important four-spot and home ice in the first round.
The long-term effect should be interesting. Philly has 11 games left, Pittsburgh only eight. Games in hand are tricky, because you can waste them just as easily as you can use them to distance yourself.
For the remainder of the month the schedule is: home vs New Jersey; home vs Florida; at NY Islanders; home vs Boston. All four are eminently winnable, and all four are also eminently losable.
The Devils and Bruins are looking to shore up the 1 and 2 spots. The Panthers are fighting for a playoff berth, and the Islanders are locked into the "spoiler or play for pride" role which got them odd things like a 7-3 win over Jersey two weeks ago.
Points in all are a must, but wins in all is the best scenario.
After basically taking yesterday "off," in a 4-1 loss which saw Martin Brodeur give up three questionable scores, you can bet he'll start tonight and suddenly recover than laser-like focus. Plus, you know he just likes to torture us.
Winning this game 1-0 should be the focus of John Stevens' gameplan. If the Flyers start thinking they have to score to win, it's over. That's the diabolical beauty of Devils '09 - this time of year, the mindset is still akin to Devils '98.
All those glib cliches about "playing 60 minutes" have got to come to fruition tonight and over the last 3 weeks of the season. It shouldn't be too hard, because this club has taken so many shifts off, they should have some reserves in the tank.
Also, Martin Biron has got to play like every goal he gives up should be his last - like Ron Hextall. He was lucky that those two fluke scores on Friday didn't come back to haunt his teammates, then played like he owed his club some stellar netminding yesterday. He has to back that up once again before he would have a likely rest either Thursday against Florida or Saturday at the Island.
Now something totally removed from the Flyers and playoffs. Alex Ovechkin's 50th goal celebration.
It was joyous. It was original. It was ridiculous.
He's crossed the line.
Nonetheless, it's so amusing to see hypocrites like Don Cherry and Rick Tocchet over-react on TV.
Where was Cherry's outrage in 1993 when rookie foreigner Teemu Selanne did his duck hunt impersonation when he broke Mike Bossy's rookie goal-scoring record?
Lightning head coach Rick Tocchet professed his indoctrination into the NHL of the old days of the Spectrum and said if that happened in his day, it would have been a three-hour first period.
Yet, why didn't he even attempt to send one of his team's
The NHL has changed way too much from even 10 years ago, that now even guys in their 40's sound like dinosaurs whose time has long since passed. Forget Cherry, who at 70-something looks ever closer to Skeletor in garish, insanely clashing and blinding suits.
Ovechkin's been warned. He's gotta tone it down. Even Jaromir Jagr got the message once, and stopped his idiotic salutes before he became merged with the advertisements on the boards.
On to college hockey...
I refuse to be an impartial or quasi-professional when discussing the politics of Hockey East rooting interest in this or any space.
It flat-out sucked big time that BC lost in the semifinals on Friday. Even worse they had to go down against perennial pain-in-the-ass Boston University. Atomic-level anger that the Eagles were up 2-0 before BU converted three goals in 44 seconds in the third period to wrap up the game. Nuclear explosions that BU suddenly has the Number One overall seed in the NCAA tournament.
Well...that's OK. Because we all know Jack Parker is more provincial than most coaches. He's satisfied with the Beanpot but can't get his boys to rise to the occasion on the national stage. It's been that way since BU last won a title in 1995.
Still...if you're Jerry York, you gotta have a fire lit under your ass which translates to your team. You can't let BU have one stretch of less than a minute doom your effort (one year removed from a national championship), not after you've upended New Hampshire two straight on their own home ice to start the playoffs.
To be honest, I didn't see them losing to BU. I didn't see them losing to either UMass-Lowell or even Northeastern in the final. The HE playoff title and an automatic berth was there for the taking.
Instead, it's the first time since 2002 the Eagles are sitting at home instead of reaching for glory in late March and early April. Coincidentally, that's what occurred in 2001 when all the rats left the ship for NHL careers and it took five years to get back to the national finals. I hope the cycle is shorter this time around.
I don't know who I will root for as the field of 16 is narrowed down to the Frozen Four in DC in two weeks. I sure as hell know who I will be rooting against.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
If the Playoffs Started Today...
Yeah, I'm caving in and doing one of my own, so sue me. Still, there are valid points to be made.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(8) Carolina vs (1) Boston
This could be a verrrry legitimate serious upset in the first round.
I love what the team has done this season. I like the scoring balance, the combined toughness and offensive potential from the defense, and the Thomas/Fernandez tandem in net is a solid and playoff-run caliber. Still...The Bruins have a roster of virtual unknowns, save for Mark Recchi. Their ascension to the top of the East just two years removed from a last-place finish in the Northeast doesn't exactly scream "We've arrived."
Plus, the Canes are desperately trying not to miss the playoffs for a third straight year, and have a similar lineup to the one which won the Cup just three years ago, now that the disastrous off-season Erik Cole deal was finally reversed.
(7) Montreal vs (2) New Jersey
I don't like this one much for the lower seed.
The Canadiens are frantically digging a deep hole for themselves, and only shoveling the dirt on top of themselves while burrowing ever deeper. On the other hand, the Devils have not let up one bit since November and have a thoroughly rested and ready Martin Brodeur, who's coming off a convenient 50-game absence due to injury.
The only hope Montreal has in this series will be of the supernatural kind: Either the Forum Ghosts make themselves known in the Bell Centre, or a quantum singularity appears over center ice and sucks the entire Devils team into the eighth dimension.
So much for the 100th Anniversaire!
(6) NY Rangers vs (3) Washington
About as close as you can get with two teams that employ equal and opposite game plans. Sean Avery should be a huge factor because John Tortorella will be wise to make sure he sticks to the back of Ovechkin and Semin's jerseys at all times.
It remains to be seen if Henrik Lundqvist will be able to stand up to what should be a barrage of Capitals shots (especially at home where they turn up the intensity to ELEVEN), but even if he doesn't play well, he'll outduel Jose Theodore in net.
I shade this one to the Caps, but only due to home-ice advantage from Washington being the Southeast division champions.
(5) Pittsburgh vs (4) Philadelphia
Sorry to say this, Flyers fans, but if this meeting comes to pass, Philly will have to suffer a desultory first-round exit.
In last year's conference finals, Pittsburgh showed greater puck awareness and willingness to read an react to various situations that made Philly look a a full step too slow and indecisive.
Since John Stevens has done little to nothing to change or improve on that same system this year, expect the same result, and this time without Penguins players bristling under former head coach Michel Therrien. Maybe the Flyers will win two games in this series, but no more.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
(8) Edmonton vs (1) Detroit
No, this will not turn out like the disaster of three seasons ago. The Red Wings have a bunch of players who are focused on winning, with one Cup in their back pocket. The Oilers lack the grit, talent and offense of that 2006 miracle team, and even if Detroit takes shifts/games off, it will not be enough to doom them.
But that's what we all thought three years ago...
(7) Nashville vs (2) San Jose
So what if the Sharks have been in a slow, steady slide the last month? They've been battling tooth and nail with the Wings and Bruins for the best record in the NHL and in a 30-team league, even the ones with obscenely awesome records will slide at inopportune times.
Nashville still is a team best described as the Mighty Mites. Lotsa heart, soul, passion, scoring, but they're not big. This is the exact same problems which doomed them in first-round exits against the Sharks in 2006 and 2007. It is inevitably going to happen again should this series come to pass.
(6) Columbus vs (3) Calgary
It's a Ken Hitchcock reclamation project about to make the first playoff appearance in franchise history! Look out Calgary, you'll probably be down 2-0 heading to Ohio after the Jackets come out firing on the road, away from all that "pressure" the home fans heap on teams!
Nonetheless, even if the Flames players go on the fritz, I say that Iron Mike Keenan will out-think, out-dupe and out-coach Hitchcock. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY has figured out so many psychological loopholes to get his team to win than Keenan has over his 20-plus years in the league. He himself might will the Flames to win the series.
And if not, well, there's always Jarome Iginla, Olli Jokinen, Dion Phaneuf, etc... beating up on Richard Junior Umberger, Rick Nash and Rusty Klesla.
(5) Vancouver vs (4) Chicago
Another close one which will most likely hinge on whether or not Nikolai Khabibulin or Cristobal Huet can steal a game away from Roberto Luongo. The Canucks own a clear edge in net, but the Hawks have the younger, more dangerous forwards and a bigger, more dangerous defense.
That's not to say Vancouver can't score...they have Sedin Squared, Pavol Demitra and Mats Sundin on their side plus the hardest shooter in the West in Sami Salo.
The Chicagoans have to clamp down over the final 2 1/2 weeks because they don't want to lose home-ice advantage. It shouldn't be a deciding factor, but it'll make their path towards victory in the matchup that much easier if they lock up the four.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(8) Carolina vs (1) Boston
This could be a verrrry legitimate serious upset in the first round.
I love what the team has done this season. I like the scoring balance, the combined toughness and offensive potential from the defense, and the Thomas/Fernandez tandem in net is a solid and playoff-run caliber. Still...The Bruins have a roster of virtual unknowns, save for Mark Recchi. Their ascension to the top of the East just two years removed from a last-place finish in the Northeast doesn't exactly scream "We've arrived."
Plus, the Canes are desperately trying not to miss the playoffs for a third straight year, and have a similar lineup to the one which won the Cup just three years ago, now that the disastrous off-season Erik Cole deal was finally reversed.
(7) Montreal vs (2) New Jersey
I don't like this one much for the lower seed.
The Canadiens are frantically digging a deep hole for themselves, and only shoveling the dirt on top of themselves while burrowing ever deeper. On the other hand, the Devils have not let up one bit since November and have a thoroughly rested and ready Martin Brodeur, who's coming off a convenient 50-game absence due to injury.
The only hope Montreal has in this series will be of the supernatural kind: Either the Forum Ghosts make themselves known in the Bell Centre, or a quantum singularity appears over center ice and sucks the entire Devils team into the eighth dimension.
So much for the 100th Anniversaire!
(6) NY Rangers vs (3) Washington
About as close as you can get with two teams that employ equal and opposite game plans. Sean Avery should be a huge factor because John Tortorella will be wise to make sure he sticks to the back of Ovechkin and Semin's jerseys at all times.
It remains to be seen if Henrik Lundqvist will be able to stand up to what should be a barrage of Capitals shots (especially at home where they turn up the intensity to ELEVEN), but even if he doesn't play well, he'll outduel Jose Theodore in net.
I shade this one to the Caps, but only due to home-ice advantage from Washington being the Southeast division champions.
(5) Pittsburgh vs (4) Philadelphia
Sorry to say this, Flyers fans, but if this meeting comes to pass, Philly will have to suffer a desultory first-round exit.
In last year's conference finals, Pittsburgh showed greater puck awareness and willingness to read an react to various situations that made Philly look a a full step too slow and indecisive.
Since John Stevens has done little to nothing to change or improve on that same system this year, expect the same result, and this time without Penguins players bristling under former head coach Michel Therrien. Maybe the Flyers will win two games in this series, but no more.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
(8) Edmonton vs (1) Detroit
No, this will not turn out like the disaster of three seasons ago. The Red Wings have a bunch of players who are focused on winning, with one Cup in their back pocket. The Oilers lack the grit, talent and offense of that 2006 miracle team, and even if Detroit takes shifts/games off, it will not be enough to doom them.
But that's what we all thought three years ago...
(7) Nashville vs (2) San Jose
So what if the Sharks have been in a slow, steady slide the last month? They've been battling tooth and nail with the Wings and Bruins for the best record in the NHL and in a 30-team league, even the ones with obscenely awesome records will slide at inopportune times.
Nashville still is a team best described as the Mighty Mites. Lotsa heart, soul, passion, scoring, but they're not big. This is the exact same problems which doomed them in first-round exits against the Sharks in 2006 and 2007. It is inevitably going to happen again should this series come to pass.
(6) Columbus vs (3) Calgary
It's a Ken Hitchcock reclamation project about to make the first playoff appearance in franchise history! Look out Calgary, you'll probably be down 2-0 heading to Ohio after the Jackets come out firing on the road, away from all that "pressure" the home fans heap on teams!
Nonetheless, even if the Flames players go on the fritz, I say that Iron Mike Keenan will out-think, out-dupe and out-coach Hitchcock. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY has figured out so many psychological loopholes to get his team to win than Keenan has over his 20-plus years in the league. He himself might will the Flames to win the series.
And if not, well, there's always Jarome Iginla, Olli Jokinen, Dion Phaneuf, etc... beating up on Richard Junior Umberger, Rick Nash and Rusty Klesla.
(5) Vancouver vs (4) Chicago
Another close one which will most likely hinge on whether or not Nikolai Khabibulin or Cristobal Huet can steal a game away from Roberto Luongo. The Canucks own a clear edge in net, but the Hawks have the younger, more dangerous forwards and a bigger, more dangerous defense.
That's not to say Vancouver can't score...they have Sedin Squared, Pavol Demitra and Mats Sundin on their side plus the hardest shooter in the West in Sami Salo.
The Chicagoans have to clamp down over the final 2 1/2 weeks because they don't want to lose home-ice advantage. It shouldn't be a deciding factor, but it'll make their path towards victory in the matchup that much easier if they lock up the four.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Devils beat Blackhawks, Brodeur passes Roy with win No. 552
Martin Brodeur is alone at the top.
The 36-year-old netminder notched the 552nd win of his illustrious career on Tuesday to usurp boyhood idol Patrick Roy for the most victories in the history of the NHL.
In front of a raucous crowd at the Prudential Center, the Montreal native made 30 saves to help his New Jersey Devils post a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. When the final seconds ticked off the clock and the horn sounded, a joyous Brodeur leaped into the air and was mobbed by his teammates while the adoring fans displayed their appreciation with a lengthy standing ovation.
"I never thought it was going to be possible, but as I got closer and closer, I knew it was going to happen," Brodeur said.
It's been a difficult 2008-09 season for the four-time Vezina Trophy winner as he missed the bulk of the campaign recovering from elbow surgery performed in early November.
Since coming back on February 26, Brodeur has been his usual impenetrable self, posting a sterling record of 8-1-0 with two shutouts.
"My team helped me in a big way," Brodeur added. "I was able to (break the record) in nine games since my comeback (from injury)."
A seven-time 40-win netminder, Brodeur had started at least 70 games in each of his previous nine seasons and is 552-293-22 with 105 ties in 987 career games. He began his career with the Devils in 1991-92 and has never worn another sweater, backstopping New Jersey to three Stanley Cups in an eight- year span (1995-2003).
"It was an awesome night," Brodeur said. "It was a great reception from the fans. I've been really fortunate to play in a great organization."
Brodeur has his sights set on another milestone that was once believed to be untouchable. With 100 career shutouts, Brodeur is just three shy of the great Terry Sawchuk in that category.
The Devils sit in first place in the Atlantic Division and second overall in the Eastern Conference with 95 points.
The 36-year-old netminder notched the 552nd win of his illustrious career on Tuesday to usurp boyhood idol Patrick Roy for the most victories in the history of the NHL.
In front of a raucous crowd at the Prudential Center, the Montreal native made 30 saves to help his New Jersey Devils post a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. When the final seconds ticked off the clock and the horn sounded, a joyous Brodeur leaped into the air and was mobbed by his teammates while the adoring fans displayed their appreciation with a lengthy standing ovation.
"I never thought it was going to be possible, but as I got closer and closer, I knew it was going to happen," Brodeur said.
It's been a difficult 2008-09 season for the four-time Vezina Trophy winner as he missed the bulk of the campaign recovering from elbow surgery performed in early November.
Since coming back on February 26, Brodeur has been his usual impenetrable self, posting a sterling record of 8-1-0 with two shutouts.
"My team helped me in a big way," Brodeur added. "I was able to (break the record) in nine games since my comeback (from injury)."
A seven-time 40-win netminder, Brodeur had started at least 70 games in each of his previous nine seasons and is 552-293-22 with 105 ties in 987 career games. He began his career with the Devils in 1991-92 and has never worn another sweater, backstopping New Jersey to three Stanley Cups in an eight- year span (1995-2003).
"It was an awesome night," Brodeur said. "It was a great reception from the fans. I've been really fortunate to play in a great organization."
Brodeur has his sights set on another milestone that was once believed to be untouchable. With 100 career shutouts, Brodeur is just three shy of the great Terry Sawchuk in that category.
The Devils sit in first place in the Atlantic Division and second overall in the Eastern Conference with 95 points.
Flyers waste two-goal lead, Biron's effort, continue misery in Detroit
Johan Franzen and Henrik Zetterberg scored just 1:32 apart in the third period as Detroit rallied from a two-goal deficit to best Philadelphia, 3-2, at Joe Louis Arena.
Pavel Datsyuk and Franzen recorded a goal and assist each for the Red Wings, who have won four of five.
Chris Osgood made 24 stops in the victory, improving to 23-6-7 on the season.
Scott Hartnell and Joffrey Lupul tallied for the Flyers, who fell for the third time in four contests and extended their winless string in the Motor City to 16 games over more than 20 years.
Philly has not won a game in Detroit since a 4-3 decision on November 4, 1988, losing 14 times and tying twice in that span. It is currently the longest drought for one team in one city in the NHL.
Martin Biron took the loss, allowing three goals on 48 shots, but made 35 stops through the first two periods alone as the Red Wings enjoyed a shot advantage more than double their opponents through 40 minutes of play.
The Wings knotted the game, 2-2, as Datsyuk held the puck in the left circle then found a wide-open Franzen on the right wing for a wrister at 9:47.
Zetterberg notched the game-deciding score when he took a Mikael Samuelsson dish and slipped a short-side shot through from the inner edge of the left circle for a 3-2 lead with 8:41 to play.
Detroit clamped down from that point, and though the Flyers had several quality chances down the stretch, Osgood and his fellow skaters hung on for the win.
Biron kept the Flyers in the contest during the opening 20 minutes, making 19 saves as the Red Wings had a pair of 5-on-3 advantages but failed to convert either one.
Hartnell managed to hold off Marian Hossa and knock a shot past Osgood with 3:26 left in the first. It was his 26th goal of the season, a new career high.
Osgood made a tough save on a backhander by a breaking Jeff Carter inside the final minute to keep it a one-goal contest.
Lupul's snapshot from the right circle off a Carter dish made it 2-0 at the 4:28 mark of the second period, and the Wings didn't answer until Datsyuk tallied on a short-side shot with 2:33 to go in the second.
Game Notes
The only two ties in the Flyers' stretch of misfortune in Detroit occurred in November, 1989 and January, 1997. The club has dropped eight in a row at the Joe...Red Wings forward Tomas Holmstrom missed the game with a twisted right knee, and forward Valteri Filppula was out with a lower-body injury...Flyers defenseman Randy Jones missed the game with a hip injury and is expected to be out for at least 7-to-10 days...Both teams are back in action on Friday, with the Red Wings beginning a three-game road trip in Atlanta and the Flyers continuing their four-game road trip in Buffalo.
Pavel Datsyuk and Franzen recorded a goal and assist each for the Red Wings, who have won four of five.
Chris Osgood made 24 stops in the victory, improving to 23-6-7 on the season.
Scott Hartnell and Joffrey Lupul tallied for the Flyers, who fell for the third time in four contests and extended their winless string in the Motor City to 16 games over more than 20 years.
Philly has not won a game in Detroit since a 4-3 decision on November 4, 1988, losing 14 times and tying twice in that span. It is currently the longest drought for one team in one city in the NHL.
Martin Biron took the loss, allowing three goals on 48 shots, but made 35 stops through the first two periods alone as the Red Wings enjoyed a shot advantage more than double their opponents through 40 minutes of play.
The Wings knotted the game, 2-2, as Datsyuk held the puck in the left circle then found a wide-open Franzen on the right wing for a wrister at 9:47.
Zetterberg notched the game-deciding score when he took a Mikael Samuelsson dish and slipped a short-side shot through from the inner edge of the left circle for a 3-2 lead with 8:41 to play.
Detroit clamped down from that point, and though the Flyers had several quality chances down the stretch, Osgood and his fellow skaters hung on for the win.
Biron kept the Flyers in the contest during the opening 20 minutes, making 19 saves as the Red Wings had a pair of 5-on-3 advantages but failed to convert either one.
Hartnell managed to hold off Marian Hossa and knock a shot past Osgood with 3:26 left in the first. It was his 26th goal of the season, a new career high.
Osgood made a tough save on a backhander by a breaking Jeff Carter inside the final minute to keep it a one-goal contest.
Lupul's snapshot from the right circle off a Carter dish made it 2-0 at the 4:28 mark of the second period, and the Wings didn't answer until Datsyuk tallied on a short-side shot with 2:33 to go in the second.
Game Notes
The only two ties in the Flyers' stretch of misfortune in Detroit occurred in November, 1989 and January, 1997. The club has dropped eight in a row at the Joe...Red Wings forward Tomas Holmstrom missed the game with a twisted right knee, and forward Valteri Filppula was out with a lower-body injury...Flyers defenseman Randy Jones missed the game with a hip injury and is expected to be out for at least 7-to-10 days...Both teams are back in action on Friday, with the Red Wings beginning a three-game road trip in Atlanta and the Flyers continuing their four-game road trip in Buffalo.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Good news, everyone!
According to the diligent staff (which includes a BC grad) at The 700 Level, Braydon Coburn won't be suspended for cracking Nik Antropov over the head at the end of the second period yesterday.
Anyone who saw the game knows it wasn't worth a major or a game misconduct.
Anyone who saw the game knows it wasn't worth a major or a game misconduct.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Avery scores twice, Rangers get revenge on Flyers
Sean Avery tallied a pair of power-play goals as the Rangers took the back end of a home-and-home set with the Flyers, 4-1, at Madison Square Garden.
Nik Antropov and Freddie Sjostrom also scored for New York, which crept up into a three-way tie for the sixth playoff seed in the Eastern Conference with the victory.
Henrik Lundqvist made 24 saves for the win, the Rangers' third consecutive positive decision on home ice.
Simon Gagne got the lone score for the Flyers, who had won 4-2 in Philly yesterday afternoon. Antero Niittymaki was victimized for all four goals on 35 shots.
The Flyers spent nearly 20 minutes of the contest on the penalty kill, including a seven-minute stretch to start the third period which included a major and game misconduct for high-sticking by Braydon Coburn.
Up next for the Flyers is a nearly-impossible task in the second of four straight on the road: the Red Wings in Detroit.
Nik Antropov and Freddie Sjostrom also scored for New York, which crept up into a three-way tie for the sixth playoff seed in the Eastern Conference with the victory.
Henrik Lundqvist made 24 saves for the win, the Rangers' third consecutive positive decision on home ice.
Simon Gagne got the lone score for the Flyers, who had won 4-2 in Philly yesterday afternoon. Antero Niittymaki was victimized for all four goals on 35 shots.
The Flyers spent nearly 20 minutes of the contest on the penalty kill, including a seven-minute stretch to start the third period which included a major and game misconduct for high-sticking by Braydon Coburn.
Up next for the Flyers is a nearly-impossible task in the second of four straight on the road: the Red Wings in Detroit.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Boston College takes down UNH in Hockey East Quarters
John Muse stopped 31 shots and Matt Price notched the only goal of the contest, as Boston College beat New Hampshire, 1-0, at the Whittemore Center.
Coupled with Friday's 5-3 victory, the sixth-seeded Eagles swept the three-game quarterfinal series from the third-seeded Wildcats and advanced to the conference semifinals, next Friday at Fleet Center in Boston.
Wildcats super sophomore and 2007 Flyers draft pick James van Riemsdyk was obviously held off the scoresheet Saturday, after scoring twice in the two-goal defeat last night.
The defending national champions now await the end of the Boston University-Maine and Northeastern-UMass series to discover who their opponent will be, most likely in the early evening contest. The highest seed remaining plays the lowest-remaining seed in the semifinals.
It marked the first time in ages that Boston College managed to win two games in one season in Durham, much less back-to-back road contests at the olympic-sized rink.
Coupled with Friday's 5-3 victory, the sixth-seeded Eagles swept the three-game quarterfinal series from the third-seeded Wildcats and advanced to the conference semifinals, next Friday at Fleet Center in Boston.
Wildcats super sophomore and 2007 Flyers draft pick James van Riemsdyk was obviously held off the scoresheet Saturday, after scoring twice in the two-goal defeat last night.
The defending national champions now await the end of the Boston University-Maine and Northeastern-UMass series to discover who their opponent will be, most likely in the early evening contest. The highest seed remaining plays the lowest-remaining seed in the semifinals.
It marked the first time in ages that Boston College managed to win two games in one season in Durham, much less back-to-back road contests at the olympic-sized rink.
Brodeur ties Roy's all-time win mark
Courtesy of the Sports Network
Appropriately enough, Martin Brodeur posted win No. 551 of his illustrious career in Montreal on Saturday.
In his hometown, Brodeur notched the victory with a 22-save performance to help his Devils post a 3-1 win over the Canadiens at Bell Centre and tie Patrick Roy, who tallied most of his wins with the Habs and was in attendance for the game, for first place all-time.
"I feel great, I'm definitely happy it's over with," said Brodeur. "Coming into Montreal it was hectic with family and press conferences and all."
As the horn sounded, his teammates flooded the ice to congratulate him and the fans at the Bell Centre gave him a standing ovation.
"Hockey is all about winning," said Brodeur. "You jump on to the ice as a group and the record says a lot about the guys I've played with and the organization I've been a part of."
It's been a difficult season for the 36-year-old Brodeur as he missed the bulk of the campaign recovering from elbow surgery performed in early November.
Since coming back on February 26, the four-time Vezina Trophy winner has been his usual impenetrable self, posting a record of 7-1-0 with two shutouts.
In addition to the win record, Brodeur is sitting on 100 shutouts and is just three away from tying Terry Sawchuk in that category.
Another mark of Roy's that Brodeur is hoping to tie this year is a fourth Stanley Cup. Roy won twice with Montreal (1986, 1993) and twice with Colorado (1996, 2001) while Brodeur has captured all three of his with New Jersey in 1995, 2000 and 2003.
The Devils have been playing strong as of late and sit in first place in the Atlantic Division and second overall in the Eastern Conference. Brodeur will have his first shot at the wins record on Tuesday when the Devils host the Blackhawks.
Appropriately enough, Martin Brodeur posted win No. 551 of his illustrious career in Montreal on Saturday.
In his hometown, Brodeur notched the victory with a 22-save performance to help his Devils post a 3-1 win over the Canadiens at Bell Centre and tie Patrick Roy, who tallied most of his wins with the Habs and was in attendance for the game, for first place all-time.
"I feel great, I'm definitely happy it's over with," said Brodeur. "Coming into Montreal it was hectic with family and press conferences and all."
As the horn sounded, his teammates flooded the ice to congratulate him and the fans at the Bell Centre gave him a standing ovation.
"Hockey is all about winning," said Brodeur. "You jump on to the ice as a group and the record says a lot about the guys I've played with and the organization I've been a part of."
It's been a difficult season for the 36-year-old Brodeur as he missed the bulk of the campaign recovering from elbow surgery performed in early November.
Since coming back on February 26, the four-time Vezina Trophy winner has been his usual impenetrable self, posting a record of 7-1-0 with two shutouts.
In addition to the win record, Brodeur is sitting on 100 shutouts and is just three away from tying Terry Sawchuk in that category.
Another mark of Roy's that Brodeur is hoping to tie this year is a fourth Stanley Cup. Roy won twice with Montreal (1986, 1993) and twice with Colorado (1996, 2001) while Brodeur has captured all three of his with New Jersey in 1995, 2000 and 2003.
The Devils have been playing strong as of late and sit in first place in the Atlantic Division and second overall in the Eastern Conference. Brodeur will have his first shot at the wins record on Tuesday when the Devils host the Blackhawks.
Biron, Asham star as Flyers nip Rangers in first of two
Martin Biron made 39-of-41 stops and Arron Asham tallied twice as the Flyers posted a 4-2 win over the New York Rangers at Wachovia Center, in the first of a home-and-home set.
Both teams play each other Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.
Scott Hartnell and Mike Richards also scored for the Flyers, who have won three of four and moved to three points ahead of fifth-place Montreal in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Nik Antropov and Sean Avery each scored once for the Rangers, and Henrik Lundqvist was victimized for four goals on just 25 shots in the loss.
Philly has beaten the Rangers in the last two meetings, with three more on the slate including Sunday's matinee in Manhattan.
Antropov put the Blueshirts on the board, taking an errant Matt Carle dump-in and soloed with a forehander past Biron.
The Flyers knotted the game and then went ahead by converting a pair of 2-on-1 breaks.
With 3:26 left in the opening period, Hartnell completed a rush with Carter by taking Carter's rebound and slamming it home. At the 6:07 mark of the second, Gagne fanned on his shot while in the New York zone with Richards, but recovered, slid a pass to Kimmo Timonen who one-touched to the Flyers' captain and he deposited his own rebound for a 2-1 lead.
Asham netted the next two goals in the third period, the second one being a slick wrister over Lundqvist's glove with 5:27 remaining in regulation for a 4-1 lead.
Avery ripped a shot to the far side to make it a two-goal game less than two minutes later but Biron closed the door from there.
Both teams play each other Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.
Scott Hartnell and Mike Richards also scored for the Flyers, who have won three of four and moved to three points ahead of fifth-place Montreal in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Nik Antropov and Sean Avery each scored once for the Rangers, and Henrik Lundqvist was victimized for four goals on just 25 shots in the loss.
Philly has beaten the Rangers in the last two meetings, with three more on the slate including Sunday's matinee in Manhattan.
Antropov put the Blueshirts on the board, taking an errant Matt Carle dump-in and soloed with a forehander past Biron.
The Flyers knotted the game and then went ahead by converting a pair of 2-on-1 breaks.
With 3:26 left in the opening period, Hartnell completed a rush with Carter by taking Carter's rebound and slamming it home. At the 6:07 mark of the second, Gagne fanned on his shot while in the New York zone with Richards, but recovered, slid a pass to Kimmo Timonen who one-touched to the Flyers' captain and he deposited his own rebound for a 2-1 lead.
Asham netted the next two goals in the third period, the second one being a slick wrister over Lundqvist's glove with 5:27 remaining in regulation for a 4-1 lead.
Avery ripped a shot to the far side to make it a two-goal game less than two minutes later but Biron closed the door from there.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Ovie's goal, Theodore's saves doom Flyers
Alex Ovechkin notched his 48th goal of the season and Jose Theodore made 35 saves to lead Washington over Philadelphia, 2-1, at Wachovia Center.
Brooks Laich had the other goal for the Capitals, who have won two in a row overall as well as their last five road games.
Mike Knuble scored for the Flyers, who had won three of four coming in. Despite the loss, Martin Biron was strong in net with 28 stops.
Laich's deflection of an Ovechkin shot put the Caps on the board while on the power play with 4:03 left in the first period.
Knuble tipped in a quick lead pass by Mike Richards to tie the game with 8:28 to play in the second, but Ovechkin converted an Alexander Semin pass for a 2-1 lead with 2:41 remaining.
The visitors could have taken a 3-1 lead roughly 6 1/2 minutes into the third period, but Michael Nylander was called for goaltender interference just as the puck hit the back of the net.
A little more than a minute later, the Flyers had a potential tying goal nullified when Knuble was sent off for burying a Caps forward in the slot as a point shot whizzed past Theodore.
Biron was strong from that point on, making multiple key saves after Flyers turnovers inside their own zone, including three on Ovechkin in the final five minutes as the star forward tried almost singlehandedly to put the game away in Washington's favor.
However, Theodore was equal down the stretch as well. He made stops on Danny Briere and Simon Gagne in the final five minutes, then shut the door inside the final minute with Biron pulled for an extra attacker.
Game Notes
The clubs split the season series, 2-2-0...Briere returned to the lineup after missing two games with his persistent groin injury, played more than 12 minutes and registered one shot...The Caps recalled forward Alexandre Giroux from Hershey of the AHL...Both teams hit the ice next on Saturday, with Philadelphia finishing its five-game homestand by welcoming the Rangers and Washington hosting Carolina.
Brooks Laich had the other goal for the Capitals, who have won two in a row overall as well as their last five road games.
Mike Knuble scored for the Flyers, who had won three of four coming in. Despite the loss, Martin Biron was strong in net with 28 stops.
Laich's deflection of an Ovechkin shot put the Caps on the board while on the power play with 4:03 left in the first period.
Knuble tipped in a quick lead pass by Mike Richards to tie the game with 8:28 to play in the second, but Ovechkin converted an Alexander Semin pass for a 2-1 lead with 2:41 remaining.
The visitors could have taken a 3-1 lead roughly 6 1/2 minutes into the third period, but Michael Nylander was called for goaltender interference just as the puck hit the back of the net.
A little more than a minute later, the Flyers had a potential tying goal nullified when Knuble was sent off for burying a Caps forward in the slot as a point shot whizzed past Theodore.
Biron was strong from that point on, making multiple key saves after Flyers turnovers inside their own zone, including three on Ovechkin in the final five minutes as the star forward tried almost singlehandedly to put the game away in Washington's favor.
However, Theodore was equal down the stretch as well. He made stops on Danny Briere and Simon Gagne in the final five minutes, then shut the door inside the final minute with Biron pulled for an extra attacker.
Game Notes
The clubs split the season series, 2-2-0...Briere returned to the lineup after missing two games with his persistent groin injury, played more than 12 minutes and registered one shot...The Caps recalled forward Alexandre Giroux from Hershey of the AHL...Both teams hit the ice next on Saturday, with Philadelphia finishing its five-game homestand by welcoming the Rangers and Washington hosting Carolina.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Hartnell, Carter lead Flyers over Sabres
Scott Hartnell recorded four points on two goals and two assists, and Jeff Carter also scored twice, as Philadelphia used a four-goal third period to best Buffalo, 5-2, at Wachovia Center.
Mike Richards had the other score and both Joffrey Lupul and Kimmo Timonen contributed two assists for the Flyers, winners in three of their last four games.
Martin Biron made 27 stops for his 21st win of the season.
Maxim Afinogenov and Jochen Hecht tallied for the Sabres, who have dropped two in a row after winning two straight.
Patrick Lalime was pulled after allowing four goals on 29 shots in the loss. Mikael Tellqvist finished the game by giving up a goal on four shots.
Carter put the Flyers ahead 2-1 just 27 seconds into the third period, tipping Lupul's feed past Lalime, and Richards netted a power-play goal at 4:59 when he tipped Timonen's point drive.
Lupul and Carter teamed up once more at 6:24 for a 4-1 Philly advantage, with the former sliding a nice pass to the latter for his second goal of the contest. The score also chased Lalime for Tellqvist.
It was 5-1 for the home team on a bizarre play with five minutes remaining. Timonen shot from the high slot, and the puck glanced off Tellqvist's shoulder, then Hartnell's chest and in.
Hecht brought Buffalo within 5-2 with 1:22 left in the contest, but that's as close as the visitors came.
Afinogenov got the Sabres on the board 1:52 into the contest, as a shot from the right boards from Teppo Numminen deflected off his skate and over Biron.
After wasting a pair of power-play chances, the Flyers knotted the game, as Claude Giroux fed Hartnell for a redirection from the right side of the crease with 13.6 seconds left in the first.
Game Notes
Philly has won all three games against Buffalo this season, with one final meeting in Buffalo on March 20...The Flyers were without forward Danny Briere once again due to a nagging groin injury. He is day-to-day but is hoping to return on Thursday.
Mike Richards had the other score and both Joffrey Lupul and Kimmo Timonen contributed two assists for the Flyers, winners in three of their last four games.
Martin Biron made 27 stops for his 21st win of the season.
Maxim Afinogenov and Jochen Hecht tallied for the Sabres, who have dropped two in a row after winning two straight.
Patrick Lalime was pulled after allowing four goals on 29 shots in the loss. Mikael Tellqvist finished the game by giving up a goal on four shots.
Carter put the Flyers ahead 2-1 just 27 seconds into the third period, tipping Lupul's feed past Lalime, and Richards netted a power-play goal at 4:59 when he tipped Timonen's point drive.
Lupul and Carter teamed up once more at 6:24 for a 4-1 Philly advantage, with the former sliding a nice pass to the latter for his second goal of the contest. The score also chased Lalime for Tellqvist.
It was 5-1 for the home team on a bizarre play with five minutes remaining. Timonen shot from the high slot, and the puck glanced off Tellqvist's shoulder, then Hartnell's chest and in.
Hecht brought Buffalo within 5-2 with 1:22 left in the contest, but that's as close as the visitors came.
Afinogenov got the Sabres on the board 1:52 into the contest, as a shot from the right boards from Teppo Numminen deflected off his skate and over Biron.
After wasting a pair of power-play chances, the Flyers knotted the game, as Claude Giroux fed Hartnell for a redirection from the right side of the crease with 13.6 seconds left in the first.
Game Notes
Philly has won all three games against Buffalo this season, with one final meeting in Buffalo on March 20...The Flyers were without forward Danny Briere once again due to a nagging groin injury. He is day-to-day but is hoping to return on Thursday.
Downie's 20-game suspension upheld
The American Hockey League on Tuesday voted to unanimously uphold the 20-game suspension levied against Norfolk Admirals forward Steve Downie.
Last Thursday, the AHL had suspended Downie for deliberately striking an official with his stick, but the Admirals, with the support of parent club Tampa Bay, appealed the decision.
Late in the third period of the Admirals' game against the Hershey Bears on February 28, Downie whacked linesman Mike Hamilton before a face-off. Downie was given a game misconduct at the time, then suspended indefinitely for the infraction.
According to Rule 41.2, any player who deliberately strikes an official, or intended to cause harm to an official, automatically draws a suspension lasting no less than 20 games.
The penalty is still in effect from the date of the original ruling, meaning the 21-year-old is not eligible to return until April 11.
It is the second time in his brief professional career that Downie has incurred a suspension of this length. He had to serve a 20-game penalty in 2007, stemming from an incident during a Flyers-Senators pre-season game in September of that year, when he launched himself at Ottawa forward Dean McAmmond, causing the veteran forward to suffer a concussion.
In 29 NHL games with the Flyers and the Lightning this season, Downie has three goals and three assists.
Last Thursday, the AHL had suspended Downie for deliberately striking an official with his stick, but the Admirals, with the support of parent club Tampa Bay, appealed the decision.
Late in the third period of the Admirals' game against the Hershey Bears on February 28, Downie whacked linesman Mike Hamilton before a face-off. Downie was given a game misconduct at the time, then suspended indefinitely for the infraction.
According to Rule 41.2, any player who deliberately strikes an official, or intended to cause harm to an official, automatically draws a suspension lasting no less than 20 games.
The penalty is still in effect from the date of the original ruling, meaning the 21-year-old is not eligible to return until April 11.
It is the second time in his brief professional career that Downie has incurred a suspension of this length. He had to serve a 20-game penalty in 2007, stemming from an incident during a Flyers-Senators pre-season game in September of that year, when he launched himself at Ottawa forward Dean McAmmond, causing the veteran forward to suffer a concussion.
In 29 NHL games with the Flyers and the Lightning this season, Downie has three goals and three assists.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Everything is different now, but Flyers still the same
I had to wait a full weekend to really digest what went on in and around Flyerdom at last Wednesday’s trade deadline. Here are the facts:
The club traded Scottie Upshall (7 goals, 21 points) and a 2011 second-round draft pick to the Phoenix Coyotes for Dan Carcillo (3 goals, 10 points, 174 penalty minutes). In a smaller deal, the Sharks sent AHL defenseman Kyle McLaren here for a sixth-round pick in 2009.
The Flyers celebrated the Upshall-Carcillo trade on Thursday by going out and playing absolutely scrambling, disorganized hockey against the rejuvenated Calgary Flames in a 5-1 home loss. That was made to look even worse as the Flames got creamed in succession by Carolina (6-1) and Atlanta (5-2), on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
Scottie Upshall was revealed on several news programs, and now in perpetuity on blogs and YouTube, to be holding back tears when asked his opinion on the deal which wrenched him from teammates with which he forged a special bond.
The McLaren deal was later reversed over the weekend because the 31-year-old veteran, who was released by San Jose prior to the season, failed a Flyers team physical.
In two games with Philly, Carcillo has given the move its usual old-school hockey PR boost, with several good hits, a fight, and…oh yeah…one point in an assist during Saturday’s 4-1 win against Nashville.
In two games with Phoenix, Upshall has scored two highlight reel goals, and has been the typical pestering, high-energy presence he was touted to be when Paul Holmgren brought him in from Nashville two years ago. He has exactly one penalty for two minutes, and it was far from the “stupid” variety team brass trumpeted about in the weeks before his departure.
Meanwhile…
The New York Rangers, who can’t score, can’t play defense, and can’t come up with consistent efforts from anyone on any given night score big.
They get a new coach, and a Stanley Cup winner at that – also someone who knows how to endlessly pull and prod key personnel. They overhaul their defense, add some goal scoring to take the burden off their star goaltender, and clear out a ton of deadwood in the process.
East-leading Boston steals a top-six defenseman from Anaheim, then pulls another coup by snagging Ageless Wonder Mark Recchi from the radioactive pile of steaming wreckage that is Tampa Bay.
Last year’s Cup finalists, the Pittsburgh Penguins, upgrade with a veteran forward in Bill Guerin, and a good skater with skills and a mean streak in Chris Kunitz.
The Devils simply get Martin Brodeur back from a four-month vacation, fully rested and armed to rewrite the NHL record book.
The Florida Panthers have suddenly crept up into the fifth spot in the conference playoff standings by really doing nothing but winning and keeping defenseman-slash-Holy Grail Jay Bouwmeester.
All this as the Flyers are still meandering around with the same well-worn questions about salary issues, upgrading the defense and the never-ending saga of Who Wants to be The Starting Playoff Goalie?
The word from certain media outlets in the last four days has been to give Holmgren and the organ-eye-zation a break; to judge all the moves as a whole and reserve the stinging criticism for now.
In these situations, I tend to go with my gut more than my brain. Once again, the gut is right.
For the sake of something complex like crooked numbers with a lot of zeroes behind them, the team ripped out a part of its heart and soul and a vital part of its skill. I feel confident in saying, regardless of how Carcillo fits into “the room” from here on out, that the Upshall deal is Holmgren’s first major failure – a move which realistically has cost this team a better shot to win the conference.
I think that’s fantastic this means Claude Giroux won’t have to be shuffled back and forth across parking lots from now until April 12. We wouldn’t want to hurt his feelings.
Taken with the lack of readiness to anticipate that Ossi Vaananen and Glen Metropolit would not clear waivers last week, plus Lasse Kukkonen’s yo-yo status, and the Jean-Sebastien Aubin $1 million shotgun contract, it’s fair to say that this season isn’t going to go down as one of the great ones in his GM tenure.
And that simply can’t happen now – not when the club did so much to erase the memory of the 2006-07 season so quickly. Not after a conference finals appearance last year did much to get the fan base Hungry For More.
Perhaps this is a not-so-subtle signal that orders from the top are changing from Ed Snider’s dictum that the name of the game is to W-I-N, to the corporate demand that the ledger must be clean.
If not, Holmgren and his staff have got to get acquainted with the numbers side of the business, and do a far better job of placing the needs of a title against the needs of a salary cap.
As it stands now, the Flyers are locked into finishing no higher than the fourth spot in the conference. They will not catch the Devils and win the Atlantic Division. Up until this weekend, the Montreal Canadiens appeared to have a good grip on the five-slot, since they were not going to catch the Bruins in the Northeast.
As it always seems to be in the East, the orange and black are also a mere five points away from missing the postseason altogether. Unlike years past, though, the shift in play between conferences dictates that wins here come more as a result of goal total than grit and defense.
The Flyers just netted themselves negative-four goals and negative-11 points. The Carolina Hurricanes, who hold the ninth seed, reacquired Erik Cole and then go out and lay a nine-spot on the road while matching or breaking team records in the process.
You tell me who made the smarter and more profitable deal.
Heading into the season’s final five weeks, we have a general manager who has a tough time adding, a man behind the bench who is about to be consistently out-thought and out-coached by another division rival, and players smarting from a major disruption to their overall chemistry.
Time for another surprise deep run through the postseason. Or most likely not.
The club traded Scottie Upshall (7 goals, 21 points) and a 2011 second-round draft pick to the Phoenix Coyotes for Dan Carcillo (3 goals, 10 points, 174 penalty minutes). In a smaller deal, the Sharks sent AHL defenseman Kyle McLaren here for a sixth-round pick in 2009.
The Flyers celebrated the Upshall-Carcillo trade on Thursday by going out and playing absolutely scrambling, disorganized hockey against the rejuvenated Calgary Flames in a 5-1 home loss. That was made to look even worse as the Flames got creamed in succession by Carolina (6-1) and Atlanta (5-2), on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
Scottie Upshall was revealed on several news programs, and now in perpetuity on blogs and YouTube, to be holding back tears when asked his opinion on the deal which wrenched him from teammates with which he forged a special bond.
The McLaren deal was later reversed over the weekend because the 31-year-old veteran, who was released by San Jose prior to the season, failed a Flyers team physical.
In two games with Philly, Carcillo has given the move its usual old-school hockey PR boost, with several good hits, a fight, and…oh yeah…one point in an assist during Saturday’s 4-1 win against Nashville.
In two games with Phoenix, Upshall has scored two highlight reel goals, and has been the typical pestering, high-energy presence he was touted to be when Paul Holmgren brought him in from Nashville two years ago. He has exactly one penalty for two minutes, and it was far from the “stupid” variety team brass trumpeted about in the weeks before his departure.
Meanwhile…
The New York Rangers, who can’t score, can’t play defense, and can’t come up with consistent efforts from anyone on any given night score big.
They get a new coach, and a Stanley Cup winner at that – also someone who knows how to endlessly pull and prod key personnel. They overhaul their defense, add some goal scoring to take the burden off their star goaltender, and clear out a ton of deadwood in the process.
East-leading Boston steals a top-six defenseman from Anaheim, then pulls another coup by snagging Ageless Wonder Mark Recchi from the radioactive pile of steaming wreckage that is Tampa Bay.
Last year’s Cup finalists, the Pittsburgh Penguins, upgrade with a veteran forward in Bill Guerin, and a good skater with skills and a mean streak in Chris Kunitz.
The Devils simply get Martin Brodeur back from a four-month vacation, fully rested and armed to rewrite the NHL record book.
The Florida Panthers have suddenly crept up into the fifth spot in the conference playoff standings by really doing nothing but winning and keeping defenseman-slash-Holy Grail Jay Bouwmeester.
All this as the Flyers are still meandering around with the same well-worn questions about salary issues, upgrading the defense and the never-ending saga of Who Wants to be The Starting Playoff Goalie?
The word from certain media outlets in the last four days has been to give Holmgren and the organ-eye-zation a break; to judge all the moves as a whole and reserve the stinging criticism for now.
In these situations, I tend to go with my gut more than my brain. Once again, the gut is right.
For the sake of something complex like crooked numbers with a lot of zeroes behind them, the team ripped out a part of its heart and soul and a vital part of its skill. I feel confident in saying, regardless of how Carcillo fits into “the room” from here on out, that the Upshall deal is Holmgren’s first major failure – a move which realistically has cost this team a better shot to win the conference.
I think that’s fantastic this means Claude Giroux won’t have to be shuffled back and forth across parking lots from now until April 12. We wouldn’t want to hurt his feelings.
Taken with the lack of readiness to anticipate that Ossi Vaananen and Glen Metropolit would not clear waivers last week, plus Lasse Kukkonen’s yo-yo status, and the Jean-Sebastien Aubin $1 million shotgun contract, it’s fair to say that this season isn’t going to go down as one of the great ones in his GM tenure.
And that simply can’t happen now – not when the club did so much to erase the memory of the 2006-07 season so quickly. Not after a conference finals appearance last year did much to get the fan base Hungry For More.
Perhaps this is a not-so-subtle signal that orders from the top are changing from Ed Snider’s dictum that the name of the game is to W-I-N, to the corporate demand that the ledger must be clean.
If not, Holmgren and his staff have got to get acquainted with the numbers side of the business, and do a far better job of placing the needs of a title against the needs of a salary cap.
As it stands now, the Flyers are locked into finishing no higher than the fourth spot in the conference. They will not catch the Devils and win the Atlantic Division. Up until this weekend, the Montreal Canadiens appeared to have a good grip on the five-slot, since they were not going to catch the Bruins in the Northeast.
As it always seems to be in the East, the orange and black are also a mere five points away from missing the postseason altogether. Unlike years past, though, the shift in play between conferences dictates that wins here come more as a result of goal total than grit and defense.
The Flyers just netted themselves negative-four goals and negative-11 points. The Carolina Hurricanes, who hold the ninth seed, reacquired Erik Cole and then go out and lay a nine-spot on the road while matching or breaking team records in the process.
You tell me who made the smarter and more profitable deal.
Heading into the season’s final five weeks, we have a general manager who has a tough time adding, a man behind the bench who is about to be consistently out-thought and out-coached by another division rival, and players smarting from a major disruption to their overall chemistry.
Time for another surprise deep run through the postseason. Or most likely not.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Lupul, Biron star as Flyers stop Predators
Joffrey Lupul tallied twice to lead Philadelphia over Nashville, 4-1, at Wachovia Center.
Mike Richards and Claude Giroux also provided scores for the Flyers, who
rebounded from Thursday's 5-1 loss to Calgary and have won two of their last
three.
Martin Biron was solid in net, making 31 stops to record his 20th win of the
season.
Martin Erat had the lone goal for the Predators, whose six-game win streak
came to a halt.
Pekka Rinne allowed four goals on 26 shots in the loss, his first in
regulation since February 16. The Finnish rookie also had a personal six-start
win streak snapped.
In a scoreless first period, Biron kept the Preds off the board with a
highlight-quality save.
Shea Weber's blast from the right circle was stopped but the rebound
went right to an open Erat on the left wing. His one-timer was headed for the
back of the net, except that Biron, late to shift across the crease, stuck out
his stick and stopped the puck right on the goal line.
Richards put the Flyers on the board with a power-play goal 45 seconds into
the second period, stashing home a cross-ice feed by Simon Gagne.
Jeff Carter and Randy Jones started a 3-on-1 break which Lupul finished off
with a tip at the right post at 4:22 and it was 2-0 for Philadelphia.
Biron was at his sharpest in the middle 20 minutes, stopping all 18 shots he
faced and thwarting a pair of Predators power plays.
Erat slipped a wrister between Biron's arm and body at 7:45 of the third
period to halve Nashville's deficit, but Lupul followed up a Daniel Carcillo
shot from in close to restore the two-goal edge at 8:51.
Arron Asham set up Giroux for the clincher with 3:13 left in the contest.
Game Notes
The Preds had won three of the last five meetings, and the Flyers hadn't
posted a victory since a 5-2 decision on March 3, 2004...Flyers forward Danny
Briere was not in the lineup after tweaking a previous groin injury
on Thursday...Lupul's goals gave him 20 for the season, the sixth Flyer to
reach that plateau this season...Biron hit the 20-win mark for the second
straight year and for the fifth time in his career...Carcillo's assist was
his first point as a Flyer, after his acquisition on Wednesday from Phoenix.
Mike Richards and Claude Giroux also provided scores for the Flyers, who
rebounded from Thursday's 5-1 loss to Calgary and have won two of their last
three.
Martin Biron was solid in net, making 31 stops to record his 20th win of the
season.
Martin Erat had the lone goal for the Predators, whose six-game win streak
came to a halt.
Pekka Rinne allowed four goals on 26 shots in the loss, his first in
regulation since February 16. The Finnish rookie also had a personal six-start
win streak snapped.
In a scoreless first period, Biron kept the Preds off the board with a
highlight-quality save.
Shea Weber's blast from the right circle was stopped but the rebound
went right to an open Erat on the left wing. His one-timer was headed for the
back of the net, except that Biron, late to shift across the crease, stuck out
his stick and stopped the puck right on the goal line.
Richards put the Flyers on the board with a power-play goal 45 seconds into
the second period, stashing home a cross-ice feed by Simon Gagne.
Jeff Carter and Randy Jones started a 3-on-1 break which Lupul finished off
with a tip at the right post at 4:22 and it was 2-0 for Philadelphia.
Biron was at his sharpest in the middle 20 minutes, stopping all 18 shots he
faced and thwarting a pair of Predators power plays.
Erat slipped a wrister between Biron's arm and body at 7:45 of the third
period to halve Nashville's deficit, but Lupul followed up a Daniel Carcillo
shot from in close to restore the two-goal edge at 8:51.
Arron Asham set up Giroux for the clincher with 3:13 left in the contest.
Game Notes
The Preds had won three of the last five meetings, and the Flyers hadn't
posted a victory since a 5-2 decision on March 3, 2004...Flyers forward Danny
Briere was not in the lineup after tweaking a previous groin injury
on Thursday...Lupul's goals gave him 20 for the season, the sixth Flyer to
reach that plateau this season...Biron hit the 20-win mark for the second
straight year and for the fifth time in his career...Carcillo's assist was
his first point as a Flyer, after his acquisition on Wednesday from Phoenix.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Here We Go Again: Briere has groin injury
Philadelphia Flyers forward Danny Briere left Thursday's 5-1 loss to the Calgary Flames with a groin injury.
"Right now all we know is that he tweaked his groin again and we'll see how it is tomorrow," said Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren. "For this to come at this point of our season is not good news."
The club had announced last Saturday that Briere was activated from injured reserve after missing 36 games with the lingering effects of a groin strain, which included exploratory surgery back on January 22.
In 11 games this season, Briere has picked up five goals and nine points. Since coming back to the lineup for Tuesday's 4-1 win at Boston, the 31-year- old has yet to record a point.
The Flyers next hit the ice on Saturday, welcoming the Nashville Predators.
"Right now all we know is that he tweaked his groin again and we'll see how it is tomorrow," said Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren. "For this to come at this point of our season is not good news."
The club had announced last Saturday that Briere was activated from injured reserve after missing 36 games with the lingering effects of a groin strain, which included exploratory surgery back on January 22.
In 11 games this season, Briere has picked up five goals and nine points. Since coming back to the lineup for Tuesday's 4-1 win at Boston, the 31-year- old has yet to record a point.
The Flyers next hit the ice on Saturday, welcoming the Nashville Predators.
Jokinen has successful Calgary debut as Flames down Flyers
Olli Jokinen celebrated his first game as a Flame with two goals as Calgary pumped in four first-period scores to subdue Philadelphia, 5-1, at Wachovia Center.
On Wednesday, the Flames acquired Jokinen and a third-round draft pick in 2009 from the Phoenix Coyotes for two players and a conditional first-round selection.
Mike Cammalleri picked up a goal and two assists while Jordan Leopold and Craig Conroy also tallied for the Flames, who have won six of their last seven games.
Jarome Iginla and Curtis Glencross both picked up two helpers and Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 35-of-36 shots, extending his league-best win total to 39.
Mike Knuble provided the lone offense for the Flyers, who kicked off a five- game homestand with their third loss in four games.
Antero Niittymaki was pulled after giving up four goals on 19 shots in the first period, suffering his first regulation loss since February 12. Martin Biron finished the game by making 21 saves.
Cammalleri snuck a shot through traffic from the right circle on the power play and the Flames opened the scoring 5:20 into the contest.
Iginla and Jokinen teamed up to make it 2-0 at 9:41, with the Calgary captain feeding the former Coyote for a tap-in.
Jokinen struck once more with 4:07 left in the first, streaking alone down the right side and scoring over Niittymaki's glove, then Leopold capped the burst with 1:12 to play for his first goal in his return to the Flames after being acquired from Colorado on Wednesday.
Following a scoreless second period, the Flyers finally got on the board 4:42 into the third as Knuble redirected a Mike Richards offering from the right wing.
Conroy, though, re-established Calgary's four-goal edge by beating a prone Biron with 4:11 left in the contest and the Northwest Division leaders coasted from there.
Game Notes
The Flames have won three of the last four in Philly, dating back to March, 2002...Calgary also announced Wednesday that forward Todd Bertuzzi will miss a month following knee surgery...The Flyers dealt forward Scottie Upshall and a 2011 draft pick to Phoenix for Daniel Carcillo, and acquired defenseman Kyle McLaren from San Jose for a sixth-round pick in 2009...Flyers forward Danny Briere suffered a lower-body injury midway through the third period and did not return.
On Wednesday, the Flames acquired Jokinen and a third-round draft pick in 2009 from the Phoenix Coyotes for two players and a conditional first-round selection.
Mike Cammalleri picked up a goal and two assists while Jordan Leopold and Craig Conroy also tallied for the Flames, who have won six of their last seven games.
Jarome Iginla and Curtis Glencross both picked up two helpers and Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 35-of-36 shots, extending his league-best win total to 39.
Mike Knuble provided the lone offense for the Flyers, who kicked off a five- game homestand with their third loss in four games.
Antero Niittymaki was pulled after giving up four goals on 19 shots in the first period, suffering his first regulation loss since February 12. Martin Biron finished the game by making 21 saves.
Cammalleri snuck a shot through traffic from the right circle on the power play and the Flames opened the scoring 5:20 into the contest.
Iginla and Jokinen teamed up to make it 2-0 at 9:41, with the Calgary captain feeding the former Coyote for a tap-in.
Jokinen struck once more with 4:07 left in the first, streaking alone down the right side and scoring over Niittymaki's glove, then Leopold capped the burst with 1:12 to play for his first goal in his return to the Flames after being acquired from Colorado on Wednesday.
Following a scoreless second period, the Flyers finally got on the board 4:42 into the third as Knuble redirected a Mike Richards offering from the right wing.
Conroy, though, re-established Calgary's four-goal edge by beating a prone Biron with 4:11 left in the contest and the Northwest Division leaders coasted from there.
Game Notes
The Flames have won three of the last four in Philly, dating back to March, 2002...Calgary also announced Wednesday that forward Todd Bertuzzi will miss a month following knee surgery...The Flyers dealt forward Scottie Upshall and a 2011 draft pick to Phoenix for Daniel Carcillo, and acquired defenseman Kyle McLaren from San Jose for a sixth-round pick in 2009...Flyers forward Danny Briere suffered a lower-body injury midway through the third period and did not return.
Tonight's quick recap
Scottie Upshall, in his first game with the Coyotes, scored the first goal of the game for the visitors as Phoenix clipped Boston, 2-1.
Meanwhile, the Flyers equalled Upshall's output on offense, on the wrong end of a
5-1 decision against the sizzling-hot Calgary Flames.
Meanwhile, the Flyers equalled Upshall's output on offense, on the wrong end of a
5-1 decision against the sizzling-hot Calgary Flames.
Flyers trade recaps
The Philadelphia Flyers and the Phoenix Coyotes made a deal on Wednesday.
The Coyotes acquired forward Scottie Upshall and a second-round draft choice in 2011 in exchange for forward Daniel Carcillo.
Carcillo posted three goals and 10 points with 174 penalty minutes in 54 games this season. In parts of three years, all with Phoenix, the 24-year-old has 20 goals, 41 points and 572 PIMs in 129 games.
Upshall recorded seven goals and 21 points in 55 games in 2008-09. In 211 games over six seasons with Nashville and Philadelphia, the Alberta native has racked up 38 goals and 93 points.
The San Jose Sharks shipped veteran defenseman Kyle McLaren to the Philadelphia Flyers for a sixth-round pick in 2009.
McLaren, 31, racked up three goals and eight assists in 61 games for San Jose in 2007-08, but was waived prior to the start of this season.
He posted just seven assists in 17 games for the Sharks' AHL affiliate in Worcester.
The ninth overall pick of Boston in the 1995 draft, McLaren has registered 46 goals and 161 assists in 719 career games with the Bruins and the Sharks.
The Coyotes acquired forward Scottie Upshall and a second-round draft choice in 2011 in exchange for forward Daniel Carcillo.
Carcillo posted three goals and 10 points with 174 penalty minutes in 54 games this season. In parts of three years, all with Phoenix, the 24-year-old has 20 goals, 41 points and 572 PIMs in 129 games.
Upshall recorded seven goals and 21 points in 55 games in 2008-09. In 211 games over six seasons with Nashville and Philadelphia, the Alberta native has racked up 38 goals and 93 points.
The San Jose Sharks shipped veteran defenseman Kyle McLaren to the Philadelphia Flyers for a sixth-round pick in 2009.
McLaren, 31, racked up three goals and eight assists in 61 games for San Jose in 2007-08, but was waived prior to the start of this season.
He posted just seven assists in 17 games for the Sharks' AHL affiliate in Worcester.
The ninth overall pick of Boston in the 1995 draft, McLaren has registered 46 goals and 161 assists in 719 career games with the Bruins and the Sharks.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Flyers relatively quiet at the deadline
All that talk of acquiring Jay Bouwmeester quickly dissipated as the asking price for all teams interested was sky-high, according to several sources.
However, Paul Holmgren was not quiet on this day, making two deals.
The first one came as a surprise, as Scottie Upshall was shipped to the Phoenix Coyotes for Daniel Carcillo. A second-round draft choice is involved somehow, and at this time, how the pick is involved has yet to be confirmed.
Later this afternoon, the second and more quizzical move was struck, as Holmgren rescued Kyle McLaren from the AHL for a sixth-round choice.
More discussion and expansive trade analysis to come.
However, Paul Holmgren was not quiet on this day, making two deals.
The first one came as a surprise, as Scottie Upshall was shipped to the Phoenix Coyotes for Daniel Carcillo. A second-round draft choice is involved somehow, and at this time, how the pick is involved has yet to be confirmed.
Later this afternoon, the second and more quizzical move was struck, as Holmgren rescued Kyle McLaren from the AHL for a sixth-round choice.
More discussion and expansive trade analysis to come.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Some Good News
After two crushing weekend losses, the Flyers got some good news as Kimmo Timonen will be back in action for tonight's game in Boston.
Timonen had missed the last four games with the flu, and the club's power play looked even more weakened, disorganized and ineffective than usual over this recent stretch.
John Stevens also confirmed yesterday that Antero Niittymaki will get the start. Nitty is 6-2-1 with a 2.61 goals-against over his last nine starts.
Timonen had missed the last four games with the flu, and the club's power play looked even more weakened, disorganized and ineffective than usual over this recent stretch.
John Stevens also confirmed yesterday that Antero Niittymaki will get the start. Nitty is 6-2-1 with a 2.61 goals-against over his last nine starts.
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