The Hockey Version of Pearl Harbor

Another bad loss to a better team.

To Buffalo. In Buffalo.

9-1.

It is our day of infamy, worse than the five-goal home losses to Ottawa in the early goings of 2001 and 2002. Worse even than the oft-quoted 11-2 loss to Montreal in November, 1981. That team was expected to barely hold on against the Rangers and Islanders in the Patrick Division. This team, in certain circles, didn't even seem worthy of a playoff prediction out of the gate.

I hope the waivings of Petr Nedved, Nolan Baumgartner and Niko (don't call me Nicholas) Dimitrakos are only the first steps in a complete overhaul. Calling up Phantoms Ben Eager, Stefan Ruzicka, and Alexandre Picard are only stop-gaps to a dam that's almost totally burst. Eager fought hard every shift to earn a spot on the Flyers last year when injuries hit. This year, the audition is no joke - especially since R.J. Umberger hasn't seen his work turn into points.

The worst part of this early season collapse, is that it's too early to get another GM on the phone ready to deal. If the flame-out came around Thanksgiving, I tabbed Nedved and one of the young defensemen or forwards as part of a two-for-two deal to wherever. Never mind that Clarke's idea of "what's best for the organ-eye-zation" consists of finding a bona-fide sucker to take Flyer cast-offs, or that the Bruins ripped their post-lockout roster to shreds almost as early last year - these waiver moves are pretty much the most extreme measures Ca-larkie could make only six games in.

Things are getting desperate in our home, living in the parish of the restless folks I know. Let's hope nobody gets the brilliant idea to lead a fan revolt and threaten to burn down the mission.

Not yet, anyway.