Archive for January, 2010

For those unfamiliar with the Flyers local broadcast, Steve Coates is the man who reports from ice level while standing between the benches. I personally don’t like him because he speaks really fast, adds NOTHING to the broadcast, and is just plain annoying.  At least once a game he’ll mention that he had a view right over somebody’s shoulder and saw exactly what the player was looking at. A few weeks ago, as two players went after the puck near the boards where Coates stands, a stick came up and clipped him in the forehead.  He bled a little, but [...]

This is an Olympic year, so there’s no all-star game.  However, if there were, who should be in it? Chris Pronger: He’s 7th among defensemen in points, with a total of 37.  He’s been named to the Canadian Olympic Team.  He’s also an assistant captain in his first season with the team.  His presence has been felt throughout the entire lineup.  He’s given his defensive partners more confidence to jump into the offensive play more often, and has helped fuel Laviolette’s transition game.  He’s lived up to almost every expectation that I had when we got him. He has surprised [...]

So we’re past the midpoint of the season, and have played some intense games in the past few weeks.  At this point right now, who do we hate most?

Saturday vs Canes: The game started up pretty well, with Dan Carcillo scoring a sweet goal, on a chance the he completely created on his own.  First, he stole the puck as Carolina tried to take it out of their zone, deked out the goalie with a nice backhand-forehand combo, and wristed a shot over Manny Legace.  I think I have an explanation for how this happened.  Remember in Space Jam when the Monstars stole the athletic ability from a few NBA superstars (and also from Shawn Bradley)? I think when Carcillo defended himself against Gaborik in the previous game, [...]

Whatever pre-game hype there was, this game exceeded it. The Flyers won a thriller 2-0, and had a few fights to boot.  Neither goal was very pretty, but any goal on Lundqvist and the Rags is pretty sweet. JVR got a partial breakaway, ripped a shot, then backhanded the rebound into the net about 15 minutes into the first.  Later, as time wound down in the 2nd, Richards ripped a shot from the point that deflected off Staal’s skate and in with 2.5 seconds left.  If the goals were the bread, and the fights were the meat, then this was [...]

On a night where the Penguins play the Capitals, featuring Ovechkin and Crosby, the Flyers also play the stinking Rangers.  The Broadway Blueshirted Bastards will try to get revenge after they got shit on, 6-0, in the last game between these two teams.  NY sits a few points ahead, and the Flyers need this game. I really didn’t expect that last game to be so easy, and I have no reason to expect a blowout this time either.  I don’t care if the Rangers score less than Snooki, Gaborik is always dangerous, and all stats go out the window in divisional [...]

The Flyers handled business last night, thoroughly beating a disappointing Columbus Blue Jackets team 5-3.  Jeff Carter had a pair of goals, with the second one being one of the strangest/coolest you will ever see. The faceoff was in the Jackets zone, to the right of the net. Right from the draw, Carter took a shot, which went right through a stunned Mathieu Garon’s legs. I was at the game, and completely missed it, because I was staring at the replays on the scoreboard. Claude Giroux continues to amaze with his dazzling stickhandling. It’s amazing that he doesn’t pile on [...]

So apparently Mike Richards is mad at the media for accusing him and some of the other younger players on the Flyers of partying a little too much.  You can read the article all about it here: http://www.csnphilly.com/pages/landing_09?Air-it-Out-Flyers-Richards-Still-Angry-W=1&blockID=124129&feedID=695 I’m sick and tired of the media escalating things between themselves and prominent Philadelphia athletes. Lindros, Iverson, Rolen, all were loved by the fans, but constantly had issues with the media.  We don’t need to hear about the players social lives.  Keep it on the hush.  I understand how late nights affect performance on game day, and that the athletes need to act responsibly. [...]