Blog Roll

Written by Fran
Wednesday, 20 January 2010 08:34
Ryan is away at the beginning of this 4 day week, so that means you get soo much Fran it's practically illegal. So how should we do this post-game? Should we do a grading system? An intense post game where I copy and paste quotes from the MSM's articles onto my own to make it sound like I was there? Easy there sailor.... Lets stick a good ol' fashioned list! Pros, Cons and the weird from last nights win over Columbus. - Mike Richards was a ghost. I thought he'd score and really carry the play. Can't even remember one shot that he took. I'm an idiot. - Jeff Carter was playing with a purpose, at both ends of the ice. Two goals, great faceoff percentage and backchecking? I'll have another! - Those orange hats looked terrible and I wish either Carter or Cheeseburger woulda potted their third to let the fans toss those hunter's dream onto the ice. - Speaking of Cheeseburger, both his goals were of the "greasy" mucking and grinding variety. Would look pretty good in Orange & Black about now, eh? - Sexiest pass of the night: Giroux to Asham - Sexiest goal of the night: Carbomb's snipe from the top of the circle - Unsexiest play of the night: With the Flyers on the PK, Richards and Gagne break out on a shorthanded 2-on-1 and instead of firing a shot, Richards tries a pass against a well covered Gagne, Columbus heads back and scores on the ensuing counterattack where Richards was stuck on the ice, out of gas. - Best ex-Flyer coach on the opponent's bench: Ken Hitchcock. - Ray Emery gives up a ridiculous amount of rebounds - Ray Emery looks like he's about 85% - Ray Emery will get beat by good teams because of his lack of control - Ray Emery is going to come to my office and give me a purple nurple - Powerhouse on the 1st line really gives some forechecking presence, although they are probably the most uncreative group of forwards we got. Gagne needs someone who can get him open looks. Richards and Powe are grinders and once they get into the zone work the boards for an opening, causing Gagne to pinch down low to assist when he should be circling the waters waiting for a snipe. - OKT had a baby last night. It turned out it was actually Jeff Carter's. - FGSB approves of Norweigian babies and wishes OKT the best - Lappys fight was timely, but it was pretty uneventful. I think it was a narrow win for Lappy. - Speaking of Lappy, that commercial that he's in for the Flyers "shoe-drive" is fucking scary. What, did they shoot that an hour after he took the puck to his teeth? Scars, black eyes, accents and no teeth haunted my dreams all night. (Who am I kidding, I LOVED it!) - Chris Pronger can be a sneaky man when he wants to be. What a pass from Danny Breeze to find him right before the end of the 2nd. Without that goal, game is way up for grabs. - Seriously, Rick Nash is a bad mother-shut yo' mouth! - The game was back and forth for awhile. Both teams carrying the play for big parts of each period. A little bit of luck and some timely scoring got us the W against Columbus. It's been awhile since we could say that about the Flyers. On to the next one. Fuck the Rangers. Add comment (0) Hits: 148

Flyers Gameday: Hitch, Cheeseburger and Two Points

Written by Fran
Tuesday, 19 January 2010 13:02
Tonight, the war rages on Flyers fans. The Columbus Blue Jackets are in town for the only meeting of the season between these two clubs. Philly welcomes back Columbus head coach Ken Hitchcock and ex-Flyer R.J. Cheeseburger. Both teams have been maddeningly inconsistent this year. Coumbus looks to be a real long shot to make the playoffs in a crowded Western Conference. The Flyers are still hanging around on the fringe of the top 8, looking more like a team waiting for another to fall than one surging ahead. After dropping the last two, a frustrated team led by a frustrated captain will try to right the ship against a sneaky Columbus team. I call them sneaky not because they tip toe around your room at night and skim a few bucks off your wallet. And they aren't sneaky like trying to bang your secretary, wife and kid's babysitter all on the same night. No my friends, the Blue Jackets are sneaky in the "should be pretty good, but are actually pretty bad, ie: Flyers 2006". A season ago, these Blue Jackets made it to the playoffs. Even though they got trounced by Detroit, it was still a big step for a young franchise. Maybe the high expectations were too much for a young team to live up to. Columbus will stay positive. (They have too, since college football is now over). A good fan base, awesome stadium, Columbus is led by one of the top 10 players in the league, Rick Nash. Dude can do everything and anything. They also have young stud Steve Mason in net. Between the two of us, that was all they needed last year to get into the second season. This season, with Mason doing his best swiss cheese impression, (along with a shit defence) the Blue Jackets are losing alot of close games because they can't shut down the opponent in the 3rd period. Keep your eyes on Nash, Antoine Vermette, Umberger and Jakub Voracek as the guys to carry the Columbus offense. Jared Boll and Dan Carcillo are a sure thing tonight, and it could be the best fight of the year. These guys have gone a few times since 2007 when Chico was a Coyote. Both are tough middleweights who play the same style and will most certainly be doing their best Rock 'Em Sock 'Em impressions tonight. The Flyers need to get their intensity back. Both the Toronto and Washington game proved that their focus can be hit or miss for any period. Battling for 60 minutes is the only way that this team can win. We're not a Capitals team than can outscore everyone. We're not a Penguins team than can steal games because of timely scoring. Hell, we're not even a Rangers team that can get points because of our steady goaltending. We're a Flyers team than can only win when 100% of the guys are playing at 100%. It's that simple. Off nights by anyone, be it RIchards or Bartulis will lead to goals against. Talk about a inconsistent Blue Jackets team is like the pot calling the kettle black. When the Flyers are playing up to their potential, they'll win 8 of 9. When they're playing without focus and intensity, they'll lose 4-0 to the fuckin' Maple Leafs. You can usually tell within the first 30 minutes of the game which team we're watching. Columbus is not a must-win, but it would be nice to get 2 points from a struggling club. I'm a bit worried about the Flyers playing down to a lesser opponent for the 2nd time in 3 games. Razor in goal needs to look A LOT better tonight than he did on Sunday. I'd also like to take this time to abolish all drop passes on a rush, and simple fire the puck. A goal is a goal, no matter how sexy the setup. And goals lead to victories, and victories lead to the playoffs. It's so simple, even Steve Coates gets it. Even though its January, both teams are still trying to find their identity. Tonight will be a good game to watch from the team angle. Hitch will get the Jackets ready to go. He's rotund, yet fiery. Umberger will probably get a "meh" from the crowd, but will look to bring the heat and try to collect some points. For the Flyers, we'll get to see how the team responds to this whole Mike Richards/Meda broo-ha thats going on. Clearly the team SHOULD "stick up" for their captain, and their energy tonight should give some indication as to if the team wants to rally around their embattled star. I said it yesterday, but I think Richie goes nuts tonight. Turns it on and goes for the Gordie How hat trick. That may be going out on a limb, but thats where I live baby. Either way, both teams have something to play for and these two points are badly needed. We were "in" last week and 2 losses in a row have us in 10th place again. I hope you're ready for this roller coaster for the rest of the season. Columbus & Philadelphia: Best. Rivalry.Ever. Let's Go Flyers. Add comment (5) Hits: 303

Philly Media Can Give It, But Can't Take It

Written by Ryan
Monday, 18 January 2010 13:03
I generally find myself in agreement with Puck Daddy's Greg Wyshynski, but his article today on Mike Richards' soon to be infamous battle with the Philadephia media has us seeing the same situation through two different lenses. I think as a journalist, which Greg is even though he's also a blogger, Richards' accusations of the local media "making stuff up" is something you can't help but focus on. Journalism is based upon integrity - it's the foundation of the industry. But Richards is not a journalist and the local beat writers are taking offense to to his actual choice of words and totally missing the point. What Mike Richards is getting at is that the local media makes issues out of situations where there previously were none. The Flyers goaltending situation right now is a perfect example. The Flyers have 3 goalies on the roster. One of them is going to have to go at some point. Doesn't seem like that big of a deal. But when you read the local headlines and they're screaming of goalie "controversy" and then the articles go into the past 10 years and the Flyers goaltending woes, that shit's made up. Now it's a controversy. The final step in the process is to ask a player or Peter Laviolette about it - making the coach discuss something that they indeed "made up." Not in the sense that they fudged some facts or got a bogus quote, but they created a drama with their aloted spaces in the paper and now something that was previously not an issue is a huge one in the public's eye. And if you want your proof here's an audio clip of the coach discussing it. I don't think any Philadelphia beat writer should be surprised that Mike Richards doesn't like him/her. He's just trying to dodge one bear trap after another. And this latest example provides even more proof. He gets qouted by a national publication and the Philly media is all pissed off because he took a shot back at them. Good for him. 10 more shots and maybe he'll even the score. Add comment (1) Hits: 279

Flyers Game Scheduled for 3 - Afterparty Undecided

Written by Ryan
Sunday, 17 January 2010 11:49
Gonna keep it simple today. What you need to know about today: you're most likely off tomorrow, so treat it like a Saturday although your mind keeps telling you it's Sunday. What you need to know about the season series: We beat them 6-5, they beat us 4-2, and then they squirted on our faces 8-2. This is it until the playoffs. We owe them and need to even up the series. What you need to know about the Flyers: They're going to start with 1 goalie, 2 defensemen, and 3 forwards. Keeping it traditional. What you need to know about the Caps: OV is now their Captain. They have some "eh" dude called Jason Chimera now. Mike Knuble is back - nice guy, but a traitor in the end. Mike Green didn't make the Canadian Olympic Team and is hurt over it. Semin didn't practice yesterday. Backstrom owns us. US WJC hero John Carlson might be in the lineup this afternoon. Their goalie is Jaromir Jagr. What you need to know about the game: I'm glad it's in Washington because even though the Caps fans are new money they really get that place bumpin'. Not that Flyers fans don't, sometimes, but a lot of you have a tendancy to sulk if things aren't going your way when seated at the Wach. I've been able to hear the air conditioning in there for 10 minute periods of time. The Caps fans treat their games like parties so it'll be loud and fun, like a party should be when you have off on Monday. What you need to know about the standings: It's January - be easy. And above all else, don't forget this: Add comment (1) Hits: 228

Matt Bradley: Making the Caps Look Foolish Since 2005

Written by Ryan
Sunday, 17 January 2010 09:55
Flyers fans, this is Matt Bradley. He's the guy who got his face smashed by Daniel Carcillo about 6 weeks ago. He's also the guy who did this earlier in the week: If Mike Richards geared down and decided, as the captain of the team, that he was going to do something about an injustice he either saw, suffered, or needed to back up, wouldn't you want to see him handle that mano y mano? You see, Bradley is being heralded in D.C. for "stepping in" and protecting the future of the franchise. I even saw it in a pump up compilation produced by CSN in DC on Friday night before their Leafs game. Like he's Superman or something. But there is a huge difference between stepping in when your captain is being attacked and frivolously jumping into a one-on-one altercation, and in doing so undermining your captain. In this case that's exactly what Bradley did in a fight where OV could have held his own if not won, and put to bed the accusations that he needs to back up his borderline play for at least the next two to three years. In the clip his body language wouldn't lead you to believe that he was excited about Bradley's interuption into his and Downie's fight. If Mike Richards shed his bucket and gloves and was lined up with Matt Cooke ready to go, and Arron Asham came flying in and started fighting Cooke don't you think Richards would be a little disappointed. Maybe if it was Eric Goddard or Donald Brashear (8 years ago) on the other side of that show down you jump in to protect your captain because he's punching out of his weight class, but not in a fight he easily could win. You just make him look like a chump. Not that OV seemed to mind when the dust settled, as he went on to score 5 points on Friday night. But you have to imagine he addressed the room and thanked Bradley but told everyone that if the same situation ever occurs again he would like to be left to his own peril. He's the leader, he made a decision involving calculated risk, and someone on the team defied that - those are the basics. Add comment (5) Hits: 512

Little Simon Gagne Commercial

Written by Ryan

Saturday, 16 January 2010 13:09

The Caps are going to get it. And Simon Gagne is going to give it to them.

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Capitals Will Seek Revenge Too!

Written by Ryan

Friday, 15 January 2010 13:47

I am straight shittin' because I keep forgetting that it's a 3 day weekend and people keep reminding me and it's like the best news I've never heard. The Flyers don't play again until Sunday, which is strange, but Sunday is really Saturday so fucking right!

It just occurred to (I'm probably taking a dump on Fran's game day right now) me that last time we met up with the Caps they spanked us in public and Daniel Carcillo literally broke Matt Bradley's face. I highly doubt that Bradley wants revenge, but Carcillo better watch out for David Steckel after what he did to Zenon Konopka earlier this week.

I bet Knonopka's hands were all cut up after that. That was the definition of an ass whooping.

If you're a Flyers fan you have to like Zenon Konopka if not for the way he plays then for his name. And if not for that for his face in that fight. And if not for that then for the fact that he's from a place called Niagra-on-the-Lake, Ontario.

Hopefully Sam Carchidi doesn't play to the revenge factor for the Caps because if last night's game is any indication the Flyers don't play well when the press casts fighting into the air. This time we'll owe the Caps. Owe them hard.

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Pierre McGuire Likes When the Flyers Come to Town

Written by Ryan
Friday, 15 January 2010 08:31
Canada's Kermit the Frog For those of you watching the game in the Philadelphia area last night I imagine it was pretty boring. Not really any fights, no great opportunities, nothing to cheer about for the Flyers. But for the Flyers fans all over the rest of the country and Canada, we got a special treat in the form of a TSN (The Sports Network) broadcast featuring Gord Miller and color commentator Pierre McGuire. In case you don't know, Pierre McGuire has, in the past, been accused by some of being a little too big of a fan of Flyers center Mike Richards. Like actually owns a Fathead level of fan. This first came up last spring during the playoffs and had grown to the point where I thought it had totally been blown out of proportion. I will now admit I was wrong. First off, for some reason Pierre McGuire does his color commentating from between the benches. So it's like the Flyers broadcast with Keith Jones in between the glass and Steve Coates in his car smoking pot with Gina Lynn - in other words not there. Which means Gord Miller is all alone the entire game, which I imagine is…lonely I guess. I always though one of the best parts about being an announcer would be ripping SBDs and then my partner breathing them in during the middle of a sentence, but farting into your own face could be funny too I guess. But they talk to each other all game like they're right next to each other - maybe more than Jim Jackson and Jonesy do. McGuire might even talk more than Miller, now that I think about it. And what he's basically saying is this: - something great about Mike Richards - something wonderful about Mike Richards - something sexually suggestive about/to Mike Richards - how someone should play more like Mike Richards - how great of a leader Mike Richards is - what Mike Richads is doing at that moment - what Mike Richards was doing at this moment 7 years ago in juniors - how Mike Richards would thwart the US defenses if he decided he was going to invade America - comparing Mike Richards to The Punisher - drawing pictures of him and Mike Richards arguing over who forgot to turn the dishwasher on and showing it to the camera - guessing how much Mike Richards can bench press - describing the plot of a new concept show where Mike Richards is the Bachelor on Ice - dry humping the partition between the benches - saying "I think, yep, yep he's looking at me." - threatening the Leafs bench about touching Mike Richards - dropping his microphone and sticking his ass in Mike Richards direction - telling Richards that if he's so tough why doesn't he "put your mouth where my mouth is?" - trying to slip notes into the cuff of Mike Richards' glove as he skates by - really giving it the full Silence of the Lambs - scream crying "It was Mayers!! Get him Tolly!" - telling Dragon to "shoot him" over in the direction of Mike Richards - sneaking 151 into Mike Richard's water bottle - telling Claude Giroux to watch his back - recounting a conversation that is happening near him He even caught himself about half way through the first and actually said "Not to make this the Mike Richards show" as if that would cancel out the 40 things he had already said and the 100 things he was going to say about why "Richards was endeared to Steve Yzerman because of how he uses his hands and his feet." The one time he did change his focal point was Ian Laperriere was sitting right next to him on the other side of glass and McGuire launched into this story about Lappy's teeth getting stolen. Which in and off itself was fine, but creepily leaning forward, talking louder, and staring so as to hopefully get a response from Lappy was very strange. Apparently McGuire walks to the rink with every player too. Even to if he had his dithers he'd only walk with one. So while the game was a dud before 60+ hours off, some were still able to squeeze a little entertainment value out of it. That no goal call might as well been a seven goal call - the game was over after the first shift. But Pierre was just getting started. Add comment (0) Hits: 329

Flyers Gameday: The Battle of T-dot

Written by Fran

Thursday, 14 January 2010 12:04

Ryan spoke about this before, but tonight is going to be MURDER DEATH KILL HOCKEY BLOOD GUTS SAM CARCHIDIDIDHIDI BONER FUCKIN' YAHTZEE MURDERBALL up in Toronto. If you need all that WWF subplot shit to get amped for a game then I question your real motives. What you'll see after you calm down is this. A shitty Toronto team desperate for a win against the hottest team in the league, your Philadelphia Flyers. Old rivals stirring the pot once more in what will be a rough, exciting game that the Flyers should win.

The Leafs do want revenge for an embarrassing loss last week. Letting Dan Carcillo toe drag your face off, then give the throat slash to your coach(and ex-Flyer Keith Acton) will do that to a team. Getting embarrassed on the road is one thing, and the Leafs are going to come out tonight with something to prove to themselves. Wouldn't it be funny if someone on the Leafs media team made an animated gif of Carcillo doing the throat slash and played it on loop all week in the locker room? The best part about the Leafs focusing their "revenge" on Carcillo is that Chico can take it. He might fight 3 guys at once and do pretty well. Dude shaves with a brick. Jay Rosehill got called up for this game. People seem to think that that is the equivalent to Russia plopping nuclear warheads in Cuba. Might I remind you of the preseason game in which Rockin' Riles fought him to a draw?

I have a simple rule about hockey pugilists. If you can't obtain a "win" against Riley Cote, you don't scare me. Rosehill, Colton Orr, Jamal Mayers, Garnett Exelby...these four will all be "ready to go" and they won't knock the Flyers off their game unless Philly allows it to happen. You saw it last week in the 6-2 victory. The Leafs were too busy running around trying to get under the Flyers skin. The Flyers were too busy scoring goals. Aside from the excitement of playing in Toronto, all four lines are contributing offensively and that is reason enough to ignore the Leaf goons and keep the points coming. Danny Breeze had two goals against Toronto last week, and I think he's a big difference maker tonight. He'll be out there against a shitty penalty kill and can fly around the Leafs questionable defence. Giroux has a 2 game scoring streak going, and if he scores again tonight, I'll buy you all a Wawa bread bowl of chili. Count it.

With Syvret out, OKT comes back onto the ice. He might not be 100%, but it'll be nice to see him back on the ice. If he is a bit shoddy looking, or after he gets hurt tonight (feel like this is 100% happening) we may be seeing a Marc-Andre Bourdon or Kevin Marshall call up. Birddog was complaining of being sick, but this is the kind of game he lives for. I doubt he'll sit. Leighton in net again, Razor backing him up. If the Flyers keep on doing what they have been for the past 10 games, no amount of Colton Orr can stop them. Donnybrook me. Let's Go Flyers.

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Flyers. Leafs. Blood. Murder. Dancefloor!

Written by Ryan
Thursday, 14 January 2010 10:21
In an article titled "Leafs seek retribution against Flyers' Carcillo" wouldn't you think that the reporter would examine the Leafs point of view, possibly even getting a quote from a Toronto player or two? No. Instead Sam Carchidi this morning has decided to stir a pot that doesn't need any stirring by using the call up of a player with a whopping 5 fights during 3 months in the AHL as some sort of factual statement. Carcillo throat slashing gesture aside, these two teams started the preseason off on the wrong foot. A game with 4 fights on September 17th and then a follow up with 6 fights on September 19th. Two of the top teams in fighting majors. A team with Daniel Carcillo and a team with Colton Orr. And then more violence last game. You know, what this game really a needs? Some conjecture! Well shit. The Flyers are inserting OKT in the lineup tonight, Sam. Why not "Leafs Call Up Goon. Flyers insert Tollefsen. Colton Orr Sends Me a Candy Gram In Which He Tells Me That He's Going To Actually Murder All The Flyers On The Ice And The Entire Coaching Staff And All the Fans. And the Phanatic." FyourI - this is the reason that a lot of players hate talking to you and give you quotes right out of last week's article. You come up with this bullshit on your own and then ask them about it. "What do you think about what I just said you think?" But hey, blood sells right? Sam, you paying for the ambulances outside the arena tonight too? Run the siren. Run the goddamn siren. I'm payin' for it. Let 'em know there's gonna be blood in there. I can circle, but it's gonna cost you more. Oh, for Christ's sake. - There. Add comment (3) Hits: 255