Feel free to scroll down until that is off your screen.
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So that was it, huh? One second you're laughing at Patrick Kane's juke on Kimmo Timonen and the next the Flyers 2009-10 season is over and you're watching possibly the weirdest celebration in Stanley Cup history. It certainly was not the year for spectacular OT hardware winning goals. Both Crosby's at the Olympics and Kane's last night had no build up or climax - it was like everyone missed something both times. Like I said in February, a breakaway or 2-on-1 from the red line would have been so much cooler. Something that gets people leaning forward before they celebrate, in whatever city they're from. A small quibble coming from the loser of both games, but a disappointment none the less. space
On to the Flyers. If I can't believe it's over I can't imagine how disappointed and disillusioned they are right now. Do you think they went out right after? Drank through the whole night? Or do you think they meet for lunch today and start a 3 day bender? Where can they even go where they won't be swarmed by smart phone cameras? I guess that will figure itself out. What will not is the team and its direction. It'd be a little classless to start speculating on how things could have been better or what needs to be done going forward as the dirt is still being tossed onto the coffin, so we'll save all that stuff for the coming weeks.
You're supposed to say nice things about people when they die so I'll say this: Flyers, you really surprised us all. Thank you for making our off-season only 3 months when a lot of other teams' fans have to sit through 5. There are some things that the organization will need to examine, but there's no question that you as players always gave your all. For that you deserve to not even have to look at ice, whether it be a rink or in your spiked shirley temple, for the next two months. If you have a family enjoy your time with them. If you're in your 20's do stuff that people in their 20's do. Except do it with a lot more money.
To everyone that's been reading this trash, we really appreciate it. Not sure why, but I like writing about the Flyers and the fact that anyone reads it besides my dad (hey dad!) is flattering. Things might slow down for a bit during the summer, but they could pick up too, who knows. Anyways, thanks and say hi to your mother for us. Just kidding. She already knows me.
It's been a realllllly long, really full season. Remember December 4th? Remember rooting against Mike Richards and Chris Pronger? We'll look back on all that stuff and the future after we go on our own bender this weekend in UT. Sidenote: can you go on a bender in UT?
And by the way, the NHL draft? Yeah, it's in 2 weeks. Wonder what the Ducks are going to do with our primo 29th overall pick. Man did we get those suckas!
Also, why did we have to give a pick up with Denis Gauthier to get Ned Lukacevic and Patrick Hersley and now we don't get to draft until 89th overall in the thi.......(me being dragged off the keyboard. They won't keep me off long! I promise you that!)
Congrats to the Chicago Blackhawks on winning the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals.
What can I say about the Flyers... our Flyers? They fought, they battled back against steep odds, they gave everything they had and then some...
But I think the tank was empty.
Last night's loss does not diminish them in our eyes. I will always look back fondly on these few weeks that brought us a glimpse of glory.
The offseason will bring lots of questions and hopefully some answers. Right now, I just want to say thank you to our 2010 Philadelphia Flyers for making this year a memorable one.
Tonight is the last time we'll watch a hockey game in Philadelphia this season. Through the ups and downs and this wild second season, tonight is it. Its the last game to be played in our barn until September. Tonight the Blackhawks have a chance to make history on our home ice. The Flyers will once again look to dodge elimination and respond with their "best game of the season" tonight.
"There’s plenty of ways to know you’re not dying, all right. Hell, there’s plenty of light still left in your eyes." - Okkervil River.
I feel like I'm written this post about seven times already this season. Yet, the Flyers continue to go. Every time they are counted out, they prove doubters wrong. Tonight, as the MSM crowns the Blackhawks before the game is played, a group of orange clad warriors will have something to say about that.
"But first he was stripped and then he was stabbed By faceless men, well, fuckers, He still stands" - Pearl Jam
Its not just about Mike Richards, Michael Leighton or Chris Pronger. To win tonight would be legendary. And a legendary performance requires all participants to play their part. (Yes, including Patrick Kane doing his part by slobbin' knobs in the Gayborhood.) I'd show faith in JVR and keep him in the lineup. We need his scoring. I'd show faith in everyone, because its that faith that has brought us this far.
"This Philly Y'all really ain't stoppin The boy with the pen Like Willie On top of the hall Pure soul is what the city Most popular for" - The Roots
So I implore you Flyers fans. Keep on keepin' on. Today is an amazing day, one that you'll remember for a long time. Unless you're like me and drinking affects your memory, in that case your lunch is the last thing you'll remember. Rock your orange. Crack your beers. Jam out to Pennywise. This is really happening. Game 6 of the Finals, in our barn. Holy tits.
"you got no fear of the underdog, that’s why you will not survive!" -Spoon
Enjoy tonight, no matter what happens. This ride is amazing, one that we should not discount. This post hasn't been very analytical so allow me to drop one piece of hockey knowledge on you right here at the end: The Flyers will win tonight.
"We're roll tonight, To the guitar bite" -ACDC
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more. Let's Go Flyers.
Brought to you by the Chicago Tribune, the emails of the biggest scandal in the past century between some woman who was a news anchor in Philadelphia and some bald guy that used to be on ESPN, as if they were texts sent between Chicago's Patrick Kane and Tomas Kopecky: …...
In his subject heading, Kopecky asks, "What's going on" and continues in the e-mail "With my favorite Queen bee."
Kane: "was thinking about you. I'm good Just really busy.... and TIRED! HOW 'BOUT YOU? COMING TO PHILLY EVER?"
Kopecky: "The closest I'm coming to Philly is two days in Pittsburgh next month. Wanna meet and create a scandal?"
About one month later, Kopecky greets Patrick on Nov. 24, 2006, with "Happy Thanksgiving, hottie." He tries to get Kane to meet him in Pittsburgh in two weeks.
Kane: "lol. smooth."
Kopecky: "If nothing else, I try to be ...."
Kane: "=) if at first you don't succeed ..."
Kopecky: "I succeeded a little bit"
Kane: "yeh.... a little. =) wait ... what are you referring to?? Miami or work?"
Kopecky: "Which one do you think??"
Kane: "I would guess Miami. =)"
Kopecky: "We'll always have Karma."
Kane: "and the Astor Hotel restaurant."
Kopecky: "And I love that you remember."
Kane: "yep ... right on the curb"
Kane is planning a trip to L.A. and asks him for restaurant recommendations and the best night to eat at the Sky Bar.
Kopecky: "Jar is fantastic ... you are quite chic, Queenie. Wear something low cut and you'll fit in just fine around here. I think any night at the Sky Bar and you're good. Especially if I'm the arm candy."
Kane: "Will you be my arm candy at any point? Shall I be so blessed?"
Kopecky: "If you're nice ..."
Kane: "I am always nice. I am sweet as pie."
Kopecky: "I should be around for the Queen."
After he wonders what people would say if he flew into Philadelphia to sweep Kane away and some banter, Kane writes: "a little late, no? =)"
Kopecky: My timing has never been right with you anyway.
Kane: I'm just glad you're in my life. =)
Kopecky: "Never won't be. You're stuck."
Kane: "good. that makes me very, very happy."
Kopecky: "I'm sweet on you, kid."
Original "article" plagiarized from Regina Mendina (really?) of either the Daily news or Inquirer.
Chrissy Pronger Whether it's sexist or not is for smarter people to decide. I can tell you one thing, it's not clever, and that's disappointing. Whether someone photoshopping him will make Chris Pronger play better? Are you serious? No. He will play better because that's the type of person he is.
Leighton Another goaltender controversy sparked by the MSM, because well, write what you know.
Snoop Dogg and the NHL Not a good song, at least for a commercial. All the Reservoir Dogs shots of the guys in suits are pretty nice though.
space
Tonight We need a game that will get put in the Philly Classics Vault. If the Flyers do that we have a Game 7. If they don't play the game of their lives we get the Cup dangled in our faces in our city. I think Mike Richards is going to pick a spot in the first 5 minutes and try and end Patrick Kane's playoffs with a clean hit. And I hope he does. Or maybe Pronger, right in the Scott Stevens Spot.
If you've thought expert's predictions have ever mattered, in anything, tonight should be a fairly clear example of why they don't, and aren't even worth listening to. From what I can tell it's about 60/40 Hawks. I'd honestly be more interested in what a street gypsy had to say about it, because she has the same chance of being right as those experts. And if I had a budget, or not a real job, I'd walk a camera crew down to the corner and have some creepy lady flip some cards for me in a second floor apartment.
However, the over/under is going off at 5.5. You can bet your fucking house AND above ground pool on the over, baby. I did.
Chris Pronger had one bad game. People who only days ago shouting his praises to the world (I'm talking to you PuckDaddy), now seem to think his career is over and he should hang up the skates.
Give me a break.
The reality is, even though Dustin Byfuglien had a four point night in game five, the only time he's lit the lamp when Pronger was on the ice is that open netter at the end of the game... and he quickly dumped that shot away before Chris pwnd him again on the open ice.
I don't care what anyone says about last game. One good hit by the Buff-oon doesn't mean that Pronger still doesn't completely own the guy.
I'll take the four great games by #20 over the four stinkers laid out by #33.
And let's just get something else straight too... Pronger doesn't need an extra days rest. You never, NEVER see him huffing and puffing when he gets off the ice. The guy is a primo specimen of athleticism and skill. Not to hate on my fellow Minnesotan, but buff is the last thing you'd call him.
We'll see who has the longer and more successful career.
One aspect of Peter Laviolette's job as head coach is to put the lineup that best enables the Flyers to win on the bench every night. Well, not every night, on game nights. If he is making those guys get dressed up every night and sit on the bench than that's a different discussion. But, on game nights, Lavy has to dress the collective group of players that is most likely to win. Which is why I'm not entirely sure that the Flyers should dress 13 forwards even though I was adamant about it yesterday. Here's why.
A big part of giving the team the best chance to win is to not throw them a curveball when they've been hitting strikes all spring. Even longer I guess. For 104 games that mattered the Flyers have dressed 6 d-men and 12 forwards. From what I gather regarding who's going to start in net tomorrow the popular opinion is that these players have psyche's more delicate than Lindsay Lohan, so you don't want to do anything to disturb them. Entirely changing the way the lineup is configured might do that. And while dressing all 13 forwards gives you the best collection of individuals….
I can't even finish that sentence.
These are grown men. Grown men who fight and body check each other. Screw that shit. We can't keep treating them like flowers. You know what? I bet they each have their own opinion which goalie will play and the decision will not affect their individual confidence no matter what Laviolette does. Dressing 20 players who will actually play gives all the forwards more rest and you as a coach the flexibility of changing things up mid game. Bartulis is not going to see the ice so there's absolutely no point in dressing him. Let's not over this.
So the only question really becomes, when you're in the 3rd overtime, who drops back and plays d so you can go with 3 pairings? Yesterday I suggested to Fran and Jon that the guy who can skate the best go back there, and that's why my 6th period defensive pairings look like this:
You can't break up the 2nd forward line, plus none of them play defense when they're out there anyway. Gagne's not shifty enough. And where Richie's tough and gritty, he hasn't been very good with the puck lately. You don't want Carter shooting from your own zone, and from there it's easy because I can't even picture anyone else transitioning and backing in on a 3-on-2 or turning and sprinting to a dumped in puck as well as Giroux.
You know what just occurred to me? That I wasn't that excited for last night's game. I mean, I wanted to watch it. But I wasn't on edge like I was for Game 3 and I wasn't riding a super-high like I was for Game 4. I was just happy that it was 2-2. I distinctly remember thinking multiple times that it was ok if the Flyers lost because they had already come back from 0-2 and tied it, relieving the real pressure of the situation.
Is there a chance that on some level they felt that too?
I'm not saying it would ever be nearly as blatant as this but didn't it look like there was a hint of 'well, this isn't a MUST-win.'? Coming off two losses this was a must-win for the Blackhawks. No doubt about it. And it showed in their rough physical play, effort seen by the likes of Marian Hossa, and how they were more concerned (to start) with getting pucks on net than making the perfect play. For the Flyers, they knew they could lose. If you had told them on the flight back to Philadelphia after Game 2 that in a week's time the series would by 3-2 heading back home, you don't think they would have been pumped up? Like if Nostradamus came out of the cockpit and opened up a silver suitcase like the guy who wrote Bobby's World, and when he opened it and revealed 'The series will be 3-2 Chicago heading back to Philadelphia for Game 6' there wouldn't have been a roar of approval?
Now, this is a dangerous game to play of course. They're one shitty game, possibly even one stupid Scott Hartnell elbow from going through 2 months of playoffs just to lose. But the only stat I will attribute any kind of significance to at all this post season - not that the Flyers are so and so at home, so and so away, so and so when the Phillies win, so and so after playing on a Friday when my cousin Tricky Dave eats a Shorti - is that the Flyers are 6-0 in elimination games this season. They've put three teams in their graves while refusing to be put in theirs 4 times already.
You can bet your ass, win or lose, you will not see a team on Wednesday that even resembles the one that was in Chicago last night.
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The Bloguin Network allows advertisers to promote their products and services to our ever-growing number of visitors. We offer both site-specific ad placements as well as the ability to run a network-wide campaign. If you're interested in working with Bloguin to meet your advertising needs, please contact us.
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