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Written by Ryan
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Thursday, 04 February 2010 08:11 |
I'm seeing all these reports this morning that Ryan Potulny scored a truly back-breaking goal with 17 seconds left in the game last night, but no where am I seeing a report that says Ryan Potulny scored at 11:58 Eastern Standard Time and I wish I would have been in bed at 8:30 Eastern Standard Time. That must have been enjoyable for him.
If the NHL had decided to award points on successful offensive zone cycles in last night's game the Flyers would have won 37-4. But instead the league was afraid to break from tradition and stuck to their orthodox points-for-goals system. The Flyers just couldn't get any real scoring chances. Which is a shame because even just casting the puck at the net led to two posts and a number of open net misses. They weren't 'taking it to the house' as Trick Daddy would say.
Only time will tell if that at-least-one-point we (Chris Pronger) couldn't bear down and salvage will lead to us not making the playoffs. But I don't think it's something to get all worked up about. Sure it'd be nice to see our hopefully Cup contending team pound on the weakest team in the league but this is the Flyers we're talking about. If you're not used to this by now you're either a very advanced baby that can read or a new fan - in which case how the hell did you find this site? I searched us on Google last night and we came up as the 4,786th Flyers blog. But I digress.
Games like those make me wonder what it was like to cheer for a team with Lemieux or Gretzky on it back in the day, as Ahmad would say. One of those guys would have skated up to their own teammate and literally taken the puck from them, taken it to the net, and shot it through the goalie. They just would have made something happen. Was probably pretty cool. It makes me wish Mike Richards would be the captain he was on Monday night every night. Part of being captain is being clutch, like Shane Doan was against the Red Wings last week. And there's plenty of times he is, but Mike Richards hasn't developed that consistency yet.
ps - If you watched that game on the Edmonton feed man do they like their hockey up there. Hockey commercials, like 17 analysts working the game, Sports Centre cut in's to other action. And best of all you got to see who Canada's version of Morgan Freeman is.
I should have known it's be a Sutherland. |
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Written by Fran
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Wednesday, 03 February 2010 12:41 |
 Tonight the Flyers continue their Western Canada swing when they take on the absolute worst team in the league, the Edmonton Oilers. I can't help but think that the Flyers are playing their 2006 selves tonight, and it might be this bizzaro time-warp flux capacitor type game tonight. (If you know what that means, please tell me...I'm so drunk on coffee right now the words are flying off my fingers)
There are quite a few story lines for tonight's game. The biggest one may be Chris Pronger's return to Edmonton, where he came within one game of winning the Cup. After that season, Pronger asked to be traded and ended up in Anaheim, where he won the Cup. Talk about some salty fans. Can you imagine that happened to Eric Lindros? People will still be burning his effigy. Pronger will be booed much like every other city he plays in. It'll be interesting to watch his ice time, as the past 3 games have seem him dip below his average. With Lukas Crackerjack and Oscar 'Huber' Bartulis playing well against Calgary, I'm all for that. Ryan already mentioned that it's Mike Comrie Day in the FGSB office. I hope your Mike Comrie parties are all set, but if you still need a place to celebrate, come to our office where the Mike Comrie piñata will be up and the Hilary Duff music blasting all day. Another thing to carefully watch are those tradeable assets that Edmonton has. One of them may wind up on the Flyers by the deadline. Sadly, no amount of Paul Holmgren magic will get Sam Gagner or Ales Hemsky in Philly.
The Oilers suck, like 2006 Flyers sucked. They didn't win a game in January and just snapped a 13-game losing streak by beating the second worst team in the league, the Carolina Hurricanes. Hard times for such a great hockey town. Long gone are the days of #99. We asked the always great Oilers blog, Low on Oil to answer a few questions about tonight's matchup. Here is Jay's response. ( You can check out Low on Oil's full gameday post here)
Q: Now a quicker question for you: Are fans still into it out there? Even with the Oilers sucking? Are the Flyers a big draw? And if you end up with the 3rd pick in the draft and Hall and Seguin are gone who would you bring in?
A: For the most part, Oilers fans with myself included have fully embraced the 'Fall 4 Hall' or the 'Don't win for Seguin' campaign this season. However, I don't think many including me anticipated quite how painful this would end up being. Let's put it this way, having your team get their ass handed to them on a platter on Hockey Day while on Hockey Night in Canada against the Calgary Flames of all teams (who also swept the season series against the Oilers) provided maximum humiliation as a fan. With the Oilers now in their fourth year of missing the playoffs, it's definitely had an impact on the fan base. Average fans have stopped watching games on TV especially pay-per-view games. Attendance at Rexall Place has dropped, but not as much as it probably would in other cities since the Oilers have a pretty robust fan base. Season ticket holders who were once able to sell their seats at a profit are having a difficult time now giving them away let alone selling them at a discount. Seeing the Oilers as a cap team that's last in the league while also not making any roster changes is killing most of us here. For the Oilers, I would guess that the biggest draws are either teams that have superstars like the Penguins and Capitals, or teams that the Oilers have a rivalry with like the Flames or Canucks. I would guess that the Flyers are probably somewhere in the middle-of-the road in terms of being a draw. It probably helps that fans here are still angry with Chris Pronger for publicly requesting a trade along with the fact that the Flyers are currently in a playoff position. Other than that, the Flyers are an Eastern Conference team for which there's not a huge amount of interest around here.
Tough question about drafting third overall. Really, the Oilers at this point will need to sell hope for next season and anything short of Seguin or Hall will be a disaster. Of course, many have already argued that the Oilers screwed up the 2007 draft by winning their last game against Calgary. The end result being that they drafted Sam Gagner instead of Patrick Kane, so I could see something like this happening again. Really, the Oilers could use a center, but the only center ranked in most scouting reports in the top 10 is Mikael Granlund. Unfortunately, the Oilers don't need another midget in their system. The simple answer is obviously Cam Fowler who from what I've seen looks like a great pick. However, defensemen can take time to develop and the Oilers have a greater need for talent on their forward roster. Still, if you do get to draft 3rd overall, I think that you have to take the best player regardless of need, so I'll go with Fowler.
For the Flyers, the game against the Flames was an all around great effort. Defense was stifling and the offense was attacking all 60 minutes. I'd hope for the same type of game tonight against a weak opponent. I always worry about trap games, but I don't see how the Oil will have much fire tonight. What, are they pissed at Chris Pronger? Are they still upset at Hextall's slash on Kent Nilsson? Anyway, playing a team like Edmonton is always a great test to see the mental stability of a club and how hard they can focus and concentrate. Edmonton has a sniper in Gagner and a bruiser in Sortini. While I'd like to see them both do what they're good at, I also want to see them do something they've done a hellova lot already this year: lose.
I hope the young guys get a lot of ice tonight. I'd like to see Mikey Leighton back in goal as well. Two points are there, and execution will make them obtainable. What does Giroux have in store for us tonight? Another late start so put the kids to bed and have your favorite porn on standby for the intermissions. Let's Go Flyers. |
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Written by Ryan
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Wednesday, 03 February 2010 08:55 |
It's Mike Comrie Day! Again!
The beauty of Mike Comrie Day is you never know when it's going to happen because you never know where he's going to be. You also don't know whether he'll be playing, due to his penchant for sucking on high school water fountains and the disdain his style of hockey seems to breed with coaches even when he is healthy. But Mike is slotted to play for the Oil tonight, and that means it's time to celebrate.
Let me start off by telling you something - no one on this Earf has any idea where I was from December 16, 2003 until February 9, 2004. That's because, if you remember correctly (which I don't), on December 16th the Flyers traded the equivalent of two 1st rounders and a 3rd for Comrie. I remember heading to the bar that day and that's about it for almost the next two months. You see, when Mike Comrie played for the Oilers (the first time around) Mike Comrie Days were few and far between - which was a healthier set up for me. But when he moved to Philadelphia and started dating Pink I reached the highest of highs, which was followed by the lowest of lows when Comrie was traded to Phoenix and I was found trying to buy X from a guy who kept them in a folded up napkin in Rittenhouse Square. I can say looking back, that maybe Mike Comrie being a Flyer was a little too much for me to handle at that point in my life. Luckily he took care of that for me by back checking 4 times in his 21 games in the Orange and Black.
But since then Mike Comrie Day has been like Christmas, except more like diarrhea because you never know when it's coming - a Christmasareha if you will. He was in Phoenix for a while, and then Ottawa for a while, and then the Islanders for a while before heading back to Ottawa again for some reason. And now he's in Edmonton on a one year deal and he's played a full 18 games because of a recent bout with the kissing disease. No, not pregnancy, mono. I was worried at first because it only took him one game back from the IR to earn a seat in the press box but he played in Edmonton's win over Carolina on Monday and I doubt Pat Quinn has the balls to change anything about a lineup that was able to somehow win.
So enjoy today. Stay up late and celebrate in your own way - with a cake, a beer, or even a massage from someone on Craigslist. And here you thought it was just going to be another normal Wednesday. But keep this in the back of your mind - Mike Comrie's on the Oilers right now but who knows where he'll be playing by the time March roles around?!? This might not be our only Mike Comrie Day of the year! Keep your fingers crossed and look closely tonight if you want to see one of the best (if not the best) players to ever put on an Oilers jersey dazzle you with his hard work and skilled play.
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Written by Ryan
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Tuesday, 02 February 2010 12:09 |
Earlier this late morning I got a chance to sit down and speak with Chris Pronger of the Philadelphia Flyers about Scott Patil being moved from cash register to sandwich counter at the Wawa on the corner of Cooper Road and 561. Really, Chris? Weren't you moved from the Hartford Whalers to the St. Louis Blues when you were 20?
"Yeah I was traded when I was 20. In the NHL. This Scott kid is 16 and moving spots in a store."
In some ways you could say that the Patil move and the Pronger trade after a couple embarrassing incidents in Hartford are the exact same move accomplished with a time machine, like Lost. In many ways people see Patil as a Pronger of the Wawa industry. Both are taller than some of the people around them. Both enjoy Rolos.
"I don't see it," Pronger said.
Eating Rolos all the time?
"I have maybe had 7 or 8 Rolos in my life. Not packs, individual ones. I literally have no idea what you're talking about."
And yet I must be talking about something because this is an article, is it not?
"Huh?"
Patil had the most Christmas Eve sales out of any of the regional branches this past holiday season. Some said that was because of the strategic placement of his store, some think that it was just because Patil embodied the exact same qualities of a young Pronger. Patil was employee of the month for December.
"I guess that's pretty good. For a kid that young. I guess. What is it you want me to say? I'll just say it if you'll end this interview."
Ha, likely. Anthony SanFilipo once said that the sandwich bar is where all the action is.
"I guess, what's this kid's name? Steve? Oh Scott. I guess he'll find that out."
Pronger was reluctant to compare himself to Patil at the same age. He was also reluctant to compare himself to a summer lifeguard at a water park, a member of Cirque de Soleil, and Garth Brooks.
Patil's manager was not hesitant at all.
"We needed another guy on the sandwich counter because Terry kept messing up everyone's sandwiches. Scott said he'd do it. I think he was a little bored with the main register. Expectations were high for Scott to take money and give change at the main register. They'll be even higher at the sandwich counter, especially with our new breakfast hoagies." |
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Written by Ryan
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Tuesday, 02 February 2010 08:18 |
 Couldn't find a Krajicek picture before I had to run, but yes, I was impressed.
I'll consider the Flyers "back" when they return to 7 games above .500. When times were tougher all I ever heard about was "aster a 12-5-1 start…" and now the Flyers are as close as they've been in this dare I say Peguninian comeback, primed to return from this road trip at that mark exactly. Last night the Flyers held a desperate team with everything to play for and nothing to lose except their houses and their children's' spots in their elementary school classes to 18 shots - not of them exceedingly difficult of Razor to gobble up.
They played good hockey.
The player off the game on the Flyers end had to be Lucas Krajicek, who even though I ripped on him yesterday came in after not skating for three days and ate up over 18(!!) minutes on the blue line. Allowing Kimmo to keep it at under 20 and Pronger and Carle below 25. Someone who probably wasn't happy about that was Braydon Coburn, who played fewer minutes than I can remember in recent history. Krajicek just looked good playing in Laviolette's system. He may have been born to pinch and he's going to get that chance playing for the Flyers. When Danny Syvret and Ryan Parent come back off the IR they're going to be struggling to avoid conditioning assignments in Adirondack if #2 can keep up that type of play.
The Captain came through last night and stellar efforts from Darroll Powe, Arron Asham, and Daniel Carcillo helped keep the Flames at bay when we weren't able to find the back of the net. That team that played last night could make a playoff run.
And just like that I'm excited again. It might be due to the post-primetime start (which I love), or the lower camera angle at the Saddle Dome (which I love), or that the Flyers are actually Magellan (yeah I did that). Either way I'm excited for the "back on track" Oilers tomorrow. I'd write more and be wittier if I had more time, but the thing about work is…well….work. |
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Written by Fran
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Monday, 01 February 2010 12:48 |
Remember how shitty December was for the Flyers? Our month of hell is very similar to what's going on in Calgary right now right now. Virtually no scoring, playing with zero passion and a great team on paper isn't translating to any wins. When Philly was going through that rough patchwe all thought that "today would be the day to break out of the funk." Flames fans have to think that now, after throwing away a popular player and prospect in a surprising Sunday trade, tonight is that night. The Flyers get to be the first team to play the new-look Flames as they enter the Saddledome in what is sure to be a loud, nervous, energetic game.
Calgary had lost 9 in a row before beating the Edmonton Oilers 6-1 on Saturday. They have solid players, yet everyone seems to be in a collective funk. One of 3 players I'd give up any Flyer for would be Jerome Iginla. (Other 2 are Crosby and Ovechkin) "Iggy" does it all and is one of the best leaders in the league. He is what Mike Richards should strive to be. He is the pulse of the Flames in the same way that Modano carried the Stars, Sakic the Avs and Lemieux the Pens. If Calgary is going to get off its schnide it'll be Iggy leading the way. Caveman and potentially future-Ranger Olli Jokinen looks to be playing tonight and last year's lone meeting between these two clubs sawthe ugliest man in hockey crushing the Flyers 5-1. Losing Neon Dion will hurt short term, but not really in the points category. Phanuef has dropped off considerably since coming into the league. Sure, he checks hard and plays at an intense level, but he can't move the puck out of his own end at all lately, and never hits the net with his big clapper. Sutter had to make a move to shake up the team. It wasn't a coaching change so it differs from Philly, but it was definitely a wake up call to all the Flames to get their act together. Phanuef was a fan favorite and rightfully so, but if you can't perform like the all star you get paid to bethen you're trade bait. Big ups to Sutter for making the trade which will help the team be able to get a much better blue line this offseason. If Ex-Leaf, new Flame Jamal Mayers plays tonight, expect him to go with Carcillo. There is only one way a talentless hack will introduce himself to a new fan base and that's by punching people. Other names to watch for are ex-Flyer Daymond Langkow who, yes, is still alive. Rene Bourque is a quality 3rd liner. JayBo is their #1 defenceman, who along with Robyn Regehr, Cory Sarich and Mikka Kipprusoff pose a formidable defence for the Flyers tonight.
For the Flyersthis will be a tough road game. Calgary has some of the most passionate fans in the game and their barn is loud and hostile. Weathering the early storm of a desperate team trying to get the first goal is key. If the Flyers can somehow manage to get all 3 lines in on a scoring parade the fragile psyche of the Flames could crumble before the 2nd period. New players and new expectations will have Calgary buzzing. As of latethe Flyers are playing one great period, one mediocre period and one shit period. This can't be the case in Calgary and if that pattern repeats itself in tonight's game the Flames will win. Philly needs Simon Gagne, Scott Hartnell and Mike Richards to wake up, and fast. There are two points for the taking tonight, and our scorers have to break out of their funk. Jeff Carter and Darrol Powe have been our best forwards the past two games, but maybe a trip out west will shake some cobwebs out of the other guys. Newly signed Lucas Krajicek will probably get his shot on the blue line tonight, thus ending the OKT experiment. Doubtful that he'll get a lot of minutes so expect a ton of Pronger and Kimmo tonight, with them playing less against the Oilers on Wednesday.
I look at the Flames as the Flyers of the west. Big D signings in Pronger & JayBo, solid leadership from Iggy and Richie, high expectations from their GM and fans. Two teams marred by injuries who at times have been stuck in neutral. Two teams that if they ever all get on the same pagecan be the most dangerous in their Conference. Two teams playing for their lives, dying for two points. It should be a great battle, filled with checks, fights and lots of chirping. Safe to say I'll hate the Flames a bit more after tonight. Let's Go Flyers.
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Written by Ryan
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Monday, 01 February 2010 11:30 |
 Hurry up and get 'em while they're affordable! Because these bad boys are going to be retro jerseys come about March 5th, when Krajicek gets sent down to the Phantoms and refuses to report.
He is, however, going to be a great KHL player and some point.
The problem with Lucas is this - he really put it all into his first season with the Peterborough Petes of the OHL back in 2000-01 when he was 17/18. A big, very mobile defenseman who notched 35 points in 61 games. He was supposed to be the next Kaberle. Instead he's the current Krajicek. |
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Written by Ryan
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Monday, 01 February 2010 08:58 |
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More to come later today on Pyorala, Bodrov, and Krajicek (including whether or not you think he'll be a Flyers on April 1), as I get reacquainted to being a human, but I was looking at some sites last night and found myself stumbling across a lot of pictures that all had something very similar in them:
The J. Robertson Ross Cup - OHL Champion
The Memorial Cup - The CHL Champion
The World Junior Championship Trophy (Accompanied by a Gold Medal)
The Calder Cup - AHL Championship
So it'd be fair to say that Mike Richards has won a couple trophies in his ascent to captain of the Philadelphia Flyers. And before he even gets a crack at a Stanley Cup again he might already by an Olympic gold medalist. So basically when you read in interviews and hear on tv that the guy is a born winner, well, it looks like that might be true. So recognize. |
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Written by Fran
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Wednesday, 27 January 2010 23:39 |
 [Author's Note] - I'm out of town this weekend, and am writing this on Wed. night while sipping some Dale's Pale Ale. Obama is on, and I'm thinking about how the rest of the week plays out. For all I know, Scott Hartnell got traded tonight to Calgary for Dion Phanuef so if there is anything silly about the next two game previews, just roll your eyes and say hi to your mother for me.
Sadly, the girl above isn't scheduled to skate tonight for the Isles. But the Flyers host the non-sexy-ice-girls-Islanders for what will be another pivotal game in Philly's march towards the playoffs. The upstart Isles, with their strong island god Rick DiPietro back, will look to keep pace (I hope?) with Philly in what is another big 4 point game. We often overlook the Isles, as recently they have been the Atlantic Division's red headed stepchild. But a new core group of players is changing that mentality and this team could very well make the playoffs this year. Wouldn't that be nice. The Isles to make it and the Rangers to miss it, leaving John Tortorella finger blasting Larry Brooks all the way through 18 holes all summer.
John Tavares, Kyle Okposo, Matt Moulson lead the way for the Isles, with vets Mark Streit, Ricky D and Brendon "Don't fuck with me, SUV" Witt giving the team some veteran leadership. They are still young and the Flyers have a great record against them in the past 3 years. No matter the barn, Philly has always been up to the task of dispatching the other New York team. I fully expect Saturday's game to be a good tilt to crack some beers, grill some dawgs on the indoor grill and enjoy your mid weekend sports break....because you're seriously not gonna watch the NFL pro bowl game, are you?
The Flyers have good luck against the Isles, and hopefully after that game(?) against the Thrash, the all around effort continues today against New York. I'd like to see Jeff Carter continue his stellar play as of late.(Unless he died during the Thrashers game) Carts has been playing a lot better the past month and looks like he is playing with passion again. I'm gonna do my best soothsaying and predict that Scott Hartnell, if he is still around, will net one tonight against the Isles. This will be followed by a shit eatin' grin and a high five from Carter. I also predict that Aaron Asham drops the mitts in respomse to a TIm Jackman cheap shot.
Predicting games is hard, and doing previews for games this far in advance is tough too. I have no idea what mindset either team will be in, but based on history, I expect a tilt that favors the Flyers, even though the full 60 minutes is close. By now I've been drinking since Thursday so if you're reading this and received a text message from me about "being in jail" or "evading police custody" or even the all time great "hiding in the upstairs attic" it might be true....so you should look into coming to rescue me. Please? Let's Go Flyers. |
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Written by Ryan
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Friday, 29 January 2010 08:26 |
 If you would like a recap of last night's game please go here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, or here. If you want to hear about how I had a dream that Peter Laviolette was pitching a slow pitch wiffle softball game and was being a real dick, throwing about 95 miles an hour while repeatedly demonstrating karate moves on the mound, then stay tuned. Every time we play the Thrashers I get a kick out of watching Alexi Zhitnik labor around the ice as Flyers skate around him on their way to excellent offensive chances. Borat not. In reality, every time we play the Thrashers I wonder how their GM Don Waddell has a job. The Zhitnik and 4 playoff games for first rounder Braydon Coburn is just one example of how he's mismanaged a franchise that is struggling to survive in a division that is the laughing stock of the leaugue. Hossa to Pittsburgh for a bar stool signed by Mario Lemieux would be another. The impending Kovalchuk to Vancouver for Tanner Glass and Shane O'Brien will be the next. And a lot of you are probably rolling your eyes, thinking about how much Braydon Coburn sucks, but the only thing he's really guilty of is playing too well during 2007-08. If you're an athlete in Philadelphia and you have a great season you better be careful. There's this Calvin and Hobbes strip I'm always reminded of in which Calvin is explaining to Hobbes why he always starts the year with D's and F's on purpose so that his end of the year C's are objects for praise. Set the bar low and the soar over it - it's true in Philly. To a certain extent Philly fans will put up with a developing player, especially in hockey where most seem to know less about another team's first round pick than say football or basketball. "So this Coburn kid was picked in the first round by Atlanta...wonder if he's going to be any good...think he's from Portland or something?" But if you get the home crowd's hopes up and then begin to settle a bit the following years you are doomed. In 2006-07 Coburn came in and had 7 points in 20 games but I doubt anyone really noticed as they were to busy puking into paper bags with two holes cut out for the eyes. In 2007-08, when Philadelphia got caught up in a great regular season after some serious roster jiggling, everyone took notice of the big, young defenseman who scored 36 points as a 22 year old. He was also plus 17. We had the next Pronger. But then last year both stats dropped off and then this year it looks like more of the same, and Coburn will be lucky to see a positive plus minus rating. But I implore you Philly fans to show patience - Rome wasn't built in a day and all the butt fucking that happened there surely wasn't done in a day. They both took time. What we have on our hands is a defenseman who will turn 25 next month. He might be the best skater on the Flyers. He's getting tougher. He's learning his game. And he's not really losing the Stanley Cup for the Flyers while doing it. Giveaways, getting beat, occasionally making bad decisions - these things happen to all d-men. But in a salary cap era one of the main tools we all use, right or wrong, to measure performance is play relative to salary, as every dollar a player makes means less money for his organization to try and make the team better in other ways. And Coburn is a steal at $1.4M. We all gave Randy Jones the business because of his huge salary, even though making a ton of money is never the player's "fault." But Coburn will be up for contract negotiation this summer as an RFA and we have him in the perfect position. He hasn't performed as expected, but still as been decent, and that will hopefully impact his bottom line. Because this is a kid that has 10 years, a full decade, to develop into the Chris Pronger we want him to be and sign that 7 year $7M contract. I just hope he develops into that kind of player in the Orange and Black. Oh yeah, Laviolette refused to throw underhand and was beaning almost every batter with a giant red wiffle ball. And every time you tried to shout out to him to cool it he got in a threatening karate stance. It was not a fun dream or fun time. So there's that. |
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