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Written by Ryan
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Sunday, 30 May 2010 19:37 |
 The strange things about a Stanley Cup Finals is that you can't really hate the other team - there's not enough of a connection. I hate the Rangers, Devils, Sabres, Penguins, the Bruins (that's for you Rangers9fan!!!!!), the Caps, the Leafs, and the Hurricanes. I don't really hate anyone in the West. I don't even hate their bloggers like I do Dirk from MapleLeafsHotSuck.com. And that's why I'm happy to direct all 20 of you to a great Hawks site called Second City Hockey that we're proud to be working with a little bit this post season. You see, Sam over at Second City creates a tangible program for every game and there's a section in it called Know Thy Enemy (or something like that) in which he asks some opponent bloggers some questions. In this case us and some guy from a smaller Flyers blog you probably never heard of, think it's called Broad and Pattison Hockey or something. Seeing as you're probably not going to Game 2 you probably won't be able to pick up a copy and then all the not hard work I did would be only for the benefit of those pizza loving mushes from the Midwest. I'm not going to let that happen. So, without further adieu, here are some thoughts on Game 1 and the upcoming Game 2. Have a beer, it's Memorial Day Weekend.
1. So how many strokes did you have during Game 1?
During the first two periods of Game 1 there wasn't enough time to have a stroke. I was either celebrating by shotgunning a cold one or drowning my sorrows with a shot. To tell you the truth I don't even really remember the 3rd. I see now that Kopecky scored and you guys won. That must have been hard on me.
2. Scott Hartnell has had his fair share of criticism this year, so what the hell got into him Saturday?
I'll tell you what got into him - the Best Friend Connection. If you don't think Danny Briere and Big Ville Style are just two friends having a great time out there then you haven't been watching them closely enough. Hartnell goes to the net and he's going to be the benefactor of two creative artists out there just straight up jamming with the puck, which makes sense because Scott Hartnell could easily be one of Phil Lesh's friends with that head face of his.
3. If you're Peter Laviolette, what do you change for Game 2?
Nothing besides my suit. I'd go with the same lineup and same game plan. If Ryan Parent could handle another 41 seconds I'd make him dress and refer to him as our 7th defenseman even though we only have 6 on the bench. Just cause I can do whatever I want.
4. And which goalie would you go with?
Leighton and Boucher are basically the same dude - a little less than your average goalie. Just for the sake of the boys' delicate psyches I'd keep it the same so everyone thought I had some big master plan when really I just guess a lot and then yell at the players when it turns out I was wrong. 'I trust you enough to put you back in the net and you go and make me look like a fool?!?! You're a reallllll dick, Michael.'
5. Toews and Kane saw a lot of Briere's line, and Mike Richards's line saw a lot of Dave Bolland, and both top lines were invisible except when picking the puck out of their own net. What do you think each team was able to do against the other's biggest stars?
I think stars, real superstars, get a little mad when guys on the 3rd and 4th line start contributing. I mean, they get built up for a week and then Blair Betts scores? What an ass, right? I think they probably saw all that scoring coming from the supporting cast and were all like 'fine, guess you guys don't need us." So they just packed it in to teach everyone a lesson.
6. Can the Flyers win if the top line doesn't produce?
It would appear that the Flyers (or the Hawks for that matter) don't need the top line to score to get enough goals for the win. If they could just do their part on defense we'd have had a very different game on our hands. Who's willing to only be -1 in Game 2?
7. Did Game 1 change your outlook on the series at all?
Truth be told, even though I claim to be able to see into the future, it's a farce. I didn't know what was going to happen before Game 1 and I still don't. From the looks of it, anything. Anything can and will happen this series. In my dream world neither top line scores all series, Byfuglien and Pronger never touch each other again, and Mike Richards and Jonathan Toews don't do anything Captainy and then the MSM is all like 'well we kind of messed up those 3 stories we all reported on for a week. Whoops.' And then the Committed Indian becomes the Chief Sports Editor of the Chicago Tribune. Speaking of, how much do I get paid for this? |
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Written by Ryan
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Sunday, 30 May 2010 16:36 |
 What worried me about the shootout at the O.K. Corral last night wasn't so much that the Hawks scored 6 goals without even one coming from one of their big threats, it's that when they actually concentrated on defense we couldn't even get the puck across the red line. Namely the last two minutes. For years I've watched the Devils, Sabres, and a myriad of other teams pull their goalie and then really threaten the opposition. It even happened in the Gold Medal Game of the Olympics this year. But last night the Hawks just shut the Flyers down when crunch time came. If that's a sign of things to come mark me worried.
Aside from that I don't really have any concerns about last night's game. There were a lot of weird goals on both sides - Bolland's 'five hole' shot that went up Leighton's stick and under his arm, Arron Asham's in-by-less-than-a-centimeter one-timer, and Troy Brouwer's one-timer from FAR out on Ryan Parent's shift of the game (still can't get over that). I don't think we'll see a game like that again these finals.
Richards and Toews will come to the forefront, and average goaltending should be good enough to win this series. That was the most entertaining, and even strangely fulfilling, loss the Flyers could pull off. They still have a chance at stealing home ice and remember, this team excels when it's back is against the wall. It's early but they do not want to come back to Philly down 2-0. The figurative wall is already built in their minds. |
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Written by Ryan (not Parent)
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Saturday, 29 May 2010 22:26 |
 He must have gotten hurt or something. Lavy's always had him slotted at 5. Might we see an Oskars in Game 2? |
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Written by Ryan
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Saturday, 29 May 2010 17:27 |
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I can't even really believe I just got to write that.
(moment of silence)
This Richards History Will be Made commercial got me thinking:
There will be highlights from this series that will be shown for decades. For the rest of our lives. When I was away a couple weeks ago and missed the comeback against the Bruins and the first two games of the Habs series, when I came back I really wanted to see the goals I had missed. But when I finally watched them at work with no sound I realized it wasn't the goals I wanted to see, it was the crowd's reaction I wanted to not only see, but feel. The 'highlight' I enjoyed most while watching every goal I missed during my absence was a shot of thousands of Flyers fans jumping all over each other at the Wach during a viewing party - sitting around a rink that no one was playing on. People were jumping, hugging and flat out losing it.
I've always liked scenes in movies when they show a succession of different shots of people watching the same thing on tv all over the world. I like the fact that they're joined and don't even know it. I like the intangible connection that exists. And tonight it will for all of us. You in your house. You in the bar in Philly. You at the game in Chicago. You working at Best Buy watching in the TV department. You up at 2AM in London. You at your friends' apartment dipping chips.
Tonight we all walk together. |
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Written by Ryan
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Saturday, 29 May 2010 12:41 |
The Blackhawks have a star studded lineup with Kane, Toews, Hossa, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook, and Eager, but they also have a number of faceless role players. These are the guys that do their jobs well enough to allow those other guys to score goals - their version of Betts, Asham, and Krajicek. We'll be profiling these nameless, faceless, assless workers all week.
 #4 - Niklas Hjalmarrson - Defense
Hjalmarrson (pronounced Hammer-time) is a big, young Swedish defenseman who is currently playing in Chicago's top 4 after his first full NHL season. Hjalmarsson was a 4th round gem of a pick by a Hawks GM who it appears might be one of the best late round drafters in the league. After Hjalmarsson was drafted he played another full year in Sweden before coming to North America to work on his game for two years, mostly in the AHL. This year however he spent the entire season in the show and contributed 17 points while playing +9 hockey.
Don't feel bad, I've never heard of him either. But Hockey's Future had this to say about him:
Hjalmarsson is the offensively gifted defensemen who likes to join the rush and shoot the puck. He also controls the physical aspect of the game and does not hesitate to play the body when given the opportunity. At times Hjalmarsson overworks the puck and gets lost in his defensive coverage.
He apparently isn't afraid to use his big 6'3 body to lay some hits on the opposition, but from what I've seen he seems to play a smaller game than the measuring tape would have you believe. But I guess we're all going to find out.
Hjalmarsson is an RFA this summer and at 22 (also has a birthday next week) will probably command a Jonesian contract. If he continues to improve the way he has over the past 5 years his next contract after that might be a block buster signing. |
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Written by Ryan
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Saturday, 29 May 2010 11:03 |
 I can see into the future. If you've been following along here all year you know this. If you're new then you're in for a treat. I have used my vast and superior knowledge of science and science to create a simulation machine that allows me to look forward and then tell all of you exactly what a future hockey game holds in store for us. Like getting tomorrow's newspaper today. You're welcome.
And now that you're eagerly (not Ben) waiting to find out what's going to happen I'm just going to go ahead and tell you - I hate when tv hosts draw out the results of votes or a contest in an attempt to create some tension that is already there. The Flyers win game one 5-1. How's it happen? Like this:
1st
The Hawks come out strong but Danny Briere silences the Madhouse on Madison just 4 minutes in when he converts a pass from Big Ville Leino on a 2-on-1 that resulted from a broken Blackhawks breakout. And then as Captain Serious sits in the box after an interference penalty 14 minutes into the period, Jeff Carter fires a patented wrister from the faceoff dot past Antti Niemi. And the period ends with a silent crowd and a stunned Blackhawks team.
2nd
The Hawks hit about 4 posts in the period but never convert. The only goal is scored by Jeff Carter on a pretty incredible dish from Mike Richards with just 3 ticks left in the period. Everyone in the building is all like 'what?' And in Philly they're taking shots.
 3rd
It's apparent that Joel Q has torn into his team while most of North America has watched Piere McGuire and Mike Milbury play Twister between periods, because the Blackhawks come out on fire. They rattle off about 10 shots in 2 minutes and finally Marian Hossa converts a rebound on a Dave Bolland shot at the 3:38 mark. But then, as has been the story all post season, support comes from unlikely places. Rabbit with a rebound goal on an Asham shot 4 minutes later. And then on the same shift Asham makes an unbelievable almost-no-look pass to Claude Giroux who puts it in a basically empty net.
There you have it. If you follow us on Twitter you've seen that Solitaire told me the Flyers would win 6-2. My simulator is telling me the Flyers win 5-1. They can't be wrong, right?
Here's the boxscore to prove it:
1st
Briere (Leino, Coburn) 3:58
Carter (Timonen) PP 13:51
2nd
Carter (Richards, Gagne) 19:57
3rd
Hossa (Bolland) 3:31
JVR (Asham, Krajicek) 7:08
Giroux (Asham) 8:41
Thanks to the powers of technology we'll be posting a profile on a Blackhawk D man and a Game Day, at least, from the beach later in the day. Commence getting Flyerd up now, and don't be afraid to have a Yellow Bird or two with lunch. It's a holiday. As Madonna said, 'Celebrate.' |
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Written by Jon
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Friday, 28 May 2010 13:56 |
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It turns out that Paul Holmgren still has a few cards up his sleeve. If for some reason - God forbid - the series should turn decidedly in favor of the Chicago Blackhawks, the Flyers GM knows how to motivate them.
Kim's at his signing back in September
"He's got a proven record of motivating people when they have little incentive to be motivated," said Holmgren.
He was not allowed to us hit squads as intimidation, but he found other effective means.
"Many people thought that the rumored locker room split was because of some strange infidelity," explained Jeff Carter. "When, in fact, Kimmy was behind the whole thing."
Scott Hartnell added, "Looking back, it allowed us to laugh a little bit and get back to focusing on hockey."
Though #26 has yet to see a single minute of ice time, he's been a strong voice behind closed doors and a player advocate with the coaches. "I really don't know where we'd be today without him. He's not a guy you ignore and he doesn't quit until everyone sees things his way," stated assistant coach Craig Berube. "He's not someone I'd like to tick off."
When asked about his limited play time, head coach Peter Laviolette explained, "He has some special considerations. I mean, even though we got all the proper visas for him, the US Military was constantly taking pot shots. We had to error on the side of caution. He's got the talent and the drive, we just didn't want to create an international incident."
For all accounts from coaches and players, Kim Jong-il is a scoring forward in the mold of Danny Briere. In fact, they've become fast friends and confidants. "He really helped me elevate my game for the playoffs," Briere said. "He, ya know, help me get that killer instinct back."
Though at this point it is unlikely that "Kimmy", as he's called by his teammates, will see any ice time for the Stanley Cup Finals, he will undoubtedly continue to be a voice for staying focused and not giving in, no matter what.
"Some of the guys think he was joking," Ian Laperrriere said, "But he wasn't laughing when he told us, 'Trust... me... you... no... lose... or... else'."
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Written by Ryan
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Friday, 28 May 2010 10:42 |
 I know we're going into the vault a bit lately, but I couldn't let this gold just sit undiscovered in the stacks of the internet, so here's a history of this blogs fallout with Ben Eager.
Very simply put we were very hopeful for Ben coming into the 2007-08 season. And basically he just stopped fighting and wasn't doing ANYTHING offensively. So we started with some threats, and then he got beat up by Gary Roberts after pussing out against Ultimate Fighter, and then he got shipped out, and then we really started hating him. And then Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox were in Chicago with him. And that was the end of that.
Here's the threat:
http://flyers07-08.blogspot.com/2007/11/real-day-43-much-ado-about-nothing.html |
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Written by Ryan
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Friday, 28 May 2010 09:36 |
 The Blackhawks have a star studded lineup with Kane, Toews, Hossa, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook, and Eager, but they also have a number of faceless role players. These are the guys that do their jobs well enough to allow those other guys to score goals - their version of Betts, Asham, and Krajicek. We'll be profiling these nameless, faceless, assless workers all week.
#22 Troy Brouwer - Left Wing
Troy Brouwer is the epitome of your lucky late round draft pick turning out to be a pleasant surprise. Where over the years we've gotten Brad Phillips, Anderi Popov, Matt Clackson, Mathieu Brunelle, Thierry Douville, and David Printz in the 7th round, the Blackhawks got Brouwer with the 214th pick of the 2004 Entry Draft. The year the Hawks drafted Brouwer he had put up 47 points in 72 games with Moosejaw of the Western Hockey League. The next year he'd put up 102. From there he had two stellar AHL seasons where he came in 2nd and then 3rd on the team in scoring. And then poof, a 26 point rookie season in the show followed up by a 40 point sophomore effort as a 24 year old.
At 6'3 and 220 lbs. Brouwer is one of the premiere young power forwards in the league. Kind of like a young Scott Hartnell minus the Deadliest Catch look. As a 24 year old Hartnell put up 39 points in 64 games (even though he already had 172 NHL points). Brouwer is a late bloomer who you can expect to be up around the 60 point mark in 2 year's time.
Brouwer lays the body on the enemy and isn't afraid to drop 'em if he has to. He's gone with Jarome Iginla, Dustin Brown, Brandon Prust, Jovo Cop, and even had the audacity to do this to our CAPTAIN:
Brouwer serves as Patrick Sharp's flank, opposite Marian Hossa. That is a dangerous line, my lovers. Sorry friends. I know we broke up, it's just slipped up. Calm down. The line might be even more dangerous then it seems because while Sharp has put up 7 goals this post season both Hossa and Brouwer are stuck at 2 a piece in 16 games. So either they're getting ready to explode all over our faces or just didn't have it this year - we will see soon enough. |
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Written by Jon
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Friday, 28 May 2010 08:16 |
In all the talk about Pronger, there's one guy who people often miss in the discussion of defensemen. He's quiet, sturdy and effective. He's every bit as much of a shutdown stalwart as #20, and he's silky smooth.
He's Timo.
His sub-plot in this whole media mayhem is exactly the reason why I'm super confident that the Flyers will win the Cup. He's 36, just a few months younger than yours truly. This is his first shot at winning the Cup... and it may be his only.
It's the understanding that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity that will result in some of the most passionate, dedicated and self-sacrificing play that you will ever see come out of player wearing a Flyers crest. I have no doubt that Kimmo will do everything in his power... leave every last bit of himself on this ice this series... to give the Flyers a chance to win that most coveted hockey price.
When you're climbing Mount Everest, you don't get within a few feet of it and give up. No matter how steep the climb, no matter how severe the fatigue, no matter how much you hurt or bled... only one thing becomes important... only one thing consumes your gaze. You've got to have it... and nothing will distract you or deny you.
It must be yours.
And he's not the only one...
The heart and soul of this Flyers team, there is no doubt he will stop at nothing.
Add to this list the likes of Danny Briere, Simon Gagne, Arron Asham, Brian Boucher, and Blair Betts... that's one desperate group of guys.
So make no mistake about this series... people can talk about the talent of the favored Hawks. How a #2 seed is just too skilled... how they have too many tools... so much depth. There is one thing they don't have...
A Sense of Destiny
We've toiled with this Philadelphia Flyers team throughout this tumultuous season. We've pulled our hair out. We've gnashed our teeth. We've pounded our keyboards and spat in disgust. And we've seen this group of men come together and play with greatness, heart and relentless passion.
This Flyers club is a unit, a team, a force. One person steps up, rises to the occasion, then slips back into the unit to resume the communal advance forward. If the Flyers will win the Cup, it will be as a team. A singular group of men who banded together against all odds and took their place in hockey history.
They can see the mountain top... and they will not be denied.
Advantage: Flyers |
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