Well the school year is in full swing again for yours truly so it looks like the old Flyers blog has been suffering from a bit of neglect.
Ah hell, it is a Flyers blog after all, surely the orange and black won't fault me for a bit of inconsistency. Tonight and Sunday afternoon. Two games, two loses, considerably less than 120 minutes of hockey actually played by the Flyers. Make that two BIG loses.
Atlanta leap frogged the Flyers in the Eastern Conference standings tonight courtesy of a 4-3 victory. Naturally, the Flyers held a 3-1 lead going into the third period and were playing in front of their home fans. Add in the playoff implications and all that and this should have been a slam dunk... not so much.
It's not even worth getting into all the nonsense that took place tonight, but I will point my finger directly at Braydon Coburn. The Big C once again fired the puck at his own net, thankfully even after missing most of the season with an injury, Emery still knows what to expect from Coburn and stopped the puck. On the ensuing face off, the whole Flyers team watched as Ilya Kovalchuck skated passed them and burned Emery to make it 3-2. Coburn's very timely and intelligent decision got the ball rolling and from there on out the Flyers did everything they could to give away the game.
Not a pretty effort and with the trade deadline edging closer and closer, you can't help but notice the Flyers glaring deficiencies on the blue line and the right wing. The Flyers handed Atlanta this game tonight on a silver platter. Braydon Coburn was the waiter, but the whole team has their stink on this one. Next up, the Flyers cap off their six game home stand with a game against the Islanders, a team that owes the Flyers more then a few instances of payback. Is it a must win for the orange and black?
Is Braydon Coburn currently in the midst of the worst contract year ever?
Absolutely.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Flyers latest team to beat Blue Jackets
It was just like old times for the orange and black last night as Jeff Carter and R.J. Umberger lead the offensive charge to the tune of a 5-3 win, except this time "The Umberglar" was doing his scoring for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Of course, Carter is still with the Flyers after surviving a host of trade rumors that had him going every where from Montreal to Mother Russia.
Thank goodness those days are over.
Anywho, Carter scored less then a minute in the game on a sort of breakaway as a result of a Columbus turnover in their own end. Carter managed to flip a nice backhander past Blue Jacket netminder Mathieu Garon. It was Carter's 18th goal of the season.
A little over two minutes into the second period Arron Asham took a b-e-a-utiful no look, behind the back pass from Claude Giroux and one-timed it for his fifth goal of the season. It was the type of pass that if it didn't work, would have had you screaming at your TV screen in rage. The difference though between this play and a lot of the Flyers seemingly careless centering passes is that prior to the pass, Giroux did check and see where Asham was a few seconds before throwing it in his direction.
After that they Flyers decided to let things sit for a bit and naturally Columbus came right back. Umberger, playing in his first game in Philadelphia as an enemy player, netted two about six minutes apart to even things up, further proving that the Flyers should never ever try and sit on a lead. Umby's second goal came as a result of both Matt Carle and Ray Emery failing to clear the puck from in front of the net. Emery gets a pass as it is only his second game back from injury. Still, he better not make a habit of that nonsense. It's what got Marty Biron shipped out of town, well that and his ridiculous contract demands.
90 seconds after Umby tied the score, with all signs pointing to a Flyers meltdown, a miracle happened. Jeff Carter won an offensive zone face-off, no small feat in and of itself though he was spectacular in the circle all night (14 for 18), and then in one fluid motion wristed it in the net through a stunned Garon's five hole. It was a thing of fluky beauty. The Flyers were back on top and Columbus' spirit had been broken.
With 52 seconds left in the period and the Flyers on the power play, Chris Pronger jumped way, Way up into the play and slammed home a pretty cross crease pass from Danny Briere to make things 4-2 for his seventh of the season and essentially end the night for the Jackets.
Dan Carcillo did his best one man wrecking crew impression in the third, which ended with him scoring his fifth goal of the year.
Rick Nash spoiled the party late in the game by scoring a throw away goal that initially the fans though was going to give Umby the hat trick. Fans rained hats down on the ice for Umby in a display that was about a 50-50 split between it being hat night and of respect for the former Flyer. Still it was a nice gesture. The fans went so far as to boo when the goal was officially given to Nash.
Whoever says Philly fans are jerks isn't paying attention. Work hard and we'll love you forever regardless of where you end up playing. Don't live up to your potential and you'll never hear the end of it. It's not hard.
Next up for the Flyers is a Thursday night home battle with the NY Rangers. For reference the Rangers smacked the Tampa Bay Lightning 8-2 last night with EIGHT different Rangers scoring goals. Marian Gaborik had NONE of them. Could there be a changing of the tide up in NYC? Could they finally be playing a team game as opposed to a two man show? Best not get carried away. Gabby had four assists last night. Likely they'll have revenge on their minds after the Flyers blanked them 6-0 up in Madison Square Garden when the two divisional rivals last met. Should be a good one.
Thank goodness those days are over.
Anywho, Carter scored less then a minute in the game on a sort of breakaway as a result of a Columbus turnover in their own end. Carter managed to flip a nice backhander past Blue Jacket netminder Mathieu Garon. It was Carter's 18th goal of the season.
A little over two minutes into the second period Arron Asham took a b-e-a-utiful no look, behind the back pass from Claude Giroux and one-timed it for his fifth goal of the season. It was the type of pass that if it didn't work, would have had you screaming at your TV screen in rage. The difference though between this play and a lot of the Flyers seemingly careless centering passes is that prior to the pass, Giroux did check and see where Asham was a few seconds before throwing it in his direction.
After that they Flyers decided to let things sit for a bit and naturally Columbus came right back. Umberger, playing in his first game in Philadelphia as an enemy player, netted two about six minutes apart to even things up, further proving that the Flyers should never ever try and sit on a lead. Umby's second goal came as a result of both Matt Carle and Ray Emery failing to clear the puck from in front of the net. Emery gets a pass as it is only his second game back from injury. Still, he better not make a habit of that nonsense. It's what got Marty Biron shipped out of town, well that and his ridiculous contract demands.
90 seconds after Umby tied the score, with all signs pointing to a Flyers meltdown, a miracle happened. Jeff Carter won an offensive zone face-off, no small feat in and of itself though he was spectacular in the circle all night (14 for 18), and then in one fluid motion wristed it in the net through a stunned Garon's five hole. It was a thing of fluky beauty. The Flyers were back on top and Columbus' spirit had been broken.
With 52 seconds left in the period and the Flyers on the power play, Chris Pronger jumped way, Way up into the play and slammed home a pretty cross crease pass from Danny Briere to make things 4-2 for his seventh of the season and essentially end the night for the Jackets.
Dan Carcillo did his best one man wrecking crew impression in the third, which ended with him scoring his fifth goal of the year.
Rick Nash spoiled the party late in the game by scoring a throw away goal that initially the fans though was going to give Umby the hat trick. Fans rained hats down on the ice for Umby in a display that was about a 50-50 split between it being hat night and of respect for the former Flyer. Still it was a nice gesture. The fans went so far as to boo when the goal was officially given to Nash.
Whoever says Philly fans are jerks isn't paying attention. Work hard and we'll love you forever regardless of where you end up playing. Don't live up to your potential and you'll never hear the end of it. It's not hard.
Next up for the Flyers is a Thursday night home battle with the NY Rangers. For reference the Rangers smacked the Tampa Bay Lightning 8-2 last night with EIGHT different Rangers scoring goals. Marian Gaborik had NONE of them. Could there be a changing of the tide up in NYC? Could they finally be playing a team game as opposed to a two man show? Best not get carried away. Gabby had four assists last night. Likely they'll have revenge on their minds after the Flyers blanked them 6-0 up in Madison Square Garden when the two divisional rivals last met. Should be a good one.
Like Brittany said... it's my prerogative
I've always heard that it was a woman's prerogative to change her mind. Without being a woman or knowing exactly what the word prerogative means, I can't say whether or not that old cliche is true or just a bunch of hogwash passed down from sitcom to sitcom.
What I do know is this: it's a hockey blogger's right to change their minds and being one of those and fully understanding the multiple definitions of the word right, I feel that I can speak with some authority here.
Recently I posted an entry which was not entirely kind to Flyers captain Mike Richards in regards to his spat with the local media. I pretty much ended up in"just shut up and play for the love of God" territory.
And you know something? That's just what the guy has been trying to do but those crum bums over at the Inquirer just don't seem to want to let him. Imagine my surprise when I saw that Bob Ford had decided to chip in his two cents on the Flyers in today's paper! Naturally I assumed the Flyers had traded for Michael Vick or Flyers was just a new nickname for columnist John Gonzalez, who is now officially the best thing going for the paper. Well, him and Kate Fagan, who does the beat for the 76ers.
I mean, Bob "Buttons" Ford writing about the area's hockey team? What could have caused such a thing? Of course, the answer to that was Ford just couldn't pass up the opportunity to jump in the dog pile of local journalists ripping the Flyers captain who ripped them for ripping his team.
We're going to need a sewing kit with all this ripping going on.
The point is, Richards didn't bring this upon himself. He said what he said and the local media won't let it die. No, instead they (read: King Crum bum and all around mediocre writer Sam Carchidi) keep picking at him and picking at him. Read this for the real origins of the beef.
So Carchidi could have just let things alone. I mean no one says that the beat writers and the team need to be best friends. Actually I feel like you'll get more honest reporting if the exact opposite is true. Look no further then WIP's Howard Eskin for proof that being in a team's pocket may work for a little while but sooner or later people will see you for the stooge you are and next thing you know you'll be splitting time with Ike Reese, who is somehow less of a homer than you.
All that said, factor in the near constant typos and factual errors which appear in Carchidi and Seravalli's reporting and I'm switching sides. I'm backing the captain here. Sure, some of the media's points are interesting but Carchidi has turned this into a personal vendetta and it needs to stop. Leave that playground garbage where it belongs or at least start writing your stories in crayon with a few letters backwards here and there so we know what we're getting in too.
Long story short, I'm joining Richards in his local media boycott. I'm done with the Inky sports section (outside of Gonzo and Fagan). At least until Carchidi grows up and leaves well enough alone. You're a professional... act like it or for the love of God quit and stop taking up space. There are plenty of great sports writers out there who would actually LOVE to cover the Flyers not just hold pissing contests with them.
What I do know is this: it's a hockey blogger's right to change their minds and being one of those and fully understanding the multiple definitions of the word right, I feel that I can speak with some authority here.
Recently I posted an entry which was not entirely kind to Flyers captain Mike Richards in regards to his spat with the local media. I pretty much ended up in"just shut up and play for the love of God" territory.
And you know something? That's just what the guy has been trying to do but those crum bums over at the Inquirer just don't seem to want to let him. Imagine my surprise when I saw that Bob Ford had decided to chip in his two cents on the Flyers in today's paper! Naturally I assumed the Flyers had traded for Michael Vick or Flyers was just a new nickname for columnist John Gonzalez, who is now officially the best thing going for the paper. Well, him and Kate Fagan, who does the beat for the 76ers.
I mean, Bob "Buttons" Ford writing about the area's hockey team? What could have caused such a thing? Of course, the answer to that was Ford just couldn't pass up the opportunity to jump in the dog pile of local journalists ripping the Flyers captain who ripped them for ripping his team.
We're going to need a sewing kit with all this ripping going on.
The point is, Richards didn't bring this upon himself. He said what he said and the local media won't let it die. No, instead they (read: King Crum bum and all around mediocre writer Sam Carchidi) keep picking at him and picking at him. Read this for the real origins of the beef.
So Carchidi could have just let things alone. I mean no one says that the beat writers and the team need to be best friends. Actually I feel like you'll get more honest reporting if the exact opposite is true. Look no further then WIP's Howard Eskin for proof that being in a team's pocket may work for a little while but sooner or later people will see you for the stooge you are and next thing you know you'll be splitting time with Ike Reese, who is somehow less of a homer than you.
All that said, factor in the near constant typos and factual errors which appear in Carchidi and Seravalli's reporting and I'm switching sides. I'm backing the captain here. Sure, some of the media's points are interesting but Carchidi has turned this into a personal vendetta and it needs to stop. Leave that playground garbage where it belongs or at least start writing your stories in crayon with a few letters backwards here and there so we know what we're getting in too.
Long story short, I'm joining Richards in his local media boycott. I'm done with the Inky sports section (outside of Gonzo and Fagan). At least until Carchidi grows up and leaves well enough alone. You're a professional... act like it or for the love of God quit and stop taking up space. There are plenty of great sports writers out there who would actually LOVE to cover the Flyers not just hold pissing contests with them.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Richards mad at media + media mad at Richards= Gross indifference
Well, two losses in a row and suddenly Mike Richards and the local media appear poised and ready to drop the gloves and start throwing them. Hopefully, Richie learned his lesson from Dan Carcillo and doesn't throw a punch until he's sure that Frank Seravalli and crew have committed to the altercation.
Sadly, I couldn't care less about this story. The big deal is the Flyers have played two first periods over the last two games and then left it at that. I don't care if Shadow (Richards) runs the Flyers beat writers over with a Zamboni or goes to Las Vegas and marries them all courtesy of Elvis himself. Just play for 60 min, win games and win a Cup while I'm still young enough to be able to spell the world cup correctly. After that, I don't care what you do. He can spend his summers in Pittsburgh drinking maitais with Sidney Crosby for all I care.
Winning, whether right or wrong, cures all ills.
Richards beef with the local media stems from their reporting of made up stories, like the Flyers alleged fondness for adult beverages and late night debaucheries. Such debaucheries include the recent fictional scandal involving Scott Hartnell's wife and Jeff Carter.
In a recent Hockey News article, Shadow tip toed around the idea that the local media has been making up stories about the team, something that even when your name is Sam Carchidi, doesn't exactly sit well with the journalistic types.
Joffrey Lupul was deposited in Anaheim this past summer in return for Chris Pronger to break up the Center City boys club that also featured Scottie Upshall, Richards, Chance (Carter) and Sassy (Hartnell). Apparently the boys didn't care much for this, or for GM Paul Holmgren's calling them out for their partying ways either. And still... I don't care.
There's a reason I don't watch soap operas or for that matter follow the Eagles that closely and it's because I have no time for sideshows and spectacles. I don't need to know what's going on behind the curtain and I don't care. Win games Richards. For the first time in your tenure as captain lead a team that consistently plays for 60 minutes. It's not hard, lots of players do it. Better yet, put some of that passion dislike for journalists into something constructive, like getting better at taking face offs.
Two loses doesn't break the season of course, but you really shouldn't be getting shut out by Toronto and you played well against the Caps until the first intermission ended. Effort needs to be there every game. You won't win every game, but the effort needs to be there. With a six game home stand coming up, the Flyers should be in a good position to resume climbing the standings. Being one point behind the NY Islanders, even with a game in hand, is not where this team should be. Not even close...
Sadly, I couldn't care less about this story. The big deal is the Flyers have played two first periods over the last two games and then left it at that. I don't care if Shadow (Richards) runs the Flyers beat writers over with a Zamboni or goes to Las Vegas and marries them all courtesy of Elvis himself. Just play for 60 min, win games and win a Cup while I'm still young enough to be able to spell the world cup correctly. After that, I don't care what you do. He can spend his summers in Pittsburgh drinking maitais with Sidney Crosby for all I care.
Winning, whether right or wrong, cures all ills.
Richards beef with the local media stems from their reporting of made up stories, like the Flyers alleged fondness for adult beverages and late night debaucheries. Such debaucheries include the recent fictional scandal involving Scott Hartnell's wife and Jeff Carter.
In a recent Hockey News article, Shadow tip toed around the idea that the local media has been making up stories about the team, something that even when your name is Sam Carchidi, doesn't exactly sit well with the journalistic types.
Joffrey Lupul was deposited in Anaheim this past summer in return for Chris Pronger to break up the Center City boys club that also featured Scottie Upshall, Richards, Chance (Carter) and Sassy (Hartnell). Apparently the boys didn't care much for this, or for GM Paul Holmgren's calling them out for their partying ways either. And still... I don't care.
There's a reason I don't watch soap operas or for that matter follow the Eagles that closely and it's because I have no time for sideshows and spectacles. I don't need to know what's going on behind the curtain and I don't care. Win games Richards. For the first time in your tenure as captain lead a team that consistently plays for 60 minutes. It's not hard, lots of players do it. Better yet, put some of that passion dislike for journalists into something constructive, like getting better at taking face offs.
Two loses doesn't break the season of course, but you really shouldn't be getting shut out by Toronto and you played well against the Caps until the first intermission ended. Effort needs to be there every game. You won't win every game, but the effort needs to be there. With a six game home stand coming up, the Flyers should be in a good position to resume climbing the standings. Being one point behind the NY Islanders, even with a game in hand, is not where this team should be. Not even close...
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Suddenly special teams keep Flyers rolling against Dallas
I'm not sure this is any consolation to the heartbroken Eagles fans out there but here it goes anyway... the Flyers got your back folks. I'm sure the city of Dallas is on the verge of mass hysteria after their beloved Stars fell to the Flyers 6-3 last night, completely forgetting the recent successes of their football team against a team named after a certain national bird.
See? All better now.
Well, I'm feeling better any way. Sadly, "Dexter" with Janice, from here on out referred to as "Spaceman," called last night so I didn't get to see a ton of the game, which seemed to be yet another solid effort from the resurgent Flyers. That being the case, I'll try and keep this sort. Usually when I say this, somehow I end up droning on even longer than ever. I can promise you that will very likely not be the case today.
See? All better now.
Well, I'm feeling better any way. Sadly, "Dexter" with Janice, from here on out referred to as "Spaceman," called last night so I didn't get to see a ton of the game, which seemed to be yet another solid effort from the resurgent Flyers. That being the case, I'll try and keep this sort. Usually when I say this, somehow I end up droning on even longer than ever. I can promise you that will very likely not be the case today.
- Flyers continued their success on the power play, going 2-4 with goals scored by Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell. Not to be out done, the Flyers penalty killing units shut down the Stars power play, holding them to an 0-5 mark. Kimmo Timonen even chipped in a shorthanded goal. Timonen has two of the team's four shorthanded tallies this year.
- Flyers were up 6-1 before packing things in with nine minutes left to play in the third. Dallas scumbag Steve Ott took a break from gouging eyes and boarding people to net two goals long after the Flyers had called it quits. Ott should be very proud of his accomplishments in life.
- Oscars Bartulis, Braydon Coburn, Blair Betts and Danny Syvret were the only skaters on the Flyers roster who didn't record a point in the game. Syvret gets a pass because he only played 39 seconds. No, he wasn't doing his best Riley Cote on a busy night impression but rather left with an upper body injury.
- Hartnell, Powe, Timonen, Giroux, Laperierre and Gagne scored the Flyers goals. Each of the team's four lines are represented.
- Laperriere had the Gordie Howe hat trick. In addition to his goal, he added an assist on Timonen's and fought Mark Fistric after the Dallas defender took a reckless run at a Flyer.
- For the record, Dallas hasn't won a road game since a Dec. 11 shoot out win over the San Jose Sharks.
- Marty Turco got caught playing defense instead of goalie on the Flyers second score of the game. He poked the puck off of James van Riemsdyk's stick once but the puck found its way back to JVR. Perhaps feeling a little too big for his hockey pants, Turco tried again and JVR passed the puck right passed him to a wide open Powe who had time to watch the entire "Lord of the Rings" trilogy (regular cuts not extended, let's not get carried away here) before burying the shot.
- Michael Leighton stopped 27 of 30 shots while starting his tenth straight game for the Flyers. He is 8-0-1 with a no decision in those starts. Ray Emery was his back up last night, while Brian Boucher enjoyed the game from the press box. I wonder if he can play defense?
Alright, that's all for now. Tomorrow night the Flyers head to Toronto to take on the grammatically challenged Maple Leafs featuring Colton Orr and a whole bunch of other players that the free world has never heard of. The Leafs will be looking for some revenge after the Flyers smoked them 6-2 on Jan. 6. Expect Danny Carcillo to fight someone, anyone wearing blue early on as his taunting of Toronto during the last game will likely make him a marked man. Somehow I don't think Carcillo is too worried...
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Posts
