"All Geeked-Up for the Deadline..."
Newtown Square, PA • United States • 45 Years Old • Male
Flyers score 8 vs Pens, Laraque-What will Campbell do? WWCD
Posted 9:08 PM ET | Comments 24
Holy Schnieky!
Wow...words can hardly begin to describe what happened at the Bank Building.
Coming into last night's tilt, the Flyers were a dreadfully inconsistent team searching for some home-ice answers; while the Penguins were the team on a roll, having won 4 in-a-row across western Canada, with their Captain in the hunt for the league leaders in scoring at 40 points. Both clubs were no strangers to the Sin Bin, with 365 penalties for over 1,000 PIM between them in a combined 58 games. There was the sense that things could get out of hand rather quickly if the referees didn't pocket the whistles or if things got "chippy." In retrospect, that was an understatement.
What went on for 60 minutes was a strange fusion of playoff intensity hockey, a close game turned into a rout and a junkyard brawl between two teams that don't like each other, even a little bit. In addition, you had the resumption of the sideshow feud between Pennsylvania's equivalent of the Hatfields and McCoys - Sidney Crosby and Mike Richards.
Something had to give.
And it did.
Add to that fighting majors, 20 seconds into the game, between old friends Jason Smith and Ryan Malone trying to make up for lost time over a supposed slash of Sid the Kid in their last meeting. Toss in 98 penalty minutes by a team NOT named the Flyers, 10 goals scored, six game misconducts, two Flyers with hat tricks in the same game, 136 total minutes of time spent in the box, as many missed calls as made on both sides and a viscious and blatant attempt to injure the Flyers' netminder by Penguins goon Georges Laraque (more on that later) and you have yourself the makings of a good, old fashioned fight where a hockey game broke out.
From a Flyers' perspective, there are things the Orange and Black did very well:
* The Flyers had consistent pressure in the offensive zone.
This does three things, it forces the Pens to react to the Flyers and spend time chasing the puck instead of being creative with it. It keeps the puck out of your own end and thereby lessens the shot totals and potential for goals against for Biron. And, most importantly, it leads to the next point...
* The Flyers put the puck on the net:
Hallelujah! The boys did a great job of putting the puck on the net and in the net. I know this is the most simplistic of hockey axioms but, as the immortal Wayne Gretzky said, "you will not score on 100% of the shots you do not take." Amen Wayne. The Flyers put rubber on net, in traffic and had a shooting gallery night.
* Special teams play was paramount:
Again, nothing Nobel Prize winning about that statement. You had a feeling that their would be a somewhat steady parade to the box when these two teams got together. How the Flyers handled the PK and tried to exploit the Pens on the powerplay would have a huge impact on how the game went. The Flyers gave up both goals man-down and killed off a third penalty. 1 for 3 on the PK - not so good. The Flyers powerplay, however, was firing on all cylinders and scored 4 goals in 13 opportunities (30.7% efficiency). Getting half your goals from the powerplay (Knuble, Lupul, Coburn and Umberger) made it even an easier day for Biron as the majority of the play was in the Pens' zone. In fact, the Flyers spent 19:16 - which equates to over 99% of an entire 20 minute period - on the man advantage. Not too shabby.
* The Flyers played smart 5-on-5 hockey:
By the middle of the 2nd period, the game was mostly over at 4-2. Mike Knuble sealed the deal with his 9th of the year and the team took a 5-2 lead into the room to start the 3rd period. His powerplay goal was the first of four straight, as the Pens game unglued in the 3rd period and committed 16 penalties. While the Flyers had penalties too, they were all concurrent after the 1st period and led to no further man down situations. Moreover, the Flyers played phenominal 5-on-5 hockey. The Pens went 0-13 on even strength situations, which illuminates what a great job the backchecking forwards did in supporting strong positional defense and good goalie play. An outstanding effort also occurred in maintaining proper spacing to reduce the potential for Sid et al. to slip behind the defenders for an easy scoring chance.
* The Kids are Alright
One of my favorite albums also describes the ridiculous job that the Flyers' young guns did against a dangerous Penguins team playing in a Divisional game. Senior Statesman Mike Knuble's 9th of the year was the only goal scored by someone over the age of 26. Ok, I officially feel old, since Mike Knuble is only 35.
Joffrey Lupul stole the show with three goals and three assists for the first six point night for a Flyers since #88 did it in 1997 against Toronto. Bet someone in the Oilers organization was looking at Joni Pitkanen's 7 points and wondering what the hell they were thinking.
Not to be outdone, pre-season trade bait and linemate of Joffrey Lupul, R.J. Umberger came up huge with his 4th, 5th and 6th goals of the year to go along with two assists. Both Lupul and Umberger had two even strength and one powerplay goal to fuel their career nights. The fact that it has been since 1986, when Timmy Kerr (my #2 all-time favorite Flyer behind only Pele Lindbergh) and Captain Extrordinaire Dave Poulin had dual-hat tricks in a game, still amazes me given the talented players to wear the Orange and Black during those 21 years. What a night!
Mr Everything (you know...#18) had three assists to go with the two hat tricks by Lupul and Umberger. This offensive barrage, by a line intended to shut down Crosby, gave the line of Lupul - Richards - Umberger 14 points for the evening. Oh, and Sid Crosby had zero goals and two assists.
Note to Mr. Crosby, who continues to whine like a schoolgirl, just take a look at how Mike Richards plays and you just might learn something and be respected for more than just your considerable God-given talent.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention Braydon Coburn's 2nd of the year. How refreshing it is to see a young Flyers' defenseman coming in off the point on the PP and blast a shot home from inside the circle. The future is so bright for this kid it is just fun to watch him play.
* Goalie play:
Marty Biron had a strong game in not giving up any even strength goals. The two that he gave up on the PP were acceptable, considering he was run at, tripped and nearly plowed over by a player, that if he were a Flyer, would have been suspended for 6 games. Biron got his 3rd win in three tries versus the Penguins this year and kept his composure at all times - even when getting run over by NHL player-x, Georges Laraque.
OK...enough about what went right. Now let's talk about what went wrong.
Straight from "The Bad" to "The Ugly":
Not only were there many calls missed on both sides, but the Refs permitted some behavior that is sure to have potentially dangerous repercussions in the January 24th game (which Blueline and I are going to take in). I am speaking of the two attempts against Marty Biron: one by Sid Crosby to hook Biron's skates as #87 went behind the net; and the second, and far more repugnant act, of NHL player-x Georges Laraque performing a ridiculously ill-conceived, pathetically executed "pretend" loss of an edge, that happened to look much like a takeout slide at the front end of a doubleplay, right into the legs of Marty Biron. It was lucky that this 6'3", 243 pound, gutless wonder did not seriously injure the Flyers netminder as retaliation for calling for Crosby to come back for another piece of him after he was tripped by the whining superstar.
Chippy is one thing. Fighting is part of the game. Rough stuff is to be expected with certain teams and individuals. But one thing that has always been sacrosanct is the notion that the goalie is "somewhat" protected from the rough stuff and that he is not to be intentionally injured in any way, shape or form because he is vulnerable. Apparently, Laraque missed the memo on that one. I am also categorically certain that the Flyers did not miss that one and that Mr. Laraque had better have his head on a swivel in January.
Moreover, the question that has likely popped into the head of every Flyers fan is "what if that were Ben Eager that took a deliberate and malicious slide-tackle into Dany Sabourin?" What would the announcers (who were horrible) say? What would the hockey and non-hockey "media" say? I bet there would be an uproar of biblical proportions - swarms of locusts, seas turning to blood, David Hasselhoff going back on tour...that kind of stuff.
Seriously though, I would bet the ranch that the headlines would read "Another Broad Street Bullying" and the media would be shouting from their ivory towers that the Flyers are "out of control." The Lord of Discipline, Colin Campbell, would be pressured to make another example out of the player, the team and the ownership of the Flyers. I can almost hear it now.
But wait...it wasn't one of those fly-off-at-the-handle, rogue Flyer players. It wasn't one of those out of control freaks wearing Orange and Black. It was JUST a Penguin...call off the press conference, hold the phone, stop the presses, tell the anchors with the perfect teeth and the wind-tunnel-tested hair to go home. No story here.
I was being a little tongue-and-cheek there, but the point remains valid. If a Flyer player had done the same thing that Georges Laraque did, there would be folks calling for that Flyer player's head on a silver platter Salome style (a la John the Baptist). Why are those same people NOT calling for Georges' head? (or the head of Michel Therrien who ordered the "code red" on Biron) Is it because the infraction was any less wrong? No. Did the league or media see some other version that looked less heinous, less attempting to injure, less executed with malice aforethought? I doubt it.
Then why the non-reaction? Is it not a story when a player commits a caught-red-handed, intent to injure play on a goalie? Unless there is no story. I hate to sound like a wild-conspiracy theorist, but if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, perhaps it is a duck on skates. Perhaps, if that duck wore Orange and Black there might be a story worth getting in a lather over.
Yes the game was out of hand and the Pens were frustrated. Yes the Pens were looking for payback. Yes the earlier play between Biron and Crosby and the words that followed were material to the action of Georges Laraque. But what Laraque did was still wrong and he should be painted with the same brush that the Flyers have been in the recent past. If he is not, then there are two sets of standards - one for the Flyers and one for everyone else. If that were to actually be the truth of the matter, then I would be deeply saddened and have lost a lot of faith in the people charged with protecting the game that we all love.
Am I out in left field? Maybe. If I am, then so be it.
But...if I am not. What then?
You be the judge...
http://s228.photobucket.c...uinsatPhiladelphiaFly.flv
SYF
Wow...words can hardly begin to describe what happened at the Bank Building.
Coming into last night's tilt, the Flyers were a dreadfully inconsistent team searching for some home-ice answers; while the Penguins were the team on a roll, having won 4 in-a-row across western Canada, with their Captain in the hunt for the league leaders in scoring at 40 points. Both clubs were no strangers to the Sin Bin, with 365 penalties for over 1,000 PIM between them in a combined 58 games. There was the sense that things could get out of hand rather quickly if the referees didn't pocket the whistles or if things got "chippy." In retrospect, that was an understatement.
What went on for 60 minutes was a strange fusion of playoff intensity hockey, a close game turned into a rout and a junkyard brawl between two teams that don't like each other, even a little bit. In addition, you had the resumption of the sideshow feud between Pennsylvania's equivalent of the Hatfields and McCoys - Sidney Crosby and Mike Richards.
Something had to give.
And it did.
Add to that fighting majors, 20 seconds into the game, between old friends Jason Smith and Ryan Malone trying to make up for lost time over a supposed slash of Sid the Kid in their last meeting. Toss in 98 penalty minutes by a team NOT named the Flyers, 10 goals scored, six game misconducts, two Flyers with hat tricks in the same game, 136 total minutes of time spent in the box, as many missed calls as made on both sides and a viscious and blatant attempt to injure the Flyers' netminder by Penguins goon Georges Laraque (more on that later) and you have yourself the makings of a good, old fashioned fight where a hockey game broke out.
From a Flyers' perspective, there are things the Orange and Black did very well:
* The Flyers had consistent pressure in the offensive zone.
This does three things, it forces the Pens to react to the Flyers and spend time chasing the puck instead of being creative with it. It keeps the puck out of your own end and thereby lessens the shot totals and potential for goals against for Biron. And, most importantly, it leads to the next point...
* The Flyers put the puck on the net:
Hallelujah! The boys did a great job of putting the puck on the net and in the net. I know this is the most simplistic of hockey axioms but, as the immortal Wayne Gretzky said, "you will not score on 100% of the shots you do not take." Amen Wayne. The Flyers put rubber on net, in traffic and had a shooting gallery night.
* Special teams play was paramount:
Again, nothing Nobel Prize winning about that statement. You had a feeling that their would be a somewhat steady parade to the box when these two teams got together. How the Flyers handled the PK and tried to exploit the Pens on the powerplay would have a huge impact on how the game went. The Flyers gave up both goals man-down and killed off a third penalty. 1 for 3 on the PK - not so good. The Flyers powerplay, however, was firing on all cylinders and scored 4 goals in 13 opportunities (30.7% efficiency). Getting half your goals from the powerplay (Knuble, Lupul, Coburn and Umberger) made it even an easier day for Biron as the majority of the play was in the Pens' zone. In fact, the Flyers spent 19:16 - which equates to over 99% of an entire 20 minute period - on the man advantage. Not too shabby.
* The Flyers played smart 5-on-5 hockey:
By the middle of the 2nd period, the game was mostly over at 4-2. Mike Knuble sealed the deal with his 9th of the year and the team took a 5-2 lead into the room to start the 3rd period. His powerplay goal was the first of four straight, as the Pens game unglued in the 3rd period and committed 16 penalties. While the Flyers had penalties too, they were all concurrent after the 1st period and led to no further man down situations. Moreover, the Flyers played phenominal 5-on-5 hockey. The Pens went 0-13 on even strength situations, which illuminates what a great job the backchecking forwards did in supporting strong positional defense and good goalie play. An outstanding effort also occurred in maintaining proper spacing to reduce the potential for Sid et al. to slip behind the defenders for an easy scoring chance.
* The Kids are Alright
One of my favorite albums also describes the ridiculous job that the Flyers' young guns did against a dangerous Penguins team playing in a Divisional game. Senior Statesman Mike Knuble's 9th of the year was the only goal scored by someone over the age of 26. Ok, I officially feel old, since Mike Knuble is only 35.
Joffrey Lupul stole the show with three goals and three assists for the first six point night for a Flyers since #88 did it in 1997 against Toronto. Bet someone in the Oilers organization was looking at Joni Pitkanen's 7 points and wondering what the hell they were thinking.
Not to be outdone, pre-season trade bait and linemate of Joffrey Lupul, R.J. Umberger came up huge with his 4th, 5th and 6th goals of the year to go along with two assists. Both Lupul and Umberger had two even strength and one powerplay goal to fuel their career nights. The fact that it has been since 1986, when Timmy Kerr (my #2 all-time favorite Flyer behind only Pele Lindbergh) and Captain Extrordinaire Dave Poulin had dual-hat tricks in a game, still amazes me given the talented players to wear the Orange and Black during those 21 years. What a night!
Mr Everything (you know...#18) had three assists to go with the two hat tricks by Lupul and Umberger. This offensive barrage, by a line intended to shut down Crosby, gave the line of Lupul - Richards - Umberger 14 points for the evening. Oh, and Sid Crosby had zero goals and two assists.
Note to Mr. Crosby, who continues to whine like a schoolgirl, just take a look at how Mike Richards plays and you just might learn something and be respected for more than just your considerable God-given talent.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention Braydon Coburn's 2nd of the year. How refreshing it is to see a young Flyers' defenseman coming in off the point on the PP and blast a shot home from inside the circle. The future is so bright for this kid it is just fun to watch him play.
* Goalie play:
Marty Biron had a strong game in not giving up any even strength goals. The two that he gave up on the PP were acceptable, considering he was run at, tripped and nearly plowed over by a player, that if he were a Flyer, would have been suspended for 6 games. Biron got his 3rd win in three tries versus the Penguins this year and kept his composure at all times - even when getting run over by NHL player-x, Georges Laraque.
OK...enough about what went right. Now let's talk about what went wrong.
Straight from "The Bad" to "The Ugly":
Not only were there many calls missed on both sides, but the Refs permitted some behavior that is sure to have potentially dangerous repercussions in the January 24th game (which Blueline and I are going to take in). I am speaking of the two attempts against Marty Biron: one by Sid Crosby to hook Biron's skates as #87 went behind the net; and the second, and far more repugnant act, of NHL player-x Georges Laraque performing a ridiculously ill-conceived, pathetically executed "pretend" loss of an edge, that happened to look much like a takeout slide at the front end of a doubleplay, right into the legs of Marty Biron. It was lucky that this 6'3", 243 pound, gutless wonder did not seriously injure the Flyers netminder as retaliation for calling for Crosby to come back for another piece of him after he was tripped by the whining superstar.
Chippy is one thing. Fighting is part of the game. Rough stuff is to be expected with certain teams and individuals. But one thing that has always been sacrosanct is the notion that the goalie is "somewhat" protected from the rough stuff and that he is not to be intentionally injured in any way, shape or form because he is vulnerable. Apparently, Laraque missed the memo on that one. I am also categorically certain that the Flyers did not miss that one and that Mr. Laraque had better have his head on a swivel in January.
Moreover, the question that has likely popped into the head of every Flyers fan is "what if that were Ben Eager that took a deliberate and malicious slide-tackle into Dany Sabourin?" What would the announcers (who were horrible) say? What would the hockey and non-hockey "media" say? I bet there would be an uproar of biblical proportions - swarms of locusts, seas turning to blood, David Hasselhoff going back on tour...that kind of stuff.
Seriously though, I would bet the ranch that the headlines would read "Another Broad Street Bullying" and the media would be shouting from their ivory towers that the Flyers are "out of control." The Lord of Discipline, Colin Campbell, would be pressured to make another example out of the player, the team and the ownership of the Flyers. I can almost hear it now.
But wait...it wasn't one of those fly-off-at-the-handle, rogue Flyer players. It wasn't one of those out of control freaks wearing Orange and Black. It was JUST a Penguin...call off the press conference, hold the phone, stop the presses, tell the anchors with the perfect teeth and the wind-tunnel-tested hair to go home. No story here.
I was being a little tongue-and-cheek there, but the point remains valid. If a Flyer player had done the same thing that Georges Laraque did, there would be folks calling for that Flyer player's head on a silver platter Salome style (a la John the Baptist). Why are those same people NOT calling for Georges' head? (or the head of Michel Therrien who ordered the "code red" on Biron) Is it because the infraction was any less wrong? No. Did the league or media see some other version that looked less heinous, less attempting to injure, less executed with malice aforethought? I doubt it.
Then why the non-reaction? Is it not a story when a player commits a caught-red-handed, intent to injure play on a goalie? Unless there is no story. I hate to sound like a wild-conspiracy theorist, but if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, perhaps it is a duck on skates. Perhaps, if that duck wore Orange and Black there might be a story worth getting in a lather over.
Yes the game was out of hand and the Pens were frustrated. Yes the Pens were looking for payback. Yes the earlier play between Biron and Crosby and the words that followed were material to the action of Georges Laraque. But what Laraque did was still wrong and he should be painted with the same brush that the Flyers have been in the recent past. If he is not, then there are two sets of standards - one for the Flyers and one for everyone else. If that were to actually be the truth of the matter, then I would be deeply saddened and have lost a lot of faith in the people charged with protecting the game that we all love.
Am I out in left field? Maybe. If I am, then so be it.
But...if I am not. What then?
You be the judge...
http://s228.photobucket.c...uinsatPhiladelphiaFly.flv
SYF
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20 Why Being a Hockey Fan Matters...
23 An open letter to the NHL Officials Association...
24 Thoughts as I prepare to head up I-95...
23 An open letter to the NHL Officials Association...
24 Thoughts as I prepare to head up I-95...
13 What about HockeyBuzz is so special?
16 2007 Philadlephia Flyers - And you may ask yourself...well
21 New things afoot at HB
23 The Flyers' Young Guns - Spotlight on Jeff Carter
27 Another of the Flyers' Young Guns: Mike Richards
31 Marty Biron: Karn Evil 9 1st Impression - Part II
16 2007 Philadlephia Flyers - And you may ask yourself...well
21 New things afoot at HB
23 The Flyers' Young Guns - Spotlight on Jeff Carter
27 Another of the Flyers' Young Guns: Mike Richards
31 Marty Biron: Karn Evil 9 1st Impression - Part II
04 Flyers Special Teams and the Death of Summer
05 Billboards/Bumper Stickers for the 2007-08 Flyers season
06 Flyers 2007-08: The K-G-B is coming for YOU
10 The Heart Trophy - Who has it?
11 Freedom isn't free...
13 Flyers Jerseys will debut tomorrow...
14 Flyers Jerseys Revealed...Friday 9:45am in my office
17 Real Flyers Scrimmages...Like Christmas morning
19 HockeyBuzz - More than Demographics and Big Brother
21 The Evil Twins for Flyer Fans - Rangers and Devils
24 Riders on the storm
25 Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo - Flyers Preseason 07
26 SYF's Top 10 List - Players you would like to see this year?
05 Billboards/Bumper Stickers for the 2007-08 Flyers season
06 Flyers 2007-08: The K-G-B is coming for YOU
10 The Heart Trophy - Who has it?
11 Freedom isn't free...
13 Flyers Jerseys will debut tomorrow...
14 Flyers Jerseys Revealed...Friday 9:45am in my office
17 Real Flyers Scrimmages...Like Christmas morning
19 HockeyBuzz - More than Demographics and Big Brother
21 The Evil Twins for Flyer Fans - Rangers and Devils
24 Riders on the storm
25 Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo - Flyers Preseason 07
26 SYF's Top 10 List - Players you would like to see this year?
01 Bring Out Yer Dead...NOT the Phillies
03 What I want from my team...The 16 Commandments
05 Anatomy of a Hockey Buzzard: HockeyPuckusBuzzardus
07 You know you're a hockey fan if:
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10 HB and Ek vs the hatemongers (a B.D. Gallof follow up)
11 Best of times or Worst of times...Flyers West Coast Trip
12 Separated at Birth?
12 Separated at Birth?
12 Separated at Birth?
12 Separated at Birth?
15 Full Metal Jacket - Flyers week that was and week to come
17 Flyers Day After - It smells like....victory
19 Sympathy for the Devil(s)...a guy named Marty
20 Flyers - Hurricanes...Holy Schnieky!!!!
22 Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know
24 Flyers Week Ahead: Panthers and Lightning and Bruins...oh my
03 What I want from my team...The 16 Commandments
05 Anatomy of a Hockey Buzzard: HockeyPuckusBuzzardus
07 You know you're a hockey fan if:
08 You know you're a HockeyBuzzard if:
10 HB and Ek vs the hatemongers (a B.D. Gallof follow up)
11 Best of times or Worst of times...Flyers West Coast Trip
12 Separated at Birth?
12 Separated at Birth?
12 Separated at Birth?
12 Separated at Birth?
15 Full Metal Jacket - Flyers week that was and week to come
17 Flyers Day After - It smells like....victory
19 Sympathy for the Devil(s)...a guy named Marty
20 Flyers - Hurricanes...Holy Schnieky!!!!
22 Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know
24 Flyers Week Ahead: Panthers and Lightning and Bruins...oh my
02 Flyers/Caps - Statement Game
05 Flyers Diversion...What's wrong with Marty??? (Brodeur)
07 Break on through to the other side...
10 Flyers roadshow - What a long strange trip it's been...
11 Flyers vs Penguins - PP (Peco Perfect)
13 Mike Richards - The King of Pain
22 What I am thankful for...Flyers Edition
29 Au Effort in the Golden Triangle - Flyboys win 3rd vs Canes
05 Flyers Diversion...What's wrong with Marty??? (Brodeur)
07 Break on through to the other side...
10 Flyers roadshow - What a long strange trip it's been...
11 Flyers vs Penguins - PP (Peco Perfect)
13 Mike Richards - The King of Pain
22 What I am thankful for...Flyers Edition
29 Au Effort in the Golden Triangle - Flyboys win 3rd vs Canes
03 The Twelve Days of Christmas: Flyers Edition
06 Ozzy Osbourne, the Flyers and the Instigator Rule
10 Thoughts from the NHL Store - A Bite Out of the Big Apple
12 Flyers score 8 vs Pens, Laraque-What will Campbell do? WWCD
19 Flyers 101-Season of Giving, The Grinch and Harry S. Truman
20 No-Touch Icing - An Idea Whose Time is Long Past
25 Merry Christmas to you all!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go Flyers
06 Ozzy Osbourne, the Flyers and the Instigator Rule
10 Thoughts from the NHL Store - A Bite Out of the Big Apple
12 Flyers score 8 vs Pens, Laraque-What will Campbell do? WWCD
19 Flyers 101-Season of Giving, The Grinch and Harry S. Truman
20 No-Touch Icing - An Idea Whose Time is Long Past
25 Merry Christmas to you all!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go Flyers
06 Hola Hockey Amigos - Viva Los Flyers de Mai Tai Mohito
08 - Physics, Respect, Fighting and Relevence?
11 Flyers: Chemical X in the Big Apple and A Look Forward
15 Simon Gagne: Back With A Vengeance - Flyers vs Panthers
17 Any Given Sunday - Flyers Ice Panthers and Look Ahead
22 White Hot Flyers: Dragnet and the Preds North
22 The Two Thousand Yard Stare...
23 10 Reasons to Watch the All-Star Game...the East
29 The Overtime/Shootout Loss - Time to Lose the Point and Win
30 Vince Lombardi, Faith, Discipline and Spontaneous Combustion
08 - Physics, Respect, Fighting and Relevence?
11 Flyers: Chemical X in the Big Apple and A Look Forward
15 Simon Gagne: Back With A Vengeance - Flyers vs Panthers
17 Any Given Sunday - Flyers Ice Panthers and Look Ahead
22 White Hot Flyers: Dragnet and the Preds North
22 The Two Thousand Yard Stare...
23 10 Reasons to Watch the All-Star Game...the East
29 The Overtime/Shootout Loss - Time to Lose the Point and Win
30 Vince Lombardi, Faith, Discipline and Spontaneous Combustion
06 Flyers: First Place by a 2 3/8 Inches
14 Philadelphia Flyers: How Long to the point of know return?
19 Aaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!!!! 8th loss in SO = Code Red
24 How Deep is the Rabbit Hole? Take the red pill...
25 Oh Danny Boy...
14 Philadelphia Flyers: How Long to the point of know return?
19 Aaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!!!! 8th loss in SO = Code Red
24 How Deep is the Rabbit Hole? Take the red pill...
25 Oh Danny Boy...
02 Familiarity Breeds Contempt - Flyers' Battle to the Playoffs
04 Ships passing in the night? - Flyers hold on 8th is 1 point
11 3-3 tie going into overtime but Flyers get point, Leafs Out
12 Leafs part deux
17 Flyers' barely hold 8th seed...and don't call me Shirley
18 "
26 They're Baaack - Flyers ice Rags in OT, Holy Grail and Weiji
04 Ships passing in the night? - Flyers hold on 8th is 1 point
11 3-3 tie going into overtime but Flyers get point, Leafs Out
12 Leafs part deux
17 Flyers' barely hold 8th seed...and don't call me Shirley
18 "
26 They're Baaack - Flyers ice Rags in OT, Holy Grail and Weiji
03 You know it's time for playoff hockey when...
06 VENGENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bring on the Caps!
15 Richards Pentalty Shot Ices It - Flyers 2-1 in series
17 # are YOU?!?! - Flyers game 4
17 YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Knubs wins it in 2nd OT!
21 Eighty six thousand, four hundred
22 COO of the Year
24 The Refs were the story...shame
28 Back in Black
28 FLYERS Hold on for 3-2 victory - Game 4 to be a War!
30 Get outta the Kitchen...
06 VENGENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bring on the Caps!
15 Richards Pentalty Shot Ices It - Flyers 2-1 in series
17 # are YOU?!?! - Flyers game 4
17 YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Knubs wins it in 2nd OT!
21 Eighty six thousand, four hundred
22 COO of the Year
24 The Refs were the story...shame
28 Back in Black
28 FLYERS Hold on for 3-2 victory - Game 4 to be a War!
30 Get outta the Kitchen...
03 Bravo to Les Glorieux!!!!
05 You can't Always Get What You Want...
13 Should Visors be Mandatory in the NHL???? Not so fast...
15 Irresistible Force, List of FIRSTS and Pearl Harbour??
19 Nothing left to do but smile, smile smile...Kudos to Pens!!!
23 Right Wing Conspiracy...
27 HockeyBuzzard in withdrawal-You know you miss hockey when...
05 You can't Always Get What You Want...
13 Should Visors be Mandatory in the NHL???? Not so fast...
15 Irresistible Force, List of FIRSTS and Pearl Harbour??
19 Nothing left to do but smile, smile smile...Kudos to Pens!!!
23 Right Wing Conspiracy...
27 HockeyBuzzard in withdrawal-You know you miss hockey when...
12 Things to do now that Hockey season is over...
16 Tim Russert: Journalist, Political Commentator, hockey fan
20 With the 19th pick in the 2008 draft the Philadelphia Flyers
24 The Mullet returns...7th Sign of the Apocalypse??
16 Tim Russert: Journalist, Political Commentator, hockey fan
20 With the 19th pick in the 2008 draft the Philadelphia Flyers
24 The Mullet returns...7th Sign of the Apocalypse??
14 WWSYFD??? A Response to Julie's Question...
17 Flyers Schedule...First Month of the '08-'09 Season
22 the NHL-Just How Big is the Elephant in the Corner??
28 Cost Certainty
17 Flyers Schedule...First Month of the '08-'09 Season
22 the NHL-Just How Big is the Elephant in the Corner??
28 Cost Certainty
06 To Sbisa, or not to Sbisa...
29 The Philadephia Phillies are the 2008 World Series Champs!!!
30 Oh Atlanta, A Touchdown and Flyers Lessons Learned
29 The Philadephia Phillies are the 2008 World Series Champs!!!
30 Oh Atlanta, A Touchdown and Flyers Lessons Learned
03 The Wayback Machine: Who or what you pay to see??
11 Veteran's Day Salute - A Near Frozen River in December, 1776
14 Hey you, don't help them to bury the light...PHI/PIT
16 Joffrey Lupul - A Riddle, Wrapped in a mystery...
17 Flyers' New Third Jersey - What's Old Is New
21 Soaring Into the Black
11 Veteran's Day Salute - A Near Frozen River in December, 1776
14 Hey you, don't help them to bury the light...PHI/PIT
16 Joffrey Lupul - A Riddle, Wrapped in a mystery...
17 Flyers' New Third Jersey - What's Old Is New
21 Soaring Into the Black
03 Holy Schniekie!!!! Victory Snatched from the Jaws of Defeat
11 One for Ages - 4 goals down, Flyers win 6-5 in shootout
13 December Forever - Reeling in the Years (ok...the Rangers)
24 Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all my HB Friends!!!!!
27 Briere and Parent/Jones for JayBo? In a NY Minute...
11 One for Ages - 4 goals down, Flyers win 6-5 in shootout
13 December Forever - Reeling in the Years (ok...the Rangers)
24 Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all my HB Friends!!!!!
27 Briere and Parent/Jones for JayBo? In a NY Minute...
Good recap, SYF. Fun game to watch for sure.
I love the blog! Just think If Biron had actually shoved Crosby or something along those lines. He would probably be sitting out a few games for it. Absolutely pathetic. Great blog.
great game recap and powerful words. the one thing you mention is laraques should have his head on a swivel. personally i dont think he fears anyone on the flyers roster. big georges would wipe the floor with eager and cote, well, lets just says those black eyes would be the least of his troubles. maybe they dress jesse "25 game" boulerice but even he cant hang with him. IMO the flyers must go out and find a true enforcer and make a trade by the next time these two teams play. eager and cote cannot handle the big boys of the nhl enforcers club.
The Flyers need George Parros
on a side note, i think ryan potunly should be given the wuss award for the night. in a game where his roommate jeff carter is throwing bombs earlier and dennis tolpeko almost dukes it out with malkin, potsy simply tells ruutu to "f" off when ruutu smacks him in the back of the head. this causes ruutu to give him a face wash to which potsy just skates away. in a game like that he should have pushed him back. i know he is not the scrappy type but, if carter can do it, potulny can too.
Give me a break......A Flyer fan crying foul about dirty play?!?!?! That in itself is hilarious. Laraque hardly hit Biron, if it was a serious attempt to hurt him he could have/would have gone in a lot harder. Maybe there is bitterness at the fact he didn't do it the Flyer way....you know wait for the guy to have his head down or his back to the play and then take your best run at him. You make it sound as though what Laraque did is comparable to the hits on Bergeron and McCammond when the reality is there is no comparison at all. Those hits attempts to end careers, Laraque gave Biron a love tap in comparison.
Chad - While I agree to the extent that it was not as bad as some of the hits that Flyers players were suspended for, it was clearly an intent to injure against a vulnerable player - ie goalie. Slide tackling a goalie and going for his legs is entirely different from banging another skater against the boards - in my opinion. By the way, I mentioned that what the Flyers who were suspended was wrong. So too is Georges Laraque wrong and ought to get suspended just like the rest of the Flyers. If he is not suspended for attempting to injure, then there is a double standard applied unfairly. Go look at the hit again. He was clearly trying to take out the legs of the goalie. Imagine how you would feel if someone tried that on Toskala or Raycroft. Please don't tell me that going after a goalie's legs is not tantamount to trying to end his career...that would be a joke. I also seem to remember a Leaf by the name of Darcy Tucker whose play has been called into question on more than one occasion, so let's not cast aspersions as to a team being dirty, shall we? Thanks for commenting. SYF
GG - I like your idea about a true enforcer by the 24th. JS - I would love to have Parros or Godard or Boll - whatever it took to get them (within reason) should be considered. The divisional play is so tight and the points so valuable that the Flyers cannot afford to be at a disadvantage when the rough stuff happens or when you need a big body to jack someone up. We need better than Cote, Eager and Boulerice. That is agreed. Thanks Guys! SYF
"you know wait for the guy to have his head down or his back to the play and then take your best run at him."Didn't know Darcy Tucker was ever a flyer..:SMy question for the Leafs fan is, where are the Leafs and Where are the Flyers?
To the dyslexic Flyer fan at no point in my comment did I even mention the Leafs! I realize they aren't exactly lighting things up right now and if you read any of my blogs I have made many a comment about that. Yes I am a Leaf fan and always will be, but I'm a hockey fan and can be objective. Yes Tucker has his share of questionable hits but the game was between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Toronto didn't take part....Way to change the subject though! LOL but since we are on the topic of Toronto, if Laraque or anyone for that matter wanted to take out Raycroft be my guest it might put him and the Leaf fans out of there misery! Thanks for the suggestion SYF. Seriously though I don't like it when people take liberties on goalies but at the same time after watching the incident in question I think it's being blown out of proportion.......Yes Laraque did skate hard at Biron at first but he did slow down and fall at his pads, if he really wanted to hurt him he would have kept going full tilt.
As Scoop called it: "Old Time Hockey". January game is going to be a good one - I feel it already and I am really looking forward to being there. Parros would be a useful fit for the Flyers. Watched him last weekend when the Ducks visited here and he is definitely a very large, mean-looking, intense kind of guy, especially when he's up close. Geeez. Never smiles. They put a split screen 'separated at birth' parody on the megatron - live shot of Parros on the bench and a shot of Borat on the other half. Kept hoping he wouldn't look up - payback might have been ugly. I posted head pics Monday on one of Paul McCann's blogs of Parros and F. Zappa - the two look almost identical. BTW, good article and a great read.
To answer your question of what people would have said if eager were to have run into Dany Sabourin. I think the anser might be..." who the heck is Dany Sabourin"
LOL a code red
Fantastic job SYF. Any time you can throw in a Hasselhoff and John the Baptist referrence in the same blog you know it's a good one.
chaddy boy, he never compared the downie hit or boulerice. but it is comparable to jones, hartnell and cote. jones wasnt "attempting to end a c areer" against bergeron, so you are completely off there. it was a deliberate act to injure by laraque, and should come with a 2 game suspension. we arent crying foul, we're simply stating the obvious...the standards are different for the flyers compared to everyone else.
Love the blog except when you talk about Laraque "and the second, and far more repugnant act, of NHL player-x Georges Laraque performing a ridiculously ill-conceived, pathetically executed "pretend" loss of an edge, that happened to look much like a takeout slide at the front end of a doubleplay, right into the legs of Marty Biron. It was lucky that this 6'3", 243 pound, gutless wonder did not seriously injure the Flyers netminder as retaliation for calling for Crosby to come back for another piece of him after he was tripped by the whining superstar."Rediculous and repugnant are not the words I would have chosen. Those are too hard for George to spell/read anyway. He looked like my 4 year old trying to do a hockey stop. A clown in a Pens jersey. It was absolutely the funniest attempt at a dive or attaemot to get in a free shot on biron that I have ever seen. Get George an day-time Emmy for that soap opera performance. Comical.
I watched the Laraque video at least fifteen times, and I tried to come up with an argument for what he was doing and I couldn't. It was just stupid and blatant. And could be worthy of a game or two suspension. But, I don't think there was any intent to injure. The whole idea behind that move was to get into Birons head, not to hurt him. As a goalie sliding into the skates is probably on of the safest things to do, not that it is necessarily safe, but least risky would be a better term. With his size I don't think Laraque would have a problem hurting anyone if he wanted to. It was just stupid.
Your still the second best team in Pennsylvania. And if anyone will be suspended it should be eager for the elbow to the face of Laraque.
Catfish - Thank you for taking the time to comment. I would remind you that "Your" is not the same as the contraction "You're" - which means "You are." In retrospect, I think you meant to say, "You are still the ...." or simply use the contraction - "You're." Thanks again for your insightful comment. Laraque is still a gutless puke for trying to take out the legs of a goalie, no matter what syntax you use. SYF
Second best team in Pennsylvania? How the hell can you say that when you got spanked 8-2 and haven't won a game against us all season? Also, the Eager hit wasn't even an elbow, it was a legal hit.
The only problems on the ice were Pens. Eager should've had a penalty and that's it. Too bad, it happens to all the teams.
Message Posted
Until u pathetic flyers fans win 8 straight on us, u should just shut your mouth about that 8-2 whooping. We beat you 8-2 last year, so we each have a blowout game. Ya u won another one so u r 3-0 against us this yr......big deal.....i guarantee you that we will beat you at least once this year and then what will you say? How's the Stanley Cup drought going?? GL on that ridiculous deal u gave Richards. It will come back to haunt you. BTW.....Biron is a joke. If Laraque wanted to injure him he would have. He took it easy on a guy who is all mouth......remember Emery pasting his @$$??