Game one of the Stanley Cup Finals was a scoring slugfest. Both teams jockeying for the lead in the game. It went from 1-0 Flyers, to 1-1, to 2-1 Chicago, to 2-2, to 3-2 Flyers, and that was all in the first period. When the final horn sounded, the Flyers had lost 6-5 and are down 1-0 in the series. Michael Leighton was pulled in the second period after giving up five goals in a little over 35 minutes of play.
I'm not going to go into every goal in detail because there was so many. A positive for the Flyers was that they were getting secondary scoring from unlikely candidates. Blair Betts and Arron Asham each scored for the Flyers. Arron Asham is becoming a scoring threat because of he has a wicked and accurate slap shot.
The defense had several lapses, which resulted in turnovers, which often result in goals. Many of the goals Michael Leighton gave up weren't exactly his fault, but some he could have saved. The fact of the matter is you have to stop some of them. Five goals on twenty shots is no good for a goaltender. I think coach Peter Laviolette made the right decision to pull Leighton.
Brian Boucher, in his first game back from injury, relieved Leighton and played fairly well. He faced twelve shots and saved eleven, but that one goal was a big one. Tomas Kopecky scored the only goal of the third period, and that was the winner for the Blackhawks.
I don't think a goalie controversy should start up just yet. I think Michael Leighton deserves another start to show what he can do. If the Blackhawks have another great night against him, then maybe you switch to Boucher come game three.
Game two is critical for the Flyers. Falling down 2-0 in the series is not an option against the Blackhawks. They have a high powered offense and forced the Flyers to play to their style in game one. In game two, the Flyers need to slow the Blackhawks' offensive attack. They can do it by being physical against the Blackhawk forwards. Game two is Monday night.
Showing posts with label Hockey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hockey. Show all posts
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Flyers Dominate Canadiens
The Philadelphia Flyers rebounded from their weak effort in game three to blank the Canadiens 3-0 in game four. Michael Leighton logged his third shutout in four games. Chris Pronger bounced back from a poor game three to being absolutely great in today's game. It's a great win for the Flyers. Now, the Flyers are one win away from going to the Stanley Cup Finals.
The first period saw two evenly matched teams battle it out. The momentum was swinging both ways and both teams had chances to score. Nobody did score though. It was a good period as far as the Flyers were concerned. The way they were dominated in the previous game, it was a good sign that they held their own against the Canadiens at home.
In the second period, the Flyers emerged as the better team. Claude Giroux cut into the Canadiens zone, easily splitting the dumbfounded Montreal defensemen. He then made a gorgeous shot over the shoulder of Jaroslav Halak, putting the Flyers up 1-0. Giroux's play has been great in the playoffs. He is only 22, but he is already one of the best players on the Flyers.
Ville Leino scored the second goal of the period for the Flyers. Chris Pronger zapped a laser-like pass across the ice to Leino. Ville was alone with the goalie. He stopped on the dime, and wheeled the puck around Halak. That goal was started on a beautiful pass by Pronger, and ended on a equally beautiful move by Leino.
The Flyers spent much of the third period dumping the puck into the Montreal zone. That seems to be their strategy when up by two or more in the third period. And it works. The Flyers kept Montreal frustrated all day. Claude Giroux scored an empty-net goal late in the game, to officially put the game away.
The Flyers got two players back from injury today. Jeff Carter and Ian Lapierriere both played in their first game in these Eastern Conference Finals. Jeff Carter looked good. Early in the game, Carter beat a defender and then unleashed a wicked wrist shot that was saved by Halak. Lapierriere played his usual game, albeit a little less physical because of the full mask protecting his face.
The teams will now travel back to Philly for game five on Monday. They Flyers need to win just one more game out of three, and two of those are at home. I'd like to avoid the drama of a game seven in this series. The Flyers cannot assume the series is won. The know quite well after last series that any team can come back from any deficit. With that said, let's wrap this one up on Monday.
The first period saw two evenly matched teams battle it out. The momentum was swinging both ways and both teams had chances to score. Nobody did score though. It was a good period as far as the Flyers were concerned. The way they were dominated in the previous game, it was a good sign that they held their own against the Canadiens at home.
In the second period, the Flyers emerged as the better team. Claude Giroux cut into the Canadiens zone, easily splitting the dumbfounded Montreal defensemen. He then made a gorgeous shot over the shoulder of Jaroslav Halak, putting the Flyers up 1-0. Giroux's play has been great in the playoffs. He is only 22, but he is already one of the best players on the Flyers.
Ville Leino scored the second goal of the period for the Flyers. Chris Pronger zapped a laser-like pass across the ice to Leino. Ville was alone with the goalie. He stopped on the dime, and wheeled the puck around Halak. That goal was started on a beautiful pass by Pronger, and ended on a equally beautiful move by Leino.
The Flyers spent much of the third period dumping the puck into the Montreal zone. That seems to be their strategy when up by two or more in the third period. And it works. The Flyers kept Montreal frustrated all day. Claude Giroux scored an empty-net goal late in the game, to officially put the game away.
The Flyers got two players back from injury today. Jeff Carter and Ian Lapierriere both played in their first game in these Eastern Conference Finals. Jeff Carter looked good. Early in the game, Carter beat a defender and then unleashed a wicked wrist shot that was saved by Halak. Lapierriere played his usual game, albeit a little less physical because of the full mask protecting his face.
The teams will now travel back to Philly for game five on Monday. They Flyers need to win just one more game out of three, and two of those are at home. I'd like to avoid the drama of a game seven in this series. The Flyers cannot assume the series is won. The know quite well after last series that any team can come back from any deficit. With that said, let's wrap this one up on Monday.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Flyers Blow Out Canadiens
The Flyers performed marvelously all around in game one of the Eastern Conference finals, shutting out the Montreal Canadiens 6-0. Yes, the Flyers dominated all game. Yes, Michael Leighton made some key saves. This game looked too good to be true. The Flyers have finally won a game handily for the first time in a long time.
This game started off on the right foot for the Flyers. About four minutes into the game, Braydon Coburn stuffed a puck home to open the scoring for the Flyers. That's all the Flyers would get in the opening period, but they were far from done.
The Flyers would erupt for three goals in the second period. James van Riemsdyk got the puck right off the faceoff and drove to the net, much to the dismay of the Montreal defensemen. He slotted the puck in the net like one would start a game of pinball. Danny Briere, again vying for playoff MVP, unleashed a slapshot right by goalie Jaroslav Halak. Simon Gagne netted a goal shortly thereafter, and that ended a nightmarish night for Halak.
Montreal coach Jacques Martin yelled "Next!" on the bench after that Gagne goal, and Carey Price emerged as the next victim for the Flyers. He managed to hold the Flyers for the rest of second period, much like a dam holds back a river. He would begin to show cracks in the third period.
The Flyers, with the game already put away, were hungry for more. Like a dog who just won't stop eating, the Flyers pounded home two goals in the third period. Scott Hartnell and Claude Giroux scored the last two goals, respectively. This game was such a demoralizing loss for the Canadiens.
The Flyers can't get caught up in the moment, though. It was just one game. The next game is a completely different animal. The Canadiens are likely to be chewed out by their coach, and will come out better next game. If not, they might be eaten alive when they get to Montreal for game three. The Flyers need to weather that early storm, and then dominate them like they did during this game.
This game started off on the right foot for the Flyers. About four minutes into the game, Braydon Coburn stuffed a puck home to open the scoring for the Flyers. That's all the Flyers would get in the opening period, but they were far from done.
The Flyers would erupt for three goals in the second period. James van Riemsdyk got the puck right off the faceoff and drove to the net, much to the dismay of the Montreal defensemen. He slotted the puck in the net like one would start a game of pinball. Danny Briere, again vying for playoff MVP, unleashed a slapshot right by goalie Jaroslav Halak. Simon Gagne netted a goal shortly thereafter, and that ended a nightmarish night for Halak.
Montreal coach Jacques Martin yelled "Next!" on the bench after that Gagne goal, and Carey Price emerged as the next victim for the Flyers. He managed to hold the Flyers for the rest of second period, much like a dam holds back a river. He would begin to show cracks in the third period.
The Flyers, with the game already put away, were hungry for more. Like a dog who just won't stop eating, the Flyers pounded home two goals in the third period. Scott Hartnell and Claude Giroux scored the last two goals, respectively. This game was such a demoralizing loss for the Canadiens.
The Flyers can't get caught up in the moment, though. It was just one game. The next game is a completely different animal. The Canadiens are likely to be chewed out by their coach, and will come out better next game. If not, they might be eaten alive when they get to Montreal for game three. The Flyers need to weather that early storm, and then dominate them like they did during this game.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Amazing Flyers
The Flyers have pulled off the unthinkable in Game 7 of their second round series against Boston. They have become the third team in the history of the NHL to comeback from a 3-0 series deficit and win the series. Not only that, but they came back from a three goals to win in the final game. This series will go down in history as one of the best comebacks in the history of sports.
The Bruins jumped on the Flyers early, completely dominating them throughout most of the first period. Less then fifteen minutes into the game, the Flyers were on the bad end of a 3-0 score. I thought that would discourage them, and I was disgusted with their play. Goalie Michael Leighton looked like he could have had stopped at least one of those goals. The Flyers were down but not out.
JVR (James van Riemsdyk) did get a goal back late in the first period, leaving some hope for the second period. Even still, it was a tall order to come back from two in a Game 7. The Flyers would do just that in the second period.
The Flyers came out on fire to begin the second, firing many shots on goalie Tukka Rask. Scott Hartnell, who had made some blunders in the first period, put the Flyers within one on a beautifully placed backhander over the shoulder of Rask. Then, Danny Briere showed us his one-man show, when he wrapped the puck around the net and then put it in the net.... tie game.
So it all came down to the third period. Whoever won the period would win the series. The Flyers got a power play about midway through the period, and they were not going to waste it. Simon Gagne scored the game-winner on the power play for the Flyers. Finally, the Flyers had taken a lead in the game. It was just up to them to hold it.
They did hold that score, 4-3, for the rest of the game, propelling the team into history. The only other teams in NHL history to come back from 3-0 deficit were the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs and the 1975 New York Islanders. It is amazing when a team can when four straight games against the same team that it lost three straight to.... simply amazing.
The Flyers will now encounter the Montreal Canadiens, with the winner getting a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals. It should be a good series. The Flyers will get home ice advantage because Montreal is the #8 seed and the Flyers on the #7 seed. Imagine that. The lowest seeded teams in the conference make it to the conference finals. Expect the unexpected.
The Bruins jumped on the Flyers early, completely dominating them throughout most of the first period. Less then fifteen minutes into the game, the Flyers were on the bad end of a 3-0 score. I thought that would discourage them, and I was disgusted with their play. Goalie Michael Leighton looked like he could have had stopped at least one of those goals. The Flyers were down but not out.
JVR (James van Riemsdyk) did get a goal back late in the first period, leaving some hope for the second period. Even still, it was a tall order to come back from two in a Game 7. The Flyers would do just that in the second period.
The Flyers came out on fire to begin the second, firing many shots on goalie Tukka Rask. Scott Hartnell, who had made some blunders in the first period, put the Flyers within one on a beautifully placed backhander over the shoulder of Rask. Then, Danny Briere showed us his one-man show, when he wrapped the puck around the net and then put it in the net.... tie game.
So it all came down to the third period. Whoever won the period would win the series. The Flyers got a power play about midway through the period, and they were not going to waste it. Simon Gagne scored the game-winner on the power play for the Flyers. Finally, the Flyers had taken a lead in the game. It was just up to them to hold it.
They did hold that score, 4-3, for the rest of the game, propelling the team into history. The only other teams in NHL history to come back from 3-0 deficit were the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs and the 1975 New York Islanders. It is amazing when a team can when four straight games against the same team that it lost three straight to.... simply amazing.
The Flyers will now encounter the Montreal Canadiens, with the winner getting a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals. It should be a good series. The Flyers will get home ice advantage because Montreal is the #8 seed and the Flyers on the #7 seed. Imagine that. The lowest seeded teams in the conference make it to the conference finals. Expect the unexpected.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Flyers Even Series
Just a week ago I'd never thought I'd say this words: The Flyers have tied the series 3-3 against Boston. The Flyers dominated Game 6, winning 2-1. They were winning for the whole game, and held Boston scoreless until the final minute of play. Goalie Michael Leighton played outstanding filling in for Brian Boucher. Clear your calendars for Friday night. Game 7, Flyers-Bruins in Boston, it's going be a wild one.
The Flyers jumped on the Bruins from the beginning. Mike Richards scored on a rebound about 7 minutes into the first period. That got the fans going at the Wachovia Center. Leighton held down the fort in the first. He looked really, really solid, never out of control.
In the second period, the Flyers capitalized on a chance on the power play. Danny Briere maneuvered around in the Boston zone before rifling the puck into the top corner. It was a perfect shot from Briere, who has really stepped up his game in the playoffs. The Flyers have a number of guys who step up in the postseason: Briere, Chris Pronger, and any net minder the Flyers put out there.
The Flyers looked good for most of the third period, but at the end, Boston started to get chances. The Bruins pulled their goalie late in the game. Playing with an extra skater, the Bruins' Milan Lucic stuffed one between Leighton's legs, breaking up the shutout. The Flyers did hold out one more minute for the win.
Coming back from a 3-0 deficit is quite an achievement. Not many teams in the history of sports have done it. I did not believe they could do it. Now, the focus for the Flyers must be on Game 7. They have won three straight so they have the momentum. It's just a matter of going out and doing it. We'll all be watching.
The Flyers jumped on the Bruins from the beginning. Mike Richards scored on a rebound about 7 minutes into the first period. That got the fans going at the Wachovia Center. Leighton held down the fort in the first. He looked really, really solid, never out of control.
In the second period, the Flyers capitalized on a chance on the power play. Danny Briere maneuvered around in the Boston zone before rifling the puck into the top corner. It was a perfect shot from Briere, who has really stepped up his game in the playoffs. The Flyers have a number of guys who step up in the postseason: Briere, Chris Pronger, and any net minder the Flyers put out there.
The Flyers looked good for most of the third period, but at the end, Boston started to get chances. The Bruins pulled their goalie late in the game. Playing with an extra skater, the Bruins' Milan Lucic stuffed one between Leighton's legs, breaking up the shutout. The Flyers did hold out one more minute for the win.
Coming back from a 3-0 deficit is quite an achievement. Not many teams in the history of sports have done it. I did not believe they could do it. Now, the focus for the Flyers must be on Game 7. They have won three straight so they have the momentum. It's just a matter of going out and doing it. We'll all be watching.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Flyer Force Game 6
Their will be a Game 6 Wednesday night in Philadelphia. That's what we know after the Flyers 4-0 victory tonight over the Boston Bruins. The Flyers dominated the Bruins in front of their home crowd. I think the last two games may give the Flyers the momentum they need going into Game 6, especially tonight. Not only did the Flyers not allow a goal, they shelled the Bruins defense for four goals.
The opening period was pretty good for the Flyers. Ville Leino got credit for a goal that I think Scott Hartnell should have been credited with. Both players were in front of the net for a rebound, and both players got their stick on it. Leino was falling backwards and shooting at the same time, but Hartnell provided the power that was needed for the goal.
So the Flyers had a 1-0 lead going into the second period. A little more than halfway through the period, Hartnell finally did get his first official goal of the playoffs. He swatted the puck out of the air and into the net on a perfect pass from Mike Richards. The Flyers finally hurt the Bruins on the power play, when Simon Gagne's wrist shot beat Tukka Rask. It was Gagne's second goal in as many games.
In the third period, Gagne again put the icing on the cake by getting the Flyers fourth goal. The game got chippy during the third period. The Bruins were clearly trying to hurt the Flyer players. They succeeded by knocking out Claude Giroux, who did not play in the final period. Also, when Mike Richards nailed Bruins star Marc Savard, Savard and a Boston goon hopped on Richards. They jumped him like a thug in an alley. They both got penalties but I think the NHL should take further action..
The Flyers did lose goaltender Brian Boucher late in the second period. Boucher apparently injured his knee when clumsy Ryan Parent fell on his leg. Boucher had to be helped off the ice. Michael Leighton, in his first game back from injury, filled in admirably for Bouch, holding onto the shutout.
The way I see it now, the Flyers probably aren't getting Boucher back. Leighton will need to step in and perform. The Flyers are one game away from a Game 7 to decide the series. They can do it, but they have to keep up the momentum and pressure. Boston has the pressure on them now, the weight of embarrassment sitting on their shoulders. Game 6 will be Wednesday night.
The opening period was pretty good for the Flyers. Ville Leino got credit for a goal that I think Scott Hartnell should have been credited with. Both players were in front of the net for a rebound, and both players got their stick on it. Leino was falling backwards and shooting at the same time, but Hartnell provided the power that was needed for the goal.
So the Flyers had a 1-0 lead going into the second period. A little more than halfway through the period, Hartnell finally did get his first official goal of the playoffs. He swatted the puck out of the air and into the net on a perfect pass from Mike Richards. The Flyers finally hurt the Bruins on the power play, when Simon Gagne's wrist shot beat Tukka Rask. It was Gagne's second goal in as many games.
In the third period, Gagne again put the icing on the cake by getting the Flyers fourth goal. The game got chippy during the third period. The Bruins were clearly trying to hurt the Flyer players. They succeeded by knocking out Claude Giroux, who did not play in the final period. Also, when Mike Richards nailed Bruins star Marc Savard, Savard and a Boston goon hopped on Richards. They jumped him like a thug in an alley. They both got penalties but I think the NHL should take further action..
The Flyers did lose goaltender Brian Boucher late in the second period. Boucher apparently injured his knee when clumsy Ryan Parent fell on his leg. Boucher had to be helped off the ice. Michael Leighton, in his first game back from injury, filled in admirably for Bouch, holding onto the shutout.
The way I see it now, the Flyers probably aren't getting Boucher back. Leighton will need to step in and perform. The Flyers are one game away from a Game 7 to decide the series. They can do it, but they have to keep up the momentum and pressure. Boston has the pressure on them now, the weight of embarrassment sitting on their shoulders. Game 6 will be Wednesday night.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Gagne Wins it for Flyers
A little less than 15 minutes into overtime, Simon Gagne scored to finally give the Flyers a win in this series. It was a great moment for Gagne, who is in his first game back from an injured foot. He had not played a game in this series, but he certainly delivered for the Flyers tonight at the Wachovia Center.
Mark Recchi (playoff extraordinaire) has been killing the Flyers all series. Even late in his career, Recchi (above) is still great at getting in the right position at the right time. He scored with about five minutes left in the first period to put the Bruins up 1-0. The Flyers answered before the period was over. Daniel Briere put a low shot past Boston goalie Tukka Rask.
Chris Pronger, who has been money for the Flyers in the playoffs, opened the second period with a goal. That was his fourth of the playoffs. Claude Giroux put the Flyers up by two not too long after Pronger's goal. The Bruins did narrow the lead to one before the end of the period.
Milan Lucic tied the game for the Bruins early in the third period. The Flyers had their work cut out for them. With less the 6 minutes left, Chris Pronger fired a shot that was deflected into the net by Ville Leino. That was Leino's first goal of this playoffs. The Flyers could not hold onto that one goal lead though. Mark Recchi scored from point blank range with 32 seconds left in the third period.
That's where Gagne comes in. His and Recchi's goals were very similar. Both were scored from point blank range with a lot of net in sight. So the Flyers will now travel back to Boston for a Game 5. Boston still has a commanding 3-1 series lead, but maybe this win will light a fire under the Flyers. I'll sure be rooting for them.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Bruins Take 2-0 Series Lead
The Philadelphia Flyers have dropped their second game in a row to the Boston Bruins. The only difference was tonight's game didn't require overtime. When the final horn sounded, the Flyers were on the wrong side of a 3-2 score. They will now have to come back from to games down, a very tough task to say the least.
The night started off wrong for the Flyers. Boston took a 1-0 lead a little more than five minutes into the contest. The Flyers answered back with a goal from Mike Richards to even the score before the end of the period. The Bruins again jumped out in front in the second, with a goal from Miroslav Satan. Satan is really killing the Flyers this series. Danny Briere jumped out of the penalty box late in the second period, and tied the game at two.
So the two teams went into final period tied at two. Through the first 17 minutes of the period, that's how the score remained. But the Flyers poor defense allowed Milan Lucic to score the game-winner late in the period.
I thought the Flyers would build upon their Game 1 and improve their play. That didn't happen. The Flyers defense looked sluggish and the offense couldn't keep the puck in the Boston zone. On the power play, the Flyers were simply terrible. They barely managed shots, let alone scoring chances.
The Flyers now must tie the series at home. I feel the only chance they have is if they win Games 3 and 4 at home. They can do it, but they would be much more comfortable heading back to Philly with the series 1-1.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Flyers-Bruins Preview
The Flyers second round opponent was determined last night when the Montreal Canadians closed out the Washington Capitals in Game 7 of their first round series. The Flyers will get the Boston Bruins. The Flyers have to be happy they don't have to face Washington's high-powered offense. Still, they shouldn't overlook the Bruins.
The Flyers were 2-2 against the Bostonians during the season, including a 2-1 loss in the Winter Classic game at Fenway park. I think this will be a pretty even-matched series. Both team's starting goalies were not starters to open the season. The Flyers have a hot Brian Boucher and the Bruins have a young goalie starting in front of Tim Thomas, Tukka Rask.
The Bruins are not a high-scoring team, but their defense is one of the best. The Bruins have killed 19 of 19 penalties in the first round. The Flyers will have a tough time scoring against Boston, especially with Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne out. They will need Claude Giroux (above, during the Winter Classic) to step up like he did in round one. They will also need Chris Pronger to have another big series.
Overall, this is my prediction. I'm going to say that the Flyers win in six games and advance to the Eastern Conference finals. This team really played well against the Devils and I think that will carry over even with the loss of Ian Laperriere, Jeff Carter, and Simon Gagne.
Friday, December 4, 2009
John Stevens Fired
I know I haven't blogged in quite a while, but I've been a little busy. Philadelphia sports has been amuck with interesting stories so I figure this would be a good time to get back to the blog. News is coming in right now that the Flyers have fired their head coach, John Stevens. The Flyers have been slumping, losing 5 of the last 6. Still, this is a surprising shakeup.
TSN is reporting that Steven's replacement will be Peter Laviolette. According to the report, Laviolette will be behind the bench for tomorrow's game. Laviolette was the head coach for the Islanders from 2001-2003. During his tenure with New York, he took his team to the playoffs twice but never made it past the first round.
After that stint in NYC, Laviolette took over for Paul Maurice in Carolina. Laviolette lead Carolina to a Stanley Cup championship in 2005-06. However he was fired after last season.
I am not sure that this was the right move for the Flyers. I like Stevens for his calm and focused nature on the bench. He seemingly never let things get out of hand. I am not too familiar with Laviolette coaches, let alone how he'll coach the Fly Guys.
The Flyers are 13-11-1 and this season. They need to start winning more games do avoid falling out of playoff contention. So maybe a change was needed. Fact of the matter is that you can't really judge a coaching change until you see how the new coach does. Who knows? Maybe Laviolette is just what this team needs.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Flyers Open Season Tomorrow
The team you see on the ice tomorrow night will have a different look to it this year. First, the Flyers newest defenseman, Chris Pronger, will debut for his new team. Pronger has consistently been one of the best defensemen in the league. That is why the Flyers traded promising young players for him and then signed the 34-year old to a 7-year deal.
I think Pronger will bring a real physical presence to the ice, kind of like Derian Hatcher was a couple of years ago. The difference between Hatcher and Pronger is that Pronger is a major threat to score on the power play from the blue line. He has one of the hardest shots in the league.
The other major difference between this year's team and last year's team has to due with the goalies. The Flyers got rid of Martin Biron and Antero Nittymaki. Instead, they signed Ray Emery, who hasn't been in the NHL since the 2007-2008 season. He looked good playing in Europe, but the Flyers are still taking a major risk by making him their #1 goaltender.
I think this team will be very good. The Atlantic division is very talented, so the Flyers will many tough games. Still I believe that the Flyers will make the playoffs and finish in the top 8 in the Eastern Conference. ESPN Magazine and Sports Illustrated both project the Flyers to finish 4th in the Eastern Conference.
So, enough with the talk. Let's get to the games. Games aren't played on paper and the Flyers certainly know that. Our first impression of this team will come tomorrow night.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
NHL Investigating Flyers
According to ESPN, the NHL is investigating the contract the Flyers recently gave to defensemen Chris Pronger. They are also looking into the contract given to the Blackhawks Marian Hossa. The NHL thinks the Flyers and Blackhawks may be trying to circumvent the collective bargaining agreement.
The NHL will hire a outside firm to see if the Flyers discussed when Pronger would retire as they were negotiating his contract. Pronger's deal will give him $7.6 million the first year and the second year; $7.2 million the third year; $7 million the fourth year; $4 million the fifth year; and $525 thousand in the final two years. Since the hit the Flyers will take on the cap is the average yearly salary of the contract, the Flyers will only have to absorb a little under $5 million a year.
The NHL believes that Pronger told the Flyers when he would like to retire, and the Flyers added on the extra few years so that the cap hit would be less. It is a clear lope hole in the collective bargaining agreement. The NHL is worried that these GMs (like Paul Holmgren) are using these front-loaded deals so that they would have more money under the cap.
I don' think the NHL could possibly prove their argument. How are they going to figure out how the Flyers negotiating the Pronger deal? The punishment for the Flyers could be fines and/or loss of draft picks..
Friday, April 17, 2009
Flyer Lose Tough One in OT
The Philadelphia Flyers lost tonight to the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2, with Bill Guerin of the Pens scoring the game-winner in overtime. The Flyers are now down 2-0 in the series heading to Philly.
The Flyers did play much better in today's contest than they did on Friday in Game 1. They looked unbelievably slow in Game 1, but tonight they showed improvement. The Penguins are tough to beat. The Penguins are impossible to beat when the refs are against you, as they were tonight.
The supposedly bipartisan officials were decidedly partisan. When you give a team (the Penguins) at two man advantage in overtime on chippy penalties, there was no way the Flyers could win. I call what the officials did cheating the game. You never hear of a two man advantage in overtime IN THE PLAYOFFS. Give me a break.
The Flyers need to be more aggressive and physical in Game 3. They need to hammer Penguin star (I use the term "star" lightly here) Sidney "Baby" Crosby. I mean take him out of the game. He needs to be in the locker room injured, or afraid to be hit. I take the injured option myself.
It will be hard for the Flyers to come back in this series. But if they can win the two home games, they will tie the series and have a chance to beat the Pens.
The Flyers did play much better in today's contest than they did on Friday in Game 1. They looked unbelievably slow in Game 1, but tonight they showed improvement. The Penguins are tough to beat. The Penguins are impossible to beat when the refs are against you, as they were tonight.
The supposedly bipartisan officials were decidedly partisan. When you give a team (the Penguins) at two man advantage in overtime on chippy penalties, there was no way the Flyers could win. I call what the officials did cheating the game. You never hear of a two man advantage in overtime IN THE PLAYOFFS. Give me a break.
The Flyers need to be more aggressive and physical in Game 3. They need to hammer Penguin star (I use the term "star" lightly here) Sidney "Baby" Crosby. I mean take him out of the game. He needs to be in the locker room injured, or afraid to be hit. I take the injured option myself.
It will be hard for the Flyers to come back in this series. But if they can win the two home games, they will tie the series and have a chance to beat the Pens.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
A Tale of Two Stars
Everyone knows who the top two players in the league are, right? Obviously, Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby are the top players, in whatever order. I am writing this to prove that statement is false. Sure, these guys are premier players but they are far too overrated.
Let's talk about Alex Ovechkin first. Ovechkin does lead the league in goals, with 44. He is second in points, only behind the Penguins Evgeni Malkin. Ovechkin is a dirty player who throws cheap shots with surprising regularity. I agree with Sid the Kid when I say the Ovechkin goes into the boards with the intention to injure. He leaves his feet on most every check but the refs would never call charging on Alex "the Great".
Earlier in the week, I heard the Flyers play-by-play man Jim Jackson say the Ovechkin has shot the puck 100 more times than any other player in the NHL. That got me thinking. Well, first I thought that Ovechkin must hog the puck so much that his teammates can't stand it. Then I thought: "How much percent of those shots actually cross the goal line." So I calculated the answer at 11%. Let me compare him to several other prominent players. Mike Richards scoring percentage is 14%. Crosby's is 13%. The second leading goal scorer, Jeff Carter, is at 14%.
You may think that three or four percent difference is nothing. But when you're talking about hundreds of shots, it makes a big difference. As you can see, Ovechkin is not as efficient as other top-tier players, even though he has scored eight more goals than anyone in the NHL. Maybe Ovechkin should look for an open teammate instead of shooting every time he gets the puck.
Sidney Crosby is much more of a playmaker than Alex. He also yaps a lot more than Ovechkin (to put it politely). Crosby is always complaining to the referees about every little thing. He craves the attention. I don't even believe he is the best player on his own team. Evgeni Malkin plays more physical than Crosby, and he is much better at controlling the puck.
One player who I believe means more to his team than either of these guys is Mike Richards. Richards is a guy who doesn't always get mentioned as one of the best players. He is the captain of the Flyers, and his leadership abilities on the ice are evident. He is a good body checker but he does it cleanly (not cowardly, like Ovechkin). He will talk but only when it is appropriate. Richards will make any play he has to to win the game. He will just as easily score a goal as he will set up a teammate. He, alone, creates so many scoring chances for his team. He will also stand up for his teammates and himself when the time comes. He is the real star.
Let's talk about Alex Ovechkin first. Ovechkin does lead the league in goals, with 44. He is second in points, only behind the Penguins Evgeni Malkin. Ovechkin is a dirty player who throws cheap shots with surprising regularity. I agree with Sid the Kid when I say the Ovechkin goes into the boards with the intention to injure. He leaves his feet on most every check but the refs would never call charging on Alex "the Great".
Earlier in the week, I heard the Flyers play-by-play man Jim Jackson say the Ovechkin has shot the puck 100 more times than any other player in the NHL. That got me thinking. Well, first I thought that Ovechkin must hog the puck so much that his teammates can't stand it. Then I thought: "How much percent of those shots actually cross the goal line." So I calculated the answer at 11%. Let me compare him to several other prominent players. Mike Richards scoring percentage is 14%. Crosby's is 13%. The second leading goal scorer, Jeff Carter, is at 14%.
You may think that three or four percent difference is nothing. But when you're talking about hundreds of shots, it makes a big difference. As you can see, Ovechkin is not as efficient as other top-tier players, even though he has scored eight more goals than anyone in the NHL. Maybe Ovechkin should look for an open teammate instead of shooting every time he gets the puck.
Sidney Crosby is much more of a playmaker than Alex. He also yaps a lot more than Ovechkin (to put it politely). Crosby is always complaining to the referees about every little thing. He craves the attention. I don't even believe he is the best player on his own team. Evgeni Malkin plays more physical than Crosby, and he is much better at controlling the puck.
One player who I believe means more to his team than either of these guys is Mike Richards. Richards is a guy who doesn't always get mentioned as one of the best players. He is the captain of the Flyers, and his leadership abilities on the ice are evident. He is a good body checker but he does it cleanly (not cowardly, like Ovechkin). He will talk but only when it is appropriate. Richards will make any play he has to to win the game. He will just as easily score a goal as he will set up a teammate. He, alone, creates so many scoring chances for his team. He will also stand up for his teammates and himself when the time comes. He is the real star.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Briere Out Another Four Weeks
Flyers center Danny Briere is still not healthy. Heck, that could be an understatement. We are at the All-Star break and Briere has only played in nine games all season. Briere underwent groin surgery without problems earler in the week. He will be out another four weeks (at the very least).
Flyers GM Paul Holmgren has reportedly said that the Flyers are seeking the services on Peter Forsberg, if he wants back in the NHL. Forsberg is a very elite player. But at his age, his skills are probably dwindling. I don't think it is a good idea for the Flyers to ride the Forsberg carousel again. He is hurt too much to be an effective investment.
This would also be a bad move financially. The Flyers always are battling to stay under the cap. Forsberg would come cheap, but he would likely take away playing time from talented rookies Claude Giroux and Luca Sbisa. Both of these players have tons of potential, and they should get the nod over Forsberg.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Flyers Preview
The Philadelphia Flyers will kick off the hockey season tonight at the Wachovia Center. The New York Rangers will be visiting them starting at 7:00 pm EST. The Flyers are looking to make the playoffs for the second straight year, and I think they have the talent to do it.
The Flyers will be trotting out almost the same team as last year's squad. One big addition is a healthy Simon Gagne, which they didn't have most of last season. Gagne scored 40+ goals in the 06-07 and the 05-06 seasons. Don't expect him to equal that total, even if he stays healthy. Mainly because those seasons came when Gagne was paired up Peter Forsberg, the best passer in the NHL.
Gagne will probably appear on a line with center Daniel Briere. Briere had a good first year for the Flyers last season. Look for him and Gagne to combine for a lot of goals this season.
Mike Richards has taken over the captaincy, and he is also the best player. Richards had a monster season last year, racking up 75 points. Richards should rebound nicely from that breakout campaigne.
Martin Biron will still be the goalie. Biron was named the number one goalie before last season. The Flyers gave him a chance and he showed he could dominate, especially in the playoffs.
The Flyers only concern seems to be the defense. The offense if stacked with 20+ goal-scorers, but the defense is unproven. Kimmo Timmonen is one of the most underrated defensemen in the game. He was the Flyers go-to defensemen last season, shutting down the other team's biggest stars. Braydon Coburn seems poised for a breakout season, after playing well last year. Coburn, with his smooth skating ability and size, could emerge as a top defensemen. Randy Jones is a solid defensemen also, but injured. The Flyers picked up veteran Steve Eminger to add some depth to the position.
If, when watching the game tonight, you feel something is missing, don't be surprised. Derian Hatcher won't be in the lineup tonight. Hatcher delivers bone-crunching hits almost shiftly. I think he gets into the other team's head. Like Ray Lewis on the Ravens, he instills fear in other team. They think twice before skating into his zone. I think he will be sorely missed.
I can't believe it's hockey season already. I feel like the NFL season just started (ended?) for the Eagles, and here we are talking about hockey. But I do like hockey, and with the Phillies having all these breaks, I'll need something to watch. I'm finding increasingly difficult to find anything good on TV. Between the first and second rounds of the MLB postseason, there was hardly any good sports on TV. Hopefully, the Flyers can fill that void.
The Flyers will be trotting out almost the same team as last year's squad. One big addition is a healthy Simon Gagne, which they didn't have most of last season. Gagne scored 40+ goals in the 06-07 and the 05-06 seasons. Don't expect him to equal that total, even if he stays healthy. Mainly because those seasons came when Gagne was paired up Peter Forsberg, the best passer in the NHL.
Gagne will probably appear on a line with center Daniel Briere. Briere had a good first year for the Flyers last season. Look for him and Gagne to combine for a lot of goals this season.
Mike Richards has taken over the captaincy, and he is also the best player. Richards had a monster season last year, racking up 75 points. Richards should rebound nicely from that breakout campaigne.
Martin Biron will still be the goalie. Biron was named the number one goalie before last season. The Flyers gave him a chance and he showed he could dominate, especially in the playoffs.
The Flyers only concern seems to be the defense. The offense if stacked with 20+ goal-scorers, but the defense is unproven. Kimmo Timmonen is one of the most underrated defensemen in the game. He was the Flyers go-to defensemen last season, shutting down the other team's biggest stars. Braydon Coburn seems poised for a breakout season, after playing well last year. Coburn, with his smooth skating ability and size, could emerge as a top defensemen. Randy Jones is a solid defensemen also, but injured. The Flyers picked up veteran Steve Eminger to add some depth to the position.
If, when watching the game tonight, you feel something is missing, don't be surprised. Derian Hatcher won't be in the lineup tonight. Hatcher delivers bone-crunching hits almost shiftly. I think he gets into the other team's head. Like Ray Lewis on the Ravens, he instills fear in other team. They think twice before skating into his zone. I think he will be sorely missed.
I can't believe it's hockey season already. I feel like the NFL season just started (ended?) for the Eagles, and here we are talking about hockey. But I do like hockey, and with the Phillies having all these breaks, I'll need something to watch. I'm finding increasingly difficult to find anything good on TV. Between the first and second rounds of the MLB postseason, there was hardly any good sports on TV. Hopefully, the Flyers can fill that void.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Flyers Interested in Sundin?
A recent rumor has the Flyers interested in veteran center Mats Sundin. Well, GM Paul Holmgren made things clear when he said this on the Flyers' website, "If he decides to play, then we're interested." Holmgren also said that it would be hard to fit Sundin under the salary cap, and that the Flyers wouldn't let a part of their promising future go to aquire Sundin.
Mats Sundin is a great player, and probably a future hall-of-famer. He is getting old however (37), and he has not made a decision on whether he should come back for a fourteenth NHL season. Sundin had 32 goals last season to go along with 46 assists. For his career, Sundin has 555 goals.
A report on a a Toronto radio station said that the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers would be Sundin's first choices on where to play next season.
If Sundin does come to Philly, it would be the first time he played for an NHL team located in the U.S. I hope the Flyers can lock up Sundin to give them another proven player. Most of their players are young and it would be good to have a veteran leader like Sundin in the locker room.
Mats Sundin is a great player, and probably a future hall-of-famer. He is getting old however (37), and he has not made a decision on whether he should come back for a fourteenth NHL season. Sundin had 32 goals last season to go along with 46 assists. For his career, Sundin has 555 goals.
A report on a a Toronto radio station said that the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers would be Sundin's first choices on where to play next season.
If Sundin does come to Philly, it would be the first time he played for an NHL team located in the U.S. I hope the Flyers can lock up Sundin to give them another proven player. Most of their players are young and it would be good to have a veteran leader like Sundin in the locker room.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Flyers Lose First Game
The Flyers have just concluded their first playoff game with a 5-4 loss to the Washington Capitols. They will play again on Sunday in Washington. The Flyers played well in the first period and excellent in the second. But they played extremely sloppy in the third as they gave up three goals, including the winning one by Capitols' star Alexander Ovechkin. The Flyers are a horrible defense team and that showed tonight. They also back up and back up until they inevitably let in the goalie. If they continue to play such atrocious defense, coach John Stevens might as well send out no defensemen (at least nobody would screen Biron). Speaking of Stevens, if I were general manager Paul Holmgren, I would fire Stevens mid-series. Stevens has effectively taught the Flyers how to play ineffective defense. They make Phillies shortstop Eric Bruntlett look like a Gold Glove award winner. I like what Stevens has done with the offense (they have great depth). Maybe they should hire a defense coordinator and keep Stevens as a offensive coordinator (I'm looking at former Steelers coach Bill Cowher as a possible candidate). I still think the Flyers will win the series but if they don't, it will be because of their defense.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Flyers Preview
The Flyers home-opener is tonight at seven. The New York Islanders will be visiting them at the Wachovia Center. The Flyers team you saw last year is nothing like the one you will go to see this year. The team is reformed and looking good after its first three games this season, especially the last game, in which the Flyers blew out the Vancouver Canucks, 8-2. Among the many new-comers, Danny Briere, the team's big free agent signing in the offseason, has 4 goals and 7 points in three games. They also signed Kimmo Timonen who was probably the best free agent defenseman out on the market. They got another veteran defenseman in Jason Smith, who was named the team captain. They got two good wingers in Joffery Lupul and Scott Hartnell. General manager Paul Holmgren looked like a mad scientist reforming his experiment this off-season.
The Flyers also look like the old Broad Street Bullies early this season but that might not be a good thing. Steve Downie was handed a suspension in the pre-season for a nasty hit. Steve Downie was handed his 20 game suspension for a brutal hit in the Vanouver game.
This is one of the fastest turnarounds I have ever seen in sports. And it's all because of Paul Holmgren. He traded veterans (including Peter Forsberg) for draft picks and young players even though some protested. He also took out Comcast's wallet to get Daniel Briere along with the veteran defensemen.
So the season opens tonight, and even though you see some new faces and hear some new names, you will know that this team is way better than the one took the ice last year.
The Flyers also look like the old Broad Street Bullies early this season but that might not be a good thing. Steve Downie was handed a suspension in the pre-season for a nasty hit. Steve Downie was handed his 20 game suspension for a brutal hit in the Vanouver game.
This is one of the fastest turnarounds I have ever seen in sports. And it's all because of Paul Holmgren. He traded veterans (including Peter Forsberg) for draft picks and young players even though some protested. He also took out Comcast's wallet to get Daniel Briere along with the veteran defensemen.
So the season opens tonight, and even though you see some new faces and hear some new names, you will know that this team is way better than the one took the ice last year.
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