Wives Carnival

Ian Laperriere was there, so was the rest of the Flyers (for the most part). I got to meet Carle, Coburn (who is so freakin' cool), Richards (I almost died), and Pronger (I did die). Not to mention Gary Dornhoefer, Don Saleski (it was cool to see 'Big Bird' in person), Bob 'Hound' Kelly, Dave 'The Hammer' Schultz, and Bernie 'Freakin' Parent. I wish I had better pictures, but I was too enticed with all the Flyers stuff that I couldn't stop to take good quality pictures. For those who were there, who else stood in the Alumni line for 2 hours? I did. I had an auto with Pronger at 5:00 and a picture with Richards at 5:30. When did I get out of the Alumni line? 5:24. But I made both appointments. A great day ended with a cheesesteak from Tony Luke's and I watched some of Paul McCartny is Dead: The Last Testament of George Harrison.

Flyers Wives Fight for Lives

is a great charity that has raised nearly $23 million in it's 30+ years of operating. I'm going on Sunday. I don't know whether I should get my jersey signed (front or back?) or get some of my cards signed. There will be alumni such as Joe "Thundermouth" Watson, Bobby Clarke, and Bernie Parent. Does anyone know if there will be players from the 80's? I can't wait to see Jim Jackson. My mom says she's gonna give him a Utica Club shirt. I don't believe it, but if you hear him say anything about it during a broadcast then you know who did it.

Why the Flyers Should Trade for Dustin Penner

Dustin Penner is a good hard-nosed player who plays in front of the net. He also can score 25 goals and 25 assists in a season. He scored 32-31-63 with Edmonton (worst team in the league) last year. He would be a perfect fit in Philly. Plus he played a crucial role in the Ducks (Pronger and O'Donnell) Stanley Cup win of 2007.

If Edmonton is looking for scoring and skill, goodbye Zherdev. If Edmonton is looking for grit and toughness, goodbye Hartnell. If Laviolette would rather play Carcillo or Shelley instead of a skilled player such as Zherdev (who is in the last year of his contract), then we might as well pick up some one who will play. As for Hartnell, he has about as many points as Penner (1 more) with double the stupid, unneeded penalties.

So to recap, trade for Penner - win the Stanley Cup.



Also, as for the Versteeg deal. It was stupid he is clearly not worth a first round pick, let alone a first and third. Just because he won a Cup last year doesn't make him an All-Star.

Flyers Vs. Kings

I will be attending the Flyers-Kings game on Sunday and it is looking to be a good one. The Flyers royally pounded L.A. the last time they faced each other (and if I'm not mistaken, Pronger was injured). With the current goalie fights, wouldn't it be nice to see Bernier challenge Richards. Oh man, that would be the pounding of a lifetime, even better than when Richards fought Cooke this year. Let's go Flyers.

Flyers Have Skills

The Draft last night was pretty fun. The players all had a great time. Who else saw Ovie snapping a picture of Kessel being the only one left to be drafted.

Here's where the Flyers will be participating:
Briere (passing) - McDonald's NHL Accuracy Shooting™
Giroux (group 2) - G Series NHL Skills Challenge Relay™
Briere (group 2) - G Series NHL Skills Challenge Relay™

I can't stop laughing at the fact Briere will be passing. He'll probably try to wrap it around the net.

Either way the Skills is always entertaining.

Pre-Game Report

I've sort of not been a Flyers blogger lately, so...



Tonight the Flyers face Boston for the third time this season. So far, the Flyers have been outscored 4-2. Yet, this has turned out to be a road-winning series thus far, which bodes well for Philly. The Flyers stank Power Play is tied at 17.2% with the Bruins this season. Also, Philly hasn't lost this calendar year.



Chris Pronger has been cleared to practice and is looking to get back into game action on Tuesday versus the Caps. Nik Zherdev didn't play Tuesday and is day-to-day. Milan Lucic is still out and will not play tonight.

The Guardian Project

The NHL has sold out, yes. But this is just a weird idea, as is the Fantasy Draft (which I'm still not sure what it is). But, as a Flyers blogger I feel obligated to link this video. The 'Penguin' and the 'Blackhawk' are neither a penguin nor a blackhawk. The King looks like a solid character, but the hair on the 'Hurricane' is just... The 'Flame' could be cool and so could the 'Thrasher'. The 'Duck' I'm sure is going to be lame and so is the 'Maple Leaf'. The 'Devil' could actually be kinda cool. While the 'Islander' and 'Ranger' will be the worst superheroes since She-Hulk and the Funky Flashman. The 'Flyer' looks funny, yet badass. So, I don't even know anymore.

Jim Jackson Gave us a Shoutout

During the first period against the Devils tonight, Jim Jackson mentioned that Sestito was from Rome, NY and followed up with, "... which is near Utica, NY," Jones then said, "That's where you're from isn't it?" J.J. said it's nice in the summer. Jones- I've been there in the winter, and it was cold. A nice little shoutout from one of our Hometown braodcaster, Jim Jackson.

If You've Watched The Flyers This Year...

You know a few things about this years team. Such as:

Scott Hartnell could shell out five bucks for a skate sharpening.
Get up you fool!

Nikolai Zherdev recently watched a Youtube video about the history of the Spin-O-Rama.
Third times the charm.

The refs aren't exactly Philly Phans.
20, two minutes for... Height.

They play more aggressive on the Penalty Kill than Even Strength, or Power Play for that matter.
We better be shorthanded or I'll miss.

James van Riemsdyk has apparently never heard of this Sophomore Jynx.
Soft what?

Sean O'Donnell reminds one of Moe Howard, and not just in attitude.
What are you crackin' wise.

If you haven't noticed these things, you obviously haven't seen a Flyers game this season.

Playing State Rival Again

For those who don't know, the game starts at 6:00 tonight. Laviolette smartened up and played Bobrovsky tonight. Also, Andreas Nodl is playing in his first game of the 2010-11 season. He has been swapped in for... Leino? Carcillo? I think it's the latter. Yes, Carcillo has been scratched so the power play... Nodl on the Power Play? I don't know what is going on but if we have to call up Andreas Nodl to play on the PP unit we're in trouble. How about we trade a certain bird-dog for someone who can stay on their feet. I hate the FSN Pitt play-by-play, color, people. They really put the anal in analyst.

Okay, So I'm A Little Pissed.

Not only does Philly's power play stink, but Laviolette went with Boucher. Again. Lavvy, I'm speechless.
Who else thinks Simon Gagne looks bad in blue. It just aint right.
Not only this, but I learned Tom Scholz is making a new album under the name Boston. Are you kidding me, Brad Delp (rest in peace) is deceased and you can't change the name. I mean Tom is the only original member left. Not only THAT, but there is a WOMAN in the damn band. AAAAAHHHHHH!!! Tom, I hope you don't think this album is going platinum, or gold for that matter.

I Have A Feeling...

I have a feeling that Sergei Bobrovsky is the new Steve Mason, Cam Ward, or maybe even Patrick Roy. I might be getting ahead of myself but his name has been on my blog 5, no, 6 times now. Not to mention this from a previous post, "Philadelphia's Sergei Bobrovsky puts together a Steve Mason-esqe season and wins the Calder Trophy as best rookie..." This may seem a little steep for just two games. I don't care. The last time I liked a rookie this much, well let's just say he is a captain, wears 18 and has lead our team in points for two of the last three seasons. That's right when Jeff Carter, and R.J. Umberger, and Antero Niittymaki beat Richards out for Flyers rookie of the year I still knew he was special. He was my favorite all year. Among other Flyers rookies I have favored Steve Downie, Claude Giroux/Luca Sbisa, and James van Riemsdyk. Two of which are league known, one is getting better as the days progress, and the last will be a Timonen-like player. So, in this being the first goalie, I still feel confident. Hey Laviolette, do us all a favor and keep Bob in net.

I Thought Kerry Fraser Retired

Oh, he did you say. Well then who was that reffing the Flyers last night? Oh, none other than Chris "Kerry Jr." Lee. 41, PIM that is. 21 for Hartnell. That game was bogus. If we could've had 5 guys on the ice for more than half the game, we could've won. Maybe if our power play was better or even passable as a pro power play we might have scored more than one goal. Why Boucher? Bobrovsky is awesome, and I think Boucher can take not playing in two games, he's a big boy, and he backed up Nabokov before. For those who don't like Pronger, he had 26 power play points last season which was second on the team. How about Stepan's hat trick for the Rangers? pittsburgh lost again, and again in their new building.

Way to go Boys

The Flyers won their season opener in pittsburgh. Hey fleury, Suck It! Awesome play between the pipes for debuter Sergei Bobrovsky, for the first two periods that is. My fantasy team got 10 points for that display by the Flyers. But thanks to Kiprusoff, I didn't get all the points I could have. The Flames went 7-0 in the pre-season and they got shutout in the first game, disappointment.


This post was sponsored Custom Ink

Season Starts Tonight!

Laviolette decided to go with Bobrovsky, you know Bobrovsky-from... Russia. He did have a great pre-season. The Flyers as a whole had a terrific pre-season, they had the second best record (next to the undefeated Flames) in the NHL. Another question is, with the absence of Pronger, who will take that final d-spot, Walker or Bartulis? I do want the Latvian D-Man to take the cake on this one. Walker could add an extra bit of rough and toughness, but the Flyers have enough of the toughness eminating from their line-up. I guess I'm still bitter because of the Gagne trade, you know the one where we got jack-squat. Lappy is out and was told to retire due to his PCS. But I'm pumped for the game against the... why? Why must we start against (and in) pittsburgh. I've had enough of the whole pittsburgh thing (as stated in this article that I am not done posting about). Hopefully the Flyers win with a ton of goals, that would be a good present for my fantasy team, the Philly Phanatics.
Good luck Flyers!
(by the way, who saw Atlanta's pre-season performance, hahaha.)

Why do you keep doing this!

So apparently, facing the ultimate do-or-die situation didn't do it for the Flyers.

Taken seconds after Giroux scored the winning goal

Facing the end of their season Claude Giroux helped the Flyers over the Rangers. That started a great playoff run the Flyers haven't seen in 13 years. Ohhhh, so they keep going to shootout so they have a rockin' season. That doesn't cut it for me. We're gonna need better goalies if we're gonna keep going into sudden death. Leighton and Boucher are okay and each had a superlative playoff, but Boucher has had problems in the past and Mike has never played more than 34 games in a season. His career save% is too low and his career GAA is too high.
I don't want to disrespect my goalies, but hopefully we don't have to see another season closer like last season.
Here are some other pictures from that historic day.

US born Van Riemsdyk

Laperriere bouts with Voros

Finally!!!

The Flyers pre-season kicks-off tonight on the NHL Network USA. During the first period the broadasters, Coatesy, Jones, and Jackson (the latter of which was born in upstate NY, graduated from SU, broadcasted for the Utica Devils) had their normal banter back for the 10-11 season. Jackson mentioned Clinton, NY native Nick Palmieri as he had an early chance.
Nick Palmieri is from central New York, the HQ of Philly Phan

New Roads

Thanks to Hockey Jersey Concepts, here's a look at the Flyers new road jersey for the upcoming season.
Looks good.

The Latest

Just some updates today...

Well, Bill Guerin might play with the Flyers in training camp.

Also, the Sharks, who have signed former Flyer-goalie Antero Niittymaki early this Summer, have signed Antti Niemi, and I think we all know who that is.

Mike Comrie has been signed by the penguins. Why do the penguins have to ruin players I like: Kunitz, Ponikarovsky, Malkin, Fedotanko... Okay, I've always hated Fedotanko.

Kovalchuk. Kovalchuk will probably not be signed. The NHL keeps putting it off and the Devils should just drop it. Its not like he's Rick Nash or Alex Ovechkin. I think Los Angeles should get workin' a contract proposal for the overpaid Russian.
Also, the ice of the Wells Fargo Center (formerly known as the Wachovia Center) has been painted. That's all the news I have for you now. Stay Classy, Planet Earth

Uh-Oh

Remembering my trip to Philly and seeing my most exciting hockey game, I was looking at some pictures from the game when I stumbled across this...

Yikes! A new Flyer was given the finger by a rude Ranger-Hater. Okay, it was me, and I'm still not thrilled about Shelley or the fact that he is replacing Cote. That's right our Devil-Fighting monster of a player has retired to be an Assistant Coach for the Phantoms. You will be missed.

While on the subject of our ever-changing roster, Gagne going to the Lightning is a major disapointment. I was so pissed when Downie had been traded and I knew how good he could be. Now Gagne for... Who? You're kidding right? Matt freakin' Walker! What the hell? Oh, and a fourth round pick, damn it. Well with Holmgren's clever moving of players, it will probably be our highest pick in three years. Gagne, you will be missed.

sigh. On a brighter note, we have an excellent 20 goals from newcomer Zherdev and a few from Andrej Meszaros. Also, with the opening on the powerplay hopefully Giroux will get a few more minutes of playing time to pick up more than 16 goals this season. Van Riemsdyk and Leino will make up for Gagne's goals, but Wojtek Wolski is still on the market along with Stempniak and O'Sullivan, so I'm hoping that something might happen there. So good night and good luck. (What?)