Running Thoughts: Flyers @ Blackhawks 12/26/08

First Period

• Why is Biron starting? This is a horrible team for him to come back against.
• Flyers plane circling for hours and no morning skate? Swell.
• And just over a minute in, a big, juicy Biron rebound makes it a quick 1-0 for the 'Hawks.
• Just over a minute after that, a Sharp shot top-shelf makes it 2-0. This could be a real long night. And a real short night for Biron.
• Metropolit misses a breakaway, frustrated Flyers take a penalty. Boo.
• Penalty killed and the Richards scores from a nice defensive breakdown from Chicago. 2-1 Chicago.
• Real nice steal from Knuble followed by a real dumb turnover.
• Real nice long possession by the third-first line. Doesn't lead to anything, but still nice.
• Penalty against the 'Hawks with 0.8 seconds left in the period. Not sure why they made Toews sit in
• Flyers seem to have shook off the rust, are playing pretty well now. To escape with only a one-goal deficit after that shittalicious start isn't too bad.

Second Period

• Garbage penalty on Knuble seventy seconds in stops what had been a nice power play.
• Asham-Giroux-Metropolit line is having a real nice night.
• Gratton wins a fight. He seems to win more than Cote, though he may be in a different weight class.
• Real nice glove save by Biron on what coulda been a real unlucky goal.
• No shots on goal for the Flyers in the first eight minutes of the second. Seven for the Blackhawks.
• This game has really slowed down. All the goals in the first nine minutes.
• Fifteen minutes in the second, still no Flyers shots. 26-9 total shot count. Bleh.
• Flyers get their first shot of the period with 1:48 remaining.
• Nice save by Biron on a minibreak by Patrick Kane.
• Dumb slashing penalty by Lupul with a minute left.
• And another penalty at the buzzer, this one on Gagne. This one wasn't as dumb, though. But the 'Hawks start the third with a minute of 5-on-3.

Third Period

• 'Hawks score on a five on three. 3-1 Chicago. It expires, and the Flyers immediately take two more penalties, the second an especially dumb over-the-glass by Powe, giving the Hawks another whopping 1:55 of 5-on-3.
• And another goal on a 5-on-3. This one from Versteeg and his ENORMOUS front teeth. 4-1 Chicago.
• Luca Sbisa has had a pretty awful.
• For good measure the Hawks quickly add an even strength goal. 5-1 Chicago. Let's see if they leave Biron in for this last fifteen minutes.
• Flyers can do the comeback from 5-1 down thing again, right? Right?
• Richie fights are always good to see. That's what Flyers captaincy is all about.
• Time runs out. Flyers lose. The scheduling and the flight delays are what I blame for entirely expected loss, they should have everything together by tomorrow night in Ohio.