tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90341911583003007832024-02-19T02:50:55.908-05:00The Flyer FrequentAbsolutely genius blog writing on the Philadelphia Flyers. Seriously, this stuff is good.
Philadelphia Flyers blog.Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04320828562766563372noreply@blogger.comBlogger166125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-59729283185138922822012-04-23T23:39:00.000-04:002012-04-30T02:34:43.258-04:00Flyers on a roll at the casino we call hockeyWhen we last left our Flyers here back in 2009, they had just lost to the Penguins in the playoffs in the first round.<br />
<br />
Well now it's 2012, and the Flyers just beat the Penguins in the first round. Hooray! Vengeance later! Victory is ours!<br />
<br />
It just goes to show, if you stay at the table long enough, you'll win eventually for sure! Just like at a casino!<br />
<br />
Have you ever thought about how much NHL betting is like casino betting? I have recently. I think they're really similar. I think they're exactly the same, actually. And just like you can find out more about hockey online, you can find out more about<a href="http://www.casinotop10.net/"> online casinos.</a><br />
<br />
Man I love online casinos.<div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-74149974095150180712009-04-25T18:15:00.001-04:002009-04-25T18:26:10.732-04:00Until Next Season...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090425/capt.1ffd1696377743799088d9b48eba3f67.aptopix_penguins_flyers_hockey_patm102.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 382px; height: 409px;" src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090425/capt.1ffd1696377743799088d9b48eba3f67.aptopix_penguins_flyers_hockey_patm102.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>.<br />..because sometimes a 3-0 lead just isn't enough.<div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-72997243877053230892009-04-25T01:00:00.004-04:002009-04-25T01:58:08.940-04:00World Penguin Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.nothingbutpenguins.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/worldpenguin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 336px; height: 308px;" src="http://www.nothingbutpenguins.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/worldpenguin.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.holidayinsights.com/other/penguinawareness.htm">World Penguin Day</a> is an annual "holiday," celebrated every year on April 25th. Yes, this April 25th. The day the Flyers fight for their playoff lives against the Penguins. Not real penguins, though. Just hockey players with pictures of penguins on their chests.<br /><br />Playing real penguins would be kinda fun. They're good on ice, and would probably try to hatch the puck or something. And they're all about <span style="font-weight: bold;">Daniel Briere</span>'s height, which would be fun for him.<br /><br />It could be the last day of the Flyers' season, and this is the mind-blowing stuff I come up with. It's impressive, I know.<div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-66649724329439354262009-04-24T15:21:00.002-04:002009-04-24T15:33:53.469-04:00Hartless<img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 338px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 245px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/08cE4qm5ONeNi/338x245.jpg" border="0" />Following in the footsteps of Angelina Jolie and Madonna, anthemist extraordinaire <a href="http://blogs.courierpostonline.com/flyers/2009/04/24/no-lauren-hart-for-game-6/"><strong>Lauren Hart</strong> is off to Africa to get herself a baby</a>. Which is fine.<br /><br />What's a little questionable about this is the timing. Lauren decided the best time to go grab said baby is in April, ie playoff time, ie the time when she gets to sing "God Bless America" with a video recording of a dead woman.<br /><br />So instead of a duet between a dead, absent woman and a live, present woman, the Flyers will open Game 6 with a duet between a dead, absent woman and a live, absent woman who apparently values babies over <strong>Jared Ross</strong> & Co.<br /><br />How do <em>you </em>feel about Lauren Hart's priorities?<div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-7340650901244592042009-04-24T01:58:00.002-04:002009-04-24T02:07:01.774-04:00Six is a Magic Number<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://elegido58.blogdiario.com/img/rocky6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 448px;" src="http://elegido58.blogdiario.com/img/rocky6.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Since the lockout, the Flyers have been a tough knockout. No team has been able to close out the Flyers in an elimination game if they didn't build up a lead of at least six goals. Six.<br /><br />So in this Game 6, the Penguins theoretically will need to put in at least six goals.<br /><br />Not gonna happen.<div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-59736286436633323242009-04-24T00:29:00.006-04:002009-04-24T01:58:24.921-04:00ECQF Game 5: Flyers 3 @ Penguins 0 - Penguins Lead Series 3-2<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8CJEq0D6bkIjnyZeJZDhI2antIGs8WwIjhMbpjZ6dXxlLQ8r350i1oaobRXwM9GQ2hBLy_CSLFVGpS3ma2Ff6MV7M5j15FApFlY1NGO8xy0ishIK5FfJRQrnAjy_TH_EcwC1zWhO57yg/s1600-h/PHI.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8CJEq0D6bkIjnyZeJZDhI2antIGs8WwIjhMbpjZ6dXxlLQ8r350i1oaobRXwM9GQ2hBLy_CSLFVGpS3ma2Ff6MV7M5j15FApFlY1NGO8xy0ishIK5FfJRQrnAjy_TH_EcwC1zWhO57yg/s320/PHI.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328116311545808626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">3</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />@<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgnk58ZDcmrXf_zSy46Rx_0aNeVFAQMHFcg7oq6qXBuz_m5QNwSJLcasshT5gHyV_bLWkZ7vQcx0v9c-I_ZjWRvQ4mO7AeAoaP3u2oTb8SF_aOfYhY522mJ6B-e3vPnwT_t8hVC2wh3u1/s1600-h/PIT.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgnk58ZDcmrXf_zSy46Rx_0aNeVFAQMHFcg7oq6qXBuz_m5QNwSJLcasshT5gHyV_bLWkZ7vQcx0v9c-I_ZjWRvQ4mO7AeAoaP3u2oTb8SF_aOfYhY522mJ6B-e3vPnwT_t8hVC2wh3u1/s320/PIT.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328116172367193762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">0</span></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/37/fullj.6428a0a1e092d8da2b8abfb16ebe4df9/6428a0a1e092d8da2b8abfb16ebe4df9-getty-85974623ds026_flyers_pens.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 660px; height: 398px;" src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/37/fullj.6428a0a1e092d8da2b8abfb16ebe4df9/6428a0a1e092d8da2b8abfb16ebe4df9-getty-85974623ds026_flyers_pens.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/c9/fullj.19c131f3bc57a01bbcc341e27a0da828/19c131f3bc57a01bbcc341e27a0da828-getty-85974623ds006_flyers_pens.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 660px; height: 482px;" src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/c9/fullj.19c131f3bc57a01bbcc341e27a0da828/19c131f3bc57a01bbcc341e27a0da828-getty-85974623ds006_flyers_pens.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/da/fullj.eaaec7d8c6c939571742f31d94544e4e/eaaec7d8c6c939571742f31d94544e4e-getty-85974623ds008_flyers_pens.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 660px; height: 420px;" src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/da/fullj.eaaec7d8c6c939571742f31d94544e4e/eaaec7d8c6c939571742f31d94544e4e-getty-85974623ds008_flyers_pens.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/44/fullj.33b03f2b19f80d7ca8e6f455007bea0a/33b03f2b19f80d7ca8e6f455007bea0a-getty-85974623ds011_flyers_pens.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 606px; height: 800px;" src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/44/fullj.33b03f2b19f80d7ca8e6f455007bea0a/33b03f2b19f80d7ca8e6f455007bea0a-getty-85974623ds011_flyers_pens.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><iframe src="http://flyers.nhl.tv/team/embed.jsp?hlg=20082009,3,145" frameborder="0" height="289" width="480"></iframe><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jSeUK30JBU06fhy5GogYkGrDuzUM8qBSnV7TKCw9rLy7_jn3f3lQy4lYPlxg2XnRnrer4o9Oz8FmEDovxapMfcEXE4KNBczRwF_EUayncbxiHmwrfSth6l0Ji7TJO1yA8BSZCJMN7gSc/s1600-h/pit+series+23.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jSeUK30JBU06fhy5GogYkGrDuzUM8qBSnV7TKCw9rLy7_jn3f3lQy4lYPlxg2XnRnrer4o9Oz8FmEDovxapMfcEXE4KNBczRwF_EUayncbxiHmwrfSth6l0Ji7TJO1yA8BSZCJMN7gSc/s320/pit+series+23.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328113414399263986" border="0" /></a>That's more like it.<br /><ul><li>It was an odd, unfamiliar feeling having bounces go the Flyers' way. <br /></li><li>As those of you who read The FF frequently should know, I have ALWAYS been an ardent defender of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Daniel Carcillo</span>, who has proved me right by being one of the Flyers' best these past two games. He got assists on the first two goals to finish a game best +2. Added to his goal in Game 4, he's picked it up nicely after that suspension.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>One person I actually have been advocating for is <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Arron Asham</span>, who again showed off some offensive chops with a laser of a shot to open the scoring, a goal that stood up to be the game winner.</li><li>That first goal held up because <span style="font-weight: bold;">Martin Biron </span>did what he needed to do. He didn't really even look his best, but nothing got past him (except <span style="font-weight: bold;">Evgeni Malkin</span>'s kick-in). Tough to complain too much about a shut out.<br /></li><li>Every Flyer forward except for two have scored. Those two? <span style="font-weight: bold;">Joffrey Lupul </span>and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Danny Briere</span>. Not to say their not earning they're pay (they aren't), I'm just thinking a little pride should kick in when <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jared Ross </span>is out-tallying you...</li><li>I realize he scored tonight, but <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mike Knuble </span>hasn't been much better than his two aforementioned goalless teammates. Hopefully that late goal gets him back on track.</li><li>I guess it makes sense to keep trying, so good on 'em, but anyone else think it was a little odd that Bylsma pulled <span style="font-weight: bold;">Marc-Andre Fleury </span>with just over a minute left, down by three? Can't say I've seen that before.</li><li>The Pittsburgh fans were quiet the whole game, and deserted their team halfway through the third. The Igloo didn't look more than half full with five minutes left, which is pretty disgraceful for a playoff game, no matter the score.</li></ul>The action now shifts back to The Wach for Game 6, on Saturday at 3 PM on NBC and CBC. The Penguins haven't outplayed the Flyers since Game 1. That was more than a week ago. <br /><br />Good things can and will happen.<br /><br />Let's go Flyers.<div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-54341027441524709472009-04-22T13:02:00.004-04:002009-04-23T14:18:13.082-04:00ECQF Game 4 Review: Penguins 3 @ Flyers 1 - Penguins Lead Series 3-1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2UoaNcZ9xWUIhpJ4fmA9QBC7kVIkYlYzthJRZkisCfwiNzydzdiPxcS54vdnjkokV7XSKx2XNkvDa1nIffjZ0Fhz_TVx2LI4zUeFs0uEyhhKdZKb-2aiySPpoFy4yo23y6hU94bAXHW4/s1600-h/pit+series+13.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2UoaNcZ9xWUIhpJ4fmA9QBC7kVIkYlYzthJRZkisCfwiNzydzdiPxcS54vdnjkokV7XSKx2XNkvDa1nIffjZ0Fhz_TVx2LI4zUeFs0uEyhhKdZKb-2aiySPpoFy4yo23y6hU94bAXHW4/s320/pit+series+13.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327919510982238258" border="0" /></a>Oh well.<br /><ul><li>I've been saying <span style="font-weight: bold;">Marc-Andre Fleury </span>was the key to this thing the whole time, and Game 4 certainly proved this. Flyers dominated this game and had nothing to show for it.</li><li>What really killed the Flyers was not getting a goal real early. The Flyers came out blazing in the first ten minutes, while the Pens and even Fleury looked a little flat out of the gate. Getting an early goal woulda been huge, but Pittsburgh weathered the storm, got a super crappy goal from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sidney Crosby</span> putting himself in the net before the puck, and they never looked back.</li><li>With <span style="font-weight: bold;">Daniel Carcillo</span> of all people scoring (finally), the stage really was set for a huge goal in those waning minutes of the third. The Flyers played their worst hockey of the game inconveniently after Biron got pulled, which made for a pretty anti-climactic end to what could have been a pretty epic comeback.<br /></li></ul>This is what it must have been like for Montreal fans last year, watching your team dominate games and doubling up the other team's shot count, hitting post after post, not being able to score any damn goals while the opponent takes advantage of seemingly every opportunity they get. It's not fun.<br /><br />There's no doubt in my mind that the Flyers "deserve" a lot better than to be down 3-1 at this point. One of those post shots goes in from Game 4, Carter buries that empty net in Game 2, and it's a whole different series.<br /><br />Which is why I'm fairly sure the series is over, but Game 5 certainly isn't. The Flyers have not been outplayed at all since Game 1, and seem to know it. They get some bounces to finally go their way, and this thing could very easily be headed back to Philadelphia for a Game 6.<br /><br />Let's Go Flyers.<div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-4455881539879602032009-04-21T13:17:00.004-04:002009-04-21T15:00:39.517-04:00ECQF Game 4 Preview: Penguins @ Flyers - Penguins Lead Series 2-1 - 4/21/09<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFr6Wp0F8hsX8v7C_EtZwZbj0LsLl28vO8tmbcVjsJBG9nrQC_xWD9FsJkcSbWBgySB45l1snWVyG0661tmt1mxWSAz4o8oUzA-NcaSaR-lEjChLFd8REIpu3KHbuNe6jcPKErJVPX9Gl1/s1600-h/pit+series+12.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFr6Wp0F8hsX8v7C_EtZwZbj0LsLl28vO8tmbcVjsJBG9nrQC_xWD9FsJkcSbWBgySB45l1snWVyG0661tmt1mxWSAz4o8oUzA-NcaSaR-lEjChLFd8REIpu3KHbuNe6jcPKErJVPX9Gl1/s320/pit+series+12.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327198109860997090" border="0" /></a>Whenever I start thinking about this Game 4 tonight, my arms start twitching, my palms get all sweaty, my mouth gets all dry, I get short of breath and feel like I'm about to pass out. All of which makes typing pretty difficult. Damn, I love the playoffs.<br /><br />Last year's Game 4 against Pittsburgh didn't really matter. The Flyers were down 3-0, and while winning it and avoiding the sweep was nice, it still only gave them a (generous) 13% chance of taking the series.<br /><br />This year is totally different. A win tonight and it's a tie ballgame, a best-of-three for a spot in the second round. Flyers would have all the momentum, and the Penguins would be crying even more than usual.<br /><br />And on the other side, a loss tonight would be fatal. As much as the Flyers "made it a series" by winning Game 3, they would completely unmake the series by losing tonight. It would be over. I'd say there was still hope, but I'd be lying.<br /><br />So with all that in mind, here we go...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why the Flyers Will Win:<br /></span><ul><li>Because the Flyers are really, really good. Their depth is absolutely nuts, with any of around eight of them completely capable of having a multi-goal game tonight.</li><li>The Flyers should have all the momentum tonight. They outplayed the Penguins in Game 3 and most of Game 2. The Flyers could be overconfident and had trouble stringing wins together down the stretch, but if there is any momentum it will be squarely with the orange team.<br /></li><li><a href="http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com/2009/04/fourth-times-charm.html">As you should have read earlier</a>, the Flyers are money in Game 4s. They've won five straight and eight of their last nine. I'm not sure if this means anything, but it's good all the same.<br /></li><li>I have no evidence for this, but I feel like the Flyers are going to get pretty favorable officiating tonight. They're really due.</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why the Penguins Will Win:<br /></span><ul><li>Because the Flyers have been completely incapable of containing<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Evgeni Malkin</span>. He's leading the league with seven points in these playoffs. Seven points in three games.<br /></li><li>I didn't know which section to put this in, but once again I think this game is completely in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Marc-Andre Fleury</span>'s small French Canadian hands. If he bounces back big from his Game 3 disappointment, it will spell trouble for the Flyers. If he doesn't, the Flyers win.<br /></li><li>Because the Penguins are getting more used to the Wach by now. If you think that the crowd was a big factor in Game 3, you gotta realize that it won't be as big a factor tonight. Add that to the fact that Flyer fans won't be given any free orange shirts (sorry), and life should be a little easier for the Pens.</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prediction:</span> Flyers win 3-2. OT. Epic.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Puck drops at 7, on Versus, CBC, CSN Philadelphia, and FSN Pittsburgh.<br /><br />Do it to it, boys.<div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-3903007088417373892009-04-20T19:51:00.003-04:002009-04-20T20:03:36.329-04:00The Flyers Get Creepy...for You!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjNAlrJrZ1BlmvEWMEshWdHIjbIR_G2ComnxfWPjTMbhFnnW_euWs9YOd0OvdctOScwYYlaosjRz7KRB1fqN6Pr6uX0q6AzmldfCG37obxW8QeLoXxRVNdDXoQIMPbPkfmwKv7vXJXBX9/s1600-h/carts+richie.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjNAlrJrZ1BlmvEWMEshWdHIjbIR_G2ComnxfWPjTMbhFnnW_euWs9YOd0OvdctOScwYYlaosjRz7KRB1fqN6Pr6uX0q6AzmldfCG37obxW8QeLoXxRVNdDXoQIMPbPkfmwKv7vXJXBX9/s320/carts+richie.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326928455460859442" border="0" /></a><br />I'm not sure what's creepiest about this. The horrible acting, the way you can't see John Stevens while he's talking to you, or the way your phone actually rings. It's serious scary movie material.<br /><br />Don't visit this link in the dark.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.channel1media.com/flyers/2009/">http://www.channel1media.com/flyers/2009/</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-11476777727320348982009-04-20T16:33:00.005-04:002009-04-20T19:51:46.266-04:00Fourth Time's the CharmWhether or not they win the series, the Flyers have had phenomenal success in Game 4s over the past five seasons. The Flyers have won eight of their past nine Game 4s, including their past five in a row. That's crazy good.<br /><br />Some highlights (the ones I could find):<br /><br />2004 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Game 4 vs. New Jersey<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zgaIB-oEN4k&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zgaIB-oEN4k&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />2004 Eastern Conference Finals Game 4 vs. Tampa Bay<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DWAuIxlzXgk&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DWAuIxlzXgk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />2006 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Game 4 vs. Buffalo<br /><br /><iframe width="480" height="289" frameborder="0" src="http://flyers.nhl.tv/team/embed.jsp?hlg=20052006,3,143"></iframe><br /><br />2008 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Game 4 vs. Washington<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/i_gNepCjJh8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/i_gNepCjJh8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />2008 Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 4 vs. Montreal<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/l10dvuC3gW0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/l10dvuC3gW0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />2008 Eastern Conference Finals Game 4 vs. Pittsburgh<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oopzMEpJoO8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oopzMEpJoO8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Pittsburgh, on the other hand, has lost their last three Game 4s. Unimpressive.<br /><br />Recap: Flyers are good, Penguins are bad.<br /><br />Do it to it, boys.<div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-84758326457896159402009-04-19T18:16:00.006-04:002009-04-19T21:47:57.408-04:00ECQF Game 3: Penguins 3 @ Flyers 6 - Penguins Lead Series 2-1<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pARS-oKUSXpSGf6Nh9O7ZQfH7_Ds9DwPX15BELafRPjBOjpFCkoo4pqRwdIePNjy78ZCSr85DQDNu8nHkuSc9d21ld0h7mDouaKpwtJtfvjXWRuPCeMFDQptfP0ccvMjE7ewZakt4HrY/s1600-h/PIT.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pARS-oKUSXpSGf6Nh9O7ZQfH7_Ds9DwPX15BELafRPjBOjpFCkoo4pqRwdIePNjy78ZCSr85DQDNu8nHkuSc9d21ld0h7mDouaKpwtJtfvjXWRuPCeMFDQptfP0ccvMjE7ewZakt4HrY/s320/PIT.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326530341425961698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-size:180%;" >3</span><br /><br />@<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6KIwRUjBHv8ehkWpyOWvAz0xZ5c1pr6CtuFoqu16a0ndcBxTY2maQ3fm0GhCJbxCOFEpVW9evxmZ662GlNSra1EZys-lrS1zD6nou8WpD8y0TdGpxZ9CufhkdYXwkFBA4ohXi7eFyERm/s1600-h/PHI.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6KIwRUjBHv8ehkWpyOWvAz0xZ5c1pr6CtuFoqu16a0ndcBxTY2maQ3fm0GhCJbxCOFEpVW9evxmZ662GlNSra1EZys-lrS1zD6nou8WpD8y0TdGpxZ9CufhkdYXwkFBA4ohXi7eFyERm/s320/PHI.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326530398889625922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">6</span></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9B79Y5sxPprmd_OfjnZ2bmA1d7YcXnh8O8VWwg8ViljEm4CJyavkmhncRDQQngljTEAzi4juKfeW8gVawjDBntpM8C9dfVKuO6L7b32bQCR-FhKikEuEZjcW9_g09r5hTRN9XaP6Id353/s1600-h/pit+series+12.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9B79Y5sxPprmd_OfjnZ2bmA1d7YcXnh8O8VWwg8ViljEm4CJyavkmhncRDQQngljTEAzi4juKfeW8gVawjDBntpM8C9dfVKuO6L7b32bQCR-FhKikEuEZjcW9_g09r5hTRN9XaP6Id353/s320/pit+series+12.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326530255418098546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/fd/fullj.e82e8d55643b2a8b33e26cd3ccfea9a2/e82e8d55643b2a8b33e26cd3ccfea9a2-getty-85974710jm009_pittsburgh_pe.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 660px; height: 440px;" src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/fd/fullj.e82e8d55643b2a8b33e26cd3ccfea9a2/e82e8d55643b2a8b33e26cd3ccfea9a2-getty-85974710jm009_pittsburgh_pe.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/a4/fullj.f0c622461c85a51198848b36ef82429f/f0c622461c85a51198848b36ef82429f-getty-85974710jm006_pittsburgh_pe.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 660px; height: 439px;" src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/a4/fullj.f0c622461c85a51198848b36ef82429f/f0c622461c85a51198848b36ef82429f-getty-85974710jm006_pittsburgh_pe.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/43/fullj.72c514043a9fb6a8da8649b14e98344e/72c514043a9fb6a8da8649b14e98344e-getty-85974710jm004_pittsburgh_pe.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 660px; height: 443px;" src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/43/fullj.72c514043a9fb6a8da8649b14e98344e/72c514043a9fb6a8da8649b14e98344e-getty-85974710jm004_pittsburgh_pe.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><iframe src="http://flyers.nhl.tv/team/embed.jsp?hlg=20082009,3,143" frameborder="0" height="289" width="480"></iframe><br /><br />And we have a series.<br /><ul><li>All that orange is a beautiful thing. From the T-shirts (which the Penguins were too cheap to give out this year) to the Kate Smith, it's easily the best playoff atmosphere in any sport. And I say that as a completely impartial observer.<br /></li><li>It definitely got pretty scary there in the early second, with the Penguins erasing a two-goal cushion in like twenty-five seconds of playing time. Sure the Flyers had the lead for 53 minutes of this game and never trailed, but those seven minutes weren't fun. The Frenchies got together and decided that not having the lead was no good, and decided that they (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Martin Biron</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Claude Giroux</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Simon Gagne</span>, and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Daniel Briere</span>) should start playing really well. And it was a beautiful thing to see.<br /></li><li>Claude Giroux is such a great human being. Not only did he get a real pretty goal, a prettier assist, and the prettiest fight (that he only got roughing for), he also has managed to grow a playoff beard that is almost as orange as his jersey. It's a great look.</li><li>The main thing to take home from tonight's game is that I really know what I'm talking about. I've been saying all series long that the key is whether or not <span style="font-weight: bold;">Marc-Andre Fleury</span> plays well, and tonight was another shining example of that. Fleury stunk up the joint wire to wire, with a save percentage around 82%. And the Flyers won. Game 4 will largely balance on how he bounces back.</li><li>As much as dumping on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Daniel Carcillo </span>is the pasttime here, I gotta say he had a pretty decent game today. He was one of only four Flyer forwards who didn't spend any time in the box, and didn't do anything too boneheaded. I still think <span style="font-weight: bold;">Luca Sbisa </span>contributes more, but it worked out alright today.</li><li>The only thing I noticed <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sidney Crosby</span> do all game was get face washed by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Darroll Powe</span>, who by the way is having one hell of a series.</li><li>Congrats to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jared Ross </span>on choosing a pretty good occasion to score his first NHL goal.</li></ul>Tuesday is now the hugest night of everyone's life. Git 'er tied, boys.<div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-10689731287960528862009-04-19T13:11:00.003-04:002009-04-19T13:41:33.543-04:00Orange--You Glad?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/1999/playoffs/eastern/news/1999/05/01/flyers_mapleleafs_pre/lg_jones_ap_01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 521px;" src="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/1999/playoffs/eastern/news/1999/05/01/flyers_mapleleafs_pre/lg_jones_ap_01.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Today for the first time since May 3rd, 1999, the Flyers will wear orange for a playoff game. This is the first time since April 6th, 1969, that the Flyers will wear orange for a home playoff game.<br /><br />I apologize for how uninteresting that is, and I apologize to myself for wasting so much time figuring those dates out.<div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-13957203628403748472009-04-19T10:42:00.000-04:002009-04-19T10:43:12.242-04:00The Last Playoff Game at the Wach<iframe width="480" height="289" frameborder="0" src="http://flyers.nhl.tv/team/embed.jsp?hlg=20072008,3,314"></iframe><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Go Flyers.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-53894763920919225772009-04-18T14:03:00.004-04:002009-04-19T00:27:00.159-04:00ECQF Game 2: Flyers 2 @ Penguins 3 (OT) - Penguins Lead Series 2-0<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTkTYinPe4wYcnlYiiJbLtcZX-dl3ACY6ZVxy8KkYlXHK5sEFemshbmFhAQdnxdLoOamPYNItGU2Q1SjPs91dGHSqaw75QeGZOD-bHAej8UnueFyo94AGpAwCbM35ElvdHUJlzsksE8ZC/s1600-h/PHI.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTkTYinPe4wYcnlYiiJbLtcZX-dl3ACY6ZVxy8KkYlXHK5sEFemshbmFhAQdnxdLoOamPYNItGU2Q1SjPs91dGHSqaw75QeGZOD-bHAej8UnueFyo94AGpAwCbM35ElvdHUJlzsksE8ZC/s320/PHI.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326108992767548706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >2</span><br /><br />@<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ooM8R285ARPRqAR-p4C21pjoJZRz9QVzYylhuHZDDtshH__Jn7HPj2GLi9t4Evk6ZxGoqnYcigqH-XDn4gYMTeUtlAtyM63MjMLdGrH5ZgVFpr-PDs5pNguoPIr-eg7wzNPoT-qcLXyR/s1600-h/PIT.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ooM8R285ARPRqAR-p4C21pjoJZRz9QVzYylhuHZDDtshH__Jn7HPj2GLi9t4Evk6ZxGoqnYcigqH-XDn4gYMTeUtlAtyM63MjMLdGrH5ZgVFpr-PDs5pNguoPIr-eg7wzNPoT-qcLXyR/s320/PIT.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326108924100021474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-size:180%;" >3 (OT)</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZZxXUBYnbyIo-3UUuH5ktudlzACUOzOFMTV2NJWqcuvOE7bSALYpLg0AWYiwo2Cr8UJydPnnGW-3BsAjhXutA3wjzDpdUCXyOgnLcclY7tv2yYmb8Bgh5mPWvLyar_1pLeWzCtjU3EX6/s1600-h/pit+series+02.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZZxXUBYnbyIo-3UUuH5ktudlzACUOzOFMTV2NJWqcuvOE7bSALYpLg0AWYiwo2Cr8UJydPnnGW-3BsAjhXutA3wjzDpdUCXyOgnLcclY7tv2yYmb8Bgh5mPWvLyar_1pLeWzCtjU3EX6/s320/pit+series+02.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326094802797326386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><iframe src="http://flyers.nhl.tv/team/embed.jsp?hlg=20082009,3,142" frameborder="0" height="289" width="480"></iframe><br /><br />Well that sucked.<br /><ul><li>Losing but playing well really isn't enough. Moral victories mean nothing this time of year, though this game was infinitely better than Game 1. The Flyers controlled play most of the way, and had the lead with less than four minutes remaining. Can't get too much closer.<br /></li><li>NEVER have I heard of a 5-on-3 in overtime in the playoffs before. Neither call was terrible, but both were unfortunate. <span style="font-weight: bold;"> Claude Giroux</span>'s penalty especially was just bad luck, as he would not have gotten a call at all if these composite sticks didn't break so easily.<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jeff Carter</span>'s inability to bury that shot with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Marc-Andre Fleury </span>way out of position was absolutely killer. I really have no other words to describe it.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Martin Biron </span>was great, except for in overtime. The goal was pretty soft, but way worse than that was when he inexplicably came out to like the blue line to challenge a racing Penguin for a puck. He barely won the battle, but NO way was it worth the risk. Not in regulation in the regular season, much less overtime in the playoffs. Had he been a half step slower, the game would have ended right there, in about the worst fashion imagineable. But all in all, he was good.<br /></li></ul>The focus at this point has to be on extending the series one game at a time. Winning Game 3 means there will be a Game 5. Winning Games 3 and 4 means there will be a Game 6. Baby steps.<br /><br />Game 3 puck drops at 3 on NBC. Go Flyers.<div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-58591929702826868612009-04-17T14:34:00.004-04:002009-04-17T15:48:17.178-04:00ECQF Game 2: Flyers @ Penguins 4/17/09 (Penguins Lead 1-0)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDGnrvBvvj29xFbRMslp9dyVwQI27AFcagaA5eHLK6fuR3oOpxVanEPC2hoe-fc808ntqpnuasf8Ub7B1a-EJSUkYoz2PGzW8cu2iBRenp3Ulazx0jsTbRjih7fBPUqHiGTLtDDpuSonS/s1600-h/pit+series+01.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDGnrvBvvj29xFbRMslp9dyVwQI27AFcagaA5eHLK6fuR3oOpxVanEPC2hoe-fc808ntqpnuasf8Ub7B1a-EJSUkYoz2PGzW8cu2iBRenp3Ulazx0jsTbRjih7fBPUqHiGTLtDDpuSonS/s320/pit+series+01.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325731101463814354" border="0" /></a>The biggest game of the year. If the Flyers lose, as far as I'm concerned, all hope is lost. Insert your own favorite cliche here. Tonight is cliche city.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why the Flyers Will Win:<br /></span><ul><li>Because they have to. The Flyers are going to be desperate, and hopefully were embarrassed by their play in Game 1. There's a lot to prove. They will be better if they have any pride.</li><li>The Flyers played their best near the end of the game. Maybe some good momentum got started? Maybe?<br /></li><li>How can Pittsburgh not underestimate these Flyers? Every talking head is saying that the series is over, how the Flyers are a terrible team, etc. The Flyers could very well catch them sleeping.<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Daniel Carcillo</span> is not a playoff calibre player, and the Flyers will be better off without him. Hopefully <span style="font-weight: bold;">Luca Sbisa</span> can provide some sort of spark.<br /></li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why the Penguins Will Win:<br /></span><ul><li>If Game 2 looks anything like Game 1, the Penguins will win. The Flyers were far from being in the contest at any point, so a lot has to change fast.</li><li>The main problem the Flyers have had against the Penguins dating back to last year's playoffs is a complete inability to solve <span style="font-weight: bold;">Marc-Andre Fleury</span>. Second to the penalties, it was the main reason the Flyers lost Game 1. Keeping shots high and sending somebody to run him over repeatedly (I nominate Hartnell) could do a lot of good. But if nothing changes, it will be trouble.</li><li>Normally I would say that the big advantage in penalties against that the Penguins held in Game 1 would mean some balancing out in Game 2. But the Carcillo suspension will just reinforce notions of the Flyers being goons. Expect whistles early and often.<br /></li></ul>If anybody is thinking along these lines, yes the Flyers did lose both Games 1 and 2 in Buffalo in 2006 and come back to tie the series by winning both Games 3 and 4 in Philadelphia. So it can be done. But both those Flyers wins were flukes, and the Flyers deservedly got destroyed in Games 5 and 6.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prediction: </span>Penguins win 3-0. I pray I'm wrong.<br /><br />Puck drops at 7 on CSN Philadelphia, Versus, and CBC. <br /><br />Let's go Flyers (clap clap clapclap clap).<div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-51462146491913514792009-04-17T09:23:00.003-04:002009-04-17T09:44:39.804-04:00Carcillo vs. Sbisa By The Numbers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyi9A91Fm-Lr9tpLk5ct2X_ZuuHhwnedanVLYrQ2YAn2nxnDyHNCwtQIRfsaIl2tNNnjz5kamaiKx8gq5UgRXLK_XsZt8U4AIw8Y2-hGemqv3rxkyfNURV3PEeeovahP4rgrqfNb3MIGgA/s1600-h/carc+sbi.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 205px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyi9A91Fm-Lr9tpLk5ct2X_ZuuHhwnedanVLYrQ2YAn2nxnDyHNCwtQIRfsaIl2tNNnjz5kamaiKx8gq5UgRXLK_XsZt8U4AIw8Y2-hGemqv3rxkyfNURV3PEeeovahP4rgrqfNb3MIGgA/s320/carc+sbi.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325655802193450962" border="0" /></a>During the much maligned <span style="font-weight: bold;">Daniel Carcillo</span> era, the Flyers have gone 10-10-1, which makes for a 47.6% winning percentage.<br /><br />During the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Luca Sbisa</span> era (October-January), the Flyers went 26-14-9, good for a 53.1% winning percentage. They also had a much greater percentage of their losses in OT, which of course is largely meaningless in playoffs, but speaks to the losses being closer.<br /><br />All in all, good news. Unless you read between the lines...<br /><br />The record during the interregnum between Carcillo and Sbisa? 8-4-1, good for a 61.5% winning percentage. That was the stretch leading up to the Upshall-Carcillo trade, since which the Flyers have only won 47.6% of their games. That's a drop-off of about 14 percent, which is pretty huge.<br /><br />I promise I'll try not to say anything more about <span style="font-weight: bold;">Scottie Upshall</span> the remainder of the playoffs. I'll try to try. But it's so hard...<div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-75741984067917995712009-04-17T08:42:00.003-04:002009-04-17T09:23:47.238-04:00My Name is Luca, I Play in the Second Game<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/08DQ4olgzWaSW/340x.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 340px; height: 499px;" src="http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/08DQ4olgzWaSW/340x.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>An angel descending from the north (see the halo?), <span style="font-weight: bold;">Luca Sbisa </span>makes his triumphant return to Flyerland in what is only the biggest game of the season. Welcome back, little Swiss guy.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Daniel Carcillo</span> finally got the Flyers on the suspension board this season, after being held suspensionless for an uncharacteristic 83 games. He'll have to watch from the press box, where scared reporters will try not to make eye contact with him for fear of him biting off their faces. <br /><br />So what does Sbisa's return mean? Sbisa and Carcillo combined for zero goals this season, true, but Sbisa has the excuse of playing on defense most all of his time with the Flyers, whereas Carcillo's only excuse is that he's terrible.<br /><br />Sbisa will be on offense tonight, which was always fun to watch. He is crazy fast and plays like he's crazy small (even though he's allegedly 6'2''), bouncing around wildly like a ping-pong ball. Whether he's good or not is not really important--he'll be a different look for the Penguins to deal with, and has to be a pain to play against. Facing Luca Sbisa on offense has to be like playing poker against someone who has no idea what the rules are. They have no idea what they're doing, but neither do you, so it's dangerous for both.<br /><br />So please, Luca, do big things tonight. The bar is set dangerously low, just be careful not to trip over it.<div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-32099203734154781872009-04-16T12:36:00.002-04:002009-04-16T12:39:38.895-04:00They're Trying to Take My Carcillo Away!<blockquote> The NHL will hold a hearing with Philadelphia Flyers<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://flyers.nhl.com/" target="_blank"></a> forward Daniel Carcillo at 3 p.m. ET Thursday to discuss an incident that took place during the Flyers' Game 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-1, Wednesday night.<br /><br />The NHL spoke with all coaches and general managers prior to the start of the playoffs informing them there would be no "message sending" during the latter stages of games. Carcillo got involved with the Penguins' Max Talbot near the end of the game.<br /><br />The Flyers acquired Carcillo, 24, at the trade deadline in exchange for Scottie Upshall and a 2011 second round draft pick. He scored 3 goals and 11 assists in 74 games this season, picking up 254 penalty minutes.<br /></blockquote><br /><a href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=418620">Link</a><br /><br />Prayers answered (albeit late). Here's hoping they ban him and reverse the Upshall trade...<div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-38097604249275389232009-04-15T21:50:00.011-04:002009-04-16T01:32:42.548-04:00ECQF Game 1: Flyers 1 @ Penguins 4 - Penguins Lead Series 1-0<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi498-2pCjr-WW19mOw20xVX9aO9iD4h2ZYFqa0UpWtMAeAyQS0dLS5APqfjXZzEX0r4nIBfsieL6-iFlFDYZ0BhRUCUFvoVwjes0tYzENJ4MKelqsv6sBPk23jjmpI9Hk-9YRvobej5eFy/s1600-h/PHI.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi498-2pCjr-WW19mOw20xVX9aO9iD4h2ZYFqa0UpWtMAeAyQS0dLS5APqfjXZzEX0r4nIBfsieL6-iFlFDYZ0BhRUCUFvoVwjes0tYzENJ4MKelqsv6sBPk23jjmpI9Hk-9YRvobej5eFy/s320/PHI.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325101151195150098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1</span></span><br /><br />@<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBs0NZFqj1o-kpHk1vp9PQ5t__u4UTwjnL1VrKbLw7DFk0oC91sXVnaJ9AdbwqLP88X17ojjsvWdOY-MkiB4nx7PNkec9pDx1CSk8QQtnb52kuRoZ7fk30JtDgWFjRKZ6Pd2xuwyGPFhK/s1600-h/PIT.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBs0NZFqj1o-kpHk1vp9PQ5t__u4UTwjnL1VrKbLw7DFk0oC91sXVnaJ9AdbwqLP88X17ojjsvWdOY-MkiB4nx7PNkec9pDx1CSk8QQtnb52kuRoZ7fk30JtDgWFjRKZ6Pd2xuwyGPFhK/s320/PIT.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325101062958469090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">4</span><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkc39CcN7RL6jtMANfElr8Jgx2f91JkNPZdnXTD3ecqBra3Z_W7DdROPrxrQQ35PJOdln91rgg3XsWA0ijiMh9k2DdlvSfSQuCSojk-lsVzPd-HJnjpQHaebJ2PFBgy2DnUqyKkxugSEfA/s220/pit+series+01.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkc39CcN7RL6jtMANfElr8Jgx2f91JkNPZdnXTD3ecqBra3Z_W7DdROPrxrQQ35PJOdln91rgg3XsWA0ijiMh9k2DdlvSfSQuCSojk-lsVzPd-HJnjpQHaebJ2PFBgy2DnUqyKkxugSEfA/s220/pit+series+01.bmp" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090416/capt.e57224fdf1d5415486491f2b552740a5.flyers_penguins_hockey_pagp106.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 410px; height: 292px;" src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090416/capt.e57224fdf1d5415486491f2b552740a5.flyers_penguins_hockey_pagp106.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/05/fullj.bf1616c78c0f1e1373ed3491f6bcee20/bf1616c78c0f1e1373ed3491f6bcee20-getty-85974604js005_philadelphia_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 533px; height: 800px;" src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/05/fullj.bf1616c78c0f1e1373ed3491f6bcee20/bf1616c78c0f1e1373ed3491f6bcee20-getty-85974604js005_philadelphia_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><iframe src="http://flyers.nhl.tv/team/embed.jsp?hlg=20082009,3,141" frameborder="0" height="289" width="480"></iframe><br /><br />Can't get too much worse, right? Right...?<br /></span></span><ul><li>The Flyers can't afford to think everything was okay in this game, and that they'll just bounce back. Because it wasn't, and they won't. The Flyers have to do exactly what they did after that horrible performance in Toronto not so long ago. Beat themselves up over it, change shit, and come out firing, and score five goals in the first period. That would be good.</li><li>The Flyers just did not look good. Any of them. <span style="font-weight: bold;"> Braydon Coburn</span> looked okay. Maybe <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mike Richards</span> wasn't bad. But nobody was great. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jared Ross</span> may well have been the third best player on the ice. Not good.<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></li><li>Just about every Flyer forward was totally invisible tonight, except for the two previously mentioned,<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Scott Hartnell</span></span>, and<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Claude Giroux</span></span>.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Arron Asham</span></span>'s penalty was really weak. Led to the first goal, and the game seemed over from there on. That's the only whining I can muster out of this--the Flyers didn't deserve to win at all.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Martin Biron </span>was pretty mediocre. No terrible goals, but he<span style="font-size:100%;"> could have had the first three. Especially the third, from </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Evgeni Malkin</span><span style="font-size:100%;">. Those are the kind of weird breakdown goals that the Penguins seem to get a lot vs. our boys. No reason for Biron not to start Game 2, it really isn't debatable. He hasn't been immaculate, sure, but </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Antero Niittymaki </span><span style="font-size:100%;">has been just bad lately, so putting him in really shouldn't be an option.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">That guy who predicted that the Penguins would win Game 1 by the score of 4-1? He must be a freakin' genius.</span></li></ul></div></div><span style="font-size:100%;">The split is what we needed, and the split is still in play. Game 2 becomes a must win now, no way around that.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-44455563244814563722009-04-15T10:01:00.002-04:002009-04-15T10:08:16.736-04:00On This Day Last Year...<iframe width="480" height="289" frameborder="0" src="http://flyers.nhl.tv/team/embed.jsp?hlg=20072008,3,133"></iframe><br /><br />...The Flyers took their first lead of the playoffs, winning Game 3 against the Capitals 6-3 to go up two games to one in the first round.<br /><br />One year later, the Flyers go into Pittsburgh looking to take their first lead of the playoffs tonight.<br /><br />If that doesn't get you excited for this game, you don't have a pulse.<br /><br />Go Flyers.<div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-27089814198034822772009-04-15T08:53:00.007-04:002009-04-15T10:08:31.788-04:00ECQF Game 1 Preview: Flyers @ Penguins 4/15/09<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2x1OvZNled2P1JdBxi25g4wb3P8ElBZijL0lUP-DH29LDqrL2U4po2lTJ51XRdDMgPQyhfQvbsppNnTYgDWGSkYMmHQzBEL830yBpggxNu4WPGzmv5E0OeNazfKyhqwKBLM4TSEbyhlt/s1600-h/PHI.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2x1OvZNled2P1JdBxi25g4wb3P8ElBZijL0lUP-DH29LDqrL2U4po2lTJ51XRdDMgPQyhfQvbsppNnTYgDWGSkYMmHQzBEL830yBpggxNu4WPGzmv5E0OeNazfKyhqwKBLM4TSEbyhlt/s320/PHI.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324900680558098706" border="0" /></a>@<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eg52CIAAq567B_iE_M66m4W16d8hHBtAZbvPlL9G7ZQL0p2RefL5QOIC4OKYr8uyVwJVhwBjVNxNVdUTxAKhs3kA25Cxgl6WhhToayxmny4pzIiB6CEdkFfmzO5tQcHCnPXhpn8p27bi/s1600-h/PIT.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eg52CIAAq567B_iE_M66m4W16d8hHBtAZbvPlL9G7ZQL0p2RefL5QOIC4OKYr8uyVwJVhwBjVNxNVdUTxAKhs3kA25Cxgl6WhhToayxmny4pzIiB6CEdkFfmzO5tQcHCnPXhpn8p27bi/s320/PIT.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324900608829911682" border="0" /></a>Holy crap, we're here. As of writing this, there's about nine hours until the Flyers begin their run in the playoffs. It's been three hundred and thirty-two days since the Flyers last played a playoff game. That's a long time. A LONG time.<br /><br />(This is mostly general stuff for the whole series, but it's mostly for tonight).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why the Flyers Will Win:<br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>Because they've got something to prove. About 97% of pundits are picking Pittsburgh to win this series, which is pretty ridiculous for a 4 vs 5 match-up. Plenty of bulletin board material.</li><li>Because the Penguins' record against the Flyers this year is really deceptive. They won four of the six, sure, but one of those was in a shootout (in a game the Flyers were leading with three minutes left), and the other was because of <a href="http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com/2009/02/most-worstest-goal-ever-for-all.html">this shit</a>. <br /></li><li>Because the Penguins' record against the Flyers this year is really irrelevant. The Flyers had a winning record against the Penguins in the regular season last year, and we all know how much that meant. The Flyers also did not have winning records last regular season against either Washington or Montreal, and we all know how much that meant too.<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Braydon Coburn</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kimmo Timonen</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Simon Gagne</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Claude Giroux</span>. None of them were around last year. Those additions plus the subtractions of Ryan Malone, Marian Hossa, and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Derian Hatcher</span> should mean good things.</li><li>Last time the Flyers and Penguins played, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sidney Crosby </span>and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Evgeni Malkin </span>combined for zero points. And more importantly, zero shots. This is a team with it's current lineup that knows how to shut them down.</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why the Penguins Will Win:<br /></span><ul><li>Goaltending. I definitely don't dump on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Martin Biron </span>as much as the rest of the world does, but I don't think he matches up well against <span style="font-weight: bold;">Marc-Andre Fleury</span>. Mostly because Fleury is the key to the Penguins success, and doesn't get anywhere near the credit he should for it. Ever since Fleury got rid of those yellow pads, he's been real good. The Flyers scored a combined eight goals on him in five games last year (plus an empty netter). That's a GAA of 1.60. Which is real good.</li><li>The Penguins ended the season in the right way, winning their last few games pretty convincingly, finishing a run that saw them move up all the way from tenth to fourth. The Flyers, on the other hand, finished the season by blowing three different leads against the Rangers to squander home ice.<br /></li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prediction: </span>Penguins take Game 1, by a score of 4-1. Shaky night for Biron. He'll have a big Game 2, though.<div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-61413750275046420112009-04-15T08:24:00.003-04:002009-04-15T08:53:08.281-04:00Split!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://heitmannsnuts.netfirms.com/nuts2/nfoscomm/catalog/images/banana_split.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 216px;" src="http://heitmannsnuts.netfirms.com/nuts2/nfoscomm/catalog/images/banana_split.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>As is always the onus for the higher seed in any playoff series, the Flyers need to get a split in Pittsburgh. Whether they want to win Game 1 or Game 2 doesn't matter, as long as they get one of them. In the playoffs last year, every higher seed that got a split (or better) in their first two games on the road went on to win the series (except one, Calgary who lost in seven). Underdogs went six for seven in series where they got the split, and zero for eight in series where they didn't come away with a split. It's that simple.<br /><br />The Flyers followed that formula beautifully. They managed splits in both Washington and Montreal, and won both those series. They couldn't split in Pittsburgh, and lost the series.<br /><br />So the Flyers need to win one of these two. Tonight would be nice. Game 2 on Friday would be nice. Both would be nicer. But please, Flyers, get at least one. Or else this Salmon will be a very sad fish.<div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-57663382661250540362009-04-14T15:52:00.007-04:002009-04-14T17:50:50.481-04:00Scoreboards Make Me Fired UpEver since I've been going to Flyers games (which is approximately since I was five days old), or any other sports event for that matter, I always loved scoreboards. A big part of it is doubtlessly my fascination with anything shiny with a lot of flashing lights,<br /><br />Next to ones showing a win for whoever I like, my favorite scoreboard is the one before the game starts. 0-0, all the time remaining. No matter how lopsided the match up is, everybody goes into every game tied (except those weird combined score soccer back-to-back two-game series, and the final day of Jeopardy tournaments). 0-0 makes everybody nervous. 0-0 means anything can happen. 0-0 means nobody might ever score, ever, for like 29 overtimes. You never can tell.<br /><br />Shit I'm good. I should write Nike commercials.<br /><br />And it's with that spirit of tabula rasa in mind that I introduce The Flyer Frequent's newest feature, a scoreboard that will keep track of the score in games of the Flyers-Penguins series, as well as the Flyers-Capitals, Flyers-Bruins, and Flyers-Blackhawks series when they roll around. It'll be on the sidebar, replacing that breathtakingly stable Daniel Carcillo goal count meter. It'll be updated pretty irregularly, so you may want to find a back up news source, just in case.<br /><br />So for now, here's what we got.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylGoGVjT-0kgN4VCPYV8bfWbe1o1pozhzvGRsCqUheX8coBTG5evgJ0pXfyYopAzAPNGjTRNcPufm783xh4S7oFdTz0x1IUCHgmzMRWE2D5el9vnW8qBJ-Of3uXCoCmVPfIFi-yGB6Mjb/s1600-h/pit+series+00.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylGoGVjT-0kgN4VCPYV8bfWbe1o1pozhzvGRsCqUheX8coBTG5evgJ0pXfyYopAzAPNGjTRNcPufm783xh4S7oFdTz0x1IUCHgmzMRWE2D5el9vnW8qBJ-Of3uXCoCmVPfIFi-yGB6Mjb/s320/pit+series+00.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324665480391511762" border="0" /></a><br />0-0, baby. Gotta love it.<div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-90965523276502834572009-04-14T06:01:00.006-04:002009-04-14T07:14:18.256-04:00The Penguins' Deluded View of HistoryOne of my most prized possessions is a VHS from 1989 called "Never Say Die," which goes into really ridiculous detail on the Flyers' 1988-89 season, including a long <br />segment about what the team did to kill time while in Winnipeg. Really must see stuff.<br /><br />But since the video is impossible to find and will likely never make it to YouTube, I had to find an alternate source for clips on the Flyers-Penguins first ever playoff meeting, in 1989. And yes, it really did take 21 years for the cross-state Penguins to face the Flyers in the playoffs even though they joined the league in 1967-68, because the Penguins were just horrendous in the first half of their existence. The flightless birds only won three playoff series in their first twenty-one seasons, whereas the Flyers had won three playoff series in a season five times by the time 1989 rolled around. That had to be pretty embarrassing for not just the Penguins and their fans, but everyone in the league.<br /><br />So in lieu of <span style="font-style:italic;">Never Say Die</span>, I found a clip on the 'Tube from what appears to be the Penguins equivalent of <span style="font-style:italic;">Never Say Die</span>. Except that unlike <span style="font-style:italic;">Never Say Die</span>, this Penguins video, inexplicably titled "There's a <u>Team</u> in the <u>Building</u>," is completely on crack. There's some bold-faced bias that even a Fox News anchor would have to shake his head at.<br /><br />If you don't pay <span style="font-style:italic;">really</span> close attention to the narration, you'll assume the Penguins won this series, when in reality they lost it to a pretty mediocre Flyers team that wouldn't make the playoffs again for the next five years.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Oy4n5vflB8o&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Oy4n5vflB8o&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Did you catch any Flyers wins in there? They mentioned the Flyers winning game two while showing a Penguin scoring and fans in the Igloo applauding. The mention of the Flyers winning Game 4 was made while the Penguins were shown celebrating their Game 3 win. Game 6's mention is a sentence fragment. The Flyers win in Game 7 mentions a more complete thought, but tries to diminish the win by saying the Flyers "stole" it. Takes some balls to say that a team "stole" a game they won 4-1.<br /><br />I do realize that getting mad at the narration of a VHS from 20 years ago might not be the most relevant way to prepare for the playoffs, but I care not. Let's just hope the Penguins' 2009 VHS is equally dismissive of these upcoming four Flyer wins.<div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034191158300300783.post-47513055041106911082009-04-14T04:06:00.005-04:002009-04-14T05:55:40.945-04:00Stale HateOne of the many frustrating things about playing Pittsburgh in the first round is that it deprives Flyers fans of the opportunity to get to hate someone new. Last year saw the Flyers face both the Capitals and Canadiens for the first time since the 1980s. Part of the reason I was looking forward to playing the Hurricanes was because it would mean playing a new team, getting acquainted with and falling in hate with a whole new group of people, a whole new fanbase.<br /><br />Instead, we get to play the Penguins. Our big rival. The team who broke our hearts last year.<br /><br />Yawn.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.icecreamplanet.com/AA.ChocolateEclair.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 111px; height: 153px;" src="http://www.icecreamplanet.com/AA.ChocolateEclair.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Playing the Penguins, as someone else put it somewhere (how's that for citation), is like dessert before the icing. Every Pittsburgh game is such an treat. But it's a treat we've had a lot before. Playing the Penguins in the first round is like eating the first eleven chocolate eclair ice cream bars in the box in one sitting (which is awesome because they're delicious), and then having eating the twelfth one because Gary Bettman is forcing you to. You enjoyed the first eleven, but you're pretty damn full, and you know that this last Pittsburgh-colored chocolate eclair ice cream bar would taste a lot better if you could just wait a while. I wish there was time before eating this last eclair bar to get the previous eleven out of your systems in what would certainly be an epic trip to the bathroom. I'm guessing that's how a lot of the Flyers (and maybe the Penguins) are feeling right now, especially the always constipated <span style="font-weight: bold;">Andrew Alberts </span>and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hal Gill</span>.<br /><br />And that's a big part of the reason I haven't had a lot to say about this series. I've got epic brain freeze, I'm full, and a little nauseous at the thought of having to cram more of this crap down my throat.<br /><br />I'll recover by 7:01 pm Wednesday, I'm sure, but in the mean time I'm gonna need some Tums. Or maybe <a href="http://penguins.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=18&id=39034">Alyonka Larionov</a> can teach me how to be bulimic.<div class="blogger-post-footer">The Flyer Frequent
<a>http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com</a></div>Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17059663859155199540noreply@blogger.com1