Two minutes for cross-checking

After signing paperwork and bringing home my new car, I turned on the computer to see that the Flyers game was not yet over. I couldn't tell if overtime was still going on, or what. By the time I got NHL radio to work, all I was able to hear was Peter Forsberg not make a shootout attempt and the Flyers lost.

I hate when the Flyers go to the shootout. They get a point, but they don't, unfortunately, seem to have guys who are killer on the one-on-one and more often than not end up with only one point.

But from all accounts I've read, they were pretty good last night. And that Forsberg was stellar. I saw a video where he threw himself to the ice to sweep the puck away from a Tampa Bay player, on the fly. He said: "It was 10 times better than all year and fun to play again."

Is it too much to hope it will last more than a game or two? I will hope, anyway.

Flyers tomorrow night vs. NJ.

Flyers play Tampa Bay tonight at the Wachovia Center, where the good guys haven't beaten the Lightning in a six-game streak. They did beat them in Tampa Bay at the end of December, though ...

Go Flyers!

It has been a couple days during which I have done little but lie around in misery, and while I am still not feeling especially spry today, I feel OK enough to sit at my computer for a little bit. (But not good enough to be at work!)

Yesterday, I listened to the Flyers lose 2-1 to the Rangers. Joni Pitkanen scored the only goal for Philadelphia, and I didn't rage when the game was over. It felt like a routine loss, and not just because they always lose. It sounded like they played pretty well. It was a close game. Esche was in goal, seemed to be doing OK.

Saturday night I was far more disappointed when I went all the way to Des Moines and saw two great periods of hockey and a third that was trash. The Stars kept it a close thing though they were chasing the Wolves every step (Woves scored first, very early, then the Stars scored (Lundqvist, unassisted, a pretty, wonderful thing as he hung on to the puck in front of the net, waiting, waiting, and then when he had the goalie totally faked and down, he roofed it), then the Wolves scored, then the Stars, etc.) It was 3-3 and after that, only Chicago scored and Chicago ended up winning by a monstrous score of 7-3.

I really thought Dan Ellis could have had many of those goals.

Honestly, two great periods of action, end-to-end hockey and a lot of shots on goal for Iowa. It just didn't turn into tallies on the scoreboard and then it just unraveled.

There was a woman across the arena, in the ice row, wearing a Phantoms jersey. I have never seen a Phantoms jersey anywhere but Philadelphia, so this was pretty exciting. I wish she had been closer so I could have chatted with her, but not only was I not nuts enough to stand up and scream at her from across the ice, but after I went up the stairs once I found that it wore me out too much to consider doing it again and then going all the way around the arena. This cold has really socked me.

There were two penalties called that I'd never heard before: 1) a "butt-ending" double minor against Chicago (which we figured must be the opposite of spearing -- using the butt-end of your stick to jab the opponent) and 2) Dan Ellis was charged with goal-tender interference, a penalty served by #22 Junior Lessard.

We sort of looked at each other. Um...this penalty occurred while the puck was around Chicago's net. Ellis was (for once, the dude came waaaay out of his net to play the puck too often) safely in his own net at the opposite end of the ice. How in the world did he end up with the goalie interference penalty? Was he in his own net making googly eyes at Brathwaite? Was he sticking pins in a voodoo doll? What? I didn't see anything. Explain to me, because I've never heard such a thing before. The game sheet just has Lessard down for goaltender interference, no mention of Ellis. Maybe the announcer was just drunk. He did start to tell us early in the game that a goal Lessard scored was "His tenth of the season, goal scored by number 22, Nathan OYSTRICK!" I had perked up when he said "tenth" goal, thinking, "No way. Lessard's got way more than that." (Eighteen now, in fact.) Then he went on to announce CHICAGO's #22. Um...oops.




As it turned out, only Joel Lundqvist was signing autographs after the game, which was disappointing only because we'd lost our chance after all to get the team's signatures. But Joel's is the one we all really wanted, so we were pretty OK with it. We left the game with 4 minutes remaining to get in line (the Stars were not coming back from 6-3 and while we were in line, it became 7-3), and we were probably 20 people back from the table. The line quickly stretched very long, so we were glad we'd come up when we did. We didn't have to wait long after the game until Joel came up to meet-n-greet; the line went very fast so there wasn't much time to get a good photo. I asked: "Will you sign it on the Iowa, please?" as I pushed the shoulder patch of my green jersey toward him. He did so without a word, but smiled at me when I chirped, "Thank you!" as I left.

Crusher!! YOU KNOW THE WORD IN SWEDISH!! WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY IT??

All the time I spend learning other languages, and they fail me at crucial moments.




Then, Sunday, I was feeling too dreadful to sit in front of the computer to listen to the Flyers game (and it's too chilly in here for me to want to spread out some blankies on the floor and listen, either). It was not televised here, unfortunately, and I forgot that there was a game on TV that I could have watched while listless on the couch. In the end, maybe it's best I didn't listen and give the Flyers my bad luck: they won. They beat Atlanta 2-1 in regulation and Jeff Carter had the two goals, which was enough to make him one of the NHL's three stars for yesterday. I can't remember the last time one of the Flyers made the NHL's three stars. WOO JEFF! And WOOO FLYERS! Way to beat one of the better teams in the NHL on national TV! It was Niittymaki's first win in 15 games, which must be a relief. And Niitty is 5-0 in his career against the Thrashers. (According to the Inquirer, he has never lost to Lehtonen. I wonder if it has something to do with Kari Lehtonen being in goal on the other end of the ice -- like, he's not going to let a fellow Finn show him up.)

(In the recap, it is noted that "Atlanta is 4-1 in nationally televised games this season", and, ouch, it must bug them that their one loss was to the last-place Flyers! Ha!)

Tonight is the AHL All-Star game but since I am feeling sick enough not to go to work, I don't suppose I will be going over to anyone's to watch it. If only I had a fast internet connection, I could watch the game for free on my computer. (I might as well in that case say, "If only I had cable, I could watch it at home.")

Iowa Stars don't play again until next Saturday. We're not going to that game (astonishing!). The Flyers play again tomorrow night, vs. Tampa Bay.

AHL success last night:

Philadelphia Phantoms crushed Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (woohooo!) 7-2, Nolan Baumgartner having 4 assists. Goals (four PP!) were scored by:
Reid (Ruzicka, Cullen)
Zingoni (Ellison, Kane)
Jonsson (Baumgartner, Ellison)
Meloche (Ellison, Baumgartner)
Ruzicka (Reid, Baumgartner)
Zingoni (Baumgartner)
Tolpeko (Cabana, Reid)

I wish I recognized some the names better. Tolpeko? He and Zingoni are about the only two Phantoms that haven't dressed for the Flyers yet this year, aren't they? (I exaggerate, but only slightly.)


Iowa Stars beat Peoria 3-2, goals by Lessard (from Ardelan and Wilford) and unassisted, shorthanded by Holtet, made the difference. The Stars have now got three wins on the week and one more game to play tonight -- keep it up, my boys!

I appear to have gotten sick, but I'll be at the game anyway. The tickets are already paid for and there will be autographs. I can't miss this game. I may suffer longer as a result of not getting adequate rest, but it will probably be worth it.

Go Stars!

------

And Go Flyers! If I am home and not napping, I will listen!

Acording to the Inquirer, "Winger Todd Fedoruk said he slugged Joni Pitkanen in practice Thursday because the defenseman hit him in the orbital bone around the right eye, where he was seriously injured this season. 'I lost my cool,' Fedoruk said."

Now the question is: did Joni do it on purpose?

The drama!

More drama, hope being set to rest by Forsberg talking about it: he has not spoken to anyone about being traded. So ignore all the things you hear about him going back to Colorado, or to the Rangers, or Montreal. These things are not on the table right now. He wants to get his foot problem figured out before he goes there.

SULKY CROSBY

Hahahaha. Pouting because he didn't get a point, or what?

The Iowa Stars beat Milwaukee last night, 1-0, the only goal being scored by Ardelan (from Lessard and Scalzo). When was the last time that a Stars game was held to so few goals? The Stars were last held to one goal about a week ago, against Omaha, when they lost 3-1. There was a 2-0 win at Hamilton early in January. Otherwise ... this is the only 1-0 game of the season. The Stars are now even, points-wise, with Peoria (49 each), three behind Milwaukee, and in fifth place in the West Division.

They play again tonight, against Peoria, at Peoria.

-----------

According to the Philly Inquirer, Tood Fedoruk punched Joni Pitkanen at practice yesterday. There is a video clip from Comcast Sportsnet where, if you look close, you can see it's Joni getting the glove in the face, but it's not all that crisp a clip and no one seems to make a big deal about it. I don't know if that's a good sign or not. Fedoruk: "...Somewhere along the way, this team has lost its identity of Flyers hockey and what it means to be a Flyer... . We need to create an identity." So, punching teammates does that? I don't know, it seems that attacking a teammate might actually drive more wedges in. It's one thing to get in someone's face, chew 'em out, whatever, but actually punching? Line-crossing, etc.

Now, I wasn't there and I have yet to read anything about it from someone who was there, so who knows what transpired. Maybe Joni mouthed off and Fedoruk took exception. Maybe Fridge was just all worked up about things in general and Joni happened to say something that was the straw that broke the camel's back. Maybe Fedoruk was just mad and Joni got in the way. Fedoruk's not the kind of guy who will back down from a fight with someone bigger and tougher than he is (see Boogaard fight that wrecked his face this last time), but let's face it, Joni's not got much of a reputation for thuggery. Why punch someone who isn't likely to punch back? It's not because Joni is too small or too wussy; he's just not a goon. Anyway. Who knows. I guess there are three possible outcomes of this incident:

1) Joni takes offense at being socked by a teammate, but the kind that gets him in gear and his play picks up in response.
2) Joni takes offense at being socked by a teammate, but the kind that drives him in the other direction, and things get worse.
3) Everyone shrugs and the season goes on.

Maybe we'll see tomorrow, when the Flyers play the Rags mid-afternoon. And the Flyers also play on Sunday in Atlanta and it will be on NBC, but not in my area. We'll get the Avs vs. Red Wings. I don't care enough about them to pass up listening to the Flyers.

In an NHL column (dated Jan. 18) on SI.com, a reader complained that the Preds are a great team but aren't getting fair media coverage -- "How can one of the best teams in hockey be limited to one national TV appearance?"

The column's author said: "The last thing anyone wanting to promote the game should do is put another dreadful Flyers game on Saturday afternoon TV, especially when there are better options."

Did the columnist bother to check who it is the Flyers are playing on those days the NBC is showing them?

January 13: Penguins.
January 28: Thrashers.
March 4: Penguins.
April 8: Sabres.

It isn't the Flyers the NBC is showcasing. It is the teams they are playing against. It should be obvious why they will show two Penguins games; the Pens have NBC's love interest, and everyone loves to see the Pens kill the Flyers, right? Oh, and the Sabres, another team for NBC to drool over, #2 in the league, and a team everyone loves to see kill the Flyers. These are two huge rivalries. The Thrashers game isn't anything to be sneezed at, either. The Thrashers are one of the best teams in the Eastern conference; they are ten places in the league standings ahead of golden Pittsburgh. It's not like it's a Kings/Flyers matchup.

NBC aren't playing the Flyers because they are cluelessly ignoring a successful squad in Nashville and/or sucking up to a sucky franchise. It's clear, especially after watching* the tape of the game I was at on the 13th. They want to make sweet, verbal love to Sidney Crosby on national television. And maybe get to show a big, high-scoring blowout with the Sabres, predicted by many to win the Stanley Cup this season. There are your reasons. It's pretty simple.

And, hey, I wouldn't call the Jan. 13th Flyers/Pens game "dreadful." The Flyers were expected to bend over and take it, but they kept it interesting in spite of all the forces acting against them.** There have certainly been worse Flyers/Pens games.



*Admittedly, I have only gotten through part of the game. It's infuriating to listen to.

**Those forces? There's your "dreadful".

I watched the All-Star game last night at my folks', and here are a few of the things I thought as I watched the East lose the game to the West:

1) I am not especially familiar with the Canadian National Anthem, seeing as I have only a few times in my life been to games or watched games on TV where one of the teams was from Canada, so I was not sure, while that opera singer vibratoed her way through the song, if she was singing it right. It didn't sound like it, but I couldn't be positive, since I don't know it by heart or anything. I was thinking, "I don't recognize that. Is she singing in French? Is that French? What the? Is this the right song?" but was second-guessing myself. I settled for being mega-annoyed by the constant wobbling of every single freaking word. In my opinion -- though I am not a professional singer by any means -- the vibrato should be used sparingly. Not in every line. And certainly not in every word. And for crying out loud, I hate when people take "artistic" liberties with national anthems.

On the message boards at Hockey's Future, there are many amusing comments that are not especially nice, but basically in the vein of "That was one of the worst renditions of the Canadian national anthem that I have ever heard", and confirm that I was not mistaken in that she was singing it ... differently.

And it was unfortunate, but somehow highly entertaining after the way she butchered the song, that she fell when she turned to leave the ice.

Then, there were audio problems during the American national anthem. So, all in all, a bad night for anthems. Also entertaining to hear the audience yell "Star!" whenever the word comes up, like they do at Iowa Stars games. (And at least these women singing last night didn't sing "Oh, say, does that star-(STAR!)spangled banner yet wave for the land of the free and the home of the brave?" like the chica did at the I-Stars game last weekend. (For?)

2) Somehow, even though Sidney Crosby didn't have a single point and was average on the ice, his name got constantly mentioned. Peripherally in a play? SIDNEY CROSBY BLAH BLAH BLAH. Seriously, he didn't score and he didn't assist and among hockey gods such as Sakic and Shanahan and even Selanne he was nothing special. Good, but comparatively ... just ok. So much for Crosby being The Best Player in the Game. Yeah, he's really good. No, I don't think he's a Hockey God. (And not because, yeah, I hate him anyway. He just didn't prove anything to me last night.)

3) Was Brodeur drunk or something? Has he ever let in six goals in a game, let alone a single 20-minute stretch? None of the other five goalies let in more than three. I was disappointed. I hate the Devils, with the notable exception of Martin Brodeur. I just don't hate him; in fact, I've always secretly liked him. (Not LIKED him liked him, but as a goalie! Shut up!) I thought he should have started over Ryan freaking Miller, seeing as I think generally he is a better goalie than Ryan freaking Miller (and generally better than any goalie, he leads the NHL with a 2.01 GAA); but he really didn't show that he deserved to be a starter. He did make one very pretty save where he spun around on the ice on his back. Other saves seemed routine. But six allowed! Yikes, Martin! For the sake of argument, let's say the Brodeur playing the way Brodeur should have played would have let in three goals, like the other guys did, and all other things are held constant. The East doesn't lose in regulation. ("My" team doesn't necessarily lose again and I don't get home until way past my bedtime.)

4) An empty-netter like Phaneuf's at the end of the game couldn't be done on purpose, period. He was just clearing the puck around the boards from the opposite end of the ice; it went flying down the side, then curved, on its edge, just enough to roll in. I'm pretty sure I've never seen the opposing team's bench laughing and grinning at an empty-net goal against before. Great moment.

Otherwise it was fine to watch. Marty Turco's commentary while he was on the ice was a highlight. Brodeur had a mic for a while but he lost it while giving up a goal -- from the overhead camera it looked like the puck had split into two, or turned into two pucks, because two black objects went flying behind him into the net. And when there aren't any penalties being called, or really being committed, a game seems to go right by.

----------

Back to "real" hockey, now.

The Phantoms lost pretty bad last night to Hershey, 6-1. The Dallas Stars recalled Steve Ott, who didn't do much but get penalized in three games for the Iowa Stars. Tonight it's Iowa vs. Milwaukee at the Bradley Center. Go Stars!

Iowa's Scott May took a brutal (but clean?) hit in the game last Saturday against Peoria, and left the ice looking totally out of it. The injury report in the Register says he sustained a broken jaw in the hit that caused him to lose his helmet and his his head on the ice. He had surgery to fix it and will be out for six weeks or so.

He didn't move for a long time after he got hit. It's a relief he didn't take a concussion with the fall, too. A broken jaw's certainly not pleasant, but bones heal and are usually less touchy than the brain.

That the Stars held Chicago to only two goals last night is pretty amazing, since the Wolves average better than five goals when on the road. The Stars are a good team. I just didn't get to see that good team last weekend. I hope last night's team is the team that plays on Saturday. (We got tickets.)

Both Dan Ellis and Junior Lessard were in the AHL 3 Stars last night.

---------

The East won the NHL's Young Stars game 9-8. Phil Kessel scored a hat trick. (He plays for Boston and was out for a while recently dealing with testicular cancer. He wasn't gone very long, and it doesn't seem to have affected his game much, does it?)

I'm going to watch the All-Star game tonight, with my dad. Gagne's been chosen to participate, and of course I will cheer for the East. But it feels a bit weird to cheer for a team that is mostly composed of players from teams I loathe. I just don't have much to do with the Western teams, since my favorite lies out East.

Iowa Stars beat Chicago in a shootout, 3-2!!

Regulation goals by Lessard (Lundqvist, Vas) and Wathier (Fistric, Ardelan), and the shooters in the shootout -- Polak, Lundqvist, Lessard, all made their shots, while those for Chicago didn't.

A good showing. Two divisional points. Unfortunately Milwaukee beat Houston so Iowa didn't gain any ground there. But they have a chance on Thursday to get two against the Admirals.

Maybe more tomorrow if there is a story in the Des Moines Register.

Check out this incredibly sad photo of Niittymaki flat on his back in the crease after the tying goal was scored on Saturday.

Poor guy.

In today's Phila Daily News:

"Phantoms captain John Slaney became the first defenseman in the 71-year history of the American Hockey League to reach 500 points in his AHL career when he registered an assist in last night's 4-3 overtime loss to the Norfolk Admirals at the Wachovia Spectrum."

He was named the AHL's third star.

Norfolk's the best team in the AHL right now. The Phantoms outshot them despite losing in overtime.

The Phantoms play next on Wednesday (vs. Hershey).

Wish I could see them.

----------

Iowa Stars play again tomorrow night, at home vs. Chicago. J. says that Lundqvist, Barch, and Grossman were all reassigned back to Iowa, but I haven't read that yet. I don't know where she heard this rumor -- maybe she got the newsletter email and I just haven't yet. But I hope it's true. Four games this week for the baby Stars, all against divisional opponents, and now trailing four points from playoff contention (behind Milwaukee and Peoria), they need to snap wins up here where a win is really a little bit like 4 points.

UPDATE 4:15 p.m. I saw (though still have not personally received) the email from the Iowa Stars indicating the loaning of Lundqvist, Barch, and Grossman back to Iowa. Ought to be a big help. Go Iowa Stars!!!

----------

You know what is sad? I had almost forgotten about The Thing that Happened Against Buffalo (i.e. the ugly 9-goals-against loss), and reading mention of it this morning, it seems so long ago that it almost feels like a different season. Too bad it isn't.

Flyers are off until after the All-Star game, not playing again until next Saturday against the Rangers. That's almost a week where I can keep my composure.

Well, I did not quite get what I wanted out of the Iowa Stars game last night. There were almost fights, but not really. There were lots of goals -- nine overall -- but too many were from Peoria. And the Stars didn't win.

At first -- well, for a long time -- it seemed like I had 100% wasted $30 on a ticket and what would be 3+ hours in a car to watch the Stars play like Mites on Ice.

There was no cohesion whatsoever. They could not pass to save their lives. They may as well have had a piece of crumpled-up junk mail guarding the goal, because Steve Silverthorn was pathetic. I'll admit that after the other week where he was above outstanding, I was really looking forward to seeing him play. Wow, was I let down. He played two periods, and for a while there, his stats were suffering as though they had been drawn and quartered -- 4Peoria goals on 5 shots. He gave up 9 of 13. It started immediately -- and I mean immediately -- on the first shift, the puck went flying high into the air, alley-oop!, into the Stars' zone, and Peoria's new guy, Yan Stastny (who played 51 games for Iowa last year, was just traded to the Blues from Boston) corralled it and pop! high into the net, a shot that Silverthorn was able to watch happen the entire sequence of events. At least one of the other goals was also from a mile out, completely un screened, right over him.

The Stars were down 3-0 before they finally scored late in the second period. 3-1 looked like the score going into the second intermission, but Peoria scored with 2.4 seconds left to make it 4-1 going into the third. Oddly, I did not exactly think that the Stars were baked to a crisp by this deficit; if it had been the Flyers, sure. But I wouldn't have bet anything on a comeback. I figure I saw the one magical comeback-in-the-third-down-three-goals-and-win that I will ever get to see. (Phantoms vs. Wilkes-Barre in 2005, of course! Don't forget! Six goals in ten minutes of the third period!)

They came pretty close. They scored first and second in the third period to bring it to 4-3 -- whoa! -- and then they blew it by letting Peoria score again, I can't remember what it looked like, I can't judge what kind of shot it was and if Stephan, who had come in to relieve Swisscheese Silverthorn, could have had it. So it was 5-3, and Peoria almost had an empty-netter when Iowa pulled Stephan with, I think, more than two minutes left in the period. Close call. And with the extra attacker, Iowa did manage to score again to make it 5-4. But it was a little bit too late; only about 15 seconds left in the game. They didn't get the equalizer, and it was disappointing, but I will almost be happy with the disappointment; given the way the game started, it didn't look like there was going to be any kind of disappointment, because the Stars were allowing themselves to be blown out. This way, they made a game of it. Too bad they waited until the third period to actually make plays work, to actually quit skating chaotically around and missing passes.

Despite the loss, the night was a riot, funny-wise. You might have had to be there, but I will try to explain anyway:

1) One of Peoria's players, Rocky Thompson, has really long hair, the front locks pulled back into a tiny ponytail in the back. It looked pretty scary -- much less nice than in the picture on the Peoria site. (In fact, I am wondering who this person is on the Peoria site. The guy last night looked a lot creepier. A lot.) He skated the warmup without his helmet on, so it was free for all to see. Anyway, he got called for a penalty, and when he was going into the box, they had the camera on him and played "Dude looks like a lady."

I don't think I have ever laughed so hard at a hockey game. Whoever was in charge of musical selections last night is a genius.

2) They do a "kiss cam" during a stoppage in play, and often, at the end, center the camera on the opposing team's bench. Usually, the guys there don't notice, or they let it pass without notice, but last night, one of the Peoria guys saw that they were in the heart on the kiss cam and he reached next to him, pulled his neighbor's head down, and kissed the top of his helmet.

3) One of the linesmen was dumped completely into the Peoria bench. He disappeared from sight. Of course this was hilarious. When he managed to disentangle himself from sticks and skates on the floor of the bench, he skated directly over to the opposite side, took a water bottle from one of the officials in the penalty box area, and squirted it all over his hands. Must have been icky on the floor in there. I can imagine. I don't want to, but I can.

There was a post-team signing, but the line was appallingly long and it was snowing outside. We bailed because we'll have another chance next weekend, when they are signing again after Saturday's game, and it was going to be bad enough on the road with what snow had already fallen. Lundqvist wasn't there anyway. And this gives me a chance to buy a white jersey so that all the guys can sign it next week and have a lot of space, rather than squeezing 20-odd signatures into the white band around the bottom of the green jersey that I have. Yes, I will blow $90 on a new, white jersey if it's going to be signed by the entire team {and with any luck, with Steve Ott finishing his conditioning stint at Iowa [he played last night, looking weird with his helmet pushed really far back on his head (we figure he must not normally use a visor when he plays in the NHL but is forced to in the AHL so kept shoving it back to keep it out of his way) and getting 4 penalty minutes] Dallas will have a center back and can send Joel back home to Iowa!}.

I've often found games between the Flyers and the Devils to be boring. And since the Flyers have lost to them so many times in the last couple years, it's usually a trial to have to listen. But today's game was enjoyable, though a bit of a nailbiter (can't trust the Fly Guys!). They scored first! Then they took the lead again! AND AGAIN! A close game always better than a game where the Flyers are blown out. (And cannot expect the Flyers to be blowing out anyone these days, let alone the Devils with Mar-TAAAN Bro-DOO-urr.)

Brian Propp, after one of the Flyers was subjected to some guff by one of the Devils: "The Devils are trying to send a message."

Tim Saunders: "I'd send a message with a stick in the teeth!"

Brian Propp: "You and I would spend a lot of time in the penalty box this year."

I cringed every time Saunders would make some comment about how long it had been since the Flyers had had a lead, or how long it had been since the Flyers hadn't allowed a goal in a period (before a period was over!) and so on ... stop with the possible jinxing, man! ARRGH! I had my hands clenched into fists and I was anxious and nervous in the third period after Gagne scored the third goal to put the Flyers up 3-2 ....

And then they gave up the tying goal in the third with twenty seconds to go.

I found myself saying, "I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE THEY GAVE UP THE TYING GOAL IN THE LAST TWENTY SECONDS" and then I laaaaaaaaaughed because I CAN BELIEVE IT.

No wonder the Flyers are in last place and no wonder they are a laughingstock. They finally had a chance and a good game and completely 100% COULD NOT hold onto even the slimmest lead to win. They held them off for, what, almost six minutes? THEN WHY NOT TWENTY FLAMING SECONDS MORE?

During the overtime, Brian Propp said the Flyers now must be thinking that they've just got to throw everything they've got at the net, after all, "'we've got nothing to lose'!", he said they must be thinking. WHAT? NOTHING TO LOSE? THE GAME, BRIAN!! THEY HAVE THE GAME TO LOSE!

When the game went to the shootout I knew it was totally over. There was no way in hell they were going to beat Brodeur. And the three Flyers shooters didn't.

I actually had tears in my eyes -- not because I was disappointed (have gotten so used to that part of it, it almost rolls off the back with no impact), but because I was SO BLEEPING MAD. If only I could jettison some of my emotional investment in this team; it's just too destructive this season. Alas. I cannot. I love the Flyers even though they abuse me so.

I've decided the Flyers must enjoy being the worst team in the NHL and ENJOY LOSING because there is no other *$^#ing reason that they should have LOST THIS GAME TODAY. They gifted it to the Devils; they handed it to them on a flaming silver platter and said, "Here. We don't need two points. One's enough. No, we insist."

GGGRRRRRRRAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

[takes deep breaths]

I'm going to Des Moines tonight to watch an Iowa Stars team that has not won in the last four games. (They were beat last night by Omaha 3-1.) I want:

1) To see some fighting. I now feel bloodthirsty.
2) To see some goals. And not goals made by Peoria.
3) TO SEE THE STARS WIN.

I want to be in a good mood when I get some post-game autographs!!!

I had a lot of fury last night at the end of the Flyers game. There was no good reason for the 4-2 loss. I missed the first period, but was totally pleased with how the second went. The Flyers scored twice to keep the game close and tied, but then the third period snake raised its head and bit. I want to say that it's not all the Flyers' fault, because the officiating certainly had a hand in it, but HELLO FLYERS you have to take care of it anyway, kill the penalty, shut the other guys down. Yeah, it was a trash penatly on Derian Hatcher, that delay-of-game penalty that the referee did not call but the linesman, who wasn't even near the play, called. The result was an Islanders 5-on-3, and I sat back in my chair, disgusted, because I knew that was going to be a disaster and sure enough, it was. The Islanders scored and it was 3-2.

And, rather quickly, they scored again, 4-2, and despite Brian Propp's eternal optimism, there was never going to be enough time for the Flyers to recover. Not once the hockey sails were torn down by that lead, as they always are.

What is so maddening about this loss is that the Flyers were actually in the game and then the bad call happened, they unraveled and that was it. They have to kill those penalties, whether they are pathetic and made-up or honest and done in good, stop-the-other-team-from-scoring faith. Don't tell me how fragile you are, and how a bad call and a bad goal sucks the life out of you; just fricking kill the penalties and play the way you know you can. Look at the second period from Saturday, from last night! You know you have it in you, just hold onto it and don't let it go away just because the other team got a lucky break!!!! ARRRRGH!!!!!

Looking at the silver lining, Peter Forsberg acquired his 600th assist on Gagne's 24th goal of the season. I wish it could have come in a better game. So does he.

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Phantoms tonight vs. Bridgeport; Iowa Stars vs. Omaha.

Flyers tomorrow vs. New Jersey.

I'm going to the Iowa Stars/Peoria Rivermen game tomorrow night in Des Moines. There was some shuffling of personnel recently: Dallas sent back Tobias Stephan and took Dan Ellis. J.B. Bittner was called back to Iowa from Idaho and Tuomas Mikkonen was sent back. The Suomalainen only played one game for Iowa. And the big Stars' Steve Ott was sent to Iowa for conditioning after having been on injured reserve since November 16.

They are giving away player trading cards, and there is a post-game autograph session that I would look more forward to if I thought Joel Lundqvist was going to be there, but I think he's probably going to be staying with the big club. Good for him, bad for me!

Some AHL catch-up now that I have blogged the Flyers game:

The Iowa Stars blew it last weekend. That's the last time I make such bold predictions!! They lost the two games I guessed they'd win handily -- 3-1 to the Aeros (!) and then in overtime 5-4 to Toronto. In that game, they had the lead up until the last minute and a half, where the tying two goals were scored by the Marlies to push the game into overtime. I just can't stand how often my teams lose control of a game so late. They managed to also lose in a shootout to Rochester on Tuesday, 5-4, after blowing a 4-1 lead, with Rochester's tying goal occurring again late in the game (1:13 left). Good grief. I know they have had a rash of call-ups disappear to Dallas (Lundqvist being one of them -- more on him in a second) and a bout of flu was rampaging the team, but come on. That kind of lead can't be squandered.

Encouraging, perhaps, that the Stars could play strongly with Rochester, the top team in the Western conference (fourth-best points in the AHL). It's a damn shame they couldn't hold them, though. And, at least they got a point out of each game past regulation. Point-wise it was as though they had won one, lost one.

The Phantoms were on a losing streak going into last night's game -- shootout loss to Bridgeport last Wednesday, two losses to Lowell Friday and Sunday -- but shut the door on that streak by beating Binghamton 3-2. In this game, goalie Scott Munroe had an amazing 28-save third period, and a total of 47 saves. That's pretty amazing. He ended up one of the AHL's three stars of the night.

And now, Joel Lundqvist's story. He was called up to Dallas because the parents were suffering another streak of injuries. And last night he scored his first NHL goal. It was a tie-breaker, putting the Stars up 2-1 (they eventually won 4-2 over Calgary). There was a nice picture on the NHL.com homepage, Lundqvist in a sandwich hug with a huge smile on his handsome face. He said: "I want to stay up here. If I have a bad game, I might be back in Iowa." Hey! What's wrong with Iowa?! We love you here!!! Awwww. Come back before the 27th so we can see you and get your post-game autograph! Anyway, congratulations to Joel on his first NHL goal.

Tickets have been purchased to the Iowa Stars' Saturday home game against Peoria. They will be coming back from an away game at Omaha. Fingers crossed the Omaha game will break this losing streak. With the Stars in 5th again, two points behind Milwaukee and Peoria, every point against a divisional opponent matters.

Flyers are playing tonight vs. Islanders (at home). Geoff Sanderson and Mike Richards are expected to return to the lineup, so with any luck there will be additional offensive firepower on the ice. And Forsberg seems to be holding up. I think they have a good shot tonight. I really do. Huh. GO FLYERS.

P.S. What do you think about me attending the Flyers/Leafs game on February 24 and then going to the Flyers Wives' Carnival on the 25th? I think it sounds good. I'll have to see what I can finagle.

Saturday, January 13, 2007.

The fourth Flyers game I have attended.



So dressed, we headed south to the sports complex and after considering various purchases in the fan gear shop, we took our seats for the warm-up. As I expected, the Pens were roundly booed when they skated out, but the dudes in orange were happily cheered. I had my sign for Joni [PALJON ONNEA! -- I didn't take a new one, thinking perhaps if he sees one that he has seen before, he will certainly realize it's the same girl (I had blond hair and different glasses back when)] and I think he did see it, as he smiled again after glancing up into the section we were in. Maybe not, but it appears that my presence was at least noted, and I will tell myself he saw it.

Since the game was on NBC, close to the game's start, we were entreated to show the nation what Flyers hockey and Flyers fans were all about. We did this in spectacular fashion as follows: the players were all lined up on their respective blue lines (I think before the anthem) and it was dim in the arena, but nothing was happening. I scanned the ice, and realized that Pierre what's-his-face was chatting with Sidney Crosby near the teams' benches, both in a pool of spotlight, and this was holding up the game. It seemed that the moment I noticed it, everyone else noticed it too, and nearly the entire crowd started booing, a boo that got progressively stronger as the interview went on and the game was delayed.

Good stuff. (I say this with a big cheery grin -- you know I was booing as loud as the next guy.)



Opening faceoff and the game was underway. We had a few irritatingly vocal Pens fans near us who were obnoxious and mildly foul. Interestingly, no Flyers fan in the vicinity bothered giving them the satisfaction by responding to their taunting. I certainly wasn't going to, and it is more satisfying to me to know that they didn't get satisfaction ... if that makes sense.

The game started pretty OK -- the Flyers scored first, very early and it was a wild thing in the stands, because, well, when they don't score first, it's almost a sure lost cause. And it was great to have a reason for the Pens fans nearby to have nothing to say for a while. Ryan Potulny was responsible for putting the Flyers up 1-0. I took a picture of the jumbotron, to remember the moment (in case it slipped away into oblivion score-wise later).



Oh, look, Joni just happens to be in the picture. And you will note that at 14:38 to go in the period, Marc-Andre Fleury has given up a goal on the Flyers' only shot of the game. What's that, 0.0% save? HA! (Never mind that nearly six minutes have gone by and the Flyers have managed only one shot on goal...)

Anyway, the rest of the game was a study in irritation, frustration, physical play, and poor officiating. I don't know if it was because it was on national television, or if it was because it was the Penguins, or a synergistic combination of the two, but it seemed like the Flyers were getting the shaft. I say this with only a shade of the bias I have, both against the Pens and for the Flyers. I saw the first penalty -- Hatcher for high-sticking Crosby. All I recall (and I have not yet watched the video of the game my folks recorded for me -- it might be more obvious there) is Hatcher and Crosby heading toward the boards at the Flyers' end of the ice and suddenly Crosby's head is flying back so forcefully I can't believe he didn't give himself whiplash. When I say all I recall is the two of them going in that direction and Crosby's head going back, that's really it -- the picture in my head does not contain Hatcher's stick anywhere near Crybaby's head.

This was basically the way it was going to go, wasn't it? Hatcher in the box for 2 minutes because Crosby's a drama queen.

At 7:26, the Penguins scored. I will have to see it again, but my memory is that it was a stoppable goal. Niittymaki, as glas as I was to get to see him play again (favoring him as I do over Esche), has to make that kind of stop. 1-1, hoping it was just knotted and not the start of a Pens blowout -- the Flyers don't have a good track record in that regard against PIT this season, right?

A while later, Eager crunched a Penguin along the boards. It was a great hit. We all loved it. Next thing we knew, there was disorder and stripes throwing penalties around like water. Eager threw a hard, but legal, hit; the dude he hit decided to take exception, and went after Eager. Ben Eager is not a guy who will skate away from that, and so he tried to comply -- but the officials got themselves in between it as fast as you can say "new NHL" and it never really got underway. Yet somehow five minute majors were still dealt, PLUS Eager got an instigator, and a game misconduct, ostensibly for throwing a punch after the officials broke it up. Huh. Eager delivered a legal hit, and the other guy went after him, but somehow Eager got the instigator. Riiiiight. And then the misconduct -- what the? All right. Eager's third misconduct and therefore he is suspended.

I can't really comment on any of that without just sounding like a sour grapes Flyers fan, but if the game were 1) not against the Penguins and 2) not on NBC, would the fight a) have been stopped before it really got going and b) a game misconduct been handed out? It's almost as though there was some sort of message slapped out there -- such ugly, dirty play is not going to be tolerated!!! When of course it is, all the time -- just not on NBC, and maybe just not against the Penguins. Or maybe just not from the Flyers. I don't know. I'm just Crusher, in the stands, irate because Ben Eager got an instigator penalty for trying to accomodate some dude who didn't like being hit and so wanted to fight. How the hell does the one who doesn't start the fight end up with the instigator?

So our tough guy was out. Eager's not so much a goon as a guy that mixes things up -- it seems that they call them "energy" players these days -- and his contributions can occasionally be timely. So to have him booted halfway through the first on spurious (shaky, at best) charges was a low point.

Some time later, right in front of me, in the Flyers' zone, Pitkanen tried to pass the puck up to Umberger. I don't know if Pitkanen mistimed it or Umberger wasn't expecting it, or Umberger himself misjudged it, but it almost seemed the Umberger turned his back on it, and suddenly it wasn't with him -- it was behind him -- and he spun, but it was too damn late, the Pens had it, pass, Malkin with a rocket, score.

Now, I have read about a handpass that I cannot recall seeing that was not called by the officials, which directly led to this second Penguins goal. If it is true that Recchi gloved the puck to another player, then it's a worthless goal that will have broken the deal for the Flyers. In a game that was 4-3 going into the last minutes -- if that goal had not been scored, it very well could have been 3-3, Niitty would never have needed to be pulled, an empty-netter would never have happened -- we would probably have seen a completely different hockey game and one that need not have ended with two points for Pittsburgh. But that's on an alternate temporal plane -- one where Crosby might actually get sent to the box for interference when he decks someone from behind -- I have to deal with this one -- so back to the story.

The period ended with the Flyers down 2-1. I didn't feel too bad about that, as it is a surmountable deficit (unlike many they have faced). It would have been nice if they could have done something on the brief power play they had when Whitney went to the box for tripping in the last minute, but instead, the idiots in black and white called Forsberg for hooking. Now, I don't really know for sure, but I don't think tapping an opposing player's stick really counts as hooking. Then again I am not an NHL linesman officiating a Penguins game on NBC. Maybe I need to look at it again, and put on their special glasses. So the power play didn't get to go anywhere, and thanks to the Forsberg penalty, they would actually have to PK very early in the second.



The second period ended up a study in Real Flyers Awesomeness -- the kind where, if they could summon it every game, every period, every freaking shift, they would be sitting pretty at #1 in the NHL. Or at the very least, not sucking up the dregs at the very bottom. There was hitting: Forsberg checked Malone with a shoulder that knocked the Penguin to the ice, a crunch of a hit that had us all roaring with approval. Joni was all over Crosby at one point, hounding him until he fell to the ice. (Mega-approval.) Then Zhitnik gave it to the little creep, who blew up about it and ended up with a double minor.

The Flyers scored twice in the third period to tie the game, and the Wach was rocking. It was actually looking like a miracle just might happen to us. It was a miracle enough that it was 3-3 at the end of the second and the Flyers had given us a glimpse of wonderous hockey.

It took them a while, though. While the Flyers were having a hell of a time getting the puck out of their own zone, the Pens fans behind us kept screaming that there was all kinds of fresh ice down by Fleury. Someone should have slugged them with "Pens have the puck all the time but aren't scoring, though, are they?" or similar, preferably in a more vulgar way. And then when the Flyers started their onslaught, someone should have pointed out that there was all kinds of wide-open ice at the other end of the arena. Na ja.

But they sucked it back away from us in the third period. They didn't do much that was good, for the certainly didn't score, and Niitty gave up an ugly, ugly goal that he absolutely should have had. It was 4-3 and you could feel the way it drained everyone -- all the fans, and you could see it edging in on the guys. They couldn't seem to keep the puck out of their own zone, and when it came to the end, they could barely get Niitty out for the extra man, and then they couldn't get it in -- though there were a few agonizing near-misses -- and Malkin ended up with the empty-netter that made the score 5-3 and to appear as though it were not as close as it was.

It was a depressing way for something that looked so promising during the second period to end. It wasn't exactly the unexpected result -- I sure didn't have any confidence that the Flyers would win -- but at least it wasn't the awful gut-wrenching blowout of a defeat they have taken from the Penguins most other games. The Pens are now 6-0 against Philadelphia this season, and that is just impossible to stomach.



I really can't help but wonder if the outcome would have been different had it not been on national TV (Versus doesn't really count) -- much of what I have read about it seems so overtly slanted toward the Penguins' favor that I am almost afraid to watch the tape, fearing that I will be so angry at how many times the name "Sidney Crosby" is mentioned even though he had a pretty mediocre game -- no goals, one assist, a double minor -- I didn't notice it at the game, but I read that the glass was taken down separating the Penguins' bench from the space between the benches, but wasn't taken down on the Flyers' side, which makes it pretty obvious who NBC were really interested in. I'm not sure that the Flyers ever had a chance -- not that I am suggesting any blatant conspiracy or anything. It's just that the referees could police the game one-sidedly, and no one would question it because it involved the Golden Crybaby, and since it is the Flyers no one would blink twice at their being blown out regardless of officiating.

Added note: The Flyeres really need to get more than 18 shots per game if they want to win. It is amazing they kept it so close given the disparity in shots on goals between the teams.

The hockey adventure in Philadelphia has concluded, and I am back in the lab. I would prefer to be at home snoozing, as I did not get home until nearly 1:30 a.m. (that would be 2:30 a.m. according to my brain, which had adjusted to East Coast time). But, in the spirit of positivity, I will say that the lab is preferable to outside, and so, it could be worse.

By now you will likely be aware that the Flyers lost on Saturday, 5-3, to the Penguins. It wasn't nearly as one-sided as that two-goal advantage makes it sound, though the third period was pretty trashy.

When I have my pictures uploaded, I'll tell the story of the game from the perspective one has six rows up from the Flyers bench.

And once I read about the Iowa Stars' weekend (which, after a quick spy at the DM Register, I see was not good), I'll talk about that.

Plus anything else that comes to mind re: hockey.

But for now I actually have some work to do. You know, actually try to earn my salary, so that I can pay for the weekend I just had, and any future weekends involving hockey.

I only listened to the third period of the game last night, and I was in and out of the room as I packed. What I heard was disappointing, but not disgusting. The Flyers were losing 3-2, and eventually the Habs scored again. I keep reading about how it seems like the Flyers' heart drops out the bottom when the game appears to get out of their hands that way; I can understand it, my own drops out and all I am doing is sitting at my desk and listening.

But otherwise I was not horrified; they sounded like they played better, at least during the period I heard. Maybe that's all we can ask for right now, that they play "better" each time.

Joni scored his first goal of the season (his first goal in 43 games). I wish I had heard it. I looked at it today, it was a sneaky lucky shot.

Well, I had planned a better post, but this morning I am very scattershot. I am leaving in an hour and fifteen minutes.

When I get back, I'll have a big story and photographs of the game on Saturday. The local NBC channel has listed that the game they will show is Penguins at Flyers, so everyone in eastern Iowa, look for me! I'll be five rows behind the Flyers bench wearing the orange third jersey; J. will have on the white away. (From behind we will be two Pitkanens.)

So, GO FLYERS! WOOOO!!

(And GO I-STARS! WOO!)

Forbserg will play tonight! With luck, he will last longer than a period or two! With more luck, he will last more than one game! I want to see him on Saturday!

I don't mean to sound sarcastic. Really, it would be so wonderful to have him able to stick around. I know he's struggling finding a way to be comfortable skating, and he says he's not 100% right now with the skate/foot issue, but feels that he has to play.

In his honor, in a way, I am wearing my orange Forsberg t-shirt. Tonight the Flyers are at home against Montreal. GO FLYERS.

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The Phantoms lost the game last night in a shootout. It's a disappointing way to miss two points -- but at least they got one in a game against a divisional opponent. Eight points out of playoff contention. There is time.

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The Iowa Stars have recalled Steve Silverthorn from Idaho. After they sent him back, he played in an ECHL game in Phoenix on Monday, and posted a shutout there, too. That's three shutouts in four days. The Register says: "Silverthorn stopped 76 total shots and has not allowed a goal in his last 184:04 minutes playing in the two leagues combined."

He's called up because Tobias Stephan is still up with Dallas. The Stars play tomorrow night, in Des Moines, vs. Houston. I'll be on my way to Philadelphia, so I won't be able to listen to the game or keep track of the score. I doubt I find out how they do until I get back to Iowa on Monday night. That goes for finding out how they do on Saturday against Toronto, too.

Well, I think, I think I will get by. Have I mentioned that I will be at the Flyers/Penguins game in Philadelphia? WOOOO!!

(Sorry if my gloating is getting old, but I'm excited about it, even though I face the very real possibility of watching a very sucky Flyers team suck the suckage like no one has ever sucked the suckage before. Maybe they will sense something special about the audience, and rise to the occasion!)

It's been since November that the Stars and Aeros met. In the series so far, the Stars are up 3-2, winning the first three and losing the last two. The Aeros are 5-4-0-1 in their last 10 games; sixth in the division with 36 points. The Stars are 7-2-1-0 in the last 10. I say the Stars will take this game. That's my prediction.

As for Toronto, the Stars just beat them last weekend 3-0, in Toronto, with Silverthorn in net. I will go out on a short limb (all that is necessary) and say the Stars will have no problems taking the game on Saturday, too. Between the recent stomp and the fact that the Marlies are 3-6-0-1 in the last 10, it's a pretty safe prediction. Maybe the Marlies will pull a fast one; always possible. But I don't see it.

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If I am at home for part of the Flyers game tonight, I'll comment; otherwise, tomorrow once I read about what happened.

So, Nolan Baumgartner's appointment to the AHL All-Star game is the second time he has been so selected. He is the 25th Phantom to play in the All-Star game, and is the 10th defensemen to go. He is Canadian, so will play for team Canada.

It is a little entertaining to read other fans' comments about the game last night, but in a morbid sort of way. I mean, seriously -- the last time Brashear scored a goal (before last night) was last March, when he was playing for the Flyers, 48 games ago. (It went in and trickled off Esche's back.) And the Caps, until last night, had never swept a season series against the Flyers, not in more than 20 years. If you can't laugh, even in disbelief, then all you can do is cry, and crying just makes your nose runny and your eyes red.

The Phantoms play tonight against Bridgeport. I'll check the score at some point. Other than that, all I will do hockeywise is hope that Forsberg's got a skate boot that feels 100% and can play tomorrow night against Montreal (and, if not against MTL, then absolutely against PIT).

I have had difficulty finding a way to listen to the Flyers' game, as the NHL radio site seems to want to force me to watch free Center Ice, though I don't think the window in which it pops up is the one it's supposed to be in -- it doesn't fit and you can't make it bigger. And I can't watch anyway, as I don't have broadband (thanks, Qwest!) and after searching, I have managed to eventually find an audio through the website of the radio station in D.C. broadcasting the game.

By now, though, I am already totally disgusted. While I was hunting for my audio, I was watching the score. 2-0 Capitals. The first goal was scored 15 seconds in.

$100 says the Flyers lose this one. No takers? No wonder.

I may not make it through this game because this audio keeps breaking and skipping. Intolerable. WTF is NHL.com's problem? They should at least give two separate clickies -- one for people who can watch, one for those of us who CANNOT. Fools.

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At the end of the first period, I gave nhl.com another shot. I have Philly audio. But, again ... what I heard on the Caps' broadcast (between skips) was "Gagne, just wide of Ollie Kolzig!" and that Esche let in 2 of 3 shots -- one trickling past when he thought he had it? Did I hear that right? ARGH!

I hope the second period is better. After my fight to listen to the game, I have a short fuse!!

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Carter may have to share the name "Shoots Wide of the Net" with Gagne.

Caps score twice in 17 seconds. The game is at 4-0.

I am speechless.

There is no way the Flyers come back for this. Statistically, at 15 seconds, when the first goal was scored, they were out. Now, it's ridiculous.

It actually hurts me.

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5-0.

Propp: "Now they just want to get some respectability back." Is it possible? One goal will not manage to make the Flyers look respectable. All it will do is ruin Kolzig's shutout.

Shocking -- ! -- Calder did it on the power play. 5-1.

Pinch me -- !! -- shorthanded goal by the Flyers, 5-2. Calder again.

Too optimistic to think the Flyers might score again on this power play? Calder is out there ... Too optimistic.

Two minutes left for the Flyers to score three to tie.

Caps scored. 6-2.

I'd say that does it, but it was already done.

Well, this way we know the six goals that happened on Sunday weren't because Niitty was in net, and not Esche. I think the only good thing I can say about this game is that the Flyers didn't totally fold. It is sad how many bad records the Flyers have set this season; the first time in god knows how long that the Caps have swept a series.

Ugh.

Joel Lundqvist was named to the PlanetUSA team of the AHL All-Star game (Jan. 29th). He was the only Iowa Star named to the All-Star game.

Nolan Baumgartner was named to the Canadian team. Played for the Flyers, now the Phantoms, and gets to go to the AHL All-Star game. Wonder if he imagined his 2006-2007 season going like this. I'd say not.

The Phantoms lost their postponed game to Grand Rapids 3-2. At least they came back to make it close -- when I looked, they were down 2-0. Looks like it got up to 3-0 before a Phantoms comeback was begun, just not finished.

Hockey was on my brain last night as I dreamt. I kept dreaming that I was watching these funny shorts that I have seen on YouTube, called "Knob Hockey." They seem to be centered around last year's playoffs. The Ryan Smyth one, where he blames Ty Conklin for the game 1 loss, is sheer hilarity. ("Ty! Conklin, you will never play another game, trust me, it's gonna be Markkanen; you f[bleep]ed up BIG TIME! But you're still an Edmonton Oiler. It was a STUPID play, and I BLAME you, but I don't blame our team. Or our CITY. Or our DREAM.")

We were watching them yesterday. We also like the Ilya Bryzgalov one, where the goalie mutters to himself in the crease. We especially liked his simile about being hung out to dry.

Pisani, in top shelf like pizza in the oven.

Rod Brind'amour as Braveheart

Behind the Mask with Ty Conklin.

Bunch of Sabres talking about how they're getting home.

Another Ryan Smyth pep talk.

Anyway, I don't know why I kept dreaming about these. Also, I must have dreamt that I got an email from the Iowa Stars about Lundqvist returning, because I went looking for it in my inbox, but it's not there. However, I now remember where I read it: on the Des Moines Register website yesterday. The headline is: "Dallas center returns to Iowa." Like he belongs to Dallas! (Teehee.)

Flyers tonight against the Capitals. Forsberg may play, depending on how his skate boot feels (once again!).

As of 2:05 p.m., apparently nhl.com's radio links are only going to play yesterday's game(s).

Very, very annoying.

Ok, so a few minutes later they started playing today's game. Guess what? AS SOON AS I STARTED LISTENING OTTAWA SCORED. Seriously! I'm a curse!

Given that the Flyers are 1-22-1 when they give up the first goal, I probably could call it an afternoon and go back to other pursuits for the day. But I am just enough a glutton for punishment to stay and listen.

3 mins left in the first, 2-0 Sens after Corvo scored for the first time since scoring against the Flyers 15 days ago. Wouldn't you think the Flyers would get tired of always having to chase back from one or more goal deficits?

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It is so entertaining to hear the WIP personalities (not Saunders and Propp) yelling over the commercials. "Fricking NHL (?) screwing everything up!" Nice! The other night I heard one of them snickering about a caller-in having told whoever it was to stick something you-know-where (I paraphrase to keep this a family blog). How can they not know that they are rather clearly audible? I love how he yells "Am I back?" as though he ever was off. I'm sure on the actual radio you can't hear him; why can we? It is not entertaining when their chatter interferes with the audio of Saunders and Propp, though. Grrr.

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R.J. Umberger scored his first goal in 12 games early in the second! It's his ninth goal of the season. At first I wasn't sure that he actually had scored because Tim Saunders's voice went up the register first as he approached and took his chance, but then his commentating cascaded down ... I figured it meant he missed, but then Saunders said, "AND HE SCORES." Interesting -- it's only the second 2nd period goal R.J. has scored this season, all the others being 3rd period goals.

Still down, but more hopeful now. 2-1.

{For crying out loud, someone screamed "AWWWW! DAMN IT [some name I didn't recognize] -- and now "GOD DAMN IT!" Whoever it was is obviously watching something else, as it had nothing to do with the Flyers game. Figure that out, please, and make the audio of the guys in the station studio not audible!. That startled me, because nothing was happening on the ice. -- Ok, a few minutes later there was a cough and something about needing a touchdown by the Jets. A FOOTBALL GAME. I just don't care and it is distracting away from the HOCKEY GAME.}

Sens scored again. 3-1. Arrrgh. Dany Heatly given a breakaway, top corner on Niitty.

9:27 to go in the second period. Arrrgh.

4-1. Niittymaki, what's happening out there?? Less than 5 minutes now until a break from the shame.

Damn. 5-1. This is becoming ridiculous. 3:30 left.

It will be some comeback in the third if the Flyers are to win. But I'm done with them for the day.

Hockey this weekend was for the most part a non-live affair, except for the game I listened to Friday night. I was only able to listen to the last period of the Flyers' game, which I joined in progress because they were already losing (see, my interference couldn't jinx because they weren't winning).

Sorry I listened, because the Flyers broke my heart. Propp kept commenting that Tim Thomas, the Bruins' goaltender, "likes to give up rebounds" but I didn't hear much about rebounds, OR I heard the Flyers not being there to pick them up. Late in the third, Knuble scored a goal which was heavily reviewed (it was thought he kicked the puck in) but stood; it turned out not to be enough, of course, as afterward no one could manage the tying goal to put the game into overtime -- no one could manage to even get the puck out of their own zone! -- and the Flyers lost 4-3.

Some things I had not heard for a while cropped back up, things that I heard during the awful stretch when there was no hope at all for the Flyers:

"Gagne threw [the puck] wide of the net" and "Off of Gagne, just wide of the net."

No doubt at the end of the season, "Shoots Wide of the Net" will be Gagne's Native American name. (It might be fun to come up with such names for everyone else. I will have to consider it.)

Esche was showing glimpses of the self that I so disliked, giving up monstrous rebounds. But Tim and Brian kept talking about how he had kept the Flyers in the game up until Boston scored #4 to make it 4-2, and as I didn't hear any of the first two-thirds of the game, I had to give him the benefit of the doubt. Difficult, when the Inquirer this morning says the third Bruins' goal was one he should have stopped. Had he done that, Knuble's goal would have ended up mattering a little more.

One good thing, though. Sami Kapanen. He scored two unassisted goals. In a game where the other Flyers seemed flat and uninterested, Sami took the whole thing on his back and did it himself, kept at least himself in the game. There are times when he just manages to come through and be the clutch player that seems to so often be vacant from the squad. Onneksi olkoon!

But let's see. Officially the Flyers are halfway through the season and they've collected only 26 points. Their record is a wrenching 11-26-4. Not yet mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, but they can't possibly be far from it. (I am certainly not going to calculate it myself to see just how far.) It's nauseating.

Looking at nhl.com, I hate to see one of the 3 Stars to be a player from the team that beats the Flyers; especially needling to see that player be Star #1. (Marc Savard.)

And rumors from the Inquirer: "Edmonton continues to covet Pitkanen. Raffi Torres and Joffrey Lupul are being offered up, people close to the teams say." Don't do it.

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The Iowa Stars played last night in Toronto. I intended to listen to the game but ended up not being able to, which saddens me because the Stars won, 3-0 -- the shutout coming courtesy of Steve Silverthorn. Only his second AHL game, he's already got his second AHL shutout.

It was also his second night ending up one of the AHL 3 Stars.

Things look promising for this kid, no? If he had merely managed to allow the Stars to win (that is, not in such spectacular fashion) I might have said "at least he is bailing out the Iowa Stars, who have no other goaltending solution, with Stephan called up and Ellis hurt." But he has done more than that. Ellis was probably sitting on that bench and gnawing a fingernail. ("With 120 minutes of shutout hockey including Friday's 2-0 win over Hamilton, Silverthorn broke Dan Ellis' team mark of 113 straight shutout minutes in goal, set last December.") And Stephan in Dallas probably stared at the report and thought, "Ohh, scheiße."

So, the game. Marty Sertich has missed the last two and will miss several weeks after having surgery. This is a bad blow as the little forward has made himself rather important. However, the other Stars seem to have learned to step themselves up when losing a major piece of the lineup. Lundqvist is still out -- I heard speculation he might be injured, because he only played part of a game for Dallas and then was not in their lineup for two games straight, but wasn't in Iowa's either? And Conner is still dressing for the big club. The three goals Iowa scored all came in the second period within 12 minutes, and came by:

Hacker (from Fistric and Holtet)
Lessard (from Johnson)
Scalzo (from Hagos and Vas), a PP goal

The Register says Silverthorn will return to his spot in Idaho. Ellis and Stephan can relax, I guess.

With Peoria losing last night (to San Antonio) and Milwaukee winning (over Chicago! They are beatable by this division!) the standings in the West now look like this:

Chicago 55
Omaha 45
Peoria 43
Iowa 43
Milwaukee 40
Houston 34
San Antonio 30

Things are so tight in the middle there. Every game is going to count (more than games usually count?).

And while I can't say that I care too much whether the Dallas Stars win or fall apart on the ice, it is nice to see Iowa Stars fellows do well. Loui Eriksson had his first multi-point game last night (multi-point for Dallas, that is) with two assists.

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The Flyers were the only losers yesterday (of the teams I care about), as even the Phantoms won, 4-2 over Binghamton. The Phantoms website makes it sound a little exciting: "The Phantoms erased a two-goal deficit with four unanswered goals in the span of about 11 minutes to take a 4-2 victory." Darren Reid scored his fourth goal of the weekend (the three others being a hat trick in Friday's win). All the goals happened before four minutes had passed in the second period -- the rest of the game went scoreless. AHL standings as of 9:17 a.m. on Sunday, January 7, 2007: 14-19-1-1, 30 points, still sixth in the East Division, two points out of fifth, eight points out of fourth. Edging closer to that playoff spot...

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Upcoming hockeyness:

The Flyers play again today, vs. the Ottawa Senators, at 2 p.m. CST. Hey, the Phantoms beat the Li'l Sens, maybe the Flyers can slap the Big Sens. Not much time off for the Flyers in the last week, as they will do every-others again this week after this weekend's back-to-back and every-others last week: they play the Caps (Tuesday), Montreal (Thursday) and then the Penguins (SATURDAY SATURDAY SAAAAATUUUURRRRDAAAAY!!!!).

Iowa Stars have most of the week off. They are home in Des Moines on Friday, vs. Houston; home for Toronto on Saturday, home for Rochester on the 16th. Next game that will be eligible for our attendance will be Saturday the 20th, against Peoria. We have not come to a conclusion about whether or not we will go, given the expense of the Flyers weekend, and our intention to hit the Stars/Wolves game on the 27th.

Phantoms: Not today, but tomorrow vs. Grand Rapids; the 10th vs. Bridgeport; 12th and 14th at Lowell. Too bad that those last two are away games.

Go Flyers!

Earlier today I received an email from the Iowa Stars organization mentioning a goalie from the Idaho ECHL team (the Steelheads) being called up to play for Iowa. Having no other information, J. and I wondered why a third goalie would be necessary. We hadn't heard that Stephan or Ellis had been called up, so we guessed it meant one or the other was sick or injured. (After all, Lessard's condition was a mystery.)

I've just seen an email from the Stars saying that Stephan was called up to Dallas.

So now it all makes sense. They just sent them in confusing order.

The Stars game starts in a few minutes. I will listen from the beginning, so as not to curse them by joining in the third when up by a goal.

I have no hate for Hamilton, so I am not all emotionally riled up for the game, but it should be a good one. Though Dan Jancevski has not played for Iowa this season, I am still for some reason used to hearing his name, and so if I am not listening closely, there is a fraction of a second before I remind myself that the announcer means a Bulldog has the puck. Patrick Traverse, who played for Iowa last year too, was traded a couple weeks ago from Hamilton to Worcester, so at least I don't have a second name to confuse me if I am not paying very close attention.

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First period: Lessard is playing! Excellent. (The new guy, Bittner, scratched.) The call-up goalie, Silverthorn, is in net for the Stars. According to the announcer, Jason Shaver, he was playing in Phoenix last night, got up this morning for Hamilton this morning before 5, flying through Dallas to get to Toronto and drive ... getting there about two hours ago. If he doesn't fall asleep in the net, I think we might be lucky. Ellis isn't starting because he pulled something yesterday, if I heard Shaver correctly; and that's probably why he wasn't called up, Stephan instead, since Mike Smith (who played in Iowa a lot last year) sustained a little bit of a concussion during the second period of last night's DAL/EDM game. Nickerson back on the blue line after playing forward Wednesday.

Ok, so, the game.

Stars pressed on their first power play, but nothing went in. I get nervous when the action goes near the Iowa goal, as I have no idea about this goaltender. Apparently he's been pretty good in the ECHL.

Best opportunity was a 2-on-1 but the shot went high. Another shot by Holtet was stopped.

A second power play for the Stars -- Iowa scored! Holtet ["the Nasty Norwegian" (!?)from Vas and Ardelan], upstairs, 1:15 left in the first, Iowa up 1-0! Second game in a row, Iowa scored first; hope the rest of the game doesn't go like it did on Wednesday (knock on wood to avoid jinx). Shortly after, Grossman in the box for boarding. Big save by Silverthorn at the last seconds, the period ended. Stars will start the second period short-handed.

Hamilton got only 4 shots in the first, Stars 13. It really sounded like the Stars had control of the game.

---------

Wow, I didn't see anything there of course, but it sounds like Silverthorn made an amazing pair of saves -- the original and the rebound. 30 seconds in, Hamilton added 3 shots on goal to their total. Um. Control of game shifting so early in the second?

Um, no. 2:25 in: even-strength, Vojtech Polak scored his 10th goal of the year, assisted by Lessard (yay!) and Jamie Johnson, Iowa Stars up 2-0. A great start, but the Stars will have to hold on.

Shaver makes everything Silverthorn does sound like Superman has dressed in green and gold tonight and agreed to mind the Iowa Stars' net.

Third power play for the Stars thanks to too many Hamilton men on the ice. There were a couple other penalties that I didn't catch, but the Stars have a 5-on-3 for a short time with a Bulldog taking a cross-checking penalty after hitting May. On the 5-on-4 that came after, Ajay Baines had a breakaway and was hauled down. Too bad. A penalty Iowa could ill-afford not to take. I think it is lucky it wasn't ruled a penalty shot. Iowa gave the puck away a couple times during the power play time. 4-on-4 for a very brief time; Stars on the PK with 9:22 left in the second. Silverthorn really does sound quite good tonight in spite of how exhausted he must be after travelling across the continent.

Post-to-post save by Silverthorn on Manlow during a Hamilton PP -- wow. Who is this guy?? WOOHOO, another unbelievable save. I wonder if they are really as awesome as they sound -- I mean, they're crucial stops, sure, but Shaver is just wrenching with his exclamations when Silverthorn gets his leg or stick out to block something! It's entertaining, and sure gets my adrenaline going.

End of second period -- outstanding goaltending, nice goal, Stars still in control of this game though shots are even now.

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Meanwhile -- and I hate to even type this -- the Phantoms are up over Lowell 4-3 in the third with less than a minute to go. Wow -- during the first intermission Shaver reported other AHL scores and the Phantoms were not winning.

This intermission, there is a segment of Marty Wilford running through a list of questions like "What's the strangest superstition you've seen" or "What do you do in your free time" ... he was a riot, actually (though the audio was sort of hard to understand), he sounded ancient when the question asked what his favorite video game was. "I'm not into that crap," he averred. And, "I don't even have one of those, what are they called, iPods?" Hahaha! Wish the audio had been better so I could hear the story of how he lost his teeth (he has quite an amazing gap in the top front).

And now, I've checked the Phantoms score -- game over, 5-3 win! Sweet!

Ok, third period now!

It may actually be Superman in the net -- on the Hamilton power play -- "I don't know how Silverthron saw that with Stortini standing right in front of him." (And now, another "GLOVE SAVE BY SILVERTHORN!") Sheesh! Awesome! Think we might see more of this guy? I can't believe it's his first AHL game.

Not only is the goaltending outrageous, but the Iowa Stars defense is sharp. Maybe the Flyers should take a look at some tapes of this game.

Final radio time out before a Stars PP (6 minutes left). Shaver said: "Buckle your seatbelts, Stars fans, we've got a nailbiter." I don't know about that, but it has been a great game -- Stars up 2-0, amazing-sounding saves, and some good back-and-forth hockey. Now he says "Stars are looking for one more to make this less interesting." I don't know if "less interesting" is how I'd put it; "more comfortable" perhaps. 2-0 is a decent lead, but 3-0 definitely more cushy.

Penalty on the Stars with 68 seconds left. 6-on-4 Hamilton with their goaltender pulled.

For crying out loud, how can Silverthorn possibly do it? Massive save. And ANOTHER one.

His AHL debut -- a 32-save shut out -- Absolutely fantastic. A perfect win.

I didn't want to even think it -- and I prayed that Shaver wouldn't say it -- but he managed the shutout.

41 points for the Stars!

As far as my favorite teams go, two for two tonight! Now, if only the Flyers can do some good stuff against Boston tomorrow! WOOOO!

HAHAHA.

Why didn't Stefan try to put the puck in the net waaaaaay before he got to the point where the ice was bad and made the puck bounce over his stick? Nice going, hot dog. That kind of showboating almost blew the game for the Dallas Stars!

I only listened to the last minutes of the Flyers game, at which time they were down 3-1. I had gotten an email from J. that said I had jinxed them earlier in the day by joking (joking, I swear it!) that when we see them on the 13th they would be playing for their ninth win in a row. I was not serious, so it doesn't count! If anything it's the Forsberg Curse -- which has nothing to do with me.

Mike York scored the Flyers' second goal with Esche pulled and in the last 20 seconds of the game. But from what I heard on the radio, it didn't sound like York did very much, and Henrik Lundqvist did all the damage himself. "He had his eye on that open net," one of the announcers said, "and he was probably trying to shoot." The Inquirer said Lundqvist was trying to clear the puck and it went off York into the net. Whatever. It wasn't enough, because though the Flyers won the next faceoff, Joni Pitkanen (who sounds like he had a brutal game last night, and I don't mean brutal in a good way) accidentally (?) cleared the puck into the Flyers' zone and that meant there was no real time for a shot to tie.

About Pitkanen. It is painful to read statements such as "Flyers defenseman Joni Pitkanen played a role in all three Rangers goals" (all three goals coming from Martin Straka):

"Straka gave the puck to Nylander, who went wide and got Joni Pitkanen to chase him into the corner, leaving his side of the ice open for Straka. Nylander spun away from Pitkanen and returned the puck to his open linemate and Straka one-timed it past Esche"

"Straka put the Rangers up by two at 5:29 in the second when he got a favorable bounce off a point shot that hit Pitkanen and deflected right to him."

"[Straka] intercepted a Pitkanen pass to Alexei Zhitnik and skated in on a breakaway"

But, Joni managed to be in the right place at the right time at least once last night, even if more luck was involved than any real finesse: "After skating the puck in deep, Pitkanen went toward the back of the Ranger net and threw the puck into the slot. It hit Meloche's skate, deflected off goalie Henrik Lundqvist's skate and in."

He certainly has not been playing this year the way he did last season before he had to have surgery. I don't think that Joni evaporated under the knife, but it sure is a mystery as to where the yound D-stud has gone. He does seem to have settled a bit paired with Zhitnik but still, bad luck, mistimed passes, and getting snakebitten out of position continues to happen more often than anyone appreciates.

Like fans are ready to toss Forsberg, fans are really to show Pitkanen the door. I say this would be a mistake (and not just 'cause I think he's dreamy): he's only 23, and at 23 he's stuck being one of the "veteran" defensemen on a team that cannot seem to gel, it's not really coming together for most of the players on the team. Don't bail on this guy yet. Give him a few more years to steady his game, play with steadying partners and for God's sake on a team that knows how to put together a hockey game with each other. Last year, when he was showing us what the Flyers drafted him for, so all the other guys were playing outstandingly, and the Flyers were #1 in the NHL. This year? Not so much in all regards. Is he expected to carry the team? Even Forsberg shouldn't be expected to carry the team (even though evidently that is what he does, since if he doesn't play at all, the Flyers cannot, apparently, win), let alone a 23-year-old defenseman. He should be allowed to make mistakes, grow through that.

If in a couple years he's still got an unforgiveable tendency toward dumbassery on the ice, sure, boot him. Other teams would be only too happy to take him off Philadelphia's hands right now, and Philly would end up being desperately sorry they chucked him too early.

I'm not excusing him entirely for what happened last night, but I'm looking at the overall picture here, and the future. The Flyers are loaded with a lot of kids. Joni has played in the NHL for two years before this, but he has never played a full season with consistent placement in the lineup, either because he was a li'l rookie or because he was out injured. He had an awesome year in the AHL during the lockout, but the AHL is not equal to the NHL, even in lockout years when the AHL is stacked. Similarly, Carter, Richards, Umberger, et al. -- all have brilliant junior and AHL seasons under their helmets, but as for NHL experience, it's still very shiny and new. But presumably they are all learning the ways of the NHL and, as one of the TV announcers said during a game last year, "the only way to get experience is to get experience."

Right now the Flyers can't get it done. But I think this group of guys will learn. And then -- in a year or two or three, we shall see. (It would be great if they could learn faster, and make this season less agonizing...)

Will be painful in the meantime, though.

Let's see, what else? There was a brief article about Niittymaki sitting on the bench as backup last night. He was the starter, then got hurt, but now gets to sit on the bench even though he's feeling better? Basically he says "I lost 10 games in a row. Esche is winning. Where's the surprise?" (I paraphrase.)

Esche has been doing well. It surprised me that he put three consistent games together in a string, since prior experience has it that he would have a stellar game only to flop so badly in the next that I would scratch my head and tilt it to one side and stare in puzzlement. To have three games (four? I can't tell that he was outstanding last night, because I didn't hear it, but the Rangers did "only" score three times) without a major Esche meltdown? I don't know. Apocalypse? Is that you around the corner?

Forsberg with another orthotic for his skate. You know, when I had to have orthotics made for my shoes so that I could run without pain in my knee, I had to wait at least two weeks for them. And I have had three sets made from three different places, in two states. So it would seem that a couple weeks is typical. But not if you're PETER FORSBERG. You get yours done in a day.

Still don't know if I wish I were PETER FORSBERG. But it might be nice not to have to wait for stuff. And I would have a couple Stanley Cups to remember. And be famous. Hmmm....

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Tonight the Iowa Stars play their second in a row against Hamilton. It was sad that on Wednesday the Stars lost their first game in overtime, and it was sad that their first game of 2007 didn't end with 2 points. They gave up a 2-goal lead, but considering they were playing without five of the top six scorers (according to the Iowa Stars website, three injured, two recalled to Dallas), I guess it might be considered a valiant effort. No word whether Lundqvist and Conner will be back tonight, or tomorrow in Toronto, so the Stars will probably have to push on without them. I get tired of typing it, but maybe Lessard will be back?

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The Phantoms have their first game of 2007 tonight against the Lowell Devils. Last meeting was a 3-1 loss. Maybe tonight they'll turn the tables the other way?

A week or so ago I was thinking about heading to Philly this weekend (as opposed to next) because a friend of mine has a birthday Sunday, and I thought maybe we could go to the Phantoms game that was scheduled. I mentioned this to her husband, who decided that he could take her to the game. Then he decided he would also invite her parents. So he bought four tickets to the game -- enough to leave me out. I was pretty annoyed, because, well, hey. It was my idea! After he got tickets for the four of them, if I did go out, I'd have to go to the game on my own. Which, you know, in itself is not something I have a problem with, but geez. Anyway, it all became moot because 1) my own plans changed and I will go see an NHL game (and pay eight times as much) and 2) the Phantoms game has been moved to Monday night thanks to an Eagles playoff game at the Linc happening late that same afternoon, and if I had planned to go out this weekend after all, I wouldn't have been able to stay long enough to go on Monday. The reasoning was that it would make it a lot easier for Phantoms fans, trafficwise, to have the game moved. As of yesterday, the organization does not appear to have contacted ticketholders directly about the change in plans. I heard it announced during the Flyers game on Tuesday, it was also on the Phantoms' website, and in the papers, and I let my friend's husband know because I was pretty sure he would not have thought to look at the website, or read articles in the paper that might have the information, because he is not a hockey fan and generally couldn't give a damn. He is outraged that they did not contact him directly and that he had to hear it from me -- and if I hadn't thought to tell him, he'd never know. And he is also outraged because they are not offering refunds, just a swap to another Phantoms' game.

I told him that in any case it's good they moved it. Once, we (my Philly hockey friend and I) went to a Phantoms game that happened after the Army-Navy game. G. W. Bush was at that game, so you can imagine that security in the area was pretty tight. And, the Army-Navy game is, evidently, a big deal. We usually got to the arena with 15-20 minutes to spare; this night was no different, except that once we were by the arenas, the Traffic Nightmare on Broad and Pattison began. It was outrageous. Having arrived at the sports complex with plenty of time to spare, we ended up being late, missing the opening faceoff and something like 5 or 10 minutes of the first period. I would only wish that kind of craziness on someone I loathed. As much as it inconveniences my friends, and sort of ruins birthday plans -- honestly -- the football game traffic nightmare would have inconvenienced and ruined it all anyway.

The Phantoms don't play while I am in Philly next weekend, which is a little disappointing. Since the Great East Coast Hockey Adventure has faded in February, I don't know when or if I will get to see the Phantoms this season. And, we have two tickets to the Phantoms/Norfolk game in Feb. Hm. Maybe I'll go out in February anyway, especially if it appears as though it might be my only chance to see the Phantoms. Where they stand in the division now doesn't bode well for the playoffs.

Got the afternoon off on the 12th! Flying out to Philly then, going to the game on Saturday. Expensive but brilliant seats -- section 124, 5 rows up from the Flyers bench. All plans are set -- flight, accomodations.

My fourth Flyers game -- second this season.

And against the loathsome Penguins!

Almost definitely going to Philly the weekend of the 13th ... whether or not I get to go to the game depends on if I can get half of Friday off, or the availability of a super ultra early flight out of CID.

Forsberg looks to be out 7-10 days with the "mild" groin injury, and he is seeing yet again the foot people to figure out what's what. I can sympathize a little about trouble with the foot -- I didn't solve my own orthotics issues in one visit to one doctor -- but this seems out of control. I wish him good luck, not only because I prefer the Flyers with him playing, but for his own sanity.

If he is out 7 days, he might be able to play next Saturday's game. If it's 10, less likely. I won't hold my breath either way. It sure would be more exciting to be at an expensive Flyers game and see him, but it is out of my sphere of influence (minimal in any case).

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I checked the Iowa / Hamilton game midway through the third period last night. The Stars were up 3-2. Unfortunately, I tuned in. The quantum effect of my observation meant that Hamilton scored shortly after I clicked to listen.

The game went into overtime, and Hamilton clinched it to win 4-3. At least Iowa picked up a point. In fourth place, behind Peoria now, and Omaha, and Chicago (of course).

Friday again vs. Hamilton. Then Saturday vs. Toronto. No hockey this weekend, as I am certainly not traveling to Canada.

Sigh.

There are lots of fans in Philly calling for Forsberg's trade, to get rid of the made-of-glass center and pick up someone more reliable.

I have tried to ignore them, because I am a big fan of Peter Forsberg, and was thrilled when they signed him in 2005. And I cannot believe the difference he makes when he plays.

But it is getting to be alarming the way he is only able to play two or three games at a time before he is out again, missing more than two or three games.

I don't want to hop into the "trade him!" parade, but when you look at how much he plays vs. how much he gets paid, it seems to be very unequal. And the Flyers lose a lot when he's not playing. Money-wise, and record-wise, it would make sense to have a good player who is able to play every night, for that cash, than a very hot-and-cold great player, never knowing if tonight's another injury night, or when he's going to be back in the lineup.

I realize he has always been in and out of lineups due to injury, and this is not a phenomenon that began when he came to Philadelphia. I realize that when he came to the Flyers, he brought the tendency to be injured with him, and that it should be expected. But it seems worse this year than last year, when he missed 22 games -- he has already missed 12. But I don't want to see Forsberg go. I want to see him leave the NHL in a Flyers jersey, only at the natural end of his career -- not because some injury or condition forces him out (a la Primeau). But I also want to see more out of him.

So I guess all I can do is hope that the issues get straightened out -- whether it be his foot, his head, his groin, whatever -- and he can play a longer string of games and keep the season from being a complete and utter disastrous wash. Try to have faith in Foppa. And face the music, if it comes to that, if "they" decide he's too expensive a liability, or he decides it's not worth it (knock on wood, heaven forbid, etc.).

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Iowa Stars stuff:

More roster changes than simply Lundqvist up and Tardiff out:

Greg Amadio was traded to Portland for J. B. Bittner. I don't know this player, so I can't make my own judgment based on first-hand experience. The stats in the Register say that Bittner has played mostly in the ECHL this season (30 points), with two games for Portland. Amadio had no points in 14 AHL games with the Stars. It may be an upgrade, but that will have to be seen -- loads of points in the ECHL may not translate to loads of points in the AHL.

D-man Mario Scalzo is back in the Iowa lineup too, after playing in a tournament in Europe over the holidays. With his 12 points in 29 Stars games this season, his return is welcome.

Finally, Jamie Johnson signed a professional tryout contract. He played with Iowa last year (though I don't remember him) and has played 26 games for the same ECHL team as Bittner. He has 35 points (12 goals, 23 assists). Hope he adds some goodness here.

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I have half a mind to go to the Flyers/Penguins game in Philly on the 13th, though the idea is a little less shiny with the real possibility of no Forsberg. I located a ticket near the Flyers' bench for around $120. This is a plan in its vaguest stages. It will remain as such for a couple days as I send out a pair of feeler emails and check expenses. No doubt it will come to nothing, and I will be at the Stars/Marlies game on the 13th. Either way, it's hockey that weekend.

Forsberg out after the first period with a right groin strain.

I cannot even stand it.

(The Flyers are still winning 1-0 though, Knuble snagging the single goal.)

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Third period! Flyers up 2-0 -- Calder!? (Where has this guy come from? Thank the hockey gods he's finally figured out how to score.) Pitkanen assists along with Carter. After playing pretty defensively since Forsberg went out of the game, they opened up the lead, which allows me to relax a little bit.

Funny how Saunders says that the game has not been a pretty one, but "on the road, it doesn't have to be pretty, you take a win when you can." I would say that the Flyers need to take a win when they can regardless of where it occurs.

And it really may just happen for them tonight -- Potulny scored on Knuble's initial attempt and the Flyers, without really stressing offense much, up on the Islanders 3-0.

But the Islanders scored less than a minute later. Bah!

Propp is chewing the "young guys" out for making the mistakes that led to that goal. "Hey, play for your goaltender, he's three minutes away from a shutout!"

ARRRRGH! DAMN! The Islanders scored AGAIN in less than a minute after their first. How the ^$*(# do the Flyers blow leads like this? Two minutes left and the Flyers can easily let it get away from them. I can't stand it! To be honest, the game has been mostly boring, but this is certainly not the kind of excitement I wanted. This is the BAD kind. Too close to the end.

Somehow they managed not to self-destruct and won!

A THREE GAME WINNING STREAK OH MY GOSH THE FIRST TIME SINCE LAST MARCH

Congratulations, Fly guys ... Keep it up (but not quite so crumbly at the end, for crying out loud!)!

Reading about Saturday's game, and seeing some of the video of the goals, makes me wish that I could have actually seen the whole thing. Flyers playing like they should?? What a concept! Seriously, though, there was a pass Forsberg made, backwards while falling, that hit a Flyer that shot and only by the will of Cam Ward/crossbar did it not go in. A Hurricane made a pass that went right to a Flyer (usually it's the Flyers that make this kind of doofus mistake), Jeff Carter I think, who passed it up to Kyle Calder, who scored a sweeeeet goal one-on-one with Ward. It's these kinds of things that makes being a Flyers fan worth it.

If only they can manage to do stuff like that for more than two games in a row. They'll have tonight to show if they can: Flyers vs. Islanders at 6:30 p.m. CST. I'm going to try to go running a bit after work, and once I am home, I will have no other reason to not listen. And in a New Year shocker, I actually have real hope that the Flyers could win.

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The Iowa Stars had their winning streak stopped at 5 games with a bad 5-1 loss to Omaha on Sunday. It's a shame, as it was the last game of the year and on home ice. Only 11 shots on goal through two periods! Omaha's defense apparently decided to step it up, and Taratukhin ("Tarantula" as J. called him) as well, scoring a hat trick. Booooo! Lundqvist's point streak was broken too. Remember when the Stars didn't win if Lessard didn't have a point? Maybe wins now rely on Lundqvist's scoring a point .... if you believe that kind of thing.

(Concerning Lundqvist, the Des Moines Register reported that he "was also tied for the league lead with five winning goals, three coming in the five games before Sunday.")

The Stars play again on Wednesday, in Hamilton. They play back-to-back games Friday and Saturday (Hamilton and Toronto). They are home again on the 12th, vs. Houston. Saturday the 13th: Toronto.

Update this afternoon: Lundqvist was recalled by Dallas, and Tardiff was released from the PTO.

Happiness!

The Flyers won, 5-2, over Carolina. Forsberg = 3 assists.

The Iowa Stars did not win, losing to Omaha 5-1.

Well, when I read more, I will know more.

Happy New Year to any of you who look at this blog with regularity (what, are there one or two of you?) E-mail me sometime if you feel like it. Clicky for the address at left!