Monday, March 26, 2007
I'm not going to be communicative, blog-wise, for maybe a week, since my apartment is now empty (I am stealing a few minutes on my parents' computer) and I am leaving for Delaware in two days.
I will have much hockey to discuss upon my return, however, including
1) Last weekend's Iowa Stars game, where we have awesome seats.
2) Friday upcoming's Phantoms game
3) Saturday upcoming's Flyers game
With photos!
Bye for now .....
I will have much hockey to discuss upon my return, however, including
1) Last weekend's Iowa Stars game, where we have awesome seats.
2) Friday upcoming's Phantoms game
3) Saturday upcoming's Flyers game
With photos!
Bye for now .....
Friday, March 23, 2007
Some good results for the night:
Phantoms beat Springfield 6-4. Nice going!
Iowa Stars beat the Chicago Wolves, 3-2. EXCELLENT. Goals were scored by Scalzo (with an assist by May, this must be his first game back since the incident where he was hit and broke his jaw), Lessard (WOO!), and Frankie Wathier scored the game winner in the third period.
Brilliant, boys. Now -- tomorrow, vs. Milwaukee, do the same thing. Play well. It's my last Iowa Stars game -- who knows when I will be able to see you guys again. Make it WORTH the $60 ice-row tickets!!!
Three points on Peoria, now, Stars in fourth place in the division. The Rivermen lost tonight to Milwaukee, so there's two points gained. I think they still have a couple more unplayed games, though. Grand Rapids lost too -- Stars have tied them for points. It's sort of nailbiting, the closeness right now. Very exciting.
Flyers tomorrow! Gagne and Upshall are supposedly both going to be back, last I read (way back at, like, 3 p.m.) so that should dramatically improve their game. Should. I hope neither of them are rushing back and won't end up hurting themselves again. It's not so important. Besides, I'm looking forward to seeing them play next weekend. So I definitely don't want them getting hurt again this weekend.
Phantoms beat Springfield 6-4. Nice going!
Iowa Stars beat the Chicago Wolves, 3-2. EXCELLENT. Goals were scored by Scalzo (with an assist by May, this must be his first game back since the incident where he was hit and broke his jaw), Lessard (WOO!), and Frankie Wathier scored the game winner in the third period.
Brilliant, boys. Now -- tomorrow, vs. Milwaukee, do the same thing. Play well. It's my last Iowa Stars game -- who knows when I will be able to see you guys again. Make it WORTH the $60 ice-row tickets!!!
Three points on Peoria, now, Stars in fourth place in the division. The Rivermen lost tonight to Milwaukee, so there's two points gained. I think they still have a couple more unplayed games, though. Grand Rapids lost too -- Stars have tied them for points. It's sort of nailbiting, the closeness right now. Very exciting.
Flyers tomorrow! Gagne and Upshall are supposedly both going to be back, last I read (way back at, like, 3 p.m.) so that should dramatically improve their game. Should. I hope neither of them are rushing back and won't end up hurting themselves again. It's not so important. Besides, I'm looking forward to seeing them play next weekend. So I definitely don't want them getting hurt again this weekend.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
A decent night for the other Hot Swedish Twinboy, too, scoring an assist on Krys Barch's goal -- the game-winner -- in the third period, for the Dallas Stars vs. the LA Kings.
Not a good night at all for the Flyers organization from NHL to AHL, as the Phantoms were shut out too, 4-0 by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. That's 9 goals against Philadelphia last night with none scored. Head-shaking, tsking, etc.
Sharpie's goal last night for Chicago was the only goal scored for Chicago, as the Blackhawks lost to the Sharks 4-1. It was Sharp's 17th goal. I am not as familiar with the Western Conference as I am with the Eastern, but I guess even so, it shouldn't be a surprise that the Sharks stuffed the Blackhawks, huh? The Blackhawks have joined the Flyers in the out-of-playoffs basement. The Sharks are still in it.
Todd Fedoruk managed not to get his face mashed in again last night when he was clocked by Colton Orr, but he was knocked out and reportedly has a concussion (though he says he is "fine"). Well, Fridge, I dunno. I've seen you fight several times and I know that's part of your role, but a person has to wonder when you're going to decide that maybe your face and head have taken enough chances.
Well, tonight is a quiet night again for hockey in my world. Flyers are off until Saturday; Iowa Stars don't go at it until tomorrow night and neither do the Phantoms.
AHL tidbits: Hershey Bears have clinched a playoff spot, too. I think I will be going to the Phantoms/Bears game on the 15th of April. And I will boo Hershey.
Not a good night at all for the Flyers organization from NHL to AHL, as the Phantoms were shut out too, 4-0 by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. That's 9 goals against Philadelphia last night with none scored. Head-shaking, tsking, etc.
Sharpie's goal last night for Chicago was the only goal scored for Chicago, as the Blackhawks lost to the Sharks 4-1. It was Sharp's 17th goal. I am not as familiar with the Western Conference as I am with the Eastern, but I guess even so, it shouldn't be a surprise that the Sharks stuffed the Blackhawks, huh? The Blackhawks have joined the Flyers in the out-of-playoffs basement. The Sharks are still in it.
Todd Fedoruk managed not to get his face mashed in again last night when he was clocked by Colton Orr, but he was knocked out and reportedly has a concussion (though he says he is "fine"). Well, Fridge, I dunno. I've seen you fight several times and I know that's part of your role, but a person has to wonder when you're going to decide that maybe your face and head have taken enough chances.
Well, tonight is a quiet night again for hockey in my world. Flyers are off until Saturday; Iowa Stars don't go at it until tomorrow night and neither do the Phantoms.
AHL tidbits: Hershey Bears have clinched a playoff spot, too. I think I will be going to the Phantoms/Bears game on the 15th of April. And I will boo Hershey.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
I was back from running in time to have missed only the first couple minutes of the Flyers/Rangers game, but I struggled with my internet connection for a ridiculous amount of time, and missed the fight between Orr and Fedoruk (where Fedoruk was flattened with a blow to his recently-healed face) and the goal by Prucha; not too much has gone on but some Flyers banging around and a few chances but nothing doing.
Niitty's in goal tonight.
Tim Saunders did jinx the game, though, by saying about Jaromir Jagr, "You know he's never scored on Niittymaki?" A moment of silence, where I glared -- and maybe Propp did too, since he added, "Knock on wood." I could just slap him for opening his mouth! You just don't say stuff like that. It's like saying, "Oh, wouldn't it be great if [goalie] got a shutout?!" I don't care if it's superstitious nonsense. YOU JUST DON'T SAY STUFF LIKE THAT.
Hmph.
--------
Second period starting now, game is 1-0 Rangers and the Rags start on the power play.
Guess what? Jagr scored on that PP. Thanks, Saunders! Rangers 2-0. The goal was a deflection off Gauthier. The goal snapped a Flyers streak of 37 PKs in a row. It's so funny how the Flyers can have sucked so bad for most of the season, yet manage to have one of the best PKs in the league. It's a good thing, too, because Joni put NY right back on the PP with a delay-of-game.
Check it out. Rangers scored. 3-0. Ooh, debate whether or not it was kicked in.
WHOA. They waived it!!!!! Having listened to the guys discuss what happened (kick accidental or incidental as a function of Prucha being spun around by Gauthier?), I am surprised. Pleased, of course. But surprised.
Damn, the Flyers just keep taking penalties. Umberger tripped a guy after winning a face-off. Sure, the PK is good, but why force yourselves to have to kill?
Or not kill. Rangers scored, and this time, no way is it going to be waived. And it's by Sean Avery so it's the kind that makes me narrow my eyes and feel angry. Flyers. Pull it together. No more stupid penalties. Go back to the hard hitting that I heard in the last part of the first period.
Ha! Eager made a big hit and now Rangers are headhunting -- Colton Orr is on the ice, and you know he has just about one job, one he's done twice already this game.
Instead of breaking Eager's legs, Orr took an interference penalty. I think this may be the Flyers' first power play. I think I could probably take a 2-minute nap here for all the good the Philly PP does.
[Oh my god I think I'm going to have to punch the dude in the Joseph A. Banks commercial -- HALF OFF, he kept repeating, HALF OFF...HALF OFF... ARRRRGH. The only commercials I like are the Bud Light "Real men of genius" ones, which make me laugh out loud (I love the dude singing in the background, all intense and dramatic, "I have entree envy!!"); all the rest, especially the car commercials, I hate. I wish there was some other way for me to be able to listen to the games free. Maybe they could just have commercials that were all entertaining, like the Bud Light ones, rather than gratingly irritating.]
Awww yeah, Niitty denied Jagr on a breakaway. That's the Niitty I like to hear about.
End of second -- Flyers dragging 3-0. It's going to have to be some fantastic kind of third period if this is going to end well. Figure it out, Flyers, at least enough that you can take it into your match against the Rangers in Philly on the 31st. I dislike listening to you lose; I really, really would love to see you, in person, win, for once.
-------
Blackhawks/Sharks are 1-1, with Patrick Sharp scoring for Chicago. I may have said it before, but Patrick Sharp was one of my favorite Phantoms and when he played for the Flyers, my favoritism carried over and I was disappointed to have him traded. One of my cherished Patrick Sharp memories was the night I was at my friend's house watching the Phantoms/Wolves Calder Cup playoff game that went into multiple overtimes (score: 1-1). I had a bad cold and was growing extremely tired as the game went on; since it was being played in Chicago, it started "late" for those of us in Philly. I had pretty much reached a point where I didn't especially care who scored, just so that someone did and put an end to it all so I could go home and go to bed. And then, suddenly, Patrick Sharp scored, looking as though he didn't realize it and then couldn't believe it. Sharpie was my hero.
------------
Ok, third period on.
Nothing very exciting. The Flyers aren't doing anything.
Well, except allowing New York to score. Ortmeyer makes it 4-0. Ugly. Very. Only Ortmeyer's second goal of the year. There the Flyers go again, allowing people who never score, to score. I mean, even Derian Hatcher has two goals this year.
Would the Flyers lose this badly if Biron were in net tonight? Probably -- at least two of them were not stoppable by Niitty. Plus, they aren't generating any offense. All I hear is how they've shot wide, or fired the puck through traffic (pinball-like, the puck never makes it on net), or something to the effect of blowing it. They just are not that good without Upshall, Gagne, and now also Richards ...
Yes, sir, blowing it -- another goal allowed, this time by Shanahan in his first game back after suffering a concussion when he crashed into Knuble. 5-0. Did I say ugly? I meant abhorrent.
Don't know why I am going to bother to listen to the rest of this game. Maybe I just hope that the orange and black will score at least one. And somehow, hearing it rather than just reading about it tomorrow will make me feel better? Six minutes to do something.
Or, six minutes to do nothing.
Sigh.
What a huge shutout for the Hot Swedish Twinboy.
What a sad loss for the Flyers, after having scored, what, 5 goals against the Rangers in their last game?
Ugh. That's just about all I have left to say.
Niitty's in goal tonight.
Tim Saunders did jinx the game, though, by saying about Jaromir Jagr, "You know he's never scored on Niittymaki?" A moment of silence, where I glared -- and maybe Propp did too, since he added, "Knock on wood." I could just slap him for opening his mouth! You just don't say stuff like that. It's like saying, "Oh, wouldn't it be great if [goalie] got a shutout?!" I don't care if it's superstitious nonsense. YOU JUST DON'T SAY STUFF LIKE THAT.
Hmph.
--------
Second period starting now, game is 1-0 Rangers and the Rags start on the power play.
Guess what? Jagr scored on that PP. Thanks, Saunders! Rangers 2-0. The goal was a deflection off Gauthier. The goal snapped a Flyers streak of 37 PKs in a row. It's so funny how the Flyers can have sucked so bad for most of the season, yet manage to have one of the best PKs in the league. It's a good thing, too, because Joni put NY right back on the PP with a delay-of-game.
Check it out. Rangers scored. 3-0. Ooh, debate whether or not it was kicked in.
WHOA. They waived it!!!!! Having listened to the guys discuss what happened (kick accidental or incidental as a function of Prucha being spun around by Gauthier?), I am surprised. Pleased, of course. But surprised.
Damn, the Flyers just keep taking penalties. Umberger tripped a guy after winning a face-off. Sure, the PK is good, but why force yourselves to have to kill?
Or not kill. Rangers scored, and this time, no way is it going to be waived. And it's by Sean Avery so it's the kind that makes me narrow my eyes and feel angry. Flyers. Pull it together. No more stupid penalties. Go back to the hard hitting that I heard in the last part of the first period.
Ha! Eager made a big hit and now Rangers are headhunting -- Colton Orr is on the ice, and you know he has just about one job, one he's done twice already this game.
Instead of breaking Eager's legs, Orr took an interference penalty. I think this may be the Flyers' first power play. I think I could probably take a 2-minute nap here for all the good the Philly PP does.
[Oh my god I think I'm going to have to punch the dude in the Joseph A. Banks commercial -- HALF OFF, he kept repeating, HALF OFF...HALF OFF... ARRRRGH. The only commercials I like are the Bud Light "Real men of genius" ones, which make me laugh out loud (I love the dude singing in the background, all intense and dramatic, "I have entree envy!!"); all the rest, especially the car commercials, I hate. I wish there was some other way for me to be able to listen to the games free. Maybe they could just have commercials that were all entertaining, like the Bud Light ones, rather than gratingly irritating.]
Awww yeah, Niitty denied Jagr on a breakaway. That's the Niitty I like to hear about.
End of second -- Flyers dragging 3-0. It's going to have to be some fantastic kind of third period if this is going to end well. Figure it out, Flyers, at least enough that you can take it into your match against the Rangers in Philly on the 31st. I dislike listening to you lose; I really, really would love to see you, in person, win, for once.
-------
Blackhawks/Sharks are 1-1, with Patrick Sharp scoring for Chicago. I may have said it before, but Patrick Sharp was one of my favorite Phantoms and when he played for the Flyers, my favoritism carried over and I was disappointed to have him traded. One of my cherished Patrick Sharp memories was the night I was at my friend's house watching the Phantoms/Wolves Calder Cup playoff game that went into multiple overtimes (score: 1-1). I had a bad cold and was growing extremely tired as the game went on; since it was being played in Chicago, it started "late" for those of us in Philly. I had pretty much reached a point where I didn't especially care who scored, just so that someone did and put an end to it all so I could go home and go to bed. And then, suddenly, Patrick Sharp scored, looking as though he didn't realize it and then couldn't believe it. Sharpie was my hero.
------------
Ok, third period on.
Nothing very exciting. The Flyers aren't doing anything.
Well, except allowing New York to score. Ortmeyer makes it 4-0. Ugly. Very. Only Ortmeyer's second goal of the year. There the Flyers go again, allowing people who never score, to score. I mean, even Derian Hatcher has two goals this year.
Would the Flyers lose this badly if Biron were in net tonight? Probably -- at least two of them were not stoppable by Niitty. Plus, they aren't generating any offense. All I hear is how they've shot wide, or fired the puck through traffic (pinball-like, the puck never makes it on net), or something to the effect of blowing it. They just are not that good without Upshall, Gagne, and now also Richards ...
Yes, sir, blowing it -- another goal allowed, this time by Shanahan in his first game back after suffering a concussion when he crashed into Knuble. 5-0. Did I say ugly? I meant abhorrent.
Don't know why I am going to bother to listen to the rest of this game. Maybe I just hope that the orange and black will score at least one. And somehow, hearing it rather than just reading about it tomorrow will make me feel better? Six minutes to do something.
Or, six minutes to do nothing.
Sigh.
What a huge shutout for the Hot Swedish Twinboy.
What a sad loss for the Flyers, after having scored, what, 5 goals against the Rangers in their last game?
Ugh. That's just about all I have left to say.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
After watching the ticker on ESPN while out for pizza (when I left, Flyers were down 1-0), I got to listen to the third period, in which the Panthers took the solid lead and ended up winning the game 4-1.
Ugh.
Now, I will work my anti-mojo on the Iowa Stars by joining the game between the second and third periods. They lead Peoria 2-1.
-----------
Iowa 21-3-1 when leading after two periods. Good odds, if stats mattered.
Well, sounds like Lessard got a little hot-headed at the end of the second period, as he is in the box for fighting. Lessard? Interesting.
I am hearing agonizing near-misses, HUGE saves by Beckford-Tseu of Peoria, would be heartbreaking but the Stars are as yet winning this game. Certainly not comfortable, only a 2-1 game. Ten-ish minutes left.
Very few penalties happening, and Peoria called for interference -- Stars will take the power play with less than two minutes to go. With Beckford-Tseu out, it's 5-on-5. Close call with 30 seconds to go, Ellis covered the puck.
Oh man.
All the Stars have to do is clear the puck and keep it out of their zone. That's all. Seems simple. So do it, Men in Black.
Stars won the faceoff, just keep it back now ... 20 seconds ......
Holtet missed the empty net, but time ran out for Peoria and --
STARS ARE IN 4th PLACE.
I'm glad to find I didn't jinx them by joining mid-game! WOOOO STARS!!!!!!!
Ugh.
Now, I will work my anti-mojo on the Iowa Stars by joining the game between the second and third periods. They lead Peoria 2-1.
-----------
Iowa 21-3-1 when leading after two periods. Good odds, if stats mattered.
Well, sounds like Lessard got a little hot-headed at the end of the second period, as he is in the box for fighting. Lessard? Interesting.
I am hearing agonizing near-misses, HUGE saves by Beckford-Tseu of Peoria, would be heartbreaking but the Stars are as yet winning this game. Certainly not comfortable, only a 2-1 game. Ten-ish minutes left.
Very few penalties happening, and Peoria called for interference -- Stars will take the power play with less than two minutes to go. With Beckford-Tseu out, it's 5-on-5. Close call with 30 seconds to go, Ellis covered the puck.
Oh man.
All the Stars have to do is clear the puck and keep it out of their zone. That's all. Seems simple. So do it, Men in Black.
Stars won the faceoff, just keep it back now ... 20 seconds ......
Holtet missed the empty net, but time ran out for Peoria and --
STARS ARE IN 4th PLACE.
I'm glad to find I didn't jinx them by joining mid-game! WOOOO STARS!!!!!!!
After a few hockeyless days in Crusher Land, action returns tonight.
The Flyers play the Florida Panthers at the Wachovia Center. Simon Gagne is still out with an injury (pain remains in his hip flexor) so will not be rejoining the squad, and Scottie Upshall, though on the mend and skating, is not cleared to play yet either. But Ryan Potulny, who has had a bad time of it with an infection in his ankle, will be playing tonight.
Probably replacing Mike York, who reportedly played extra badly last Saturday.
The Panthers will have a chance to [cough]sweep[cough] the Flyers tonight in this season's series so GO FLYERS AND DON'T LET THEM DO IT. If Gauthier has to dump every Panther into the Flyers' bench in order to secure a win, well, hell, go on, Denis.
The Iowa Stars play tonight, too, a VIG* against Peoria at the Wells Fargo Arena. On Sunday, the Stars played San Antonio away, and once again messed with Texas, pulling out a 5-4 win thanks chiefly to Marius Holtet's hat trick in the third period. Awesome effort by the Nasty Norwegian -- three goals in about 8.5 minutes (the first at 10:26, the next at 17:00, the third only a little more than a minute later, 18:08). Holtet was one of the AHL's three stars for the night. I'm too lazy to look right now, but I wouldn't be surprised if Sunday's 9-goal game had the most goals scored between these two teams. If I think about it later, I'll check.
On Sunday, both Grand Rapids and Peoria lost -- giving Iowa two points on them. Peoria won on Saturday, while Iowa was idle, so are still a point ahead. The Griffins have three on the Stars. With thirteen games left to play on the Iowa schedule, a playoff spot is still a reasonable hope. But the Stars definitely cannot drop this game tonight.
More playoff consideration: the Phantoms are seven points behind the fourth spot in the East Division. On Sunday they posted a huge 7-4 win over Bridgeport, divisional rivals with six points more than Philly, after a 5-2 loss to Hershey on Saturday. I will probably keep my playoff hopes pinned to Iowa, rather than Philly, though near-future geographical considerations should have me hoping the other way around; Iowa's place just looks a little more likely.
AHL extra for you today: Edmonton's severing ties with the Iowa Stars after this season, because they're going to have their own affiliate (taking over Springfield). No big deal, really, because this season all Edmonton gave us was Toby Petersen, and then took him away on October 27 and he hasn't been back since. Also, Rockford (Illinois) is going to host Chicago's minor leaguers next season. (They will be the "IceHogs." Stupid name. I especially hate the capital letter in the middle of the word. Why not "Ice Hogs"?)
Who will be in Norfolk next season, then? Speaking of Norfolk, they are the first team to clinch a playoff spot.Stupid Admirals Good job, Norfolk!
Last: on the 31st, I'll be at the Flyers/Rangers game. In a thread titled "Holy Lundqvist!" on HFboards, it is noted that in the last 26 games, Henrik Lundqvist has posted a 1.74GAA and a .937 save percent. Yikes! In the last 10, 1.45 GAA, .946. Sure, credit to the defense of the Rangers is due, but STILL. Henrik's hot. A HOT GOALIE. Oh, you know I mean it both ways.
*Very Important Game.
The Flyers play the Florida Panthers at the Wachovia Center. Simon Gagne is still out with an injury (pain remains in his hip flexor) so will not be rejoining the squad, and Scottie Upshall, though on the mend and skating, is not cleared to play yet either. But Ryan Potulny, who has had a bad time of it with an infection in his ankle, will be playing tonight.
Probably replacing Mike York, who reportedly played extra badly last Saturday.
The Panthers will have a chance to [cough]sweep[cough] the Flyers tonight in this season's series so GO FLYERS AND DON'T LET THEM DO IT. If Gauthier has to dump every Panther into the Flyers' bench in order to secure a win, well, hell, go on, Denis.
The Iowa Stars play tonight, too, a VIG* against Peoria at the Wells Fargo Arena. On Sunday, the Stars played San Antonio away, and once again messed with Texas, pulling out a 5-4 win thanks chiefly to Marius Holtet's hat trick in the third period. Awesome effort by the Nasty Norwegian -- three goals in about 8.5 minutes (the first at 10:26, the next at 17:00, the third only a little more than a minute later, 18:08). Holtet was one of the AHL's three stars for the night. I'm too lazy to look right now, but I wouldn't be surprised if Sunday's 9-goal game had the most goals scored between these two teams. If I think about it later, I'll check.
On Sunday, both Grand Rapids and Peoria lost -- giving Iowa two points on them. Peoria won on Saturday, while Iowa was idle, so are still a point ahead. The Griffins have three on the Stars. With thirteen games left to play on the Iowa schedule, a playoff spot is still a reasonable hope. But the Stars definitely cannot drop this game tonight.
More playoff consideration: the Phantoms are seven points behind the fourth spot in the East Division. On Sunday they posted a huge 7-4 win over Bridgeport, divisional rivals with six points more than Philly, after a 5-2 loss to Hershey on Saturday. I will probably keep my playoff hopes pinned to Iowa, rather than Philly, though near-future geographical considerations should have me hoping the other way around; Iowa's place just looks a little more likely.
AHL extra for you today: Edmonton's severing ties with the Iowa Stars after this season, because they're going to have their own affiliate (taking over Springfield). No big deal, really, because this season all Edmonton gave us was Toby Petersen, and then took him away on October 27 and he hasn't been back since. Also, Rockford (Illinois) is going to host Chicago's minor leaguers next season. (They will be the "IceHogs." Stupid name. I especially hate the capital letter in the middle of the word. Why not "Ice Hogs"?)
Who will be in Norfolk next season, then? Speaking of Norfolk, they are the first team to clinch a playoff spot.
Last: on the 31st, I'll be at the Flyers/Rangers game. In a thread titled "Holy Lundqvist!" on HFboards, it is noted that in the last 26 games, Henrik Lundqvist has posted a 1.74GAA and a .937 save percent. Yikes! In the last 10, 1.45 GAA, .946. Sure, credit to the defense of the Rangers is due, but STILL. Henrik's hot. A HOT GOALIE. Oh, you know I mean it both ways.
*Very Important Game.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Home in time to just miss the Flyers / Senators game.
Flyers have lost, 3-2.
Another goal scored by Derian Hatcher on the power play???
Anyway, more when I can read about it.
-----------
I logged onto AOL and saw this as the headline in their little welcome box:
Flyers Trapped
For 14 Hours
Stranded on Runway Overnight
What Went Wrong at Airport?
Naturally, I immediately thought, "WHOA! Did the Flyers make it to Ottawa to play?"
I'm a nerd.
Flyers have lost, 3-2.
Another goal scored by Derian Hatcher on the power play???
Anyway, more when I can read about it.
-----------
I logged onto AOL and saw this as the headline in their little welcome box:
Flyers Trapped
For 14 Hours
Stranded on Runway Overnight
What Went Wrong at Airport?
Naturally, I immediately thought, "WHOA! Did the Flyers make it to Ottawa to play?"
I'm a nerd.
Friday, March 16, 2007
There are names now on the Iowa Stars team that I do not recognize.
Czuy -- pronounced "Chewy." I guess I recall reading about him, but ... not this guy: P. Szczechura. Only thirty percent of that name is vowels. (Another interesting alphabet/hockey tidbit, Dmitry Afanasenkov has more than 50% of the English alphabet in his name.)
San Antonio Rampage leading at the end of the second period, 2-1.
According to the scoresheet for the game, Junior Lessard is playing, having assisted on Iowa's only goal (by Shane Endicott), which came on the PP early in the second period. I didn't hear it. I joined with about 5 minutes left.
------------
During the intermission, let's see about the other AHL games.
PHI/ROC: a shutout win for the orange and purple! 3-0 over Rochester. Potulny, Ellison, and Potulny. What do you think -- Ryan Potulny plays full-time for the Flyers next season?
BRI/NOR: Bridgeport wins. Bah!
ALB/BNG: Albany wins, 3-2. Bah! Again.
(Neither went the way I wanted them to. Phantoms playoff gap didn't narrow at all.)
MTB/GRA: Into the shootout tied at 2. Looks like the Moose pulled off the shootout win ... let me count the result, since the AHL website isn't being convenient and telling me straight up. .... 8 rounds, 2 shots for MTB, 1 for GRA, so it looks like the Moose did win. That's good for Iowa, since the fewer points the Griffins take from here on out, the better for the Stars.
PEO/MIL: Tied right now at 0 at the start of the third period.
CHI/OMA: Wolves 3, Knights 1 at the end of the second.
Jason Shaver is playing an interview with Konstatin Pushkarev, and the kid is pretty articulate. Not that I enjoy generalizing, but I figured his English might not be all that great, and for no particular reason I thought he might be quiet and shy-like. On the contrary, he speaks pretty fluidly and is chatty. I stand corrected.
Update: Wolves 3, Knights 2 in the third.
-----------------
Third period for the Stars. Grab a goal, guys. 2-20 when down by at least a goal going into the third this season. Not a good precedent, but ...
AND THEY DID IT. Score by Vas!!! 2-2.
(Czuy assists, with Fistric. It's Chewy's first point as a Star.)
Some good up and down play, with little stoppage, nothing extra noticeable (Stars had a couple good chances, but nada) ... two-ish left in the third.
Ok, overtime is needed for this game, the first time this year between the Rampage and the Stars. Iowa gets at least a point tonight.
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During the rest, the other AHL scores:
Omaha has tied the game with Chicago at 4 with 30 seconds left in the game. I foresee overtime there, too.
Peoria/Milwaukee still scoreless in the overtime session (two minutes left). A point for Peoria too.
----------
It sounded like the Rampage scored, but the Stars got a break because Terry Koharski says "NO GOAL". I may have done my share of raging at various Koharskis, but this time I'm cool with this call. Phew!
52 seconds to go, DeMarchi hit with an interference penalty (after two penalties were allowed to slide, one for each side). Ugh. 4-on-3 with less than a minute left.
(Chicago beat Omaha 5-4. PEO/MIL in the shootout.)
Shootout time! If it were the Flyers I'd be ready to call it a night, but I really don't know. Stars 2-1 in shootouts, San Antonio 4-3.
Pushkarev: miss
San Antonio: Ellis stops!
Uh, one of the new guys (Szczechura): miss
San Antonio: Ellis stops!
Ardelan: it's his birthday AND HE SCORES!!!
San Antonio: miss!
If it were the NHL that would be it, but the AHL goes five rounds.
Lessard: No goal.
San Antonio: MISS.
Stars can win with a goal --
Wilford: No goal. Ack.
San Antonio: ELLIS SAVES, STARS WIN WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Ardelan wins it for the Stars on his birthday, how sweet is that!
Two points for Iowa, now let's see how the PEO/MIL shootout has gone!
Damn it, Peoria wins the shootout. Iowa are no closer to the 4th spot than they were before playing, but at least Grand Rapids didn't get a point in the North division. Playoff hopes still very much alive!!
Czuy -- pronounced "Chewy." I guess I recall reading about him, but ... not this guy: P. Szczechura. Only thirty percent of that name is vowels. (Another interesting alphabet/hockey tidbit, Dmitry Afanasenkov has more than 50% of the English alphabet in his name.)
San Antonio Rampage leading at the end of the second period, 2-1.
According to the scoresheet for the game, Junior Lessard is playing, having assisted on Iowa's only goal (by Shane Endicott), which came on the PP early in the second period. I didn't hear it. I joined with about 5 minutes left.
------------
During the intermission, let's see about the other AHL games.
PHI/ROC: a shutout win for the orange and purple! 3-0 over Rochester. Potulny, Ellison, and Potulny. What do you think -- Ryan Potulny plays full-time for the Flyers next season?
BRI/NOR: Bridgeport wins. Bah!
ALB/BNG: Albany wins, 3-2. Bah! Again.
(Neither went the way I wanted them to. Phantoms playoff gap didn't narrow at all.)
MTB/GRA: Into the shootout tied at 2. Looks like the Moose pulled off the shootout win ... let me count the result, since the AHL website isn't being convenient and telling me straight up. .... 8 rounds, 2 shots for MTB, 1 for GRA, so it looks like the Moose did win. That's good for Iowa, since the fewer points the Griffins take from here on out, the better for the Stars.
PEO/MIL: Tied right now at 0 at the start of the third period.
CHI/OMA: Wolves 3, Knights 1 at the end of the second.
Jason Shaver is playing an interview with Konstatin Pushkarev, and the kid is pretty articulate. Not that I enjoy generalizing, but I figured his English might not be all that great, and for no particular reason I thought he might be quiet and shy-like. On the contrary, he speaks pretty fluidly and is chatty. I stand corrected.
Update: Wolves 3, Knights 2 in the third.
-----------------
Third period for the Stars. Grab a goal, guys. 2-20 when down by at least a goal going into the third this season. Not a good precedent, but ...
AND THEY DID IT. Score by Vas!!! 2-2.
(Czuy assists, with Fistric. It's Chewy's first point as a Star.)
Some good up and down play, with little stoppage, nothing extra noticeable (Stars had a couple good chances, but nada) ... two-ish left in the third.
Ok, overtime is needed for this game, the first time this year between the Rampage and the Stars. Iowa gets at least a point tonight.
-------
During the rest, the other AHL scores:
Omaha has tied the game with Chicago at 4 with 30 seconds left in the game. I foresee overtime there, too.
Peoria/Milwaukee still scoreless in the overtime session (two minutes left). A point for Peoria too.
----------
It sounded like the Rampage scored, but the Stars got a break because Terry Koharski says "NO GOAL". I may have done my share of raging at various Koharskis, but this time I'm cool with this call. Phew!
52 seconds to go, DeMarchi hit with an interference penalty (after two penalties were allowed to slide, one for each side). Ugh. 4-on-3 with less than a minute left.
(Chicago beat Omaha 5-4. PEO/MIL in the shootout.)
Shootout time! If it were the Flyers I'd be ready to call it a night, but I really don't know. Stars 2-1 in shootouts, San Antonio 4-3.
Pushkarev: miss
San Antonio: Ellis stops!
Uh, one of the new guys (Szczechura): miss
San Antonio: Ellis stops!
Ardelan: it's his birthday AND HE SCORES!!!
San Antonio: miss!
If it were the NHL that would be it, but the AHL goes five rounds.
Lessard: No goal.
San Antonio: MISS.
Stars can win with a goal --
Wilford: No goal. Ack.
San Antonio: ELLIS SAVES, STARS WIN WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Ardelan wins it for the Stars on his birthday, how sweet is that!
Two points for Iowa, now let's see how the PEO/MIL shootout has gone!
Damn it, Peoria wins the shootout. Iowa are no closer to the 4th spot than they were before playing, but at least Grand Rapids didn't get a point in the North division. Playoff hopes still very much alive!!
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -The best team in the Southeast Division just can't beat the worst team in the NHL.
Series of emails during last night's game:
J: Hatcher scores? On a power play? Is hell freezing over?
Me: I just heard that, and my exact response was, "Wha?" and now Ruzicka scores!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They messed with my experiment by putting Biron in ... I wanted to further test the theory that the Flyers always win against Atlanta because of Niitty. Hatcher scoring on the PP may not be SO much of a surprise, he hangs out at the net a lot.
J: So far so good. Flyers are playing well (I'm not going to jinx them) and the Badgers are leading too.
Me: Don't worry about jinxing them. Brian Propp will do that, Mr "Flyers should have this game, up 3-1 with x minutes left."
J: Damn, we may not get Junior back. He scored a goal for Dallas.
Me: Well it is about time he scored for someone. Stupid Junior. Stupid Dallas and all their injuries stealing our best guys.
Hot damn, the Flyers didn't give up the lead in the last minute. I'm shocked. I'm speechless. I am without speech.
J: You may not be able to speak but you can still type.
Me: 90 words a minute!!
It's true, Hatcher scored his first goal since December 3, 2005. Even he admits it wasn't much, he just happened to be in the right spot at the right time, i.e. in the crease when a shot came through that he could just tap into the net. A goal's a goal, even when you're just the bumper in the way that redirects. It's great that the Flyers are finally learning to be where they need to be. And it's great that they finally scored on a power play (what had it been, like 18 or 19 PPs since last scoring on one?) Nice job, Hatch!
The "upper body injury" sustained by Upshall has been clarified by Holmgren to "a Grade 1 separation of his sternoclavicular, a joint between the clavicle and the breast bone" and will be out up to two weeks. That'll leave only about a week more in the season for Upshall. It's an irritating loss given that the Flyers just got back Knuble (and Ben Eager, who's been out with that ankle injury for a few weeks).
So, the Flyers swept Atlanta, one of the top teams in the league. I don't know how they do it, going to Phoenix and sucking the suck like it's never been sucked before, and then coming back and pretty much controlling the game against the Thrashers. What sort of mental situation is it for them? Do they think they have nothing to prove against another league-low team? Or when they come up against a team like Atlanta, they want to stick it to them and so play better? All in all it would be best if they could play like they want to stick it to the other team, all the time. But hey. I'm a chemist, not a psychologist; I'm also not an expert in hockey (whatever I might pretend) and I have no idea why the Flyers can play so well one night and then turn around and totally blow the next.
And it's also funny when suddenly random scoring starts happening.
Hatcher (Ruzicka, Coburn)
Ruzicka (Sanderson, Pitkanen)
Sanderson (Ruzicka, Umberger)
People who haven't scored in a long time (Hatcher, obviously, and Rosie's first in 25 games), scoring and also posting multiple-point nights!
Congrats to Joni for not playing like a bonehead and bagging yet another assist (35 assists, good for 15th in the league with respect to defensemen -- 39 points overall, 20th in the league for D-men -- and this as a -25!)
I still can't stand that the Thrashers are 1-10-2 against Philly in Philly -- with that 1 being the 1st game I was at. I just can't let that go. BAH!
So, some other things I noticed while skimming hockey news this morning:
Ty Conklin made 42 saves for the Sabres last night and stupid Buffalo beat the Panthers. I'll just always have trouble seeing Conklin managing to do well after watching him get pulled in the first period of an early-season game last fall after allowing 5 goals by the Iowa Stars.
Speaking of Iowa Stars, as mentioned in the email string, Junior Lessard scored a goal for the Dallas Stars last night, his first NHL goal of the season (in his first call-up of the season) and his second NHL goal. It was on the PP and was set up by Mike Modano (who also scored his 501st last night). Nice going by Junior, though it would be nice if he could come back to Iowa by next weekend and score on the PP in Des Moines, too.
The Iowa Stars play away tonight against San Antonio, I have meager hopes for them given their depleted roster, but maybe they can cobble something together once more against the worst team in the AHL. And then do it again on Sunday. And then pray that by Tuesday when they play Peoria at home, they've got the answer OR some of their men back from Dallas. Next week's got some tough matches, the one Tuesday against Peoria, then on Friday against Chicago -- and then the no-brainer against Milwaukee on Saturday (where I will be, ice-row). It won't get any easier for most of the rest of the season, either -- week after next will be Peoria/Omaha/Milwaukee, then Manitoba/Omaha/Manitoba. They'll finish up with three games against the Texas teams, and the final match on the 14th against Chicago.
Stars, remember last year when you dazzled in the last weeks and made your way to a 7-game series against the Admirals in the Calder Cup playoffs your first year in existence. You can do it again.
AHL scores to pay attention to tonight:
PEO/MIL (Go Admirals!)
PHI/ROC (Go Phantoms WOOO! 9 points to make up! In connection with this game and the Phantoms' division standings, I'd also like Binghamton to beat Albany, and Norfolk to beat Bridgeport. Two more points for the Phantoms and no change to these teams will allow the Phantoms to narrow the gap.)
MTB/GRA (Go MOOSE deny Grand Rapids more points! A Stars win would give Iowa 70 points, and the Griffins stay at 73 -- gap narrows there, too.)
CHI/OMA also play, but they just have each other to battle for the top division spot and otherwise I don't care who wins. Either team would be a beast for Iowa to face (in the event that they reach the 4th spot in the division and then have to play the #1 team) and so I have no real preference for division leader.
J: Hatcher scores? On a power play? Is hell freezing over?
Me: I just heard that, and my exact response was, "Wha?" and now Ruzicka scores!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They messed with my experiment by putting Biron in ... I wanted to further test the theory that the Flyers always win against Atlanta because of Niitty. Hatcher scoring on the PP may not be SO much of a surprise, he hangs out at the net a lot.
J: So far so good. Flyers are playing well (I'm not going to jinx them) and the Badgers are leading too.
Me: Don't worry about jinxing them. Brian Propp will do that, Mr "Flyers should have this game, up 3-1 with x minutes left."
J: Damn, we may not get Junior back. He scored a goal for Dallas.
Me: Well it is about time he scored for someone. Stupid Junior. Stupid Dallas and all their injuries stealing our best guys.
Hot damn, the Flyers didn't give up the lead in the last minute. I'm shocked. I'm speechless. I am without speech.
J: You may not be able to speak but you can still type.
Me: 90 words a minute!!
It's true, Hatcher scored his first goal since December 3, 2005. Even he admits it wasn't much, he just happened to be in the right spot at the right time, i.e. in the crease when a shot came through that he could just tap into the net. A goal's a goal, even when you're just the bumper in the way that redirects. It's great that the Flyers are finally learning to be where they need to be. And it's great that they finally scored on a power play (what had it been, like 18 or 19 PPs since last scoring on one?) Nice job, Hatch!
The "upper body injury" sustained by Upshall has been clarified by Holmgren to "a Grade 1 separation of his sternoclavicular, a joint between the clavicle and the breast bone" and will be out up to two weeks. That'll leave only about a week more in the season for Upshall. It's an irritating loss given that the Flyers just got back Knuble (and Ben Eager, who's been out with that ankle injury for a few weeks).
So, the Flyers swept Atlanta, one of the top teams in the league. I don't know how they do it, going to Phoenix and sucking the suck like it's never been sucked before, and then coming back and pretty much controlling the game against the Thrashers. What sort of mental situation is it for them? Do they think they have nothing to prove against another league-low team? Or when they come up against a team like Atlanta, they want to stick it to them and so play better? All in all it would be best if they could play like they want to stick it to the other team, all the time. But hey. I'm a chemist, not a psychologist; I'm also not an expert in hockey (whatever I might pretend) and I have no idea why the Flyers can play so well one night and then turn around and totally blow the next.
And it's also funny when suddenly random scoring starts happening.
Hatcher (Ruzicka, Coburn)
Ruzicka (Sanderson, Pitkanen)
Sanderson (Ruzicka, Umberger)
People who haven't scored in a long time (Hatcher, obviously, and Rosie's first in 25 games), scoring and also posting multiple-point nights!
Congrats to Joni for not playing like a bonehead and bagging yet another assist (35 assists, good for 15th in the league with respect to defensemen -- 39 points overall, 20th in the league for D-men -- and this as a -25!)
I still can't stand that the Thrashers are 1-10-2 against Philly in Philly -- with that 1 being the 1st game I was at. I just can't let that go. BAH!
So, some other things I noticed while skimming hockey news this morning:
Ty Conklin made 42 saves for the Sabres last night and stupid Buffalo beat the Panthers. I'll just always have trouble seeing Conklin managing to do well after watching him get pulled in the first period of an early-season game last fall after allowing 5 goals by the Iowa Stars.
Speaking of Iowa Stars, as mentioned in the email string, Junior Lessard scored a goal for the Dallas Stars last night, his first NHL goal of the season (in his first call-up of the season) and his second NHL goal. It was on the PP and was set up by Mike Modano (who also scored his 501st last night). Nice going by Junior, though it would be nice if he could come back to Iowa by next weekend and score on the PP in Des Moines, too.
The Iowa Stars play away tonight against San Antonio, I have meager hopes for them given their depleted roster, but maybe they can cobble something together once more against the worst team in the AHL. And then do it again on Sunday. And then pray that by Tuesday when they play Peoria at home, they've got the answer OR some of their men back from Dallas. Next week's got some tough matches, the one Tuesday against Peoria, then on Friday against Chicago -- and then the no-brainer against Milwaukee on Saturday (where I will be, ice-row). It won't get any easier for most of the rest of the season, either -- week after next will be Peoria/Omaha/Milwaukee, then Manitoba/Omaha/Manitoba. They'll finish up with three games against the Texas teams, and the final match on the 14th against Chicago.
Stars, remember last year when you dazzled in the last weeks and made your way to a 7-game series against the Admirals in the Calder Cup playoffs your first year in existence. You can do it again.
AHL scores to pay attention to tonight:
PEO/MIL (Go Admirals!)
PHI/ROC (Go Phantoms WOOO! 9 points to make up! In connection with this game and the Phantoms' division standings, I'd also like Binghamton to beat Albany, and Norfolk to beat Bridgeport. Two more points for the Phantoms and no change to these teams will allow the Phantoms to narrow the gap.)
MTB/GRA (Go MOOSE deny Grand Rapids more points! A Stars win would give Iowa 70 points, and the Griffins stay at 73 -- gap narrows there, too.)
CHI/OMA also play, but they just have each other to battle for the top division spot and otherwise I don't care who wins. Either team would be a beast for Iowa to face (in the event that they reach the 4th spot in the division and then have to play the #1 team) and so I have no real preference for division leader.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Ok, I tuned in in time to hear the Thrashers score. Apparently this tied the game, and Saunders mentioned the first Flyers goal was by Hatcher on the PP.
WTF???
And I also hear Upshall has gone out of the game, a shoulder injury after being hit by Kovalchuk, fingers crossed that isn't too serious.
Ruzicka just scored to take the Flyers up 2-1.
They are messing with my experiment by having Biron in goal!! They are asking for it!
Wow, they are so informative, telling us Upshall has an "upper body injury". Still, played more games than Forsberg before getting hurt!
Second period done, Flyers still up 2-1.
--------------
SANDERSON!!! It's about time he did something.
3-1 Flyers.
Otherwise there's not all that much to comment upon. It's a good game but nothing outrageous to report.
Well, just as Brian Propp said something to the effect of the Flyers would win this game because they were up 3-1 with so-and-so much time left ... next thing, Trashers scored.
3-2 Flyers.
Less than a minute left. Will the Flyers do their favorite thing to do??
.....
THEY DIDN'T.
WOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 6 in a row against Atlanta!!!!
Take that, Trashers!! You lost AGAIN to the LOWLY FLYERS, the WORST TEAM IN THE LEAGUE.
Hahahaha.
WTF???
And I also hear Upshall has gone out of the game, a shoulder injury after being hit by Kovalchuk, fingers crossed that isn't too serious.
Ruzicka just scored to take the Flyers up 2-1.
They are messing with my experiment by having Biron in goal!! They are asking for it!
Wow, they are so informative, telling us Upshall has an "upper body injury". Still, played more games than Forsberg before getting hurt!
Second period done, Flyers still up 2-1.
--------------
SANDERSON!!! It's about time he did something.
3-1 Flyers.
Otherwise there's not all that much to comment upon. It's a good game but nothing outrageous to report.
Well, just as Brian Propp said something to the effect of the Flyers would win this game because they were up 3-1 with so-and-so much time left ... next thing, Trashers scored.
3-2 Flyers.
Less than a minute left. Will the Flyers do their favorite thing to do??
.....
THEY DIDN'T.
WOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 6 in a row against Atlanta!!!!
Take that, Trashers!! You lost AGAIN to the LOWLY FLYERS, the WORST TEAM IN THE LEAGUE.
Hahahaha.
PEOPLE!!!
"When you look at Paul and the deals he's made for Scottie Upshaw and Coburn, we're in a unique position in that Paul has overseen the development of these players personally," Luukko said.
From an article about Paul Holmgren's getting a two-year contract extension.
It's UPSHALL.
Not UPSHAW.
Get it right. Print it right and say it right.
------------
The Wolves came through last night and bit Peoria 4-3. YES! Way to go, Chicago. Thanks for the standings help.
Peoria -- 4th at 69 points
Iowa -- 5th at 68 points
Tomorrow Iowa will have a chance to pick up another couple points, on the road in San Antonio, the scene of recent success. Peoria will play Milwaukee tomorrow. .. Go Ads! (?!)
Iowa lost Junior Lessard to Dallas (his first call-up of the season) and Vojtech Polak was out with an injury, so no wonder the Stars weren't playing very well. Almost every one of their top men are hurt or somewhere else. Without Lundqvist, Conner, Barch (and, though they have been gone forever, Eriksson and Petersen), Sertich, May, Lessard and Polak, who is left?
Endicott? Made Assistant Captain?? J. told me this this morning but I can't find info on it.
-----------
Article in the New York Times about the Omaha Knights and hockey in this eastern Nebraska city. The Knights are a good and tough team, it's a shame that they sell so few tickets, averaging only ~3300 per game. So far this season, according to this page, Iowa is averaging almost 4800 per. Only Lowell and Springfield are worse than Omaha, neither reaching 3K average this season. The AHL average looks to be about 5400. I hope the Knights stay in Omaha, as I like the idea of as much professional hockey in the Midwest as possible. The Iowa Stars have got contracts for many years and if the Knights stay in Omaha, a seriously delicious divisional rivalry can develop. I've only seen them play once and it was a great game.
----------------
Flyers will play tonight against Atlanta, at home in Philadelphia. Gagne's not good to come back from his groin strain (or whatever problem it is) of the other night vs. Boston, but Knuble's expected I think, and I hope I can listen to the game tonight (may have other plans). GO FLYERS!
"When you look at Paul and the deals he's made for Scottie Upshaw and Coburn, we're in a unique position in that Paul has overseen the development of these players personally," Luukko said.
From an article about Paul Holmgren's getting a two-year contract extension.
It's UPSHALL.
Not UPSHAW.
Get it right. Print it right and say it right.
------------
The Wolves came through last night and bit Peoria 4-3. YES! Way to go, Chicago. Thanks for the standings help.
Peoria -- 4th at 69 points
Iowa -- 5th at 68 points
Tomorrow Iowa will have a chance to pick up another couple points, on the road in San Antonio, the scene of recent success. Peoria will play Milwaukee tomorrow. .. Go Ads! (?!)
Iowa lost Junior Lessard to Dallas (his first call-up of the season) and Vojtech Polak was out with an injury, so no wonder the Stars weren't playing very well. Almost every one of their top men are hurt or somewhere else. Without Lundqvist, Conner, Barch (and, though they have been gone forever, Eriksson and Petersen), Sertich, May, Lessard and Polak, who is left?
Endicott? Made Assistant Captain?? J. told me this this morning but I can't find info on it.
-----------
Article in the New York Times about the Omaha Knights and hockey in this eastern Nebraska city. The Knights are a good and tough team, it's a shame that they sell so few tickets, averaging only ~3300 per game. So far this season, according to this page, Iowa is averaging almost 4800 per. Only Lowell and Springfield are worse than Omaha, neither reaching 3K average this season. The AHL average looks to be about 5400. I hope the Knights stay in Omaha, as I like the idea of as much professional hockey in the Midwest as possible. The Iowa Stars have got contracts for many years and if the Knights stay in Omaha, a seriously delicious divisional rivalry can develop. I've only seen them play once and it was a great game.
----------------
Flyers will play tonight against Atlanta, at home in Philadelphia. Gagne's not good to come back from his groin strain (or whatever problem it is) of the other night vs. Boston, but Knuble's expected I think, and I hope I can listen to the game tonight (may have other plans). GO FLYERS!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Iowa Stars lost 4-1 [goal by Endicott (...)]; Peoria presently beating Chicago, 2-1, with 5 to go in the 2nd.
Come on, Wolves.
Come on, Wolves.
I think even the newspapers are getting tired of writing about Flyers losses, because the stories are not that interesting today. They focus mainly on Mike Modano having scored his 500th goal, and I suppose rightly so, since that is more exciting and interesting than yet another boring addition to the Flyers' loss column.
If you haven't been keeping track, I'll point it out for you: Scottie Upshall has 6 goals and 4 assists since coming to Philadelphia, for 10 points in 13 games played. Since leaving Philly, Peter Forsberg has 1 goal, 5 assists, 6 points in 7 games played. Upshall has played in every game; Forsberg has been out for 5 in a row now. He's still out until probably Saturday with an "upper body injury" thus not available for tonight's Preds/Red Wings game. And even then they're "hoping" he will be ready for Saturday. No guarantee.
Welcome to the story of having Forsberg on your team, Nashville.
Since February 15th, when Forbserg was traded, Nashville has had 13 games. Forbserg has played in only 7. I suppose I could be kinder and say that he wasn't able to play in the first one because of travel/time/whatever, so in the spirit of kindness we'll say 7 out of 12 games. Points-per-games-played, Forsberg's up on Upshall -- 6 in 7 = about 0.86 PPG. For Upshall, 10 in 13 = 0.77 PPG. But to compare points in all possible games:
Upshall, 0.77
Forsberg, 0.50
I'd like to restate how much I love Peter Forsberg, how much I loved having him wear #21 for the Flyers, and also mention how much I regret that Modells did not have his home jersey in my size last weekend (on sale for $50!!!) and that I don't wish bad things on him, I wish he were not out hurt, blah blah blah, I'd still love to have him back playing for the Flyers -- but the Flyers have done no worse in the post-Forsberg era than they did before he was traded, and the guy we got in his place hasn't missed a single game and has managed to get a point in most of them.
There may be something to that.
AND let's not forget the caliber of the goals Upshall has scored: several game-winners and then last night's last-gasp, OMG-only-one-more-now-to-tie dealie (very nice). He's not just out there putting the puck in the net for "meaningless" goals. I say re-sign Upshall and keep him forever.
Of note about another trade that happened: the Flyers got Kukkonen for Calder, and while Kukkonen has been pretty good on the blue line, Calder's gone to Detroit and turning into what everyone said he was going to be (did he just decide to play, or...?), having 2 goals and 7 assists in 7 games since leaving. 9 points in 7 games? Calder?? I don't believe it.
Knuble's supposed to be back for tomorrow's game against Atlanta. I've almost forgotten what the game is like with Knoobs. It ought to be a step better, certainly can't be worse than the last two we've been subjected to. Do you think Niittymaki will get the start against Lehtonen (not Lehtinen!) tomorrow night, or will Stevens decide to experiment not starting Finn against Finn? For my part, I hope Niitty starts. I want to see the other experiment -- the one where we determine if it's true that Niitty always beats Lehtonen.
Of course there was that added complication of whether or not me listening to the match made a difference ...
-------
Tonight the Iowa Stars play a fourth game on the road, in Grand Rapids. (I saw the other day that Joey MacDonald's not in the Wings circuit anymore, instead played for Boston. I guess I don't remember hearing/reading that he was traded or part of any trade.) I don't have good feelings about this game after reading how the Stars crumbled against Manitoba, but perhaps they will surprise me (the win over Omaha last Wednesday, 3-0, did). The Stars have got to pull it together now, with only a month left. Omaha/Milwaukee and Peoria/Chicago tonight, all intradivision matches so points will go back and forth among those top four teams. If the Stars win and Peoria loses, then Iowa's a point up on Peoria and in 4th. When have I ever rooted for the Wolves other than now? GO WOLVES. But chiefly GO STARS.
---------
On Monday I got the tickets to the Phantoms / Norfolk Admirals game taking place on March 30th. The Phantoms are eight points out of playoff position at this time, winning off and on in March (three wins, three losses) with the last win happening in the last game on Sunday, 2-1 shootout over Portland. They don't play again until Saturday (when they will wear jerseys with pink in them ... yeah, I know it's to support the fight against breast cancer, being auctioned off after the game, but, ick.). I don't know if the Phantoms have a hope for a post-season or not. It would be nice, from my perspective, because that would give me a couple more games I could go to, once I move....seeing as even if the Iowa Stars make the playoffs, I won't be around for it.
That's all for now.
If you haven't been keeping track, I'll point it out for you: Scottie Upshall has 6 goals and 4 assists since coming to Philadelphia, for 10 points in 13 games played. Since leaving Philly, Peter Forsberg has 1 goal, 5 assists, 6 points in 7 games played. Upshall has played in every game; Forsberg has been out for 5 in a row now. He's still out until probably Saturday with an "upper body injury" thus not available for tonight's Preds/Red Wings game. And even then they're "hoping" he will be ready for Saturday. No guarantee.
Welcome to the story of having Forsberg on your team, Nashville.
Since February 15th, when Forbserg was traded, Nashville has had 13 games. Forbserg has played in only 7. I suppose I could be kinder and say that he wasn't able to play in the first one because of travel/time/whatever, so in the spirit of kindness we'll say 7 out of 12 games. Points-per-games-played, Forsberg's up on Upshall -- 6 in 7 = about 0.86 PPG. For Upshall, 10 in 13 = 0.77 PPG. But to compare points in all possible games:
Upshall, 0.77
Forsberg, 0.50
I'd like to restate how much I love Peter Forsberg, how much I loved having him wear #21 for the Flyers, and also mention how much I regret that Modells did not have his home jersey in my size last weekend (on sale for $50!!!) and that I don't wish bad things on him, I wish he were not out hurt, blah blah blah, I'd still love to have him back playing for the Flyers -- but the Flyers have done no worse in the post-Forsberg era than they did before he was traded, and the guy we got in his place hasn't missed a single game and has managed to get a point in most of them.
There may be something to that.
AND let's not forget the caliber of the goals Upshall has scored: several game-winners and then last night's last-gasp, OMG-only-one-more-now-to-tie dealie (very nice). He's not just out there putting the puck in the net for "meaningless" goals. I say re-sign Upshall and keep him forever.
Of note about another trade that happened: the Flyers got Kukkonen for Calder, and while Kukkonen has been pretty good on the blue line, Calder's gone to Detroit and turning into what everyone said he was going to be (did he just decide to play, or...?), having 2 goals and 7 assists in 7 games since leaving. 9 points in 7 games? Calder?? I don't believe it.
Knuble's supposed to be back for tomorrow's game against Atlanta. I've almost forgotten what the game is like with Knoobs. It ought to be a step better, certainly can't be worse than the last two we've been subjected to. Do you think Niittymaki will get the start against Lehtonen (not Lehtinen!) tomorrow night, or will Stevens decide to experiment not starting Finn against Finn? For my part, I hope Niitty starts. I want to see the other experiment -- the one where we determine if it's true that Niitty always beats Lehtonen.
Of course there was that added complication of whether or not me listening to the match made a difference ...
-------
Tonight the Iowa Stars play a fourth game on the road, in Grand Rapids. (I saw the other day that Joey MacDonald's not in the Wings circuit anymore, instead played for Boston. I guess I don't remember hearing/reading that he was traded or part of any trade.) I don't have good feelings about this game after reading how the Stars crumbled against Manitoba, but perhaps they will surprise me (the win over Omaha last Wednesday, 3-0, did). The Stars have got to pull it together now, with only a month left. Omaha/Milwaukee and Peoria/Chicago tonight, all intradivision matches so points will go back and forth among those top four teams. If the Stars win and Peoria loses, then Iowa's a point up on Peoria and in 4th. When have I ever rooted for the Wolves other than now? GO WOLVES. But chiefly GO STARS.
---------
On Monday I got the tickets to the Phantoms / Norfolk Admirals game taking place on March 30th. The Phantoms are eight points out of playoff position at this time, winning off and on in March (three wins, three losses) with the last win happening in the last game on Sunday, 2-1 shootout over Portland. They don't play again until Saturday (when they will wear jerseys with pink in them ... yeah, I know it's to support the fight against breast cancer, being auctioned off after the game, but, ick.). I don't know if the Phantoms have a hope for a post-season or not. It would be nice, from my perspective, because that would give me a couple more games I could go to, once I move....seeing as even if the Iowa Stars make the playoffs, I won't be around for it.
That's all for now.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Well I just won't have the time to go over the last games while new games also are taking place ... so I will employ a tactic I use in my journals, where I just start up again at the present date and basically pretend I have already written about the recent past. I may refer to incidences that I did not have a chance to write about, but I won't spend a lot of time explaining them. And so I will begin again with tonight's Flyers game vs. the Dallas Stars, taking place in Dallas (i.e. in my time zone, so a 7:30 p.m. start time means 7:30 p.m., not 6:30).
Last night, while listening to the first two periods of the pathetic effort (though even using the word effort, in spite of being qualified by the adjective "pathetic", implies they put forth some kind of work; it didn't sound like they were working all that hard, so scratch the use of "effort" and insert "mess" or similar instead) Brian Propp spoke of Phoenix's Tjarnqvist as having a twin brother playing goalie for the Rangers, and how, after scoring what was by all accounts a very pretty goal against the Flyers, he was now making a name for himself, on his way to being his own person, rather than being known as the twin brother of the Rangers' goalie.
Um, Propp?
He caught himself a few moments later, and corrected himself, saying it is Lundqvist, not Tjarnqvist.
These Swedes and their qvists!
Anyway, I bring this up because tonight the Lundqvist he had in mind should be playing. If he scores a goal, I'll be lukewarm about it -- glad for the Hot Swedish Twinboy whom I have seen so many times play in Des Moines, mad that he scored against my actual favorite team -- and then Propp can go on about how he's now forging a path for himself, separating himself from his twin's shadow.
--------
It really is odd to listen to the names here: Lundqvist, Conner, Eriksson, Barch, and even Mike Smith is in goal -- the Iowa Stars are playing against the Philadelphia Flyers tonight.
Niittymaki in net for Philly. After Biron's shaky game last night, it's not surprising that this is the game he gets, Stevens having said that Antero would be playing in an upcoming game.
According to Saunders, Jussi Jokinen is Joni's best friend. And now they face each other across the ice. Friends become foes! How many Finns are playing tonight?
--Pitkanen
--Kapanen
--Kukkonen
--Niittymaki
--Lehtinen
--Jokinen
--Hagman
--Miettinen
And Lehtinen scored while I browsed the rosters to answer my question. Finn on Finn action (Lehtinen from Jokinen and Hagman on Niitymaki), Dallas up 1-0.
(And these guys can't keep anyone straight. Saunders just said that Kari Lehtonen scored the goal.)
And for no reason whatsoever the audio cut out, the NHL radio player stopped, and now will not start again.
I got back to the game in time to hear Saunders again refer to Lehtinen as "Kari," to hear Pitkanen take his second penalty of the period (cross-checking Jokinen), and the end of the 1st.
Interestingly, we are no longer privy to the broadcast going on between periods -- no listening to the WIP guy yakking away, only the background music and the commercials. For my part, I'd rather it were the other way around, getting to hear the WIP guy and not the commercials, though they haven't been as annoying lately. At least I haven't been subjected to the one for the "gentleman's club" featuring Amber Waves. Not yet, anyway.
------------
2nd Period!
Blah blah blah .... nothing terribly exciting...
Picard dumps Lundqvist!
This is very weird, cheering against boys for whom I normally cheer heartily, even playing for Dallas. Very weird to wish that Smith, Lundqvist, et al. were not so good... Ooh, Saunders finally got Lehtinen's name right.
Flyers' first power play, and if they could just manage to score on the PP it would be tied and back to square one, but the Flyers have been baaaaaaad on the power play lately, so I'm not holding my breath or anything. ... sure enough, they waste it by taking a hooking penalty -- PITKANEN -- while Dallas made a shorthanded move. All three penalties for the Flyers so far have been taken by Joni. Where is his head tonight? Yikes.
Flyers are being totally outshot, 20-8 at this point.
Big chance by Lehtinen but the Flyers took a penalty to stop him ... Niitty big save(s), Dallas back on the PP. At least it wasn't Pitkanen taking the break in the box, instead Gauthier. You know, even though I understand having to take a penalty instead of taking a chance on allowing a goal, it's not like the Flyers can get anything done having to continually kill these penalties. Sure, they've got some good shorthanded goals, but ...
Jeez, a Dallas player hit the goalpost so hard the CLANG!!! was as loud as the announcers. Lucky Flyers, the game's still 1-0.
Niittymaki made a save on Barch. ... Conner got knocked around by Richards. WEIRD TO HEAR. But, you know, Niittymaki has been keeping the Flyers in this game. There have been many opportunities this period for the score to have stretched itself out; fortunately he's been where he needed to be at the right time.
Flyers on the PP again, Eriksson for holding -- come on, Fly Guys.
COME ON, JONI, YOU HAVE TO SHOOT SOMETIMES!! Quit looking to pass when you have a wide-open shot path!!!!!
Gauthier hit Chris Conner low, a hip check?, and now Barch is going at it with Gauthier. Now, I really don't want anyone hurting Conner, but sheesh, Barch -- what kind of penalties here? Gauthier and Barch both, Barch an extra two, so another PP for the Flyers to waste.
Well, it will be split up between periods. Flyers are being completely outshot but hey, it's still only 1-0. (That's still losing, but it could be worse.)
----------
0-for-3 on the PP. Hope the rest of the period is at least interesting.
"Richards turns into his defense." That sounds funny. Richards becomes Coburn! He becomes Kukkonen! (Ok, I must be either tired or bored.)
For crying out loud, the Flyers have taken another penalty -- delay of game -- Stars have another PP and I think this impasse is only going to last so long. And I think it will be the Stars that break it. I'd not even be surprised if it happened now.
Well, it didn't. So much for my predicting capabilities. -- In fact, Joni Pitkanen has appeared to have tied the game!!!!!
Wasted, naturally, when Jussi Jokinen scores (for the first time in, what did Saunders say? 10? 13 games? WHY do the Flyers always manage to allow a goal by someone who's going through a terrible drought up until that point???) Dallas now 2-1. BAH! GLOVE SIDE ON NIITTY. Of course.
And DAMN IT another goal only seconds later, Mike Modano's 500th career goal. Dallas 3-1. ARRRRGH.
It will be a miracle if the Flyers can bring this one back together by the end of the game. Only thirteen shots the whole game.
And Upshall scored with 1:17 left to play, 3-2 ...... one closer, but, man, I dunno. Upshall's 8th goal. Yeah, I like him.
39 seconds ...
Two close chances and now only 5 seconds remaining.
Hey, Flyers? A tip.
PLAY THE WHOLE GAME AS IF YOU HAVE TO SCORE TWO GOALS IN TWO MINUTES.
Maybe you won't HAVE TO SCORE TWO GOALS IN TWO MINUTES then.
Last night, while listening to the first two periods of the pathetic effort (though even using the word effort, in spite of being qualified by the adjective "pathetic", implies they put forth some kind of work; it didn't sound like they were working all that hard, so scratch the use of "effort" and insert "mess" or similar instead) Brian Propp spoke of Phoenix's Tjarnqvist as having a twin brother playing goalie for the Rangers, and how, after scoring what was by all accounts a very pretty goal against the Flyers, he was now making a name for himself, on his way to being his own person, rather than being known as the twin brother of the Rangers' goalie.
Um, Propp?
He caught himself a few moments later, and corrected himself, saying it is Lundqvist, not Tjarnqvist.
These Swedes and their qvists!
Anyway, I bring this up because tonight the Lundqvist he had in mind should be playing. If he scores a goal, I'll be lukewarm about it -- glad for the Hot Swedish Twinboy whom I have seen so many times play in Des Moines, mad that he scored against my actual favorite team -- and then Propp can go on about how he's now forging a path for himself, separating himself from his twin's shadow.
--------
It really is odd to listen to the names here: Lundqvist, Conner, Eriksson, Barch, and even Mike Smith is in goal -- the Iowa Stars are playing against the Philadelphia Flyers tonight.
Niittymaki in net for Philly. After Biron's shaky game last night, it's not surprising that this is the game he gets, Stevens having said that Antero would be playing in an upcoming game.
According to Saunders, Jussi Jokinen is Joni's best friend. And now they face each other across the ice. Friends become foes! How many Finns are playing tonight?
--Pitkanen
--Kapanen
--Kukkonen
--Niittymaki
--Lehtinen
--Jokinen
--Hagman
--Miettinen
And Lehtinen scored while I browsed the rosters to answer my question. Finn on Finn action (Lehtinen from Jokinen and Hagman on Niitymaki), Dallas up 1-0.
(And these guys can't keep anyone straight. Saunders just said that Kari Lehtonen scored the goal.)
And for no reason whatsoever the audio cut out, the NHL radio player stopped, and now will not start again.
I got back to the game in time to hear Saunders again refer to Lehtinen as "Kari," to hear Pitkanen take his second penalty of the period (cross-checking Jokinen), and the end of the 1st.
Interestingly, we are no longer privy to the broadcast going on between periods -- no listening to the WIP guy yakking away, only the background music and the commercials. For my part, I'd rather it were the other way around, getting to hear the WIP guy and not the commercials, though they haven't been as annoying lately. At least I haven't been subjected to the one for the "gentleman's club" featuring Amber Waves. Not yet, anyway.
------------
2nd Period!
Blah blah blah .... nothing terribly exciting...
Picard dumps Lundqvist!
This is very weird, cheering against boys for whom I normally cheer heartily, even playing for Dallas. Very weird to wish that Smith, Lundqvist, et al. were not so good... Ooh, Saunders finally got Lehtinen's name right.
Flyers' first power play, and if they could just manage to score on the PP it would be tied and back to square one, but the Flyers have been baaaaaaad on the power play lately, so I'm not holding my breath or anything. ... sure enough, they waste it by taking a hooking penalty -- PITKANEN -- while Dallas made a shorthanded move. All three penalties for the Flyers so far have been taken by Joni. Where is his head tonight? Yikes.
Flyers are being totally outshot, 20-8 at this point.
Big chance by Lehtinen but the Flyers took a penalty to stop him ... Niitty big save(s), Dallas back on the PP. At least it wasn't Pitkanen taking the break in the box, instead Gauthier. You know, even though I understand having to take a penalty instead of taking a chance on allowing a goal, it's not like the Flyers can get anything done having to continually kill these penalties. Sure, they've got some good shorthanded goals, but ...
Jeez, a Dallas player hit the goalpost so hard the CLANG!!! was as loud as the announcers. Lucky Flyers, the game's still 1-0.
Niittymaki made a save on Barch. ... Conner got knocked around by Richards. WEIRD TO HEAR. But, you know, Niittymaki has been keeping the Flyers in this game. There have been many opportunities this period for the score to have stretched itself out; fortunately he's been where he needed to be at the right time.
Flyers on the PP again, Eriksson for holding -- come on, Fly Guys.
COME ON, JONI, YOU HAVE TO SHOOT SOMETIMES!! Quit looking to pass when you have a wide-open shot path!!!!!
Gauthier hit Chris Conner low, a hip check?, and now Barch is going at it with Gauthier. Now, I really don't want anyone hurting Conner, but sheesh, Barch -- what kind of penalties here? Gauthier and Barch both, Barch an extra two, so another PP for the Flyers to waste.
Well, it will be split up between periods. Flyers are being completely outshot but hey, it's still only 1-0. (That's still losing, but it could be worse.)
----------
0-for-3 on the PP. Hope the rest of the period is at least interesting.
"Richards turns into his defense." That sounds funny. Richards becomes Coburn! He becomes Kukkonen! (Ok, I must be either tired or bored.)
For crying out loud, the Flyers have taken another penalty -- delay of game -- Stars have another PP and I think this impasse is only going to last so long. And I think it will be the Stars that break it. I'd not even be surprised if it happened now.
Well, it didn't. So much for my predicting capabilities. -- In fact, Joni Pitkanen has appeared to have tied the game!!!!!
Wasted, naturally, when Jussi Jokinen scores (for the first time in, what did Saunders say? 10? 13 games? WHY do the Flyers always manage to allow a goal by someone who's going through a terrible drought up until that point???) Dallas now 2-1. BAH! GLOVE SIDE ON NIITTY. Of course.
And DAMN IT another goal only seconds later, Mike Modano's 500th career goal. Dallas 3-1. ARRRRGH.
It will be a miracle if the Flyers can bring this one back together by the end of the game. Only thirteen shots the whole game.
And Upshall scored with 1:17 left to play, 3-2 ...... one closer, but, man, I dunno. Upshall's 8th goal. Yeah, I like him.
39 seconds ...
Two close chances and now only 5 seconds remaining.
Hey, Flyers? A tip.
PLAY THE WHOLE GAME AS IF YOU HAVE TO SCORE TWO GOALS IN TWO MINUTES.
Maybe you won't HAVE TO SCORE TWO GOALS IN TWO MINUTES then.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Later, I'll have time to comment on the game I saw on TV last Thursday (Bouwmeester's joining the Flyers bench and Biron's own goal included); the game on Saturday, highlights of which I saw on the news; the Iowa Stars' implosion in Manitoba; a zillion penalty minutes for the Phantoms vs. Bridgeport; and other, various hockey-related stuff.
Right now, I've got an appointment to get ready for. I still have a job to do.
Sometimes I wish it were reading and writing about hockey.
But it's not.
Right now, I've got an appointment to get ready for. I still have a job to do.
Sometimes I wish it were reading and writing about hockey.
But it's not.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Some good stuff to look at today, in the Inquirer, Daily News, etc.
I love the Flyers.
I also still love Niittymaki, but hot damn, look at this save.
It was the opposite of bitter to have the Flyers finally beat the Devils this season, after five otherwise close games. Kapanen, Gagne, Richards, and Upshall all had two-point nights (goal and assist for each), with Sanderson, Umberger, Pitkanen, Afanasenkov, Carter, and Jones all taking goals or assists as well. Some rounded-out scoring going on with some usual suspects ... a good sign in the post-Forsberg, Knuble-out world (though K should be back next week?).
I really would appreciate it if articles would stop beginning by describing the Flyers as the "league-worst." Sure, the standings are not in our favor, but no one has a safe win against us anymore. Four straight games into overtime? It's not quite the same as crushing opponents in regulation, but the fact that the Flyers can hang on and not lose in regulation, the way they were, is so encouraging and so delicious that while I do not want to wish away the summer ahead (which should be excellent), I sooooo want it to be next season!!!!!
It's so wonderful. Even though the Flyers are no doubt done in April, the last few weeks here should be sweet to behold.
And I've read also that the Phantoms won 5-2 over Binghamton last night, a solid win that puts them five points out of playoff contention. Wouldn't that be nice? More hockey for me! Speaking of the Phantoms, I was browsing their website and saw that the 30th is R. J. Umberger bobblehead night -- and they aren't just giving them out to kids. So, we'll have to get to the arena early and pick up the prize. Because exactly what I need is another hockey trinket .... wait, it will be after having moved, so it's not like it's another piece of junk to be packed.
Wait, junk?! Treasured items, rather!
Anyway, tomorrow night the Flyers are playing at home for their Fan Appreciation night. It's the night where they give away tons of stuff plus "the shirts off our backs." I'm going to be In Town, apartment-hunting, but highly unlikely I will be able to convince my mom, who is going out to DE/PA with me, that we should go so that I would have a 1/20,000 chance of being selected for one of the shirts. And even if I were, it would probably be Mike York's, or similar -- not Joni, not Niitty, not, you know, someone I like. So I won't even suggest we go to the game.
But I will suggest we watch it on TV. Flyers v. Panthers, Thursday night!!
Tonight the Stars play Omaha, at Omaha. Tough game, but heck, it's on the road, so the Stars might have a better chance at winning. Pick up those points, boys.
(I think I dreamt last night I was on the telephone with a news or radio program related to the Stars and they told me Lundqvist would be back soon. Hm. Speaking of Lundqvist, apparently missed his birthday last Friday. Well, we were celebrating that night; we can pretend that was part of it.)
P.S. Upshall's got 4 G, 3 A, for 7 points as a Flyer (9 games). Forsberg, who's sat out 3 games of 10 since becoming a Predator (including the last 2), has 1 G, 5 A = 6 pts in 7 games.
Just keeping track.
I love the Flyers.
I also still love Niittymaki, but hot damn, look at this save.
It was the opposite of bitter to have the Flyers finally beat the Devils this season, after five otherwise close games. Kapanen, Gagne, Richards, and Upshall all had two-point nights (goal and assist for each), with Sanderson, Umberger, Pitkanen, Afanasenkov, Carter, and Jones all taking goals or assists as well. Some rounded-out scoring going on with some usual suspects ... a good sign in the post-Forsberg, Knuble-out world (though K should be back next week?).
I really would appreciate it if articles would stop beginning by describing the Flyers as the "league-worst." Sure, the standings are not in our favor, but no one has a safe win against us anymore. Four straight games into overtime? It's not quite the same as crushing opponents in regulation, but the fact that the Flyers can hang on and not lose in regulation, the way they were, is so encouraging and so delicious that while I do not want to wish away the summer ahead (which should be excellent), I sooooo want it to be next season!!!!!
It's so wonderful. Even though the Flyers are no doubt done in April, the last few weeks here should be sweet to behold.
And I've read also that the Phantoms won 5-2 over Binghamton last night, a solid win that puts them five points out of playoff contention. Wouldn't that be nice? More hockey for me! Speaking of the Phantoms, I was browsing their website and saw that the 30th is R. J. Umberger bobblehead night -- and they aren't just giving them out to kids. So, we'll have to get to the arena early and pick up the prize. Because exactly what I need is another hockey trinket .... wait, it will be after having moved, so it's not like it's another piece of junk to be packed.
Wait, junk?! Treasured items, rather!
Anyway, tomorrow night the Flyers are playing at home for their Fan Appreciation night. It's the night where they give away tons of stuff plus "the shirts off our backs." I'm going to be In Town, apartment-hunting, but highly unlikely I will be able to convince my mom, who is going out to DE/PA with me, that we should go so that I would have a 1/20,000 chance of being selected for one of the shirts. And even if I were, it would probably be Mike York's, or similar -- not Joni, not Niitty, not, you know, someone I like. So I won't even suggest we go to the game.
But I will suggest we watch it on TV. Flyers v. Panthers, Thursday night!!
Tonight the Stars play Omaha, at Omaha. Tough game, but heck, it's on the road, so the Stars might have a better chance at winning. Pick up those points, boys.
(I think I dreamt last night I was on the telephone with a news or radio program related to the Stars and they told me Lundqvist would be back soon. Hm. Speaking of Lundqvist, apparently missed his birthday last Friday. Well, we were celebrating that night; we can pretend that was part of it.)
P.S. Upshall's got 4 G, 3 A, for 7 points as a Flyer (9 games). Forsberg, who's sat out 3 games of 10 since becoming a Predator (including the last 2), has 1 G, 5 A = 6 pts in 7 games.
Just keeping track.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
I don't know anything about this game because I wasn't able to listen to any of it -- I returned with 5 minutes left in the third but for some reason the NHL radio wouldn't play. So I watched the score refresh.
The Flyers were up 4-3.
Then they gave up a goal so it was 4-4.
Overtime.
Flyers won, goal by Gagne.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
The Flyers were up 4-3.
Then they gave up a goal so it was 4-4.
Overtime.
Flyers won, goal by Gagne.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Somehow, the Flyers have not yet been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. (!)
But it is close. As noted in the Philly Inquirer:
"4. The tragic number: If the East's eighth seed wins four games or the Flyers lose four, the Flyers are eliminated from playoff contention."
Also: Marty Biron chats with Crosby during last weekend's game.
I look forward to the day that I can watch Flyers games on TV, when I don't have to wonder which game NBC is going to show me, and I don't have to rely on YouTube to show me the funny bits.
As is the Flyers' mathematical elimination from playoff contention, that day is close.
But it is close. As noted in the Philly Inquirer:
"4. The tragic number: If the East's eighth seed wins four games or the Flyers lose four, the Flyers are eliminated from playoff contention."
Also: Marty Biron chats with Crosby during last weekend's game.
I look forward to the day that I can watch Flyers games on TV, when I don't have to wonder which game NBC is going to show me, and I don't have to rely on YouTube to show me the funny bits.
As is the Flyers' mathematical elimination from playoff contention, that day is close.
Monday, March 05, 2007
More tickets! Phantoms vs. Admirals (Norfolk), March 30. Ice-row in section 218, which is on the corner, left of the net. Phantoms shoot twice.
So commences a modified version of the Great East Coast Hockey Adventure.
So commences a modified version of the Great East Coast Hockey Adventure.
The Flyers/Pens game was not on television in my parts, so I didn't get to watch it. I didn't listen to the game, either, instead spending the afternoon shopping. I had a feeling it was going to be a close game, and I had a feeling that the Pens were going to win. My feelings were both true. I did not feel that Mike York would score a goal, though. I suppose that makes up for him being in the lineup whilst Afanasenkov was scratched.
At the end of the day, no matter who was scoring, it took a shootout to lose.
You can read about the game yourself, the way I had to:
NHL.com. I dislike the opening sentence. GRRRR. It's hateful because it's true.
I also hate the "The Penguins nearly didn't win" part, because it implies that the Flyers should have won. Which maybe they should have. But ... I didn't listen, I didn't see, and reading isn't quite the same.
Phila Daily News.
Well no flaming duh, Gagne. Most of the games you've played lately have been a lot better than the first couple games. (By "first couple of games" I mean the PIT game and the BUF game. The NYR game is the exception; you know, the home opener where they had 13 rounds in the shootout.) But not to sound as though I'm complaining -- I typed that with a smile on my face. I'm freaking-out happy that you're all actually in these games, and no other team can cruise in and think it's gonna be an easy day.
It's bitter that the Flyers managed to hold Crosby to no points during regulation, only to have the infant help win the shootout. And not bitter like that chocolate you can buy that's 70% cocoa (because that's chocolate, and chocolate's good).
Anyway, the Flyers will play next on Tuesday against New Jersey and then with 17 games after that, the season's winding down. And while our season will end at the end of April, the Flyers can be pests with regard to the other teams they face, those that are in Playoff Bubble Land ... be annoying, Flyers. Get points and beat teams that need them.
J. and I bought tickets today to the Flyers/Rangers game on March 31. J.'s accompanying me on the drive out east, when I move, and seeing as I start my new job on April 2, we're pretty confident that we'll be around that weekend. Our tickets have us in section 114, three rows from the ice.
Yesterday's game was not the only hockey of the weekend. I was at the dismal Iowa Stars/San Antonio Rampage game Saturday night. The bobblehead was the only good thing that came out of the affair.
The game was slow to get started because after a pointlessly dramatic entrance by Shooter, the mascot, rappelling from the ceiling with a spotlight on him, the lights would not come back on. We sat in the arena, illuminated only by the banner and its changing advertisements, for perhaps ten minutes waiting for the overhead lights to come back on, and the players were getting anxious and skating idly to keep their legs from freezing.
The game got going, and it was sad. All the players seemed to be skating through molasses, and everyone was sluggish. We were ready to give them the benefit of the doubt, since they did have to wait around and cool off before getting to play, but this dreary, slow play continued throughout the game. One fan shouted, "Get out of the lockerroom and play!!" and I thought it was an astute comment. The Stars were playing as though they were mailing it in from the lockerroom and they had no excuse for it considering they were not scoring, and the Rampage were. Though it was low-scoring through most of the game, and though the Stars had an ungodly number of shots on goal in comparison, only San Antonio were scoring. In 9 shots, the Rampage had 3 goals. By the end of the game, the Rampage had 12 shots, and <5> goals. 12 shots is the fewest the Stars have ever allowed, but come on. In 42 shots, the Stars scored once.
Sad.
Also, my reaction to seeing Shane Endicott was stronger than it was even hearing his name, and there he was, right in front of me.
By the end of the game, I had simmered to ambivalence. He didn't do anything bad; he didn't do much good, either. But then, few of the Stars did. I will give high marks to the newcomer Konstantin Pushkarev, though. The guy looks like he is 14; he's not all that big, and he's got a total babyface, but the boy has wheels and nerve. He fought for the puck and chased it when the rest of the Stars seemed content to glide. He did draw a charging penalty in the second period (though we certainly all enjoyed the big hit), and that probably was the reason for the stick to the face he got later that looked extremely painful -- he looked as though he were going to burst into tears. It was the kind of expression and grimacing that if an opposing player were making, he would be incessantly harassed for being a baby. But this was our guy, he was new, and had proved himself useful with his speed and determination, and he received loads of audience support in spite of the almost-crying. The only goal that was scored was first attributed to him and would have been his first but they gave it to DeMarchi. At any rate, I'm sold on Pushkarev -- a good addition.
Since Peoria won Saturday, and Iowa lost, they are again tied for points. I won't be around for playoff games this season, but that doesn't mean I don't want the Stars to make the playoffs. 19 games left for the Stars (unless I have miscounted), and I'll be at only one more of them. All but two of the games remaining are divisional matchups -- and the two that are not are in the North division, and because of the number of teams they are doing a crossover thingie that if the fifth place team in the West division has more points than the fourth place team in the North division (do I have that right? I may not) the fifth place West team will cross over and play in the North for the playoffs. So even the games against Manitoba on the 9th and 10th are just as important, four-point-type games. Stars are on the road until the 20th.
Let's Go Stars!
Not only did we buy Flyers tickets today, but we got tickets to the Iowa Stars game on the 24th, vs. Milwaukee. They are ice-row. We've never sat ice-row at Stars games because those tickets cost $50 face-value (and with fees, end up being like $65). This time, given that it will be my last Iowa Stars game this season (and who knows when I will get to see them again), we decided to splurge.
At the end of the day, no matter who was scoring, it took a shootout to lose.
You can read about the game yourself, the way I had to:
NHL.com. I dislike the opening sentence. GRRRR. It's hateful because it's true.
If the Pittsburgh Penguins make the playoffs for the first time in six years, no opponent will be more responsible than the Philadelphia Flyers.
I also hate the "The Penguins nearly didn't win" part, because it implies that the Flyers should have won. Which maybe they should have. But ... I didn't listen, I didn't see, and reading isn't quite the same.
Phila Daily News.
"Today and the last game we played against them in Philly was a lot better than the first couple of games that we played," Simon Gagne said.
Well no flaming duh, Gagne. Most of the games you've played lately have been a lot better than the first couple games. (By "first couple of games" I mean the PIT game and the BUF game. The NYR game is the exception; you know, the home opener where they had 13 rounds in the shootout.) But not to sound as though I'm complaining -- I typed that with a smile on my face. I'm freaking-out happy that you're all actually in these games, and no other team can cruise in and think it's gonna be an easy day.
It's bitter that the Flyers managed to hold Crosby to no points during regulation, only to have the infant help win the shootout. And not bitter like that chocolate you can buy that's 70% cocoa (because that's chocolate, and chocolate's good).
Anyway, the Flyers will play next on Tuesday against New Jersey and then with 17 games after that, the season's winding down. And while our season will end at the end of April, the Flyers can be pests with regard to the other teams they face, those that are in Playoff Bubble Land ... be annoying, Flyers. Get points and beat teams that need them.
J. and I bought tickets today to the Flyers/Rangers game on March 31. J.'s accompanying me on the drive out east, when I move, and seeing as I start my new job on April 2, we're pretty confident that we'll be around that weekend. Our tickets have us in section 114, three rows from the ice.
Yesterday's game was not the only hockey of the weekend. I was at the dismal Iowa Stars/San Antonio Rampage game Saturday night. The bobblehead was the only good thing that came out of the affair.
The game was slow to get started because after a pointlessly dramatic entrance by Shooter, the mascot, rappelling from the ceiling with a spotlight on him, the lights would not come back on. We sat in the arena, illuminated only by the banner and its changing advertisements, for perhaps ten minutes waiting for the overhead lights to come back on, and the players were getting anxious and skating idly to keep their legs from freezing.
The game got going, and it was sad. All the players seemed to be skating through molasses, and everyone was sluggish. We were ready to give them the benefit of the doubt, since they did have to wait around and cool off before getting to play, but this dreary, slow play continued throughout the game. One fan shouted, "Get out of the lockerroom and play!!" and I thought it was an astute comment. The Stars were playing as though they were mailing it in from the lockerroom and they had no excuse for it considering they were not scoring, and the Rampage were. Though it was low-scoring through most of the game, and though the Stars had an ungodly number of shots on goal in comparison, only San Antonio were scoring. In 9 shots, the Rampage had 3 goals. By the end of the game, the Rampage had 12 shots, and <5> goals. 12 shots is the fewest the Stars have ever allowed, but come on. In 42 shots, the Stars scored once.
Sad.
Also, my reaction to seeing Shane Endicott was stronger than it was even hearing his name, and there he was, right in front of me.
By the end of the game, I had simmered to ambivalence. He didn't do anything bad; he didn't do much good, either. But then, few of the Stars did. I will give high marks to the newcomer Konstantin Pushkarev, though. The guy looks like he is 14; he's not all that big, and he's got a total babyface, but the boy has wheels and nerve. He fought for the puck and chased it when the rest of the Stars seemed content to glide. He did draw a charging penalty in the second period (though we certainly all enjoyed the big hit), and that probably was the reason for the stick to the face he got later that looked extremely painful -- he looked as though he were going to burst into tears. It was the kind of expression and grimacing that if an opposing player were making, he would be incessantly harassed for being a baby. But this was our guy, he was new, and had proved himself useful with his speed and determination, and he received loads of audience support in spite of the almost-crying. The only goal that was scored was first attributed to him and would have been his first but they gave it to DeMarchi. At any rate, I'm sold on Pushkarev -- a good addition.
Since Peoria won Saturday, and Iowa lost, they are again tied for points. I won't be around for playoff games this season, but that doesn't mean I don't want the Stars to make the playoffs. 19 games left for the Stars (unless I have miscounted), and I'll be at only one more of them. All but two of the games remaining are divisional matchups -- and the two that are not are in the North division, and because of the number of teams they are doing a crossover thingie that if the fifth place team in the West division has more points than the fourth place team in the North division (do I have that right? I may not) the fifth place West team will cross over and play in the North for the playoffs. So even the games against Manitoba on the 9th and 10th are just as important, four-point-type games. Stars are on the road until the 20th.
Let's Go Stars!
Not only did we buy Flyers tickets today, but we got tickets to the Iowa Stars game on the 24th, vs. Milwaukee. They are ice-row. We've never sat ice-row at Stars games because those tickets cost $50 face-value (and with fees, end up being like $65). This time, given that it will be my last Iowa Stars game this season (and who knows when I will get to see them again), we decided to splurge.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
I am sorry for my tardiness re: posting about the Flyers game that happened Thursday night, but the past two nights have been heady with celebration. I did listen to part of it, and what I heard was pretty exciting. The Flyguys were down 2-1 (their lone goal courtesy of Joni) and the second period was just about to get going. R.J. scored to bring the game to a tie at 2, and then Mike Richards scored shorthanded to take the lead. Of course, they blew it very quickly, as Zdeno Chara scored for Boston to make it 3-3.
That is when I left the game, as I had some chit-chatting to do on the telephone. For once, and I am sorry, but the Flyers took second place (I usually say "too bad, can't talk, it's the Flyers." But, well, special circumstances.)
When I returned late in the evening to look at the score, I was thrilled to see the Flyers actually won a game in overtime, and "WOOHOOO"ed out loud.
The overtime winner was scored by Scottie Upshall, with a reported 9.9 seconds left in the OT (he is #9, so there is lots of good-natured coincidence-observing going on), and is totally one of the most beautiful things ever, sweetened by the fact that the guy obtained by trading Peter Forsberg won the game using Forsberg's Olympic-winning move.
The Flyers had 55 shots on goal. Seeing as they scored only 4, it would appear that Tim Thomas for Boston was a wizard. Boston had 37, and from what I've read, the first period was the only disaster-point for the Flyers, where defensive breakdowns led to goals that Biron, in his first start in the orange and black (though his pads were still blue, yellow, and white), couldn't do anything about. After that, he was solid. While I was listening, I was excited to have him in the game. He made some fantastic saves, and then, several times, I heard the words "glove save" and thought how often, unfortunately, Niitty is beat on the glove side these days, and knew that the score was the way it was because of Biron.
I hope it's more than a breath of fresh air, which was all that Leighton was. I hope the studliness in goal lasts.
I hope that the guys continue to get more comfortable with their new teammates; I hope they continue to solidify their positions and roles and continue to play strong. Even disregarding the fact that there are several guys playing who did not, earlier in the season (and some are gone who were here), we are absolutely seeing a Flyers team vastly different (in many, many superior ways) to what we were subjected to. It's so wonderful to think about what might happen in the offseason to make next season something to talk about with positive, upbeat words, rather than the superlatively poor adjectives we've had to use this year.
I did check the AHL score after gloating about the Flyers, and saw that the Iowa Stars had not beaten Peoria, losing by 2 goals in a 3-1 decision. Well, I had a hard time getting too down about it, seeing as I had been offered a job and learned of a Flyers victory in one day, plus the Stars were still two points up on Peoria. Though Peoria have played a handful fewer games than the Stars, I think it's going to be OK. (Optimism!)
Tonight the Stars play San Antonio and I'm going to be there, with J. and my dad, right behind the good guys' bench. It's Krys Barch bobblehead night, and we're going to stop to get our free fries (coupons obtained at the last game we went to). The weather has been vile this week but today is at last BRIGHT and SUNNY. I think it will be OK driving to Des Moines. I was getting worried. Now that I will be moving to Delaware within the month, my Iowa Stars opportunities are limited. Besides this game, there is only one other weekend that they play at home -- the 24th. We're going to try to get ice-row seats for that.
Flyers play tomorrow, so all I will say for this morning is
GO IOWA STARS WOOO!
(Well, the Phantoms play tonight too, and though I don't pay as close attention to them as I would like, those times will be a-changing next season, and WOO GOO PHANTOMS. They beat Binghamton 4-2 last night, hope they do the same to Hartford tonight!)
That is when I left the game, as I had some chit-chatting to do on the telephone. For once, and I am sorry, but the Flyers took second place (I usually say "too bad, can't talk, it's the Flyers." But, well, special circumstances.)
When I returned late in the evening to look at the score, I was thrilled to see the Flyers actually won a game in overtime, and "WOOHOOO"ed out loud.
The overtime winner was scored by Scottie Upshall, with a reported 9.9 seconds left in the OT (he is #9, so there is lots of good-natured coincidence-observing going on), and is totally one of the most beautiful things ever, sweetened by the fact that the guy obtained by trading Peter Forsberg won the game using Forsberg's Olympic-winning move.
The Flyers had 55 shots on goal. Seeing as they scored only 4, it would appear that Tim Thomas for Boston was a wizard. Boston had 37, and from what I've read, the first period was the only disaster-point for the Flyers, where defensive breakdowns led to goals that Biron, in his first start in the orange and black (though his pads were still blue, yellow, and white), couldn't do anything about. After that, he was solid. While I was listening, I was excited to have him in the game. He made some fantastic saves, and then, several times, I heard the words "glove save" and thought how often, unfortunately, Niitty is beat on the glove side these days, and knew that the score was the way it was because of Biron.
I hope it's more than a breath of fresh air, which was all that Leighton was. I hope the studliness in goal lasts.
I hope that the guys continue to get more comfortable with their new teammates; I hope they continue to solidify their positions and roles and continue to play strong. Even disregarding the fact that there are several guys playing who did not, earlier in the season (and some are gone who were here), we are absolutely seeing a Flyers team vastly different (in many, many superior ways) to what we were subjected to. It's so wonderful to think about what might happen in the offseason to make next season something to talk about with positive, upbeat words, rather than the superlatively poor adjectives we've had to use this year.
I did check the AHL score after gloating about the Flyers, and saw that the Iowa Stars had not beaten Peoria, losing by 2 goals in a 3-1 decision. Well, I had a hard time getting too down about it, seeing as I had been offered a job and learned of a Flyers victory in one day, plus the Stars were still two points up on Peoria. Though Peoria have played a handful fewer games than the Stars, I think it's going to be OK. (Optimism!)
Tonight the Stars play San Antonio and I'm going to be there, with J. and my dad, right behind the good guys' bench. It's Krys Barch bobblehead night, and we're going to stop to get our free fries (coupons obtained at the last game we went to). The weather has been vile this week but today is at last BRIGHT and SUNNY. I think it will be OK driving to Des Moines. I was getting worried. Now that I will be moving to Delaware within the month, my Iowa Stars opportunities are limited. Besides this game, there is only one other weekend that they play at home -- the 24th. We're going to try to get ice-row seats for that.
Flyers play tomorrow, so all I will say for this morning is
GO IOWA STARS WOOO!
(Well, the Phantoms play tonight too, and though I don't pay as close attention to them as I would like, those times will be a-changing next season, and WOO GOO PHANTOMS. They beat Binghamton 4-2 last night, hope they do the same to Hartford tonight!)
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Oh, and I'm mistaken about the next Iowa Stars game. Though my schedule here at work says it's Friday, it's actually tonight.
GO STARS!
GO STARS!
Well, Flyers play tonight vs. the Bruins. Marty Biron is scheduled to start in the net, with Niitty backing him up; Esche won't dress. Now we'll have all the new guys out and we will get a preview of what the Flyers can really do (though there are still a few pieces left to pick up over the summer).
I don't know if I will listen to the game tonight. I may be involved in Celebration #1, because I GOT THE JOB IN WILMINGTON.
I start April 2. That will get me out in the Philly area in time to go to at least one more Flyers game this season.
I don't know if I will listen to the game tonight. I may be involved in Celebration #1, because I GOT THE JOB IN WILMINGTON.
I start April 2. That will get me out in the Philly area in time to go to at least one more Flyers game this season.
