New York Rangers: 24-22-6, 54 points
Philadelphia Flyers: 28-16-5, 61 points
Steve Valiquette v. Antero Niittymaki
After a 3-2 overtime win against the Kings on Tuesday, the Flyers return to action tonight against the rival Rangers. Since a January 10th meeting at Madison Cube Garden in which the Flyers sent many Rangers fans home early with a 6-2 win, the Flyers are 6-1-1 and have risen to the top of the division. The Rangers have been 4-3-1 since that game, and are fighitng hard to get out of the bottom of the Atlantic.
Despite two straight wins from Martin Biron, Antero Niittymaki will get the start tonight. Biron had a good game on Tuesday despite not being tested very much, and he will get Saturday's start against Anaheim. Considering how well he played down the stretch in the first half, getting Niittymaki some work might not be a bad idea, especially considering he stopped 39 of 41 shots against the Rangers in that 6-2 win earlier this month.
The Flyers catch a huge break tonight. Steve Valiquette will be in net for the Rangers. Although it seems like Lundqvist never plays his best hockey against the Flyers, it's never bad to get some shots at the opponent's backup. There's a reason why Lundvqist plays so much, and the Flyers should look to take advantage of the lineup change and put on lots of pressure with lots of shots.
Before the 6-2 win in New York, the Flyers were 0-1-1 in meeting with the Rangers this year. Lundvist shut them out in the first meeting, and the Rangers emerged victorious in a shootout in the second.
Cue Bill Meltzer with the scratches:
Lasse Kukkonen
Joffrey Lupul
Rory Fitzpatrick
After only playing 8 minutes and change against the Kings, Steve Downie is likely to return to the line featuring Scott Hartnell and Mike Richards. Downie committed a couple of giveaways that could've hurt the Flyers, so he had his ice time reduced in the third in favor of Sami Kapanen. He probably wasn't the only player that struggled in returning from the weekend off. At times, the Flyers seemed rusty, and they won't be able to get away with mistakes against the superior Rangers.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Phillies Announce Retro Signing Promotion
The Phillies are wearing throwback alternate uniforms on afternoon home games, so what better way to do it than make retro acquisitions?
Yesterday, they did just that. Todd Zolecki of the Inky tells us the Phillies have reached a contract agreement with David Bell. Having him just one time wasn't enough. He deserved a second go around, despite the HGH allegations.
Okay, I'm being a bit unfair to Pedro Feliz, but I'm torn on this signing. Let's talk about the positives first. He's a great defensive player. Great might even be shortchanging him. He's one of the best in the league at the hot corner. Ever since Rolen got traded, defense at third base has been a problem. David Bell was okay for a little bit, but he got banged up and became a liability in the field. Helms has no range and a bad arm, and Dobbs doesn't have much experience at the position.
Abraham Nunez played a nice role last season. He did a good job coming in late in games and saving some runs in close games. The problem with Nunez is he couldn't hit at all. He has a career .627 OPS, and a number that was much lower than that with the Phillies. That's about .100 points below the league average. It's nice to have a bench player that plays good defense all around the infield, but his offense was so bad that he just doesn't have a spot in the majors.
Platoons could work out, and at the plate, Dobbs/Helms probably could've. However, with those two, the Phillies needed a guy to come out in the 7th, 8th innings to play defense for them because they're so bad. Eric Bruntlett might be able to do that, but at some point, it becomes ideal to have a guy that can hit and field.
Is Feliz that guy? He can definitely field, but there's a lot of questions about whether or not he can hit. Feliz has been a full-time starter for the past four seasons, and he has 84 home runs in that span. Keep in mind, this is in San Francisco, which has one of the most favorable parks for pitchers in the league. He might hit 25 or more in the friendly confines of Citizen's Bank Park, but hitting is more than home runs.
In 2004, his first full year as a starter, he slugged .485. That's good, but after that, he slugged .422, .428 and .418. That's okay. Last season, Phillies 7 hole hitters slugged .469. The bottom of the lineup was a strength last year, which is one of the reasons they led the NL in runs.
Feliz' offensive game has two problems; he doesn't make strong contact very often (career .252 hitter) and he doesn't walk (career OBP .288). That's awful. He makes an out over 71% of the time he steps to the plate. His OPS+ has been 100 or better only twice, and he was a part time player in one of those years. One other alarming things about Feliz? He only hit .257/.298/.368 against lefties last year. It's not good when a righty with the power he's supposed to have only slugs .368 against lefties.
Some of those Feliz numbers look bad, but consider this: Phillies 3B hit .255/.321/.368. Those are awful numbers that don't stack up against the rest of the NL. He should be able to do better than that, and his defense is definitely an upgrade over what the Phillies already have.
What does this mean for the rest of the team? It means Dobbs or Helms, most likely Helms, will be traded at some point. The entire bench can't be composed of guys who play 3B. Fortunately for all of them, they can all play other positions. Dobbs can play 1st and a little 2nd and corner OF. Helms can play 1B. Feliz has played just about everything in his career. Dobbs could still be a good supersub type to have on the bench, so he'll probably stay. Eric Bruntlett probably will too because he can play a lot of different positions.
The contract is kind of iffy. 4 million per isn't bad for an average player, but 2 years isn't good. Last year, Feliz was a free agent and he could only re-up with the Giants for one year. He didn't have a great 2007, so how did he parlay that into a two year contract? Hopefully over those next two years, someone like Cardenas, Donald or Mattair can develop their games and take over that spot so the hot corner can be secure like it should've been when we had Rolen.
Yesterday, they did just that. Todd Zolecki of the Inky tells us the Phillies have reached a contract agreement with David Bell. Having him just one time wasn't enough. He deserved a second go around, despite the HGH allegations.
Okay, I'm being a bit unfair to Pedro Feliz, but I'm torn on this signing. Let's talk about the positives first. He's a great defensive player. Great might even be shortchanging him. He's one of the best in the league at the hot corner. Ever since Rolen got traded, defense at third base has been a problem. David Bell was okay for a little bit, but he got banged up and became a liability in the field. Helms has no range and a bad arm, and Dobbs doesn't have much experience at the position.
Abraham Nunez played a nice role last season. He did a good job coming in late in games and saving some runs in close games. The problem with Nunez is he couldn't hit at all. He has a career .627 OPS, and a number that was much lower than that with the Phillies. That's about .100 points below the league average. It's nice to have a bench player that plays good defense all around the infield, but his offense was so bad that he just doesn't have a spot in the majors.
Platoons could work out, and at the plate, Dobbs/Helms probably could've. However, with those two, the Phillies needed a guy to come out in the 7th, 8th innings to play defense for them because they're so bad. Eric Bruntlett might be able to do that, but at some point, it becomes ideal to have a guy that can hit and field.
Is Feliz that guy? He can definitely field, but there's a lot of questions about whether or not he can hit. Feliz has been a full-time starter for the past four seasons, and he has 84 home runs in that span. Keep in mind, this is in San Francisco, which has one of the most favorable parks for pitchers in the league. He might hit 25 or more in the friendly confines of Citizen's Bank Park, but hitting is more than home runs.
In 2004, his first full year as a starter, he slugged .485. That's good, but after that, he slugged .422, .428 and .418. That's okay. Last season, Phillies 7 hole hitters slugged .469. The bottom of the lineup was a strength last year, which is one of the reasons they led the NL in runs.
Feliz' offensive game has two problems; he doesn't make strong contact very often (career .252 hitter) and he doesn't walk (career OBP .288). That's awful. He makes an out over 71% of the time he steps to the plate. His OPS+ has been 100 or better only twice, and he was a part time player in one of those years. One other alarming things about Feliz? He only hit .257/.298/.368 against lefties last year. It's not good when a righty with the power he's supposed to have only slugs .368 against lefties.
Some of those Feliz numbers look bad, but consider this: Phillies 3B hit .255/.321/.368. Those are awful numbers that don't stack up against the rest of the NL. He should be able to do better than that, and his defense is definitely an upgrade over what the Phillies already have.
What does this mean for the rest of the team? It means Dobbs or Helms, most likely Helms, will be traded at some point. The entire bench can't be composed of guys who play 3B. Fortunately for all of them, they can all play other positions. Dobbs can play 1st and a little 2nd and corner OF. Helms can play 1B. Feliz has played just about everything in his career. Dobbs could still be a good supersub type to have on the bench, so he'll probably stay. Eric Bruntlett probably will too because he can play a lot of different positions.
The contract is kind of iffy. 4 million per isn't bad for an average player, but 2 years isn't good. Last year, Feliz was a free agent and he could only re-up with the Giants for one year. He didn't have a great 2007, so how did he parlay that into a two year contract? Hopefully over those next two years, someone like Cardenas, Donald or Mattair can develop their games and take over that spot so the hot corner can be secure like it should've been when we had Rolen.
The Twins Are Down And Can't Get Up
Twins deal Johan Santana to the Mets for four prospects. Thank you USA Today.
As I've alluded to in the heading on this blog, I don't see what the Twins are thinking. Obviously, I'm not in baseball, and I don't know all the details of this offseason's negotiations, but I find it hard to believe this was the best deal the Twins had on the table.
If it's true that the Yankees were offering a package involving Phil Hughes or if the Red Sox were offering a package of blue chip prospects, the Twins might regret not taking one of those deals. Although they got the Mets' 2, 3, 4 and 7th ranked prospects according to Baseball America, The Mets' farm system isn't that strong. As a whole, they don't have much high ceiling talent. With the trade the Twins accepted, I don't think they got any.
Fernando Martinez is the Mets' best prospect. He has a lot of tools and he's really being challenged in leagues he probably shouldn't be in yet. Is he a sure thing? No, but he has the highest ceiling of anyone in the Mets organization. Carlos Gomez is essentially the same player but probably won't be as good, so I think the Twins could've at least held out for him. The trade would've been a little better.
As for the guys the Twins did get? Carlos Gomez is a pretty good prospect. He spent quite a bit of time in the majors last year and shouldn't be considered a prospect, but let's keep calling him that for kicks. Although he was in the majors, it wasn't necessarily good; he hit .232/.288/.304 in 125 AB. He wasn't impressive at the plate, but he's a toolsy player. He's a great athlete that's going to steal a lot of bases and play great defense. I think he'll be the Twins' Opening Day Centerfielder, and along with Delmon Young and Michael Cuddyer, he could help form a formidable outfield in the AL.
Deolis Guerra might have the highest upside in the deal, but it's just that, upside. He was an 18 year old and he played all season in High A St. Lucie, which is very impressive. He's still pretty raw and needs to do a lot of developing before he can make a difference. He did take one big step this year, and that was improve his command. In his first full pro season split between Low and High A in 2006, he walked far too many batters. In 2007, he got his BB/9 under 3. He could still stand to improve his strikeout numbers though.
Kevin Mulvey is the 4th best prospect in the Mets' system. The former Villanova Wildcat was a second round pick of the Mets in 2006, and he could be ready to contribute to the Twins soon. He's only had a little more than one season of pro ball, but he's put up pretty impressive numbers. He has a 3.02 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP in 30 starts, ranging from AA Binghamton to AAA New Orleans. He's been on the fast track through the system so far, but questions about his stuff mean he might not be any more than a 3/4 starter.
Finally, Philip Humber. He was the 3rd overall pick in 2004 and part of Rice's famous big three. Who would've thought that none of those guys would succeed? The Mets certainly didn't; they were probably expecting more than 9 ML innings out of a top 3 pick who will be 25 on Opening Day. He used to have a lot of promise, but after his 2007, it looks like he might never reach it.
As for the Mets, they have a 72 hour window to negotiate an extension with Santana. They have a good roster and they have the cash to get it done, so I don't expect that to be a problem. Santana had a down year in 2007, for his standards anyway. His 15-13 record with a 3.33 ERA and 1.07 WHIP is obviously nothing to sneeze that, but consider this. Since he became a full time starter in in 2004, he had his fewest amount of wins, most amount of losses, fewest IP, highest H/9, highest BB/9, lowest K/9, highest ERA and highest WHIP in 2007. His numbers were still better than just about every pitcher in baseball though.
Going to Shea Stadium will help him out a lot. It's a pitchers' park and since he's in the NL, on most nights, he won't be facing offenses as explosive as some of the ones he saw in the AL. He's only going to be 29 for the 2008 season, so he shouldn't be out of his prime yet. To put it simply, no matter what number I can give you, the Mets got an awesome pitcher who's going to make a huge difference.
What does this mean for the Phillies? It just lets everyone know it's going to be a close race again. Some Phillies fans could've used this to bring them back down to earth anyway. The Phillies are a good team. The Mets are a good team. Hell, you can't count the Braves out either. The Mets made a great move today without hurting their current ML roster. Could this burn them in the future? Maybe, but I think it's more likely that Santana gives the Mets several great years than any of the guys the Twins got becoming stars.
EDIT: One thing I forgot to mention. I hope this deal wasn't made to keep Santana out of the AL. I don't think trading him to a team that you don't play often just so he "doesn't come back to bite you" is the right way to run a franchise. Yeah, it'll suck if he pitches some good games against you and helps the Sox or Yankees win a championship, but I think the Twins should've taken the best deal, whether it was the Yankees, Tigers or Yomiuri Giants.
As I've alluded to in the heading on this blog, I don't see what the Twins are thinking. Obviously, I'm not in baseball, and I don't know all the details of this offseason's negotiations, but I find it hard to believe this was the best deal the Twins had on the table.
If it's true that the Yankees were offering a package involving Phil Hughes or if the Red Sox were offering a package of blue chip prospects, the Twins might regret not taking one of those deals. Although they got the Mets' 2, 3, 4 and 7th ranked prospects according to Baseball America, The Mets' farm system isn't that strong. As a whole, they don't have much high ceiling talent. With the trade the Twins accepted, I don't think they got any.
Fernando Martinez is the Mets' best prospect. He has a lot of tools and he's really being challenged in leagues he probably shouldn't be in yet. Is he a sure thing? No, but he has the highest ceiling of anyone in the Mets organization. Carlos Gomez is essentially the same player but probably won't be as good, so I think the Twins could've at least held out for him. The trade would've been a little better.
As for the guys the Twins did get? Carlos Gomez is a pretty good prospect. He spent quite a bit of time in the majors last year and shouldn't be considered a prospect, but let's keep calling him that for kicks. Although he was in the majors, it wasn't necessarily good; he hit .232/.288/.304 in 125 AB. He wasn't impressive at the plate, but he's a toolsy player. He's a great athlete that's going to steal a lot of bases and play great defense. I think he'll be the Twins' Opening Day Centerfielder, and along with Delmon Young and Michael Cuddyer, he could help form a formidable outfield in the AL.
Deolis Guerra might have the highest upside in the deal, but it's just that, upside. He was an 18 year old and he played all season in High A St. Lucie, which is very impressive. He's still pretty raw and needs to do a lot of developing before he can make a difference. He did take one big step this year, and that was improve his command. In his first full pro season split between Low and High A in 2006, he walked far too many batters. In 2007, he got his BB/9 under 3. He could still stand to improve his strikeout numbers though.
Kevin Mulvey is the 4th best prospect in the Mets' system. The former Villanova Wildcat was a second round pick of the Mets in 2006, and he could be ready to contribute to the Twins soon. He's only had a little more than one season of pro ball, but he's put up pretty impressive numbers. He has a 3.02 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP in 30 starts, ranging from AA Binghamton to AAA New Orleans. He's been on the fast track through the system so far, but questions about his stuff mean he might not be any more than a 3/4 starter.
Finally, Philip Humber. He was the 3rd overall pick in 2004 and part of Rice's famous big three. Who would've thought that none of those guys would succeed? The Mets certainly didn't; they were probably expecting more than 9 ML innings out of a top 3 pick who will be 25 on Opening Day. He used to have a lot of promise, but after his 2007, it looks like he might never reach it.
As for the Mets, they have a 72 hour window to negotiate an extension with Santana. They have a good roster and they have the cash to get it done, so I don't expect that to be a problem. Santana had a down year in 2007, for his standards anyway. His 15-13 record with a 3.33 ERA and 1.07 WHIP is obviously nothing to sneeze that, but consider this. Since he became a full time starter in in 2004, he had his fewest amount of wins, most amount of losses, fewest IP, highest H/9, highest BB/9, lowest K/9, highest ERA and highest WHIP in 2007. His numbers were still better than just about every pitcher in baseball though.
Going to Shea Stadium will help him out a lot. It's a pitchers' park and since he's in the NL, on most nights, he won't be facing offenses as explosive as some of the ones he saw in the AL. He's only going to be 29 for the 2008 season, so he shouldn't be out of his prime yet. To put it simply, no matter what number I can give you, the Mets got an awesome pitcher who's going to make a huge difference.
What does this mean for the Phillies? It just lets everyone know it's going to be a close race again. Some Phillies fans could've used this to bring them back down to earth anyway. The Phillies are a good team. The Mets are a good team. Hell, you can't count the Braves out either. The Mets made a great move today without hurting their current ML roster. Could this burn them in the future? Maybe, but I think it's more likely that Santana gives the Mets several great years than any of the guys the Twins got becoming stars.
EDIT: One thing I forgot to mention. I hope this deal wasn't made to keep Santana out of the AL. I don't think trading him to a team that you don't play often just so he "doesn't come back to bite you" is the right way to run a franchise. Yeah, it'll suck if he pitches some good games against you and helps the Sox or Yankees win a championship, but I think the Twins should've taken the best deal, whether it was the Yankees, Tigers or Yomiuri Giants.
One Liners
This really shouldn't count as a post, but every week, I'm going to change the one liner underneath the blog title. This post will serve as an archive.
7/1/08-9/2/08: Where Randy Jones has broken Lou Gehrig's 25200 day streak of being the luckiest man on the face of the earth.
6/16/08-7/1/08: Where the Phillies will finally find the key to someone's toolshed.
5/24/08-6/16/08: Where Jon Lester's no hitter is the biggest victory in the fight against cancer since Steve Downie socked Jason Blake.
5/4/08-5/20/08: Where it's okay if Carey Price "gets this out of his system" when he's 20, 21, 22, 23...
4/24/08-5/4/08: Where Alexander Ovechkin is so busy wildly celebrating he has not yet realized the Flyers won.
4/06/08-4/24/08: Where Wes Helms is the player to be named later.
3/31/08-4/06/08: Flash! A-ah... he'll save everyone of us!
3/18/08-3/31/08: Where John Stevens changed my password to fire me up.
3/11/08-3/18/08: Where Martin Brodeur has retired and the Devils didn't make the playoffs.
2/22/08-3/11/08: Where the Flyers have won a shootout.
2/14/08-2/22/08: Where Adam Eaton's contract isn't guaranteed.
2/12/08-2/14/08: Where pitchers and catchers have already reported.
2/4/08-2/12/08: Where 19-0 is attainable.
1/29/08-2/4/08: Where I'm the centerpiece of the Johan Santana deal.
1/21/08-1/29/08: Where Colin Campbell has suspended me for five entries.
7/1/08-9/2/08: Where Randy Jones has broken Lou Gehrig's 25200 day streak of being the luckiest man on the face of the earth.
6/16/08-7/1/08: Where the Phillies will finally find the key to someone's toolshed.
5/24/08-6/16/08: Where Jon Lester's no hitter is the biggest victory in the fight against cancer since Steve Downie socked Jason Blake.
5/4/08-5/20/08: Where it's okay if Carey Price "gets this out of his system" when he's 20, 21, 22, 23...
4/24/08-5/4/08: Where Alexander Ovechkin is so busy wildly celebrating he has not yet realized the Flyers won.
4/06/08-4/24/08: Where Wes Helms is the player to be named later.
3/31/08-4/06/08: Flash! A-ah... he'll save everyone of us!
3/18/08-3/31/08: Where John Stevens changed my password to fire me up.
3/11/08-3/18/08: Where Martin Brodeur has retired and the Devils didn't make the playoffs.
2/22/08-3/11/08: Where the Flyers have won a shootout.
2/14/08-2/22/08: Where Adam Eaton's contract isn't guaranteed.
2/12/08-2/14/08: Where pitchers and catchers have already reported.
2/4/08-2/12/08: Where 19-0 is attainable.
1/29/08-2/4/08: Where I'm the centerpiece of the Johan Santana deal.
1/21/08-1/29/08: Where Colin Campbell has suspended me for five entries.
Game 49: Kings at Flyers and Georges Laraque
Los Angeles Kings: 20-29-2, 42 points
Philadelphia Flyers: 27-16-5, 59 points
Jason Labarbera v. Martin Biron
The Kings and Flyers will kick off their second half schedule tonight in this 7 PM meeting at the Wachovia Center. This game is in the midst of a six game home stand for the Flyers and will kick off an 8 game road trip for the Kings. It's important for both teams to start off the second half with a win to get momentum. The Flyers were red hot to close out the first half, and they want to try and keep that up and gain some ground on the Atlantic. The Kings are in the cellar right now, and a few road wins can help them gain confidence and turn the season around.
After allowing 3 goals on 24 shots against Pittsburgh, Martin Biron will make his second straight start. It wasn't a great game at all, but after Niittymaki's showing against New Jersey, it's good that Biron's getting a chance to show what he can do again. These two goalies are close. John Stevens needs to continue to play the hot hand.
Do not sleep on the Kings. They may have the worst record in the league, but one of their strengths is their power play: ranked 5th in the league. As the Flyers have shown as of late, the penalty kill is a weakness. They need to stay focused, stay out of the box and don't let the Kings' PP hurt you.
The Flyers are 6-1-1 against the Kings in their last 8 meetings. They haven't traveled to Philadelphia since 2003, thanks to the unbalanced schedule Gary Bettman introduced. The last time these two teams met, the Flyers won 4-3 in Los Angeles in 2006.
Bill Meltzer has tonight's scratches:
Lasse Kukkonen
Jesse Boulerice
Joffrey Lupul
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Georges Laraque will not be suspended for his hit on Steve Downie on Thursday. On the play, he received a five minute major and a game misconduct. Downie returned to play in the third period.
I really have to question what the NHL is doing. They want to send a message about hits from behind. This was a hit from behind. Where's the suspension?
If you're going to suspend Randy Jones, you have to suspend Georges Laraque. If you're going to suspend Scott Hartnell, you have to suspend Georges Laraque. If you're going to suspend Ilya Kovalchuk, you have to suspend Georges Laraque. Colin Campbell, can we please get some consistency here? I subscribe to the opinion that Jones' hit wasn't too bad, and if they absolutely had to suspend him, 2 games was okay. Laraque's hit was of the same nature, even though it might've been closer to Hartnell's. Downie's head got slammed into the boards. It was a hit from behind, he charged him, he boarded him, he elbowed him, how much more did he have to do?
One of the NHL's criteria for awarding suspensions is past incidents. I don't know if Laraque has been suspended before, and a quick search yielded no results, but he definitely has a reputation of being a tough guy and a big fighter. Downie's suspension might've been as big as it was because Campbell held some things he did in juniors against them. I don't know if this was the case, but if pre-NHL incidents count in this system, why doesn't being a hard hitting, aggressive checker?
Was it because Downie came back to play in the 3rd period? It always appears that the NHL adjusts suspensions based on injury received. If that is truly the case, it's unfortunate. A hit from behind is a hit from behind. Whether you're Steve Downie who can come back and play or Patrice Bergeron who will likely miss the rest of the season, it's the same thing. It was an illegal hit. Laraque should've been suspended for 1 or 2 games.
Is there an anti-Flyers bias in the league offices? Does Colin Campbell not like Steve Downie? I can't answer these questions. However, their record on suspensions this year may give you the answer you're looking for.
Philadelphia Flyers: 27-16-5, 59 points
Jason Labarbera v. Martin Biron
The Kings and Flyers will kick off their second half schedule tonight in this 7 PM meeting at the Wachovia Center. This game is in the midst of a six game home stand for the Flyers and will kick off an 8 game road trip for the Kings. It's important for both teams to start off the second half with a win to get momentum. The Flyers were red hot to close out the first half, and they want to try and keep that up and gain some ground on the Atlantic. The Kings are in the cellar right now, and a few road wins can help them gain confidence and turn the season around.
After allowing 3 goals on 24 shots against Pittsburgh, Martin Biron will make his second straight start. It wasn't a great game at all, but after Niittymaki's showing against New Jersey, it's good that Biron's getting a chance to show what he can do again. These two goalies are close. John Stevens needs to continue to play the hot hand.
Do not sleep on the Kings. They may have the worst record in the league, but one of their strengths is their power play: ranked 5th in the league. As the Flyers have shown as of late, the penalty kill is a weakness. They need to stay focused, stay out of the box and don't let the Kings' PP hurt you.
The Flyers are 6-1-1 against the Kings in their last 8 meetings. They haven't traveled to Philadelphia since 2003, thanks to the unbalanced schedule Gary Bettman introduced. The last time these two teams met, the Flyers won 4-3 in Los Angeles in 2006.
Bill Meltzer has tonight's scratches:
Lasse Kukkonen
Jesse Boulerice
Joffrey Lupul
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Georges Laraque will not be suspended for his hit on Steve Downie on Thursday. On the play, he received a five minute major and a game misconduct. Downie returned to play in the third period.
I really have to question what the NHL is doing. They want to send a message about hits from behind. This was a hit from behind. Where's the suspension?
If you're going to suspend Randy Jones, you have to suspend Georges Laraque. If you're going to suspend Scott Hartnell, you have to suspend Georges Laraque. If you're going to suspend Ilya Kovalchuk, you have to suspend Georges Laraque. Colin Campbell, can we please get some consistency here? I subscribe to the opinion that Jones' hit wasn't too bad, and if they absolutely had to suspend him, 2 games was okay. Laraque's hit was of the same nature, even though it might've been closer to Hartnell's. Downie's head got slammed into the boards. It was a hit from behind, he charged him, he boarded him, he elbowed him, how much more did he have to do?
One of the NHL's criteria for awarding suspensions is past incidents. I don't know if Laraque has been suspended before, and a quick search yielded no results, but he definitely has a reputation of being a tough guy and a big fighter. Downie's suspension might've been as big as it was because Campbell held some things he did in juniors against them. I don't know if this was the case, but if pre-NHL incidents count in this system, why doesn't being a hard hitting, aggressive checker?
Was it because Downie came back to play in the 3rd period? It always appears that the NHL adjusts suspensions based on injury received. If that is truly the case, it's unfortunate. A hit from behind is a hit from behind. Whether you're Steve Downie who can come back and play or Patrice Bergeron who will likely miss the rest of the season, it's the same thing. It was an illegal hit. Laraque should've been suspended for 1 or 2 games.
Is there an anti-Flyers bias in the league offices? Does Colin Campbell not like Steve Downie? I can't answer these questions. However, their record on suspensions this year may give you the answer you're looking for.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Broad Street Blog Presidential Candidate Endorsement
Although the Pennsylvania primary is still months away, the primary election is about to reach its most critical day: Super Tuesday. Although PA voters will not go to the polls on February 5th, I feel like I'm being forced to play my hand. All of the big guns are coming out: John Kerry for Obama; Liz Cheney for Romney; Ed Rendell for Clinton. If they're going to influence the election, it's time for me to throw my hat in the ring. So all blog readers, when it is your time to go to the polls this primary season, I urge you to vote for Barack Obama.
I agree with his stance on many issues, and I feel that he is the right man for President of the United States.
I agree with his stance on many issues, and I feel that he is the right man for President of the United States.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Eklund Gives Me Something To Talk About
Updating us on the status of Forsberg:
"Forsberg: "Really feeling well and looking full of life," I was told this morning in an email from Sweden. And I am also hearing that Philly is 80% his destination. Foppa felt like Philly treated him very well, there is unfinished buisiness, and he also made some strong relationships in the area. It should also be noted that Scott Hartnell and Forsberg were very close during his time in Nashville."
This is something I've assumed would happen all along. If he's feeling good, he's going to come back to Philadelphia to redeem himself for his two oft-injured seasons here. He likes the team, he likes the players, it just makes a lot of sense.
"Forsberg: "Really feeling well and looking full of life," I was told this morning in an email from Sweden. And I am also hearing that Philly is 80% his destination. Foppa felt like Philly treated him very well, there is unfinished buisiness, and he also made some strong relationships in the area. It should also be noted that Scott Hartnell and Forsberg were very close during his time in Nashville."
This is something I've assumed would happen all along. If he's feeling good, he's going to come back to Philadelphia to redeem himself for his two oft-injured seasons here. He likes the team, he likes the players, it just makes a lot of sense.
Friday, January 25, 2008
This Blogging All Star's All-Star Break Break
With every Flyer except for Richards and Timonen taking the weekend off, I'll try to cover a little basketball. Tonight, the Sixers play the Knicks in the teams' third meeting this season. The Sixers won the first two games with relative ease, and produced their first winning streak of the season in that home and home series. That was when the Knicks were playing some of their worst basketball of the season. Now, they're playing well and have really gained some ground on the Sixers, only two games behind.
On the other hand, the Sixers are playing some of their worst basketball of the season. They're 2-10 since the Kyle Korver trade, which is no coincidence. Although he was just a role player and there are questions about his defense, he's a great shooter and guys like him are valuable here, Utah, or wherever they might be. He wasn't as effective as he could be with a legitimate low post threat, but he was still a weapon offensively even in a down year like this one.
Consider this: Even counting Korver's contributions while he was here, the Sixers are dead last in 3-point percentage and 3-pointers made. They're shooting 32% from behind the line; Korver's shooting 35%, which is a serious down year for him. The Sixers are also 28th out of 30 in free throw percentage, at 71%. Korver's a 92% free throw shooter this year.
I'm not complaining about the trade. Korver's a role player making 4.5 million dollars. Ed Stefanski needed to make cap room so he can go out and get a great player and turn this franchise around. He was a great guy and a popular player, but finding a good shooter is easier than finding a superstar to get the Sixers back to the finals for the first time since 2001.
On the other hand, the Sixers are playing some of their worst basketball of the season. They're 2-10 since the Kyle Korver trade, which is no coincidence. Although he was just a role player and there are questions about his defense, he's a great shooter and guys like him are valuable here, Utah, or wherever they might be. He wasn't as effective as he could be with a legitimate low post threat, but he was still a weapon offensively even in a down year like this one.
Consider this: Even counting Korver's contributions while he was here, the Sixers are dead last in 3-point percentage and 3-pointers made. They're shooting 32% from behind the line; Korver's shooting 35%, which is a serious down year for him. The Sixers are also 28th out of 30 in free throw percentage, at 71%. Korver's a 92% free throw shooter this year.
I'm not complaining about the trade. Korver's a role player making 4.5 million dollars. Ed Stefanski needed to make cap room so he can go out and get a great player and turn this franchise around. He was a great guy and a popular player, but finding a good shooter is easier than finding a superstar to get the Sixers back to the finals for the first time since 2001.
NHL All-Star Break
There's a lot of stuff going on down in Atlanta this weekend, but here are a couple big things.
The skills competition, featuring some new events, along with the Young Stars Game, will air on Versus from 7-9 on Saturday. The revamped skills event will feature an obstacle course relay, a shootout competition, a new breakway competition that is essentially the NHL's answer to basketball's slam dunk competition, along with the classic fastest skater, hardest shot and accuracy shooting events. As far as I can tell, lineups for these events haven't been announced yet, but I'll get them up when I see them.
The Young Stars Game will be 12 minutes of 3 on 3 action. In last year's game, everyone scored a goal except Malkin, who ended up winning the Calder anyway. There aren't any Flyers in the event, but you can view the full rosters here.
The main event is obviously the actual All-Star game, which will be broadcast on Versus starting at 6 on Sunday. Kimmo Timonen and Mike Richards will represent the Flyers. You can view the full East roster here and the full West roster here.
The full schedule of events this weekend can be seen here.
The skills competition, featuring some new events, along with the Young Stars Game, will air on Versus from 7-9 on Saturday. The revamped skills event will feature an obstacle course relay, a shootout competition, a new breakway competition that is essentially the NHL's answer to basketball's slam dunk competition, along with the classic fastest skater, hardest shot and accuracy shooting events. As far as I can tell, lineups for these events haven't been announced yet, but I'll get them up when I see them.
The Young Stars Game will be 12 minutes of 3 on 3 action. In last year's game, everyone scored a goal except Malkin, who ended up winning the Calder anyway. There aren't any Flyers in the event, but you can view the full rosters here.
The main event is obviously the actual All-Star game, which will be broadcast on Versus starting at 6 on Sunday. Kimmo Timonen and Mike Richards will represent the Flyers. You can view the full East roster here and the full West roster here.
The full schedule of events this weekend can be seen here.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
32 Points
32 points are what seperate the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres, a team that just ended a 10 game losing streak. 32 points are what seperated last year's Presidents' Trophy winner and a team on the outside looking in come playoff time. 32 points are what seperate last year's embarrassing Flyers team at the All Star Break and this year's division leaders.
I don't think anyone envisioned this kind of turnaround. The Flyers were definitely a popular pick to make the playoffs, but not many had them pegged to win the division. That honor often times went to the free agent winning Rangers, who are currently bringing up the rear in the Atlantic and the only team in the division not currently in the top 8 playoff positions in the East. Many also picked the Penguins; they have the league's best player and were scorching hot last season until Ottawa ended their magic. They were playing good hockey as of late, but they could struggle without Crosby.
Obviously there's still a lot of season left and a lot of games to win, but the Flyers are in good position. They're tied in points with the Devils after their loss to Montreal tonight and also have a game in hand over New Jersey. They're also 9-6-1 against the division, with five of those losses coming to one team, so they're beating the teams they need to beat, with the one big exception.
Tonight was a big win. You want that momentum going into the break and hope it carries over into the second half. Pittsburgh was also playing for first tonight, and it's good to beat your rival. They showed more heart tonight. They got up early again, but instead of allowing their play to drop off after giving up tying goals, they bounced back. It was a physical game, and there aren't many teams that can win physical games against the Flyers.
I'm not going to comment on the hit until I've seen it, but if it's as bad as I've heard it is, hopefully Laraque gets what he deserves.
I don't think anyone envisioned this kind of turnaround. The Flyers were definitely a popular pick to make the playoffs, but not many had them pegged to win the division. That honor often times went to the free agent winning Rangers, who are currently bringing up the rear in the Atlantic and the only team in the division not currently in the top 8 playoff positions in the East. Many also picked the Penguins; they have the league's best player and were scorching hot last season until Ottawa ended their magic. They were playing good hockey as of late, but they could struggle without Crosby.
Obviously there's still a lot of season left and a lot of games to win, but the Flyers are in good position. They're tied in points with the Devils after their loss to Montreal tonight and also have a game in hand over New Jersey. They're also 9-6-1 against the division, with five of those losses coming to one team, so they're beating the teams they need to beat, with the one big exception.
Tonight was a big win. You want that momentum going into the break and hope it carries over into the second half. Pittsburgh was also playing for first tonight, and it's good to beat your rival. They showed more heart tonight. They got up early again, but instead of allowing their play to drop off after giving up tying goals, they bounced back. It was a physical game, and there aren't many teams that can win physical games against the Flyers.
I'm not going to comment on the hit until I've seen it, but if it's as bad as I've heard it is, hopefully Laraque gets what he deserves.
Game 48: Penguins at Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins: 27-17-4, 58 points
Philadelphia Flyers: 26-16-5, 57 points
Ty Conklin v. Martin Biron
In the Flyers' final game before the All-Star break, they'll try and rebound from a humiliating 7-3 loss against New Jersey on Tuesday. There's a lot at stake here; if Pittsburgh wins and New Jersey loses, they'll take over first in the division. If the Flyers win and New Jersey loses, the division is tied. No matter what happens, the Atlantic Division will remain tight throughout the rest of the season.
Martin Biron will be back between the pipes tonight. He gave up two goals in a period and change on Tuesday, and this will be his first start since Saturday. After Niittymaki struggled against the Devils, it's time to get Biron some more action and see if he can regain his early season form.
It remains to be seen whether or not the Penguins can succeed without their superstar Sidney Crosby. Don't get me wrong; they still have a lot of talent besides him, but you never know how much you'll miss a guy until you actually lose him. They're 1-0-1 since he went out with his ankle injury, and scoring hasn't been their problem.
So far this season, the Flyers have dominated the Penguins in three meetings, putting up a 3-0-0 record in those and outscoring the cross-state rival 16-5. This comes after an 06-07 season which saw Pittsburgh complete a rare season sweep of Philadelphia. The next meeting between these teams will be February 10th.
Bill Meltzer provides us with tonight's scratches:
Lasse Kukkonen
Joffrey Lupul
Jesse Boulerice
Rory Fitzpatrick
Boulerice has been on and off the active roster all year, which is why he is still serving his suspension from an incident in the third game of the year.
Philadelphia Flyers: 26-16-5, 57 points
Ty Conklin v. Martin Biron
In the Flyers' final game before the All-Star break, they'll try and rebound from a humiliating 7-3 loss against New Jersey on Tuesday. There's a lot at stake here; if Pittsburgh wins and New Jersey loses, they'll take over first in the division. If the Flyers win and New Jersey loses, the division is tied. No matter what happens, the Atlantic Division will remain tight throughout the rest of the season.
Martin Biron will be back between the pipes tonight. He gave up two goals in a period and change on Tuesday, and this will be his first start since Saturday. After Niittymaki struggled against the Devils, it's time to get Biron some more action and see if he can regain his early season form.
It remains to be seen whether or not the Penguins can succeed without their superstar Sidney Crosby. Don't get me wrong; they still have a lot of talent besides him, but you never know how much you'll miss a guy until you actually lose him. They're 1-0-1 since he went out with his ankle injury, and scoring hasn't been their problem.
So far this season, the Flyers have dominated the Penguins in three meetings, putting up a 3-0-0 record in those and outscoring the cross-state rival 16-5. This comes after an 06-07 season which saw Pittsburgh complete a rare season sweep of Philadelphia. The next meeting between these teams will be February 10th.
Bill Meltzer provides us with tonight's scratches:
Lasse Kukkonen
Joffrey Lupul
Jesse Boulerice
Rory Fitzpatrick
Boulerice has been on and off the active roster all year, which is why he is still serving his suspension from an incident in the third game of the year.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Some Wednesday Evening Flyers Notes
First, Chuck Gormley on The Sporting News, US style.
Peter Forsberg says his foot is feeling good after a couple days of skating. It's still too early to tell, but if he can continue skating and maybe play for Team Sweden in the LG Games, he could be looking at an NHL return. If he does, my money is on the Flyers landing him. Forsberg has a lot of pride, and I think he feels like he owes the organization something. The Flyers aren't exactly weak on the power play, which is one of Forsberg's greatest strengths, but any time you can add talent, you do it.
Paul Holmgren talks about the deadline and offseason, courtesy of the Courier Post.
A few of the key points from it include:
- Shooting down the ridiculous Carter/first round draft pick for Sundin rumor.
- He will try to re-sign free agents Jeff Carter, R.J. Umberger and Jason Smith.
- The Flyers could be players come the deadline because they have as good of a chance as anyone to win the conference.
I'm sure I'm going to say this many times in the coming months, but there's no reason to trade Carter and a pick for a rental. This team is young and talented. There's a great core of guys here, and there's no reason to break that up for someone like Sundin. It's not worth it.
Some people worry about cap room in regards to signing players like Carter and Umberger, but I'm not concerned about it. Holmgren is confident there will be enough wiggle room to get it done, and there's no reason not to believe him. I think Smith is expendable. He's a great leader and does a great job for standing up for his teammates on the ice, but there's plenty of leadership on this team, and he logs the fewest minutes of any of our defensemen.
Peter Forsberg says his foot is feeling good after a couple days of skating. It's still too early to tell, but if he can continue skating and maybe play for Team Sweden in the LG Games, he could be looking at an NHL return. If he does, my money is on the Flyers landing him. Forsberg has a lot of pride, and I think he feels like he owes the organization something. The Flyers aren't exactly weak on the power play, which is one of Forsberg's greatest strengths, but any time you can add talent, you do it.
Paul Holmgren talks about the deadline and offseason, courtesy of the Courier Post.
A few of the key points from it include:
- Shooting down the ridiculous Carter/first round draft pick for Sundin rumor.
- He will try to re-sign free agents Jeff Carter, R.J. Umberger and Jason Smith.
- The Flyers could be players come the deadline because they have as good of a chance as anyone to win the conference.
I'm sure I'm going to say this many times in the coming months, but there's no reason to trade Carter and a pick for a rental. This team is young and talented. There's a great core of guys here, and there's no reason to break that up for someone like Sundin. It's not worth it.
Some people worry about cap room in regards to signing players like Carter and Umberger, but I'm not concerned about it. Holmgren is confident there will be enough wiggle room to get it done, and there's no reason not to believe him. I think Smith is expendable. He's a great leader and does a great job for standing up for his teammates on the ice, but there's plenty of leadership on this team, and he logs the fewest minutes of any of our defensemen.
Deflating
The Flyers came in on a nice hot streak, but one question remained: can they beat the Devils? Last night was a resounding "no".
John Stevens said it's not a mental block, but I don't see how it could be anything else. The Flyers' PK is definitely not one of their strengths like last year, but allowing 5 PP goals in one game is horrendously bad, especially against a team struggling on the power play like New Jersey.
In an era where officials are competing against each other to call the most penalties, the penalty kill needs to be strong. The game is becoming more and more about special teams, and even though the Flyers have a lethal power play, their PK leaves much to be desired.
Not much has changed since last year's team in terms of penalty killers, so what's wrong? Simon Gagne is probably still recovering from his injury and getting his legs back. Hatcher is playing hurt, and that could be reducing his effectiveness. No matter how you slice it, things need to get better.
But what about the Devils? Fortunately, the Flyers only play them two more times this season, and those aren't for a couple of months. They need to get as many points against other teams as possible, so when it comes down to the last few weeks and the Atlantic Division marathon kicks in, the Flyers are in good position against their rivals to secure some home playoff games. Remember, the Flyers have been very successful against the Atlantic with the exception of the Devils, so there will be points to had to possibly win the division.
Can the Flyers be successful without beating the Devils? I think so. They just can't match up against them very well and string together a few wins in a row against them. A playoff series would be tough, and it's always hard to bet against Martin Brodeur. Hopefully someone else can knock them off.
John Stevens said it's not a mental block, but I don't see how it could be anything else. The Flyers' PK is definitely not one of their strengths like last year, but allowing 5 PP goals in one game is horrendously bad, especially against a team struggling on the power play like New Jersey.
In an era where officials are competing against each other to call the most penalties, the penalty kill needs to be strong. The game is becoming more and more about special teams, and even though the Flyers have a lethal power play, their PK leaves much to be desired.
Not much has changed since last year's team in terms of penalty killers, so what's wrong? Simon Gagne is probably still recovering from his injury and getting his legs back. Hatcher is playing hurt, and that could be reducing his effectiveness. No matter how you slice it, things need to get better.
But what about the Devils? Fortunately, the Flyers only play them two more times this season, and those aren't for a couple of months. They need to get as many points against other teams as possible, so when it comes down to the last few weeks and the Atlantic Division marathon kicks in, the Flyers are in good position against their rivals to secure some home playoff games. Remember, the Flyers have been very successful against the Atlantic with the exception of the Devils, so there will be points to had to possibly win the division.
Can the Flyers be successful without beating the Devils? I think so. They just can't match up against them very well and string together a few wins in a row against them. A playoff series would be tough, and it's always hard to bet against Martin Brodeur. Hopefully someone else can knock them off.
My National Breakthrough
Finally, the exposure I needed.
Okay, it was only getting a couple questions answered in Jim Callis' BaseballAmerica chat, but let's talk about it anyway. Yes, three updates in, and I'm already breaking my one sport per season rule.
Scott (Philadelphia): If you did have an east coast bias, wouldn't you at least answer one question about the Phillies? Will Drabek recover from TJ?
Jim Callis: (2:51 PM ET ) I forgot to mention the Phillies . . . No reason Kyle Drabek can't recover, because the TJ track record is good. But he is kind of flaky and still has to prove that his makeup won't be an issue. It's a bigger setback for him than most, I think, because he hadn't had much pro success and probably won't get his killer curve back until 2009 or even 2010.
The East Coast Bias thing is from earlier in which he said he's going to answer one question for each team before repeating teams, and it took him a while to get to the Phillies.
Kyle Drabek surgery had Tommy John surgery early in the 2007 season, and as a former first round pick, the Phillies have high hopes for him. He still has a lot of potential, but as Callis said, he has some things to work out so he can live up to it.
Scott (Philadelphia): Michael Bourn or Quinten (sic) Berry?
Jim Callis: (2:54 PM ET ) Bourn.
This was the first question of the lightning round that ends his chats. I was just trying to get something in so I picked a Phillies prospect and a guy in the majors he compares to. I agree with Callis' answer.
Okay, it was only getting a couple questions answered in Jim Callis' BaseballAmerica chat, but let's talk about it anyway. Yes, three updates in, and I'm already breaking my one sport per season rule.
Scott (Philadelphia): If you did have an east coast bias, wouldn't you at least answer one question about the Phillies? Will Drabek recover from TJ?
Jim Callis: (2:51 PM ET ) I forgot to mention the Phillies . . . No reason Kyle Drabek can't recover, because the TJ track record is good. But he is kind of flaky and still has to prove that his makeup won't be an issue. It's a bigger setback for him than most, I think, because he hadn't had much pro success and probably won't get his killer curve back until 2009 or even 2010.The East Coast Bias thing is from earlier in which he said he's going to answer one question for each team before repeating teams, and it took him a while to get to the Phillies.
Kyle Drabek surgery had Tommy John surgery early in the 2007 season, and as a former first round pick, the Phillies have high hopes for him. He still has a lot of potential, but as Callis said, he has some things to work out so he can live up to it.
Scott (Philadelphia): Michael Bourn or Quinten (sic) Berry?
Jim Callis: (2:54 PM ET ) Bourn.This was the first question of the lightning round that ends his chats. I was just trying to get something in so I picked a Phillies prospect and a guy in the majors he compares to. I agree with Callis' answer.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Ideas Thrown Around For Sports Complex Development
Today, Cordish Company president David Cordish, along with Comcast-Spectacor president Peter Luukko and chairman Ed Snider, held a press conference talking about potential plans for development on or around the sports complex. Here's an article courtesy of Marcus Hayes of the Daily News. The entertainment venue would be named "Philly Live!" and could potentially contain a health club, a movie theater, retail stores and bars, clubs and restaurants. Snider said they hope to have more finalized plans by the end of February.
Development sounds nice, but one thing that has Flyers fans concerned is that it may be necessary to tear down the Spectrum to go through with the plans. That building is important to the Flyers for their past, present and future. Many Flyers fans grew up watching the team play in the Spectrum; it's where our two Stanley Cups were won. Currently, the building is the home of the AHL affiliate Phantoms. This is convenient because it allows the NHL and AHL players to practice and play in close proximity to each other, which allows for the team to monitor progress that much easier. Having the farm club so close is a luxury not every franchise has.
The issue comes down to money though. Although the Spectrum is used for much of the year, is it possible to make a better profit to tear down the Spectrum and put in all of these venues? It would definitely make the complex more attractive to people during non-sporting events, so there could definitely be benefits for the city. Stay tuned.
Development sounds nice, but one thing that has Flyers fans concerned is that it may be necessary to tear down the Spectrum to go through with the plans. That building is important to the Flyers for their past, present and future. Many Flyers fans grew up watching the team play in the Spectrum; it's where our two Stanley Cups were won. Currently, the building is the home of the AHL affiliate Phantoms. This is convenient because it allows the NHL and AHL players to practice and play in close proximity to each other, which allows for the team to monitor progress that much easier. Having the farm club so close is a luxury not every franchise has.
The issue comes down to money though. Although the Spectrum is used for much of the year, is it possible to make a better profit to tear down the Spectrum and put in all of these venues? It would definitely make the complex more attractive to people during non-sporting events, so there could definitely be benefits for the city. Stay tuned.
Game 47: Devils at Flyers
New Jersey Devils: 27-17-3, 57 points
Philadelphia Flyers: 26-15-5, 57 points
Martin Brodeur v. Antero Niittymaki
This is as big of a pre All-Star break game as you can get. The Devils and Flyers currently sit tied in second in the Atlantic Division, the league's best and most competitive. Whoever wins this game will take over first place for the time being, because the division leading Penguins are off tonight.
Antero Niittymaki will get his second straight start in goal tonight, after making 25 saves on 26 shots against the East-leading Senators on Sunday. He has posted a 6-0-1 record over the past month, and he's a huge reason why the Flyers are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games.
However, it seems that no matter how hot the Flyers or any individual player is, the true litmus test is how they stand up against the Devils. The Flyers are 1-4-0 against New Jersey this season, including dropping their last four. The Flyers cannot succeed in the playoffs unless they can overcome this mental block and beat the Devils.
The Flyers need to stay patient and avoid mistakes. New Jersey has always thrived off of taking advantage of turnovers and bad penalties, and it's important to stay out of the box and remained focus. It's well documented that the Devils are a tough team to come from behind against, so starting fast should be the Flyers' number one priority tonight.
Tonight's scratches, according to Bill Meltzer:
Lasse Kukkonen
Joffrey Lupul
Rory Fitzpatrick
Dennis Tolpeko has be reassigned to the Phantoms after recovering from his injury.
Philadelphia Flyers: 26-15-5, 57 points
Martin Brodeur v. Antero Niittymaki
This is as big of a pre All-Star break game as you can get. The Devils and Flyers currently sit tied in second in the Atlantic Division, the league's best and most competitive. Whoever wins this game will take over first place for the time being, because the division leading Penguins are off tonight.
Antero Niittymaki will get his second straight start in goal tonight, after making 25 saves on 26 shots against the East-leading Senators on Sunday. He has posted a 6-0-1 record over the past month, and he's a huge reason why the Flyers are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games.
However, it seems that no matter how hot the Flyers or any individual player is, the true litmus test is how they stand up against the Devils. The Flyers are 1-4-0 against New Jersey this season, including dropping their last four. The Flyers cannot succeed in the playoffs unless they can overcome this mental block and beat the Devils.
The Flyers need to stay patient and avoid mistakes. New Jersey has always thrived off of taking advantage of turnovers and bad penalties, and it's important to stay out of the box and remained focus. It's well documented that the Devils are a tough team to come from behind against, so starting fast should be the Flyers' number one priority tonight.
Tonight's scratches, according to Bill Meltzer:
Lasse Kukkonen
Joffrey Lupul
Rory Fitzpatrick
Dennis Tolpeko has be reassigned to the Phantoms after recovering from his injury.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Let's Get It Started
My two readers may recognize me from Disappointment Domain. I've switched over here because I liked the name I came up with, and I kind of want to get away from the place that was stamped with the marks of not editing.
What will be different? In terms of writing, probably very little. In terms of updates, hopefully a lot. I'm going to try and focus on one sport at a time while it's in season, which will hopefully inspire me to work harder and update more often.
Will it work? We'll find out. Let's get it started.
What will be different? In terms of writing, probably very little. In terms of updates, hopefully a lot. I'm going to try and focus on one sport at a time while it's in season, which will hopefully inspire me to work harder and update more often.
Will it work? We'll find out. Let's get it started.
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