While Philadelphia got to see a rare outdoor AHL contest between the Adirondack Phantoms and Hershey Bears on Friday, fans who packed the decidedly-indoor Giant Center in the Chocolate City got the most for their buck on Saturday night. In this jumpy video, Phantoms forward Tom Sestito and defenseman Oliver Lauridsen, along with Bears forward Joel Rechlicz mix it up near the benches. There’s a better view of the situation, folded into a brief highlight package for the whole game. You can see it all develop from the 2:32 mark. The American Hockey League had something to say …
NHLPA response to NHL’s realignment plan invites speculation
We apologize for missing this over the weekend, being so caught up in the moment during the final outdoor contest that capped the week of events at Citizens Bank Park, but here’s NHLPA executive director Don Fehr’s statement regarding the rejection of the realignment proposal: “On the evening of December 5, 2011, the NHL informed the NHLPA that they proposed to put in place a four-conference format beginning with the 2012-13 season. As realignment affects Players’ terms and conditions of employment, the CBA requires the League to obtain the NHLPA’s consent before implementation. “Over the last month, we have had …
This Week in Flyers History 1/8-1/14
The first edition of a brand new weekly series here at Flyers Faithful, “This Week in Flyers History” aims to provide historical information on Flyers games of the past with some kind of significance, using pictures and videos where appropriate. January 8, 1984 — Bengt Gustafsson of the Washington Capitals rips Pelle Lindbergh and the Flyers defense for five goals in a 7-1 victory at the Spectrum. It marks the final time in club lore that it gave up five goals to one player in either a regular-season or playoff game. January 8, 2002 — Jiri Dopita “the best player in the …
‘Monster’ game from Briere lifts Flyers over Senators in OT
When it was all over, all you could hear was the roar of the crowd giving way to a torrent of voices all chanting one name in unison. It drowned out the normal post-game interview the star of the game does with Coatesy. It drowned out the inner thoughts of the sellout crowd on Saturday afternoon. The cheer was so loud, for so long that it managed to push all thoughts of the Winter Classic loss and the defensive breakdowns on Thursday against Chicago out of mind. At the center of it all was Daniel Briere, who picked up his …
NHL All-Star ballot stuffing has Giroux seventh
Congratulations to the hearty hockey fans of the Capital Region, who have done their part to make a mockery of the selection process for the upcoming NHL All-Star Game. Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek went 1-2-3 in the final ballot count released Thursday morning and will all get the starting nod come Saturday, January 28 at Scotiabank Place. Fourth and fifth? Why, that would be rival Maple Leafs Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul. Sixth? How about a decidedly-unavailable Sidney Crosby. Seventh…ah, yes, the NHL’s leading scorer and total afterthought Claude Giroux — who happens to also be a …
AHL All-Star rosters announced
Atlantic City’s venerable Boardwalk Hall will play host to the 2012 American Hockey League All-Star Classic from January 29-30, but the Adirondack Phantoms are not well represented. Taking a starting role for the Eastern Conference squad will be goaltender Michael Leighton, who was selected alongside Tyson Sexsmith of the Worcester Sharks and Jeff Zatkoff from the Manchester Monarchs. Leighton, only 30, is completely deserving if for nothing else than his professionalism during three seasons of constant upheaval. This year, he’s gone 11-11-0 with a 2.44 goals-against average and one shutout as ADK has risen from DFL in the East to …
Winter Classic: Five Things That Are Right
It’s been more than 24 hours since the Winter Classic pitted the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers in an outdoor battle at our own Citizens Bank Park. Today, we’ll bask in the afterglow and reveal what is right with the NHL’s New Year’s Day party continuing in the vein of our “Five Things” series. 5. The Great Outdoors — Though most of us were not born or raised or spent much time in Canada, nor were we privy to the chilled Winter waters of Massachusetts and Minnesota, we still recognize that hockey is a children’s game played by men, and …
McCrimmon tribute at Alumni Game
Gretz does the dirt to the Flyers, 30 years on
After all these years, it’s still hard to believe that the Philadelphia Flyers were the team Wayne Gretzky victimized en route to yet another potentially-unbreakable NHL single-season record. I could see it against Calgary with the Battle of Alberta, and even against the lowly Canucks or Devils. But no, it had to be against the Orange and Black in a down year. But it happened, December 30, 1981. Needing five goals to reach 50 in just his 39th game, Number 99 decided to get them all in one night — and do it against one of the tougher teams in …
Winter Classic: Five Things That Are Wrong
There’s only six days left until the Winter Classic pits the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers in an outdoor battle at our own Citizens Bank Park. With the time quickly ticking away towards the Quaker City’s shot at national recognition, we thought it would be smart to examine the game itself and everything surrounding it. Today, in the first of three parts, we’ll talk about what is wrong with the NHL’s New Year’s Day party continuing in the vein of our “Five Things” series. 5. Baseball Stadiums — Why, why WHY after getting 80,000 people crammed into Ralph …