The Flyers and Sabres built up quite a history in the late 1990s, thanks to four yearly regular-season meetings and four playoff matchups (1995, 1997-98, 2000). Tensions often flared up into that thing which Commissioner Bettman hates the most, and the entertainment value between these two skilled clubs escalated. The genesis of this simmering discord between the teams can be traced to a late-season game at the old Aud in Buffalo in 1996. The Flyers are up by two late in the second period, and Matthew Barnaby decides to interject himself into a scuffle in a rather unusual manner. When …
Luukko speaks as Flyers plan to raise ticket prices
Courtesy of the Philadelphia Daily News Michael Strulson, a third-generation owner of a set of Flyers season tickets, never thought there would be a day that he would consider not renewing his center-ice seats at the Wells Fargo Center. That was until Strulson, 39, received a surprising notice in the mail from the Flyers on Saturday. That’s the first time, Strulson said, that he found out the Flyers are instituting a price increase of more than 21 percent for six sections in the lower bowl as part of a wider “rescaling” that will see almost every ticket increase in price …
Cooke suspended for rest of regular season, first round of playoffs
The National Hockey League on Monday afternoon issued its sternest warning yet to players who seek to make contact with an opponent’s head. It has suspended Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke for the final 10 games of the regular season plus the entire first round of the playoffs. Cooke delivered an elbow to the side of the face of New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh at the 4:36 mark of the third period of Sunday’s 5-2 Penguins loss. He was given a major for elbowing and a game misconduct. The total length of the penalty will end up lasting between …
Leino’s heroics get Flyers past Stars in SO; playoff berth clinched
It didn’t come down to the final regular-season game this year, but Ville Leino’s goal in the sixth round of the shootout enabled the Philadelphia Flyers to clinch a playoff berth with a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center. Leino made fellow Finn and Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen look like a fool, moving the puck slightly to the right as the Dallas netminder dove for a poke- check. With a wide-open net in front of him, the second-year player calmly slid the disc home to end the contest. Jeff Carter and Mike Richards scored in regulation …
Thrashers beat Flyers again, this time in SO
While it didn’t leave a bad taste in the mouth like Saturday night’s third-period collapse in Philadelphia, the result wasn’t any more satisfying. Blake Wheeler netted the decider in the third round of the shootout, as the Atlanta Thrashers took a 4-3 decision over the Philadelphia Flyers at Philips Arena on Thursday night. Rob Schremp tallied to start the second round, but it was Wheeler’s odd score which eventually ended the contest after a Danny Briere miss. Wheeler skated in from an angle just to the right of center ice, then lost control of the puck as he neared the crease. …
Pronger to have hand surgery on Tuesday
Courtesy of the Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that D Chris Pronger will undergo surgery on Tuesday, March 15 to repair a fracture in his right hand, according to general manager Paul Holmgren. “Chris had a CT scan on his right hand on Sunday and a small fracture was discovered,” Holmgren said. “Our doctors believe surgery is the best route to take with the injury. Surgery will be done Tuesday morning in Cleveland by Dr. Tom Graham. Chris will be able to return to play in 3-4 weeks.” Pronger has appeared in 50 games for the Flyers this …
Holmgren Updates Pronger Status
Courtesy of the Philadelphia Flyers Q: Can you give us an update on Pronger and his cast? “It’s just to help with the soreness and the healing. It’s the same as it was yesterday, day-to-day.” Q: Is he wearing a different cast than he has been? “No, it’s the same. He’s had this on for a couple of days now.” Q: He has had the hand x-rayed, right? “X-rayed, MRI-ed.” Q: Everything was negative, right? “So far.” Q: The fact that he is wearing a cast now, he can’t play with this kind of cast, right? “He was better today …
A Reasoner to Believe
That’s what it read at the top of the special insert, tucked within the tabloid-sized issue of The Heights, in mid-April of 1998. A plea for the Eagles’ best player to return for his senior season in the wake of a national championship game appearance, it depicted Marty Reasoner, clad in the Boston College home whites, waiting out a stoppage in play. It could have been from any game that season, but it was most likely taken in the 3 1/2 week period between the Hockey East quarterfinal round in early March and the NCAA Tournament Final, in Boston, on the …
Trade deadline passes quietly for Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers were dormant as the 2011 NHL Trade Deadline passed as of 3 p.m. (et). Flyers’ GM Paul Holmgren awoke from his slumber to make just one minor deal, acquiring prospect forward Tom Sestito from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for prospects Michael Chaput and Greg Moore. Sestito will be assigned to Adirondack of the American Hockey League. “Well, he’s a big kid, I think he’s got 30-some-odd points down there in the AHL…he was there last year on an entry-level contract. I like the fact that he’s got a chance to play at some point for …
Homer having another “D’oh!” moment
The boys over at Broad Street Hockey have just broken down exactly what happened with today’s roster moves, courtesy of general manager Paul Holmgren’s Knack for Finding the Biggest Bargain. Here they are in a nutshell: Chris Pronger was injured on Thursday night. As a precaution, he’ll be sitting out tonight’s game in Ottawa. Erik Gustafsson was called up yesterday and will play in place of Pronger tonight. Also, Oskars Bartulis is apparently out for the season. Defenseman Nick Boynton was claimed off of waivers today at 12 p.m. Boynton’s addition gives the Flyers one extra player on the roster, …