Flyers

Breaking down the Bullies: buy or sell?

The gauntlet of opponents the Flyers have faced over the last 10 days was supposed to provide some answers about what type of team they really were. Instead, a series of sporadic efforts has left both the organization and its followers with many of the same questions they faced a week ago. Some speak of playoffs, while others speak of prospects. With the trade deadline looming and the end of the season shortly thereafter, is there any way to truly categorize this team as a buyer, seller, or even something in between? After the nightmare on Broadway, the Flyers played …

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Atlantic Watch: Penguins on winning streak, Devils snap losing streak, Islanders’ point streak ends

The Philadelphia Flyers lost their first two games this week to stretch their losing streak to three games before they edged out the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday for a pair of points. Philly will have a home-and-home with a struggling Devils club over the next few days, as they look to gain a spot in the Eastern Conference’s top eight. The Orange and Black had the Pittsburgh Penguins beat on Monday, but they let their hated rivals come back for a 5-4 win at the Wells Fargo Center on Thursday. Jakub Voracek had two power-play goals and the tandem of …

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College Hockey Roundup: Jack Parker bids farewell to the game he loved so much

Monday was a sad day for college hockey as legendary Boston University men’s hockey coach Jack Parker, on his 68th birthday, announced his retirement at season’s end capping a 40-season reign that saw Parker become one the most revered sports icons not only in New England but in all of hockey. College hockey fans, supporters of the Terriers, and BU’s rivals all know the name. It’s unlikely that you’ll ever see another coach like Parker ever again. The man they called “Somerville Jack” was born and raised in Somerville, Massachusetts’ Magoun Square. The hard-nosed working-class Irish Catholic graduated from Catholic …

Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

2013 NHL Draft: Flyers Focus on Ryan Hartman – The Name Says it All

There has been a recent re-emergence of gritty, American leaders marching their teams deep into the playoffs. Last year alone three of the four teams in the Conference Finals were lead by tough, hard-nosed U.S. countrymen: Dustin Brown (LAK); Ryan Callahan (NYR); Zach Parise (NJD). That’s not to say there aren’t many Canadian captains with the same two-way mindset, such as current Flyers captain Claude Giroux. Giroux exemplifies a plethora of characteristics that former Flyers captain and current team Senior Vice President Bobby Clarke possessed when he led the Broad Street Bullies to back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in the 1970’s. …

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Around the Net March 12, 2013: In Bob we trade; A look around the NHL, more

  Welcome to Around the Net, a weekly look through linkage at the Philadelphia Flyers and other news from around the NHL. Bob, we hardly knew ye A look back at the Sergei Bobrovsky trade: [Broad Street Hockey] [Philly.com] Fool me once,shame on me… A shootout move that didn’t work the second time around: [Puck Daddy] Ya gotta believe!! The Flyers believe they can turn the season around: [CSN Philly] Need tickets? Get your Philadelphia Flyers tickets here. That’s all for today, join me Friday for more links from around the web on the Flyers and the NHL. 

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Future Flyers Watch: The OHL playoff picture

With all 20 of the teams in the OHL having played 64 or more of their 68 regular season games, the playoff picture is practically set. Of all the Philadelphia Flyers’ prospects currently in the OHL, each player is either already on a team that has clinched a spot for the postseason or they are on a team that is fighting for the final spot available. In the Eastern Conference, Scott Laughton and Colin Suellentrop have helped the Oshawa Generals clinch a playoff spot. The Gens sit third in the conference and sit four points behind the Belleville Bulls, who …

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Moments of Awesome (in class with hockey)

Other than the constant ‘Hey, the Chicago Blackhawks are…” whatever their streak is now, I don’t get to talk much hockey in American Literature. I have two students, one a Toronto Maple Leafs fan and his twin is a Montreal Canadiens follower.  We chat sometimes, but they both give me grief about being a Philadelphia Flyers fan. Not that either of their current teams have so much to be pompous about, but I digress. When hockey does come up in class, I seriously do an internal little dance. For a moment or two, I don’t have to talk about Nathaniel …

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Around the Net March 8, 2013: Flyers embarrassed; Chris Pronger speaks, more

Welcome to Around the Net, a weekly look through linkage at the Philadelphia Flyers and other news from around the NHL. Flyers blow 4-1 lead,lose Scott Hartnell summed it up: [Philly.com] [Broad Street Hockey] [The 700 Level] [The Checking Line] [Hockeybuzz-Bill Meltzer] Pronger speaks Chris Pronger spoke yesterday and hasn’t given up on a return: [CSNPhilly] [The Hockey News] Around the NHL A look at last night’s games: [Puck Daddy] Get your Philadelphia Flyers tickets here. That’s all for this week, join me next week for more links from around the web on the Flyers and the NHL.       

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Flyers Hockey: The Team

Since its early years, the Philadelphia Flyers have been known for a certain type of hockey — hard-hitting and gritty with a “never say die” attitude. Just before the 1969-1970 season, team owner Ed Snider was fed up with the team being manhandled in the playoffs, and told his then-General Manager Bud Poile to acquire players to make the team bigger and stronger. Thus began the reign of the Broad Street Bullies, a group of players — with Bobby Clarke and Dave Schultz at the helm — who were not only big and tough, but skilled. And feared. Now, that …

Bryzgalov's had some difficulties in pulling off the poke check in the past.

Crashing the Crease: Bryz and the Art of the Poke Check

Tuesday night’s game at Madison Square Garden was quite possibly the single most glaring example of one of Bryzgalov’s greatest shortcomings: he is not particularly good at the poke check. Playing the poke check correctly is the epitome of a very fine line for any goaltender. A successful poke requires quick and decisive action: there is no time to spare in deciding to go for the poke, but at the same time it can’t be done too early – or “telegraphed” – lest the forward read it and simply walk around it. Against the Rangers, Bryzgalov’s poke attempts were telegraphed, …