1135739_com_1129380_58

Behind The Crest: Prelude

When people think about hockey players, they tend to think about a player’s skill set and statistics. They’ll think about how he performs in certain situations, his record in the playoffs, and where he fits best in the lineup. It’s all about the game, and for some fans, just knowing about that is enough. But every athlete comes with two sides: the player, and the man. Behind that tough and aggressive exterior lies a human being. Some of these men are husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers. They have more responsibilities than just scoring goals or protecting the net. And there …

Image courtesy of nhlsnipers.com

A Look Back at the Chris Pronger Trade

It was June 26, 2009. I was sitting in a Chinese buffet at the Plymouth Meeting Mall as my phone began to vibrate: CSN ALERT: Flyers trade F Joffrey Lupul, D Luca Sbisa, 2009 1st round pick, 2010 1st round pick, and a conditional 3rd round pick in 2010 or 2011 to Anaheim for D Chris Pronger and F Ryan Dingle. Immediately, I jumped up and exclaimed, “THE FLYERS GOT RYAN DINGLE!” Of course I began getting in touch with family members and hockey friends — not to discuss the bounty the Flyers gave up to trade for the All-star, …

Daniel Briere

Five Questions: Can Briere return to his typical postseason clutch form?

Flyers Faithful is pleased to have Kevin Christmann from Of Ice and Men, Danny Ricciardi from The Orange Update, Kevin Keating from Broad Street Buzz, and our own Craig Forsythe participate in the current iteration of Five Questions. This is the first of a five part series focusing on the playoffs.  By most measures, Danny Briere has had a disappointing regular season. Can he return to his typical postseason clutch form? Kevin Christmann: I am a very calculated, mathematical person; and that has turned me into someone that doesn’t really believe in “clutch”. I’m of the opinion that given enough playoff games, almost everyone would …

briere

RICE & MICE: Back Spasms

Oh, Danny Boy…. Danny Briere is out indefinitely with an upper back contusion after absorbing a malicious, yet clean hit from Pittsburgh’s Joe Vitale. Briere said yesterday, that his back was in spasm and there is no timetable for his return. He is hopeful that he can return for the playoffs. Muscle spasm result from inflammation in or near the muscle. When it occurs in the back, it can be excruciatingly painful and particularly debilitating. The nerves that carry pain signals in the back also connected to the nerves that control the muscles of the back. So when the nerves …

czechflag

European Updates #6

After a short break I’m back  with the European Updates. Today it’s gonna be about the Czech Extraliga and its playoffs and also about one famous Czechoslovak player who spent three season with Philadelphia. Do you remember who eliminated Kladno in the Ceska Pojistovna Playoff? HC Kometa Brno. They also beat the regular season winner Sparta Prague and lastly they ran over HC Plzen 1929 led by Martin Straka along with Jaroslav Modry and Frantisek Kaberle or Jakub Kovar’s brother Jan (who plays defense, too). Modry was only a rental who played 12 games in the regular season and he …

Podcast

Flyers Faithful Podcast, Episode 11: Sleepless Rambling

On this week’s edition of the Flyers Faithful podcast, Steve and Hal discuss the craziness of Sunday’s Flyers-Penguins game as well as the sting of losing every game this season to the Rangers. Flyers Faithful Podcast Episode 11 You can also download it from iTunes here!

Sean Couturier

Five Questions: After the grind of the long regular season, will the rookies take a step back once they enter the uncharted territory of the postseason?

Flyers Faithful is pleased to have Kevin Christmann from Of Ice and Men, Danny Ricciardi from The Orange Update, Kevin Keating from Broad Street Buzz, and our own Craig Forsythe participate in the current iteration of Five Questions. This is the first of a five part series focusing on the playoffs.  The production from rookies has been integral to the success of the Flyers this season. After the grind of the long regular season, will the rookies take a step back once they enter the uncharted territory of the postseason? Kevin Christmann: Even though I listed the rookies as a reason why the Flyers won’t …

Image Courtesy of Gregory Shamus/NHLI via Getty Images

Atlantic Watch: 3/28-4/3

In their four-game schedule this week, the Flyers posted a record of 2-1-1 and picked up what might be there most intense victory of the 2011-2012 regular season with their win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday. It’s those same Pens that the Flyers trail by three points for fourth in the conference and the chance for home-ice advantage in the clubs’ first-round playoff series. The Orange and Black still have a shot for fourth, but they’ll need to beat a team fighting for their playoff lives along with the Pens this week. The Broad Street Bullies started off the week with …

Image Courtesy of Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images

Rangers Score Four In First Period, Sweep Flyers With 5-3 Win

A four-goal first period for the New York Rangers helped them hold on for a 5-3 win over the Flyers tonight at the Wells Fargo Center. Five different players scored for New York, while Henrik Lundqvist picked up his career-best 39th win of the season — six of them coming at the expense of the Orange and Black. “The last 15 minutes of the first period wasn’t good at all,” Kimmo Timonen said. “A couple of bad breakdowns in the defensive end. The start wasn’t that bad.” Ryan McDonagh, Brian Boyle, Artem Anisimov lit the lamp in the opening 20 …

Thanks to yimg.com

Point/Counterpoint: The other side of Shanabanning

Welcome to the newest edition of “Point/Counterpoint,” where a pair of Flyers Faithful scribes present both sides of one particular issue with their own unique view and flair. This week, Nick D. and Bob H. square off over whether or not players who are constant victims of questionable hits should also feel the wrath of Brendan Shanahan. First up, Nick: This season has seen a marked change in how the National Hockey League deals with infractions that are deemed suspension worthy. Shanahan has been doling out suspensions in an effort to change behavior, not just discipline players for their actions. …