Photo courtesy Ladyneat, http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325/

Michael Pina: Welcome Claude Giroux into your home

Now let me start by admitting I’m an NBA guy. Basketball is the sun, and I’m a rocky mass orbiting it at all times. I absorb everything meaningful about the league that’s written and said aloud. I come home from work and watch at least two games every night, and if NBATV chooses to re-run the 2002 dunk contest at 2 PM on a random Wednesday, my regularly scheduled afternoon falls to pieces. So why all of a sudden write a piece about hockey? While basketball is my calling, I’ve been an unabashed bandwagon fan of the Boston Bruins since …

Wells Fargo Center

Breaking Down the Bullies: Home Cookin’

Though only three games were played, the Flyers have gained a lot since last Wednesday. It was only a week ago when the Flyers were seemingly a few losses away from the start of a shortened push towards a lottery pick, but luck is finally beginning to change for the Orange and Black on their home ice. In addition to getting the bounces, they are finally getting some wins. Even better for the Flyers, those wins have been earned for a variety of reasons. The Flyers kicked off their week with a tough loss to the Capitals that looked to …

Image courtesy of Len Redkoles, NHLI/Getty Images.

Atlantic Watch: Penguins win four straight, Devils snap losing streak, Powe returns to division

The Philadelphia Flyers seem to heading in the right direction after they recorded wins in their last two games. After they lost both the game and a crucial player on Friday, the Orange and Black pulled off back-to-back wins in their last two contests. The Flyers start a four-game week tomorrow, as they finish the seven-day stretch with a pair of games that start a lengthy road trip. On Friday, the Washington Capitals handed Philly a 3-2 loss at the Verizon Center. Wojtek Wolski registered the game-winner halfway through the third period, as Braden Holtby stopped 29 shots on 31 shots. …

Image c/o circlingthewagon

Sestito scores his first goals as a Flyer to top Lightning 2-1

Tom Sestito recorded his first career two-goal game with Philadelphia — overshadowing the return of defenseman Matt Carle to Philadelphia — as the Flyers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning by a 2-1 score in their second meeting in the last nine days. Sestito also managed to double his entire career goal output, while Zac Rinaldo created a sensation of another kind when he scored a knockout in a first-period bout with B.J. Crombeen. Ilya Bryzgalov continued his stellar play, stopping 21-of-22 shots as the Orange and Black pulled off back-to-back wins for the second time this season thanks to shutting …

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Podcast Episode 51: Yo, The Podcast (with @FlyGoalScoredBy)

On this edition of the Flyers Faithful podcast, Steve and Hal welcome back Fran from the ever great Flyers Goal Scored By and talk all things Flyers, hockey, and, well, pretty much everything about everything. They spoke for so long that Fran’s phone died. The guys also discuss the Flyers’ matchups against the Rangers, Capitals, and Hurricanes, John Erskine’s suspension for his hit on Wayne Simmonds, the mere possibility of Jerome Iginla in orange and black, and whether we’ve all been overreacting just a teensy bit. Finally, a big stick tap to everyone involved in assisting the family of the late Mark Marinelli (especially Phillies Nation …

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Flight Plan: Southeastern Hospitality

The Philadelphia Flyers kicked off their first home stand with a bang, beating the Carolina Hurricanes by a score of 5-3. Despite a lackluster third period, the Flyers were able to hold on for their third win of the 2013 season as Danny Briere, Braydon Coburn, Kurtis Foster, and Mike Knuble all netted their first goals of the year. The Orange and Black will strive for more consistency this week as they will play host to three Southeast Division teams after their second two-day break in a week. The Flyers face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, the Florida Panthers on Thursday, …

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Simmonds Hurt in Flyers’ Third Straight Loss

The Philadelphia Flyers dropped their third straight game on Friday night in Washington against the Capitals by the score of 3-2. Wojtek Wolski had the eventual game-winner for the Caps, while Nicklas Backstrom had a goal and an assist in the victory. Braden Holtby had 31 saves for Washington, as the only two Flyers to beat him on the night were Bruno Gervais and Brayden Schenn. Ilya Bryzgalov had yet another strong performance, but he suffered another loss, as he made 23 stops on the night. The biggest incident in the loss for the Flyers was John Erskine’s hit on Wayne …

Claude short hair

Around the Net 02.01.13

Welcome to Around the Net, a weekly look through linkage at the Philadelphia Flyers and other news from around the NHL. In case you missed it… Jon Sim is still playing hockey: [The Checking Line] [Poststar.com] Claude Giroux is in a slump and Danny Briere is moving to the top line to help: [Philly.com] [The 700 Level] Flyers vs. Capitals preview: [Hockeybuzz-Bill Meltzer] [Metro.us] Thomas Vanek is on fire: [Puck Daddy] The mess that is the sale of the Phoenix Coyotes continues: [ESPN] [Puck Daddy] [USA Today] Need tickets? Get your Philadelphia Flyers tickets here. That’s all for this week, join me next …

Image c/o  Tim Frenz

Crashing the Crease: BryzNasty

Two weeks ago, I laid out my expectations for Ilya Bryzgalov’s season. In short, I expected him to start well thanks to his keeping the engine warmed up over in Russia, but my fear was the Flyers’ lacking defensive corps would take its toll on him and lead a to a mid-season slump. I felt that a .920-or-higher save percentage wasn’t too likely by season’s end. Early on, he’s fighting to prove me wrong, posting a pretty stellar .924 save percentage and a goals-against average of 2.19, especially given the support he’s had thus far. Right now, it isn’t that …

The offense continues to daydream

Breaking Down the Bullies: Where’s the Offense?

It feels as though only a few days have passed since puck drop was saved, but the 2013 NHL season is in full swing. Over 14 percent of the regular season has come and gone before fans can even locate their jerseys from the back of the closet. So it’s time to add some structure to a season that seems frantically devoid of any at all, with a particular emphasis on the ‘frantic’. Going forward, my goal is for this column is to become a week-by-week breakdown of what has elapsed and what lies ahead. In between, I hope to figure …