Recap: Battle of PA Eve

Flyers Faithful (and visitors),

Are we having fun yet? How about these first three games? Let's recap:

Game 1: Flyers @ 'Canes

Emery shuts out the Whalercanes, Pronger has a completely expected and slightly snarky intermission interview, and Blondie and Captain continue their evil scoring ways. Three word summary - it didn't suck.

Though why Alberts suddenly knows how to pound somebody is beyond me. I wonder if that was part of the post-hit convo?

Game 2: Flyers @ Devils

Wow, the Flyers won in the Rock. While I'm going to say it's because the guys are clicking along just fine, I also wonder:

• Is it because the Diablitos are re-learning a new-old coach's system?
• What about those off-season trades?
• Have they practiced a 5-on-3 where they are the 5?

Blondie and Captain score a goal a piece. All is right in Flyerland that night.

Game 3: Flyers vs. Caps

Kids, it's like this: last night, my fangirl heart was somewhat divided. Obviously, the Flyers are my team. Why else would I spend any time with the color orange?

But I don't hate the Caps. Even if they don't have Godzilla anymore, they do have Knuble. I miss my favorite Latvian-American born in Canada. The way he knew how to wait at the net and make a steady number of good things happen with the puck at the expense of the opposing team's goalie.

It's total shite, in my opinion, to not have him with us. But, anyway...

Last night was both good and bad:

• Good, because we can beat the Caps even when Ovie and Semin are playing.
• Good, because their fans probably dislike the Pens as much as we do, and that kind of togetherness deserves to be supported.
• Good, because Captain has the first hat-trick of the season in the third game of the season, plus he won something like 14 of 20 face-offs.
  
• Bad, because I had that sinking feeling of having seen the whole vacation-during-the-game thing again.
• Bad, because Blondie didn't score and only had one assist.

Oh, and Danny Briere - Danny Breeze, Danielle, Tiny!Briere - won OT for us.

Now, all of that is nice. Truly. It's a nice warm-up for tomorrow night's first installment of the 2009-10 Battle of Pennsylvania series.

You know, when the blood really begins to spill here on the East Coast.

[Insert a Vincent Price laugh]

I can't wait...

4/03: Flyers v. Leafs

Yes, I attended last night's game. It was a last-minute decision on my part. Right now, I'm hoarse and putting together a write-up for any Gentle Readers I might still have. Check back later today.

However, to the row of Leafs fans in section 221 last night: It was nice to have you there last night. Thanks for keeping a good attitude. Way to pitch in on the yelling. Come back any time.

Okay, I'm back a day later than I expected. Sue me.

This is going to be a brief run down of impressions from the game since I no longer take notes at the games.

Thanks, Flyers, for winning another one while I was in attendance. It's a rare sight for me this season, but I truly appreciated.

After an 8-5 final score, once again, I want all talk of increased goal size or smaller goalie equipment banished. Some nights you're going to have a low-scoring game and sometimes you won't. Deal with it, NHL.

How interesting was that first period? I couldn't believe it when I saw tape-to-tape passing. Even I was a little overwhelmed with that 5-0 score at the end of the first. But, as co-workers Brandon and Justin could tell you, I wasn't ready to chirp at the Leafs fans about it because we've blown leads before.

No disrespect meant to the former Darth Gerber, but he looked a little like Swiss cheese on Friday. Somewhat fitting, considering he is Swiss. Personally, I think he's suffering without the flat black helmet.

Jeff Carter's hat trick was awesome. I can't tell you how nice it was to be there for that milestone, especially considering who was in attendance and knowing the smack he talks about Blondie. Peaked my @$$.

In summary, I'm bummed that I can't get 'ritas at the games any more, but glad I attended another game this season and it was a win.

Limiting my online time to enjoy the weekend,
Flyers.Femme
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12/11 Pens v. Flyers

All of you Gentle Readers not of the Flyers or Pens persuasion, have fun reading the penalty summary for this one. It's a blast!

Cindy Who? (And I don't mean The Grinch.)

Pens, schmens. Look, the Battle of Pennsylvania is really a battle this year. (Last year, not so much.) Thankfully, the skirmishes are all going our way.

Besides, we really needed a home win.

Highlights of the night:

• Malone and Gator wait an incredible 20 seconds to have their own personal rematch. (Matching 5 minute fighting majors)
• Joffrey Lupul earns six points for the night, which included a hat-trick. (Just goes to show, Lups didn't like the trade to Edmonton all that much.)
• RJ Umberger, proving that good Pittsburghers play for other teams, decides he wants a hat-trick as well (complemented by two assists).
  
• Lasse's in! Hatch's out! (Yikes. Please, not the just-fixed knee.)
• Crosby limited to two second assists. He also up-ends my HBF #1, the goalie, and gets to skate free. (Crowd chants "Crosby Sucks!")
• Laraque, Roberts, and Letang like the Philly away team sin bin so much, they decide to make repeat visits or to obtain double minors in order to spend more time there. In fact, Crosby is one of only a few Pens who didn't sit a spell there! (And he should have.)

Cartsie and Hartsie, 2gether 4ever. Just to keep things interesting, they fulfill the fight wishes of Whitney and Armstrong during the third. I bet Coach Stevens had fun juggling the lines for the remaining six minutes or so.

The only thing missing from this game, in my completely biased opinion, was a Sami goal. I'm hurting for one of those. I'm sure he's saving up for Saturday's game against his old team, the 'Canes. (Though it would be nice for him to bang one in on the Habs on Thursday!)

Official (Unofficial) Points Earned Race: Richie has three assists. Tiny!Briere has one. New totals are 34 for Richie and 32 for Briere.

Final Score: Flyers 8, Pens 2