As My Mom Would Say...

Dear Gentle Readers,

No, the blog is not dead. And in spite of recent events, neither is my fandom for the Flyers.

I'm just observing a little bit of home-training: If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all.

Okay, who am I kidding?

The team sucks right now. There was that brief time where we had a nice little winning streak, but it feels like a long freakin' time ago.

Since my opinion of what it would take to right our seriously off-course ship of club doesn't count, I'm going to leave the G.M.-ing to the guy who's paid to do it. 'Cause if he doesn't do it well, he can be fired, too.

And while I'm tempted to boycott posting about the Flyers until things get better, I won't. I pouted for a bit and I feel better.

Instead, I'm going to try some negative reinforcement to convince the hockey gods to go smite the Pens.

Browsing for Cleveland team jerseys,
Flyers.Femme

3/14 Flyers v. Ran-juhs!

Evil Blue Shirts Visit Philly Wearing White

Side rant: Gotta say that I don't understand that one. Sure, my team wears orange at home right now. But what's with the lack of blue Ranger jerseys?

Was one of the refs assigned to the match-up blue-orange color blind?

Pre-Game Activity: Fan Gear Pilgrimage

Not knowing if I'll be able to attend another game in person, it was time to use the $75 worth of gift cards received for Christmas from C.B. The Fan Gear store at the Wachovia Center is always an experience.

Do I shop in the youth section or the women's section? That answer is usually driven by two factors:

• How many pink and Swarovski-bedazzled items are visible in the women's section?
• How much black stuff is available in the youth section?

Today, I actually shopped in the women's section. Yes, there were a few pink items. Thankfully, it wasn't a whole wall's worth!

In the end, I settled on a black zip-up hoodie for free - using said gift cards - and a distressed cap for $25. Yeah, that's a lot for a frayed hat. But it was cute and my hair fits under it!

Main Event: A Win!

Co-worker Justin and I met up following my shopping spree. We found our seats, settled in early, and watched the warm-ups. (Once again, thanks D.L. for the tickets, and Erica for letting J-man out of the house.)

Gentle Readers, this has been a sucky season for me attending games. The guys usually lose, sometimes deservedly so and other times due to what I'll call "it made sense in a parallel universe" factors. (Yeah, you, Martin Biron.)

Marty scared me with that first Ranger goal and I wasn't sure what to expect for a short time after it. Thankfully, it didn't last. He played well throughout the game, made some spectacular and entertaining saves, kept the rebounds to a manageable level, and made a few people confident enough to try and jinx him in the last five minutes of the third.

Jeff Carter had several attempts but never planted a puck in the net for a goal, something that made Justin happy and disappointed me. However, on one of those misses, Scott Hartnell followed the rebound and did score our first goal of the game.

Captain Richie hustled around, made a goal, and spent some time in the sin bin. Arron Asham, on the other hand, had two goals in the game and looked very happy with both of them.

Halfway through the second I shared with Justin that something felt off. Shortly afterwards, the lastest round of Cote v. Orr started and I knew what it was.

Shocking (Gasp!)

I must say I was a bit amused by the crowd's reaction to Avery. He is a polarizing figure and I knew he'd be harassed. I thought the teeny-bopper girls cheering him on next to Justin was an interesting contrast to the dad-son-uncle crew behind us have an after-school special style conversation on selfishness and the concept of being a team.

Final Word

Yesterday's game was amusing, entertaining, and fun. But, I must admit that while the Flyers may be ranked as the most intimidating fans and able to affect the outcome of a game in player surveys, we do not do this as well as another Atlantic Division team's fans in the Nassau Coliseum:

[Insert Chicken Dance song and at the pause yell]: "Rangers suck!"

Bring on today's half of the home-and-home. Best of luck to the guys.

Still enjoying an in-person win,
Flyers.Femme

P.S.: Co-worker Justin, here's the Hextall tribute video.
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Aaaahhhh!

Dear Gentle Readers,

Personal crisis: Not over. Is that a problem? Sure, in the grand scheme of things, it is. In terms of today, nope.

First Things First

BIG thanks to D.L. for the gift of today's Battle of Pennsylvania tickets to me and co-worker Justin. Additional thanks to Justin's wife, E., who is cool enough to let him attend today's game as well as the mid-March Rangers game to which D.L. gave us tickets. Both of you are awesome!

Justin: You did a good job today. I wish we had been able to see a Richie v. Cindy throw-down like the one I saw last season. That would have made the game even better, although the fight in the audience was interesting.

What I Learned Today

Dear Hockey,

It's true, my life has been stress-filled lately. I have totally taken our relationship for granted. I haven't been contributing. I'm sorry.

I know that I cannot go two-plus months without seeing a live game again. If for nothing other than my own mental sanity, I have to be surrounded by an electrifying audience, watching the guys pound each other, and seeing goals scored in real time.

It felt so good to be at the game today, in spite of the loss. (More on that later.) My February is so much better now.

Battle of Pennsylvania Face-Off

This isn't going to be anywhere near as detailed as other post-game posts because I didn't have my paper for taking notes. Oh, and I committed to just watching the game. So, here goes...

Marty, Marty, Marty. You are banned from harem considerations if that happens again. What was that? Why did it seem like a good idea?

'Cause from 116, 17, 8, it looked like an eight year old goalie really wanted to touch the puck outside the crease and trapezoid and then butterfingered it right to an opposing player so that the NHL Spokesbot could bury it in the net you abandoned when the game was tied - again - in the late stages of the third period.

Lups, Richie, Cobie, Knubs: Thank you for those goals. I loved each one. Way to work the score board and keep us in the game.

Annoying Yinzers who tried to steal Shawn's spotlight: I'd love to rip you really good but I think you heard enough at the game. And probably after it, too.

Kerry Fraser: Creative as always, though not nearly as interesting as in his helmet-less days. Does he still buy Aqua Net in bulk?

Fighting dudes in the stands who upstaged the game that was in progress: Whoa! A couple of somebodies need to take a few chill pills. Jeez! It's just a game. Okay, a hockey game, but a game nonetheless.

Promising to be a good fangirl from now on,

Flyers.Femme

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TBL: WTF?

Can anyone legitimately explain why we can't beat the Lightning, at least in a regular, 60-minute, three-period game? No? Me neither.

So I'm throwing out a big "hellz yeah" echo on Dear Captain's "ball you out in the media" game summary from last night:

"We really just got outworked the last two games," said captain Mike Richards. "It's kind of embarrassing how much they outworked us. It's unacceptable for a team that we have. It starts with the work ethic."

*Crickets chirping*

Um, yeah. That clears things up a whole bunch.

God help the NHL if everything were to start clicking with the Flyers. I'm not saying they could tie the whole thing up in a nice, neat, Detroit Redwings-type package, but the standings and season could become just a little more interesting. At least then all the other teams' fans would have a real reason to dislike the team and the fans.

So, enough with the on-ice vacations, guys. 'Cause I'm starting to develop that shell-shocked look Penélope Cruz wears in the Jeep in Sahara when they're fleeing the scene where her team is massacred by Kazim's soldiers...and that's not hot or cute.

Scared to read anything related to tonight's game while it's in progress,
Flyers.Femme
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Glor-i-ous!

That was so much fun!

Because my only two other trips to Broad and Pattison resulted in loses, this season has been a little disappointing for me as a fan...until last night. Last night was freakin' awesome. Three key reasons:

• Dude, we won!
• We caused a few of the Avs to lose their composure...though not as badly as the Pens last season.
• I was about 8 seats over and one row behind Shawn!

Something I must point out to my non-Philadelphia readers: Flyers fans do not boo Santa. Santa was in section 216 or 215 last night, and he was greeted with cheers. (Drunken Eagles and Sixers fans are responsible for booing Santa, not Flyers ones.)

Knuble: Looooved your PPG. Your positive attitude, willingness to hang out at the net, and make like a screen keep serving you well. Congrats on number 100!

Blondie: Woo-hoo, another SHG! Tell me, what kind of noise does one of your wristers make, if any, when you score? With the team leading the league on them, and needing just one more to match last season's total SHG count, this is such a fun statbit to track. (Nice intermission interview, by the way.)

Lups: Thank you for putting one in on even strength. Way to do that during the second while I had a very good view of it.

Dear Captain: Another pretty one I saw clearly from my cheap seats. And a three point night? Bitchin'!

Gagne: Way to make sure that PPG entered the net! A second player with a three point night. I'm so glad you're back and playing like your old self.

Interesting off-topic factoid of the night: The announcer still cannot pronounce Ovie's last name with any consistency. How many seasons has he been playing in the NHL? Just make sure you balance that out with a Cindy Crosby, 'kay?'

Interesting game-related factoid: How sick is it that we have six players with 10 or more goals this season already? And I thought last year's seven players with 20 or more goals was cool.

Having a happier holiday season,
Flyers.Femme
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Flightless Blackbirds Return

Battle of PA: First Showing in Philly

The 2008-09 Battle of Pennsylvania has been a bit one-sided this season. The Pens won the first two bouts in overtime and a shoot-out, respectively. While no loss is nice, and these kind doubly-suck, at least we gained a point in each one. (Please do not interpret that as my acceptance nor endorsement of doing away with the tie. It isn't.)

This afternoon, the Flyers continued the trend of beating the Pens in the Wachovia Center, to the tune of 6-3. I guess the guys didn't feel like they sufficiently proved themselves in the comeback on Thursday.

Today's win puts the Flyers at 6-1-3 against Atlantic Division foes. It also had them two points behind the Rangers prior to their match-up with the Whalercanes tonight (which the Evil Blue Shirts won in a five-round shoot-out).

Up next, the Sakic-less Avs. (And you really must go read Margee's post about him on SportSquee...see the HLOG links to go there.)

Keep the wins coming,
Flyers.Femme
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Hunh?

WTH to WTF, all in one game.

Imagine what kind of points damage the Flyers could do if the guys played 60 minutes of hockey in every remaining game of the regular season like they did the last 20 minutes, overtime, and the shoot-out on Thursday. *Shudder, sigh*

I truly cannot comprehend it.

Congratulations to Scott Hartnell on his hat trick. Oh, and we won on a shoot-out? Sweet! (Though kinda unnecessary...)

Amazed,
Flyers.Femme


P.S.: I wish I could have been a fly on the wall in the locker room during the second intermission.

Dude, That Sucked!

Opening night post from one year ago: Check it out.

Opening night for 2008-09: There was a game on October 11, 2008? Really?

I saw at least one move straight out of the Mighty Ducks films there. You know, when they stunk at the beginning and Coach Bombay was still phoning it in on his probation?

Here's what I feel comfortable writing about the home opener:

• Team promotion crew tried to page homage to the Spectrum
• Forgot to pay due homage to Kate Smith on an important anniversary (see comments on previous post)
  
• S.P. came to the building.

And she sucked out all of the team's mojo, just like - sorry! - Hextall did last year with his Flyers Hall of Fame induction.

In-house entertainment guys, a small note: When games suck and you play House of Pain's "Jump Around," please focus on Shawn. Don't make us wait for the end of the game. Just give us the goods then. 'Kay?

Niitty: I say this as a fan...dude, I love you! Please play like that all season long. It made me smile and kept me happy.

Kukkie: You have my number! I wore #3 all three years I was on the varsity teams in high school, all three seasons of the year.

As for the rest of the game:

• Thank you, Scott H., for netting a goal so early in the season!
• Thank you, Simon, for coming back strong!
• Thank you, dear Captain, for getting the goal scoring contest between 18 and 48 off on the right foot!

That is all for now. I must go hang with the boys at Four Habs Fans for tonight's game.

P.S.: My condolences to the Cherepanov family and all you Rangers fans out there.

P.S.S.: Blogging will be a bit off this week due to work deadlines. Check out Kristin, K-Mart, or Ryan and Froin.

Oh, and how's that for 200 posts?
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Puck's Shot: Obviously!

No Surprises in The Announcement

Mike Richards stepped into an "A" last season in a vote of confidence from coaching and management. After leading the team in scoring and being named the Most Awesomely Responsible-Looking Boyfriend by SportSquee for the 2007-08 season, it was time for his promotion to the "C." (And SportSquee's now featured him as the epitome of the Home Depot Husband.)

Simon Gagne wore an "A" last season while he played, too. As long as we keep him and he contributes to the bottom line, he'll stay in the running for a leadership role on the team.

Kimmo Timonen wore the "A" in 2007-08 when Gags was out. No surprise here, but lots of happiness and "about darn times" in Casa Flyers.Femme.


P.S.: I may have to reconsider the Richie Tshirt purchase this season. I like to go for less obvious selections, and with his captaincy confirmed, everybody and his/her grandmother will be buying that one.

5/03: Flyers v. Habs

Round 2, Game 5

Will they or won't they? Does it end tonight, or do we relive the frustration of a run 'til Game 7?

Personally, drag it out as long as you can guys! I'm having too much fun for it to end this soon. (Thanks to the always cool FHF guys, Kristin, Ryan, and CapsChick who's now cheering for her school team.)

Sport-wise, get it over with tonight. Reasons?

1.) We don't need the potential injuries a seven-game round could bring.

2.) Sure, the Rangers beat the Penguins. (Finally, someone ruins their pretty little streak!) I'd love to see them frustrate the flightless black birds and run that series as long as possible. The last thing we need if we run long is for them to finish early and get to lay around some more.

In the Event Tonight's a Loss, A Sincere Petition

Dear Captain Smith,

Gator, how are you feeling? I hope you're in a good frame of mind because I'm going to ask a HUGE favor:

Please call Captain Jagr. Pull out all of your leadership, reasoning, negotiating and any blackmail skills and get him to agree to the following:

a.) That he will lead the Rangers in a super-human effort to extend their series as long as it takes for the Flyers to win this one, leaving the Penguins frustrated and spent, or

b.) In the event the CH-blazoned boys pull it out of their, um, y'know, that the Rangers will beat the Penguins or leave them gimpy enough to not win the ECF.

'Cause if we get to the ECF, I really want a Battle of Pennsylvania series. If we don't, it would be interesting to watch a show-down between two teams wearing blanc-bleu-rouge.

Album to watch tonight's game to: Gran Turismo by The Cardigans
Movie to play in the background: PCU

Nerves stink!

Dear Guys,

I'm sorry. You have one of the worst final-three-games stretches possible:

Pittsburgh
New Jersey
Pittsburgh

I'm happy that Jones returned and that R.J. is a possibility for Wednesday.

So, here's my proposal for the Flyers:

Get out there, skate like you own the ice, score like you are the Pens, and leave the nerves to me. In short, act like you're that October Flyers team we were all so much in love with earlier in the season. You have the same people and you do have the capability to do it.

Love yas,
Nadine

C'est la Vie

Chuck Berry's "You Never Can Tell" might not be an appropriate theme song for this weekend's home-and-home between the Flyers and the Habs, but that one phrase from the lyrics sort of sums up my feelings lately.

Tonight's game at the Bell Centre appears to be a face-off between two teams playing craptacular hockey, since the guys over at Four Habs Fans seem as thrilled with their team as Kristin, Ryan and I with ours. Whereas the F-bomb has become a new middle name for some Flyers, there's speculation that certain Habs' first names may be legally changed to it.

Honestly, I'm so unimpressed and uninspired by the play lately that I may - gasp! - skip any association to tonight's game, particularly since I'll be present for tomorrow's battle at the Wachovia Center.

Astounding, I know. I'll make a decision as the day progresses and what plans my girls make for tonight.


Dear Coach and Guys,

I hope you packed your earplugs to filter out the booing tonight. I only say this because you've turned into ADHD poster children.

Just when you guys flirt heavily and woo us with your B+ or A- game, Count Craptacula steps in, puts a spell on you, and we - the fans - are in our prom dress waiting for you to get over you bug-eating ways and return from the dark side. (How's that for full acknowledgement of the Halloween colors, hmm?)

The lack of focus and consistency have been problematic all season long, and I do mean all season. Now, though, it's tag-teamed with poor passing and a "whatever" attitude, the stereotypical, histronic thirteen year old Valley girl version. Figurative shoulder shrugs happen every time I blink and some of you are unrepentant repeat offenders. (Of course, this could be an optical illusion due to the lovely jersey design, but I sincerely doubt it.)

So, I think it's fair to say that the booing concerns me because I just don't think you can handle it at this point.

That's not to say that you won't need to get used to it. With just 25 games left in the regular season, Philly fans may jump onto the booing bandwagon. You've said it yourselves in multiple interviews: There are no excuses - good or bad - for what's happened in the last five games.

I know what losing streaks feel like. Mine were in several different sports, but they all felt the same. I'll avoid the trite platitudes and cliches. They're called "trite platitudes and cliches" for a reason.

Here's what I will share:

Focus on playing a real 60 minutes of hockey each game. Lately it's been about 20 good minutes max.
Complete your passes. It's elementary, my dears.
Spend more time in their zone and less in ours. Defense and puck-clearing have to be better to accomplish this, but you're going to have to dog anyone who crosses the blue line.

Love yas, but tired of this $h1t!


Listening to: "Go Let It Out" by Oasis, "A Dios Le Pido" by Juanes

Flyers PR joins the revolution

Hockey Blogging...Finally

So, forgive me, but wtf? Here's a quote from the Flyers' web site:

On the Fly!
Philadelphia Flyers PR Blog

In the latest endeavor to make philadelphiaflyers.com THE place for all breaking news, updates, and information on the Orange and Black, the club’s public relations department will be keeping a blog right here on the Philadelphia Flyers official team website. We will update this blog with information that may not necessarily make headlines, but is important, interesting or newsworthy nonetheless.

All of the information contained on this page is considered official team news and/or public information.

Maybe I'm just really presumptuous and totally off my rocker, but doesn't that almost sound like at least a few of the independent Flyers' bloggers like me that aren't related to the organization in any official capacity were doing a better job than the PR team?

Yeah, sheer craziness on my part.

On a semi-related note, here's a mini-rant on blogging directed at the Flyers. I'll be quite honest: I have serious envy of CapsChick and Shmee. The Caps have the most blogger-friendly attitude in hockey. Grr!

Fun Flyer Photos

Check out the photo gallery from the meet and greet at Lucky Strike Lanes on the team's site.

• Ben Eager: I love your hat.
• Mike Knuble: I love that you stuck with Orange and Black for yours (the O's).
• Randy and Joffrey: Way to rock those curls!
• Jack Cassidy: Thanks for getting me a shot of each of my boys...I deeply appreciate it!

Note to Kristin

We need to catch up for practice. Let me know when you can go and we'll work something out.

Briere Reprieve

I'm not a Briere fan. I don't passionately dislike him, but I don't actively like him either. However, with the Flyers playing the Habs tonight, I'm give TinyBriere a reprieve. He's going to be annoyed enough by their fans and all of the boos we'll be hearing throughout the game. I hope he scores a goal just to shut them up...but a hat trick would be better.

[Additional material from this point on]

Flyers v. Canadiens

Pros: Richie is still on fire. Marty is still b****ing in goal (in spite of the loss). Scottie had a goal in his first game back. Love it!

Cons: No Hatch, Jonesy, or Gagne. Gator got hurt. Some little pissant hit Sami, then the Habs were surprised when the rest of the team didn't act like last year's Flyers. (Uh, hello? It's this season guys.) We didn't love the second like we normally do. Stupid NHL schedule-makers.

10/13 Islanders v. Flyers

[EDIT: I'm curious how many of my non-Flyer GRs would take the time to slog through this one to the bitter end. Hmmmm.]

Home openers deserve the longest post of the regular season. They should include the sights, the sounds, etc. So, here goes...

Free Swag: One of each given to every person (including the random Isles fans) that came in the doors

(1) A magnetic schedule and

(2) An orange "Back with a Vengeance" T-shirt, sized adult XL.

The shirt will be added to my night-shirt collection. Adult XL in bright, halloween orange looks like crap on someone with dark brown hair, very fair skin, and dark brown eyes that only stands 5' 1.5" (156.2 cm).

Free face-painting is available at the door. I struggle hard not to knock all the kiddies out of my way and jump to the head of the line. In the end, adult sanity prevails and I bypass the whole zoo to collect my swag. ( :p Downie and Boulerice.)

Food, Glorious Food

Making my way to Section 224, I stop at one of the small concession stands, staffed by the nicest people I've ever met at one before. I will go there again next week. Pretzel: check. Beer: check.

I arrive to Section 224, Row 12, Seat 18 and see that the whole section is empty! Fantastic while it lasts. The next residents to arrive were two friendly, middle-aged women who have tickets in the last row. The one carrying their box of treats stops at my row, looks at me and says, "I forgot how far it is to those d*** seats!" My response: "It was a very long off-season, wasn't it?" Total agreement from my hockey sister.

Frat boys - loud, obnoxious, already slightly drunk frat boys that all dressed up for the one girl in their group - fill in the opposite end of my row and I become a little worried. Family of four in front of me. Family of five plus an uncle behind me. (The landscape is improving.) Two nice guys that I presume are fleeing the family for the night sit next on the other side of me, and they really know their hockey.

Buffer between me and the frat boys: Middle-aged couple who's nephew plays for the Devils, but who are rabid - albeit somewhat quiet - Flyers fans. I do not ask who the nephew is. (I've always been really non-intrusive with my best friends who have famous relatives, so why break the streak with people I don't even know?)

I do ask how his season has been going. The wife says the nephew is doing well and she can't wait until Thursday's game, though she doesn't know which sweater to wear for it.

Warm-Ups

I notice a stirring among the kids at the glass. Suddenly, the boys are on the ice, whizzing around, and my heart is completely happy. A round of "boos" starts, distracting me. I look right, and there are the Islanders.

I can't hate them; I don't hate anyone. I do pray TLB Comrie's my little pony girlfriend isn't in attendance, because I will puke if I see her on the big screen. (The Delta Dental ice girls cause enough gag reflex testing...why add Hilary Duff to the mix? And the ice girls are worse than last year.)

I tune the Isles out, and look at my boys. I immediately note that some one needs to talk to Danny Briere and Joffrey Lupul. I know it's only warm-ups, but we're paying too much for you two to skate around without your helmets. (Besides, you don't have mullets to ruffle in the breeze.)

Pre-Game Show

Over the top. For me, it just wasn't necessary because I've been experiencing these feelings since last April like the deprived Philly fan that I am. Besides, it just delayed getting to the real thing: the game.

Game On!

Kristin and I agree: the guys looked slow live. I think it was the antsy-ness of the fans, the road trip, and the pre-game show delay (which left them standing mostly still too long).

First Period

Big thing: Ben Eager is hit in the head, goes down and lays on the ice for a few moments. (Everyone in my section stops breathing for half a second, then starts yelling at the "stupid zebras" for not calling it.) Eager does get up, tries to skate to the other end where play has continued, but even in 224 I can see that he isn't all there. Benny heads towards play in our end, then heads to the bench for the line change.

The in-house reporter reveals during a break in play that Benny won't be returning to the game due to dizziness after the hit to the head. The crowd boos for a prolonged period. (NHL: Review criteria!)

The first period wraps up with neither team scoring. Moving on to...

Second Period

We crash the goal a little more, finally get on the board, and Marty continues to be brilliant in the crease while denying the Islanders entry. jEFF Carter scores first with a wrist-shot goal, assisted by Joffrey Lupul and Randy Jones. Statbit: This is Carter's third goal in three games. Nice little streak to have.

Fast forward two minutes: "The puck is bouncing like crazy! Somebody get a stick on that! Some Flyer do something!" As if Sami had a direct feed from me, he does something with the help of Derian Hatcher and Scott Hartnell.

With a dazzling display of stickhandling, Sami calms the puck while coasting backwards near the crease, lines up, and lifts the puck up and over Pretty Ricky's shoulder for it to eak into the opposite side of the net. Sami continues drifting backwards into the boards, arms up like the victorious warrior he is in that moment. All the guys congratulate him. In my humble opinion, it's one of the sickest goals I've seen live!

Flyers maintain the lead for the remainder of the period, and head into the locker room to a round of applause. The in-house reporter interviews Sami about the goal and the team.

Third Period

I just couldn't watch it. Vasicek scores less than three minutes in. A one goal cushion is not enough insurance for me, or any of the (by now) very drunken frat boys. Serious hockey guys are also looking way too serious about the matter.

With 1:30 left in the game, the Philly fans believe the game is over. They start cheering. Maybe they had more faith than I did, but the game is never over until it's over!

I was on the edge of my seat. Hopeful for the win. Scared that we were not clearing the puck out and keeping it to the other end. And then...

Gator blocks with his body, clearing the puck out, and accidentally-on-purpose scores an empty net goal. It's the captain's first goal of the season, it's at home, and it's in front of a sell-out house. He's wearing the biggest smile on his face, and Kimmo Timonen literally jumps on him for joy.

The Short Story: Flyers win. I love hockey.

Boulerice gets 25

Color me totally not shocked. I completely agree with this suspension as well.

While on the surface I seem to be breaking from other Flyers fans, you shouldn't be surprised. I myself have been the recipient of two traumatic facial injuries. Another family member bears the leftovers of a basal skull fracture from being hit in the head.

This is serious stuff people, so I have an excessively low tolerance level for professional athletes that do it on purpose. (And, yes, both instances were on purpose.)

What is shocking is Jesse Boulerice's lack of control and of support for his team. When you play competitive sports, you play as a unit - always!

To paraphrase Deirdre Martin, hockey players are like warriors. They have a code of honor within the team. You break it, you pay for it. The price is bringing shame and dishonor on your brothers, which can result in being shunned by your teammates because you've proved that you really don't have their backs after all.

Unlike some of the irrational, old school, reliving the 1970s B.S.B. fans, I don't believe the NHL has it in for the Flyers and is punishing us any harder. I think we have two players on our team that gave them two really good opportunities in a two week span.

Coach, time to dig out those training materials and review them with everyone again. Captain, time to make the landscape abundantly clear.

P.S. to Colin Campbell: Don't forget to check out the tape of Tootoo and Weller. You have another suspension-worthy situation there. just think, two for the price of one!

...and the "C" goes to...

Dear Jason,

Congratulations on becoming our 16th captain. With the over-hauled team and your previous experience in the oilers captaincy, I'm looking forward to seeing you lead the lost boys this year.

I do have one significant request as a direct result of the Sept. 26 game against the Caps I attended: Please don't stay at home quite so much.

I realize that's your preferred style for playing defense, but I'm not feeling it so much for the Flyers. This is particularly true when the other guys:

(a) Don't follow the puck to the end where we score our goals, and

(b) Are standing around waiting for scoring opportunities to happen to them rather than creating them.

Again, congratulations, and I'll see you and the boys on October 13 and 18.