Slow Week, High Hopes

Dear Gentle Readers,

One of the main reasons this blog was so quiet over the summer was an extra special project at work: how to plan and pull off a company health fair in two months with no budget.

It can be done, and it can be done well, in that short a time. But here's what I learned from it:

• Inevitably, when this sort of special project comes along, something else that you're working on is going to get bumped up to compete with it and complicate your life.
• You're going to be so tired at the end of the day that you just want to go home, drop into bed, and go to sleep. Unfortunately, your body will not have received the "Tired!" message from your brain.
• Every logistical nightmare that could possibly occur in the final few days, will.

But here's something else we all have to learn, as cliched as it may be: don't sweat the small stuff.

Sure, it still sounds as annoying to me as "Whatever" does coming out of my Gen Xer mouth to my Boomer and Traditionalist bosses, but I can appreciate the sentiment. Sweating the small stuff just takes that much more out of you and it doesn't allow you enjoy the good moments to their fullest. Whatever, indeed.

Which leads me in a very roundabout way to the Flyers. The first loss of the season has to happen some time. Yes, it sucks that it happened against the Pens. But beyond it being a Battle of Pennsylvania game, it's not worth sweating that loss.

We're only a two weeks into the season; it's not like it's February.

The guys are finally getting their annual team-building trip underway. Here's hoping they have fun fishing and sailing in Florida.

Meanwhile, all you Phillies fans get to watch the NLDS unchallenged for a few days. Here's hoping your high hopes are realized. And, K-Mart, it's better that I stay a fan of my team, trust me.

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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Phone Booth = Hell

Bell Centre Spectre

C'mon, you knew it couldn't last. Besides, we don't (usually) beat the Habs at home, or ever, unless it's not a play-off game (recently).

Congrats to Asham and Coburn (harem represents!) on tonight's goals.

Semi Off-Topic

Suppose you received a substantial reward for a job well done, in the amount of more than $500 and less than $1000 (taxes already deducted). Since you don't have debts to pay off with it and the economy sucks, what do you purchase with it?

Leave your fun thoughts in the comments.

Deciding what to do for tomorrow's holiday luncheon at work,
Flyers.Femme
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What the...?

When Track Records Bite, er, Hurt

Last season we had a bunch of repeat offender injuries: self-inflicted tears to major leg muscles by The Mikes, any number of groin pulls, several non-specific upper and lower body injuries, and quite a few concussions (yes, more than Simon's three). Then there is the granddaddy of them all as far as yours truly is concerned...the puck to the face.

Last season, two of my faves ended up with 25 and 50+ stitches in the face after being blasted. Last night, Ossi Vaananen and Luca Sbisa took 'em in the face. Granted, their outcomes were nothing like dear Sami nor anything remotely approximating Coburn in the FPoW final.

All I can say is thank God, but please make it stop! Do you have any idea how hard it is to be at the game and try to avoid all the screens showing the replay in a building with "Welcome to Comcast Country" emblazoned on the walls? *Shudder*

12/04 v. NJD at Home

Really, it was not as thrilling as I would have liked it to be. I'm sure the Devils fans love the outcome.

My (new) favorite Finn scored the first goal on an unassisted slapshot in the second. It was a thing of beauty.

Not so beautiful? Upshall checking himself into the boards to start the third. He made up for it by slipping a wrister in with about 4:30 left in the game. That's when the nail biting started...y'know, if I bit my nails.

I feel as if, sometimes, the Flyers are...hesitant...to win a game outright. Like they really have to go into OT for it to count, which is so not the case because the other team gets at least a point and there's a 50-50 shot that we don't win.

That's what happened last night. Next time, try not to give them all freakin' day to set up, 'kay?

Kudo to my second favorite Finn: Kukkie, I love when you put your body on the line like that! And was that you being a teensy, little bit lippy on the way to the box? :)

In Other Hockey-Centric News

• A six game suspension. (Oh, and therapy. Don't forget therapy!) Here's hoping the Stars level even more punishment to the tally (games out, pay, whatever...just so it's more).
• A six game suspension for that (plus the other total crap spewed this season so far)? When the average suspension for a head shot is either three or four games? I'll repeat my comment to a post on HLOG now:

In all seriousness, I'm for the NHL growing a pair, using their collective brain power, sorting their shite out, and getting some real process for suspensions. This arbitrary crap is tweaking my last nerve, so maybe I'll suspend them for the cumulative bother. :p

End of rant.

So, I'll just be hanging in my humble abode (it really is), prepping for my open house next Friday, and chillin' to a game tomorrow night on a local TV station that is not a proprietary sports channel for The (New) Evil Empire.

Making merry one driving punk song at a time,
Flyers.Femme
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On Coach Stevens

One of the recent weekly topics over at HLOG was to write about our team's coach. So, for better or worse, here's my take - as of right now - on Coach John Stevens.

During the season that shall not be named, the Flyers waited eight games for eight straight losses, then revamped the GM and Coach. John Stevens moved from the Phantoms, our AHL team, across the parking lot to the big team.

For many, this seemed to be good move due to his history with the organization as 1.) a player for our AHL teams the Hershey Bears and the Philadelphia Phantoms, coincidentally with the latter as the captain during their 1998 Calder Cup championship win, and 2.) as a coach, when he led the Phantoms to their second Calder Cup in 2005.

Currently, I'm of two minds with regard to Johnny for one simple reason: he's too freakin' steady behind the bench! Why is this a problem?

Well, let me start with why I like Coach Stevens being so steady. Last season was awesome for Flyer fans! (Um, until February when everything when further south than an ice cube in the Sahara.) While much of that success came from the guys wearing the equipment and uniforms, another part was due to Stevens' consistency and support. Line shuffling, injuries, and - yes - suspensions happened, but Johnny stayed on-message. He reaffirmed the skills that needed to be developed and the areas that were strong.

But, darn it, he needed to call a few guys out for suckitude! In my view, that only happened once last season. And this is becoming more of my attitude for whatever is going down with the team this year...going down being the operative part of the description.

Honestly, getting the puck in the goal isn't our biggest issue at this point, if the scores from all those seven loses at the start of the season are anything to go by. (And, yes, they are!)

No, our issue is far more ironic than that: defense. Ironic for two simple reasons.

1.) It was our sticking point last season and it's playing out that way yet again.

Right as we headed into the regular season this year, we lost two players who I think could be key to our defense being successful during the 08-09 campaign: Ryan Parent and Randy Jones. And it's not like we lost them for a short time, a la Tiny!Briere. Nope, Parent is out 12-14 weeks and Jones was scheduled for 6-8 weeks.

Also, our defense not playing up to par in terms of positioning, speed, and sheer gutsy-ness means that our goalies are working harder and not as smartly.

2.) John Stevens was a defenseman.

Dear Coach

So, when's the trip to Whistler? 'Cause I feel like the guys need it. If you don't have the time, inclination, or cash for one in Western Canada, might I recommend a former place of employment?

At any rate, consider the option of some team-building activities. That way, when things are sorted with the Phillies and sports mojo returns to another City of Brotherly Love team, you're maybe in a better position than the Eagles to take advantage of it.

After all, we'll be over that other mojo suckage phenomenon caused by the special guest.

Now, I'm going to try and find Sami's phone number...

Ciao,
Flyers.Femme
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Jeez!

Home of deep dish pizza, the Cubbies (my NL fave), and my other favorite "tribe," the Blackhawks.

Q. You go away for a few days. What happens?
A. The Flyers decide to beat the Habs, at home.

Honestly, guys. I was fine with the OT loss on Thursday. I didn't expect an OT situation, least of all in MTL, so yeah!

But beating them on Saturday in front of their own fans when - by all accounts - you played like the lesser team (well, except you Marty...you apparently got all the goalie mojo that night)?

Niiiiice!*

We'll see how Price recovers from that game and whether he can continue to be Montreal's TFS (tm by FHF).


*Blondie: Find the people who investigated Miss Puerto Rico's claims of pepper in her dress and present them with every one of your sticks. This cannot continue...it smacks of tampering or poor construction/design.

Weekend Review

March 28: Unsuprisingly, the Flyers lost to the Devils. However, we did make them go to overtime and got a point out of it. That's much better than it has been.

Final Score: Flyers 4, Devils 5

March 29: Unsurprisingly, the Flyers beat the Islanders. The continued game sitch practice pays off with our win in the shoot-out.

Final Score: Flyers 4, Islanders 3


Next up: Pens in The Burgh. After that last match-up, it has to get better, right?

Road Trip Hiatus

Business trips during hockey season stink. Vacation I can deal with because I'm choosing to go away but I pick places where there are TV or Interweb possibilities to stay up-to-date with the Flyers and Hockey.

No such luck on this latest business trip. Thanks, IT security nazi for making it impossible to not only blog while I was away but to even fulfill my job duties. (I want hazard pay for what I'll confront in my inbox when I return to the office. Until then, I'm burying my head in the sand at home!)

On the up-shot, it's not like I really missed much. A stunning home-and-home loss to the Leafs (for crying out loud!), an OT loss to the Bruins (please tell me someone hit the Giraffe), a major blow-out suffered against the Pens (that makes up for our 8-2 pounding on them earlier in the season, right?) and a win over the Thrash (which we would not have achieved if not for Niitty).

Next up: A Good Friday match-up with the Evil blue-shirted Rangers at home. Dude, I can't even watch it...Ranger games are bad like Devils games this year. Good luck, guys! If that freakishly tall Valiquette is in the net, you're going to need it.

3/04 Sabres v. Flyers

Congratulations

Derian and Heather Hatcher and family on the arrival of their new daughter, Finley.

Oh no!

Briere's out with a minor shoulder sprain and listed day-to-day.

Batten Down the Hatches

We're taking on the BuffaSlugs, who have something to prove. They're slumping with four losses in the past five games. Crunchy (aka Ryan Miller) has been ridden hard over the past 19 games and starts tonight. Oh, and they want our #8 spot.

Game Stuff

C'mon! Why not just start the game with a shoot-out? I don't know that Pominville could have scored faster that way, but whatever. Why must we come from behind? And there goes another one, this time by Afinogenov. *sigh*

Hey, a four-on-four. What say we make-believe it's a power play?

Upshall: Score! (And more points for Timonen and Carter.)

HUGE scrum with 26 seconds left. After sorting out the penalties, we get the better of the sitch.

Personal Appeal: Bowl-of-Rice and Cote, tempting as it may be to scratch your itch with Kaleta, please do not do it! We're down in this game, we're battling to stay in the play-offs and we need to play smart hockey right now. Repeat: Don't do it.

Upshall makes a large hit on Tallinder. Tally-Ho is slow getting up and perhaps a little fruit-loopy.

Downie: Score! (Yeah Sami on the assist! Also pulling down a point, Modry.)

Argh!

Recap: March 1-2

March 1: Flyers v. NY Islanders

We won. Two points. Woo-hoo!


March 2: Flyers v. NY Rangers

We lost in the shoot-out. (What else is new?) One point. Yeah.


Back-to-back games with early afternoon start times? Yuck!

Next up: The Buffaslugs

2/23 Kitty Cats v. Flyers

First Period

No goals by anyone. We successfully killed two penalties. Overall, the play seems to be waaaay more inspired than Thursday.

By the way, Ollie Jokinen is there tonight but his presence isn't as forceful and all-consuming as usual.

Second Period

Danny Briere scores a goal! (Blondie, thanks for the assist.)

And then we lose focus, earning a too many men on the ice penalty. *eye roll* However, we successfully kill that penalty also and finish out the period with the only goal and lead.

Third Period

Hey, Jay Bouwmeester, like taking out Simon Gagne wasn't enough this season? You had to knock around Richie tonight, too? No, apparently Bouwmeester also wanted to cruelly rob Niitty of a shut-out.

Sound guys waited for it and played GNR's "Welcome to the Jungle" for the mini-intermission before OT. That's when you're supposed play it, not during the third period.

Over Time

Hustle, guys. Be wild.

Jones, love ya, but why the penalty? Apparently, Ollie decided to wake up for OT and he scored.

Dear Guys,

I'm not going to whine much about this one. (Well, I'll curse out the Florida Kitty Cats but that's all.) You played better. You had energy. You created opportunities and took advantage of them.

Stay positive. Work hard but don't think too hard about it. Have fun at the carnival tomorrow.


Side rant: Another ED commercial? AAAAHHHH! My ears are burning! I'm too young to be hearing about this. Always, Kotex, Platex and Stay-Free: help a fangirl out!

2/21 Sharks v. Flyers

Dear Flyers,

Pardon the girlie, PMS-y question here, but I missed my telenovelas for that?!!?

I have some truly snarky comments I could make. I'm not going to do it tonight. (Tomorrow may be a different story.)

As painful as that game was for the fans, it has to have been 100 times worse for all of you and I just don't feel like crapping on you when everyone else will do it. I mean, I even feel sorry for Tiny!Briere right now.


Dear Flyers in-house, in-game promoters,

You should be ashamed of yourselves! You should have stuck that ice girl in any other jersey tonight.

Or are you trying to make the fans believe that you had no idea Briere will be booed harder by us in the Wachovia Center than by the Habs fans in the Bell Centre?


Dear Gentle Readers,

I can't even begin to dissect that game. My frustration level tonight was higher than the Nov. 17th Devils-induced blow-out I witnessed from Row 1 behind the goal.

Oh and I did something I have never done before: I left the game before it was over! If the Flyers weren't going to win, I wasn't going to miss my train home for it. Selfish I know, however, I'm 99.99% certain that my staying wouldn't have positively influenced the game's outcome for us.


Dear Mike Knuble,

Thanks for setting up that play and going for the goal. Loved it! (Way to pitch in Rosie and Richie.)

P.S.: The new haircut looks great on you. Did you go to the same place as Sami, Kimmo and Danny?


Dear God,

Please, help!

Also, please send enough crappy weather to give me a snow day tomorrow. I won't complain about the 5:30 a.m. wake-up call if it means I can go straight back to bed and start my weekend earlier.

Buckle Down

I didn't take notes during the game, largely because I ended up sitting next to Tina. She's nice and knows hockey every bit as well as her boyfriend, a former hockey player. We talked, found common ground on several points and made snarky comments in those moments that were just too painful to watch. (That "we" includes the boyfriend, too.)

The one outstanding positive of last night's game was Riley Cote's first NHL goal. Welcome to the club, Riley.

First Period

I loved the first period. It was exciting, high energy and seemed to last longer than the usual twenty minutes. Kovalev scored, but so what? That's what he does for the Habs. Of course, Richie put one in short-handed and that's what he does for us.

Things that made me want to scream:

Begin's hit on Tolpenko. I like Denis! We'd just gotten him back from a separated shoulder and time spent with the Phantoms. Now he's out with a mild concussion. (The second one of the home-and-home since Downie's out with one also.)

Vandermeer's mental lapse. Requires no explanation at all.

I wasn't too disappointed with the score at the end of the first.

Second Period

The second period seemed to start off with a bang, thanks to Coby's goal in his first game back from the Pain in the @$$.

Things that made me want to scream:

Cary Price. Kid is on his game and that's on fire right now.

Five power plays that don't result in a goal. Four of them were consecutive. Everyone was thinking too hard or telegraphing the shot by taking too much time to line it up. Oh, and Briere was mincing in and causing everyone to slow down.

Creating a 5-3 penalty kill. Self-explanatory when playing anyone, but particularly the Habs.

Third Period

Frustration City. Niitty made some amazing saves throughout the night.

Things that made me want to scream:

The best display of consistent inconsistency in the NHL continues to be the officiating by the referees, something I think all fans - regardless of team colors - can agree on.

We'll see what happens on Tuesday against Ottawa. I'll be present for the Sharks game on Thursday.

Until then, have fun hockey fans!

2/06 Caps v. Flyers

As of 10:00 in the Third

Congratulations, Hextall. Thanks, Knuble! (Wait, is the KGB [Knuble-Gagne-Briere] line back or was that a line-change fluke?)

That's all I can say for tonight's game.

Oooh, Blog Candy!

Gentle Readers,

There's a new poll!

So while I contemplate ditching it all to move back to South America - just 'cause it's fun to think about doing it - make your voices heard on the ambiente acá.

Ciao,
Nadine

OMG! Two from the Harem!

Sami! Woo-hoo! (With that assist by Cartsie, and the first goal by the KGB line, did Stevens opt for "old home week" with the lines in honor of Hexie?)

Wait, Randy also! Double woo-hoo!

Final Score: Caps 4, Flyers 3. Long live our consistent inconsistency.

So...?

Last Night - Yuck!

Basically, two things that have plagued the team all season (so far) happened last night:

1. Lack of consistency or "urgency" as Johnny is fond of saying.

I'm thinking it's more like there's a collective attention span of a gnat when everybody's added together. How else do you account for three defensemen on the ice because you weren't paying attention to your line changes during a penalty kill?

Which is a nice segue into the next item on the list.

2. Penalty trouble...people in Halloween colors spent too much time in the sin bin. Seriously, I don't care if the Devils penalty kill has been 0 for 30,000 since the start of the season, you cannot let them have that many free shots.

You guys have the top-ranked power play in the league, not the top-ranked penalty kill.

Tomorrow Night

Dear Guys,

We face the Flightless Black Birds tomorrow night. Yes, Cindy is relegated to the Press Box if he travels over for the game, but the Pens are doing better than fine without him.

Besides, I've promised that we'll at least pound them a good one to the guys over at Four Habs Fans in exchange for enthusiastic booing of Z the Giraffe. Not only did the fans fulfill that promise, Elder Koivu and his henchmen pounded the Bruins the way we pounded the Pens last time they visited us.

(FHF guys, if we beat the Pens, will you make sure to beat the New Jersey Devils?)

See you tomorrow night. I'll be sporting the jersey, rocking the glass with Kristin for warm-ups, then running up to the front of 212 to watch the mess.

Yours truly,
Nadine

Blech!

That's all I've got to say about the Rangers game.

10/24 Flyers v. Panthers

[Author's note: I passionately dislike listening to hockey on the radio. It turns me into a nervous Nellie. I need visuals, gosh darnit!]

First Period

Crap! (Grr. Jokinen. I passionately dislike her.) So, here's my prediction:

1st: We'll do our usually crappy play.
2nd: We'll love it a lot and get on the board.
3rd: Anybody's guess...including the boys'.

no, No, NO, NOOOOO! No more stupid penalties. Let them get the penalties...jeez.

Okay, Fricks and Fracks, get the puck in their end. Keep it there. Crash the net. Shoot. Get on the board.

Intermission: Marty, I hope you're reaming a few new ones. Coach, *sigh*. Waiting for a Gagne update.

Second Period

Please kill the penalty. Gagne out with dizziness. (I'm sensing an unhealthy trend there.) Thank you for the PK.

Ugh! More penalty killing. I want at least one goal as repayment for that, Eager. (Anybody can score it. I'm not too particular.)

Yes, a power play! Waiting...Joffrey Lupul, you really are a Flyer. Last year with Edmonton, you played like one of us. Now you're here, and you play like one of us. Thank you!

Another one...another one...I'm greedy and I want another one. Carter scores! Woo-hoo! I knew you'd be back on the board shortly.

Argh. Okay, deep breaths. Marty, shake it off.

Intermission: I really enjoy that we have a trend of scoring in the second, as it's a "make-up" for giving me less than nothing during the first. I also thoroughly enjoy our trend of scoring back-to-back goals in the second. But I really want to see this carry over to other periods during the game.

Third Period

Campbell, right.

Sitting tight. Nothing to write...

Kukkie! Yipee, your first goal. Okay guys. Lock it down. Frustrate them. Don't draw penalties. Shoot a lot.

Game over: Lasse gets his first goal. Joffrey converted on a power play. Jeff is back to putting the puck in the net. Gagne is out with dizziness after Bouwmeester's shoulder meets his head.

Final score: Panthers 4, Flyers 3. Not my preferred result, but I can live with it. ('Cause, really, I am not Marty McFly in Back to the Future so I can't go back in time and change it.)