Flyers take game 1

Flyers had a slow start as usual, but this time it was really slow. For the entire first period the Flyers were terrible and were being beaten in every aspect of the game - faceoffs, board battles, races to the puck, etc. Fortunately Bryzgalov made some pretty good saves (when he wasn't mishandling the puck and giving it away) and the Flyers only trailed 1-0.

In the second the Flyers started to warm up. Voracek made an incredible pass to Briere to send him in on a a breakaway which he casually flipped past a flopping Brodeur and the Flyers had momentum. Brodeur than made a bonehead giveaway, dove back in net for a miracle save on Gustafsson, but then wasn't so lucky on JVRs rebound bullet that popped the water bottle. Flyers were rolling - for awhile. The ref called a phantom hold on Carle that even the announcers had to criticize and the Devils capitalized thanks to some slow, sloppy play and bad Bryzgalov goaltending. At the end of 2 the Flyers had taken control of the game but were tied 2-2.

In the third the Flyers power play woke up and Giroux blazed a one-time slap shot to the top of the net. The Flyers continued to dominate and control the game but Sievgalov made another appearance. Petr Sykora, who is 1,000 years old and who hasn't scored a playoff goal in 4 years, skated in on a breakaway - not down the middle of the ice, but over to the side - and "unleashed" a pass more than a shot at Bryzgalov that trickled through the 5 hole again. In fact, if the puck hadn't hit the inside of Bryzgalov's right pad the shot would have gone wide. Pathetic. Devils had 2 scoring chances since the first period and scored on both of them and managed to take the game to overtime.

Overtime was totally dominated by the Flyers. Devils had 1 scary flurry thanks to Bryzgalov appearing totally spooked and unconfident, but luckily the puck did not take a crazy bounce into the net, but it had a chance. Briere kicked a puck in that was disallowed and then a minute later blasted it in from above the circle thanks to a great screen by JVR and set up from Voracek for a 4-3 victory.

Other notes:

• As the game wore on, Flyers played better and better.
• As the game wore on, JVR got stronger and stronger.
• As the game wore on, Bryzgalov looked shakier and shakier.
• Coburn played really good - do you think he was missing the net on purpose with all those point shots though?
• Simmonds looks to be more a factor.
• Jagr did not look all that good to me and played with the puck too much instead of doing something with it.
• I thought Brodeur had won the game with that save on Hartnell in OT. You know, great save at one end and then a goal at the other...
• The new line of Briere, JVR and Voracek appears to be a masterstroke after 1 game.
• I hate Eliass.

Eagles move up to grab Cox

The Eagles were aggressive once again during the draft and traded up to 12 in order to get Fletcher Cox, a 6'-4" 298 pound defensive tackle from Mississippi State. Many beat writers and radio hosts predicted this pick as it was unfolding because the Eagles let it be known that they loved Cox. The fans also seem happy with the pick for a change. Some comments regarding his play:

"He's quick hitting the hole and quick penetrating... Good push up the middle and has great tools. 'Total package.'"

Ray Didinger considers him to be the best defensive lineman in the draft.

More to come as the draft progresses.

Finished them

Sigh

After the Flyers become the 5th team in history to blow a 3-0 series lead, I won't delude myself that they will win the Cup the next year to wipe away the disgust and bitterness.

Hope the Eagles draft someone good on Thursday.

Pathetic

Being a long time Philadelphia sports fan I could feel this one coming in my old bones. Fans were extremely overconfident just like they were before other disasters. And the lame and poorly executed Daily News cowardly penguin cover along with the Flyers free t-shirt giveaway that singled out Crosby for ridicule instead of touting the Flyers orange crushedness or something were also reliable indicators that something really bad was going to happen. Most thought and acted like the series was over. Don't you people remember you live and root for Philadelphia teams?

And the team played like they thought it was over too.

The Giroux goal was the first time the Flyers scored first in the series and it was the Duce Staley TD vs. Tampa Bay all over again. We won! Let the celebration begin!

When the game finally ended the Flyers were annihilated and embarrassed 10-3 and didn't score in the 2nd or 3rd periods. And it wasn't just a terrible loss with a terrible effort, terrible goaltending and terrible defense. It was a game that gave the Penguins life, confidence, momentum and also allowed them to right themselves. By the end Fleury could make a save again and Malkin was no longer missing the net. This series is going 7 as most originally predicted and the Flyers will probably blow 4 straight games. The goaltending is not going to improve. The sucky Sievegalov is back and he can't move post to post.

Also, the refs suck for calls on both teams.

3-0 vs gutless Penguins

The old sports cliche of teams taking their cues from their captain appears to be very true for the Pittsburgh Penguins. A tweet by @FlyGoalScoredBy summed up today's game:

Gutless Rankings:

1. James Neal
2. Byslma
3. Asham
4. Crosby
5. Person who was born without guts

But strangely I was not that irate by all the penguins punk moves because the Flyers were again crushing them on the scoreboard by putting up another 8 goals. Fleury and his ridiculous soul patch has been absolutely terrible and the main reason the Flyers are up 3-0 in the series. His lowlights include a Bugs Bunny backhand by Talbot that was probably the worst goal I've seen allowed since Dempsy scored vs. England during the World Cup. The effort vs. Read was bad and the goal by Simmonds that everyone in the building knew was going to be a shift to the backhand finally put him on the bench.

At the other end of the ice though, Sievegalov has made his return. Bryz let in goals that in my view were all imminently stoppable. The first allowed was awful and the fourth even worse. The Neal goals in between were shots through gaping 5 holes. The best sign though was the Flyers did shut out the Penguins in the third.

Let's see now if the NHL hands out any suspensions. Asham is probably guaranteed, but probably not for Neal despite his late, interfering, leaving his feet hit on Couturier and his head hunting hit on Giroux a minute later because that's how the NHL rolls.

Flyers need to end this series on Wednesday.

Imagine if the Flyers played all 3 periods

Flyers had the usual pathetic first period (which never fails to anger me), but they fought back from 3-0, got some big breaks and prevailed in OT, 4-3, on one of the weakest efforts by an opponent you'll ever see. Nice play Letang!

And nothing is more satisfying than seeing Crosby's pouty, crybaby face at the end of the game. Because he sucks.

Holmgren's trades are looking better and better...

First round matchup

Crosby sucks and is the biggest crybaby in sports. Penguin fans are the stupidest and most clueless in sports. Pittsburgh announcers are simply the worst. Pittsburgh is the team I currently hate the most.

Flyers better win.

Phillies drop 2 of 3 to Pirates.

The Phillies lost twice to the Pirates on baseball’s opening weekend, confirming fans’ fears about the team: Philadelphia’s hitting is anemic; there will be plenty of close games this season; and the bullpen will be called upon to save about 50 one or two run games. Also confirmed: the starting pitching is great, though the Pirates are hardly an offensive juggernaut. Below are my takes on the games, based on hearing bits and pieces on the radio and watching highlights.

Game 1:
Pitchers Roy Holiday and Jonathan Papplebon were great, the offense was awful, but the Phillies win 1-0 thanks to timely plays by Mayweather and Chooch.

Game 2:
Pitcher Cliff Lee and most relievers were good, the offense was awful, and the Phillies lose in 10 innings. Lee’s wild pitch led to the Pirates’ first run and underscored just how razor thin the starter’s margin of error will be this year.

Game 3:
The Phillies offense was better this game, starting pitching was strong, but the bullpen blew the game after being handed a 4-1 lead, with an error in the 7th inning being quite costly. Hunter Pence and Juan Pierre had good games.

Some issues remain undecided after the series- namely who will lead off and who will play first base until Ryan Howard returns. Victorino lead off for two games, with Pierre batting first on Sunday. Pierre seemed to do a better job. The Phillies started three different players at 1st base (Wigginton, Nix and Thome) and really all that was decided was that Thome can still turn a 3-6-3 double play. Perhaps Mayberry will get a chance at first base soon, so he and Pierre can be in the line-up at the same time.

Next up for the Phillies are the revamped and renamed Miami Marlins in the home opener.