Same Old, Same Old

OK, sure the Phils put up big runs in the opener to make you feel like they have fixed their hitting problems and wouldn't get shut down like they did last year verses the Giants. Then they took the last two games of the Series (and very fine outings by Hamels AND "lowly" Kendrick) to remind us of the reason they lost the NLCS last year and failed to get a championship: Offense.

I dunno. It's a good wake up call before the trade deadline to drive that point home, but with all that money tied up in Cliff Lee instead of another hitter and time down to the wire right now.... I don't know if they can make a move to fix this. Is selling your whole farm system for Hunter Pence the answer? Philly.com did provide a small caution on that, which was an interesting read:

Pence is not without faults. His strikeouts are up. His walk rate is painfully low. He has two fewer home runs than Raul Ibanez. His batting average on balls in play is a staggering .367, which means luck has greatly contributed to a .307 batting average.

What do you think? What would be your move?

Making Moves

A month since the last post, the subject still the same, the team different.

Kolb goes to ARI for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie AND a 2nd round draft pick. Seeems like a good deal to me. I still worry about fixing our pass defense problems with another corner, when something up front seems like it would have been more impactful. However, the Birds ALSO signed Jason Babin in a move to strengthen their DE position. Not sure if he can put up numbers like last year, but it should help!

And last but not least, it looks like the Eagles are going to sign Vince Young. Call me Mr. Negative, but I think Reid is a self absorbed megalomaniac who relishes the idea of being as good as the guy in New England in rehab projects. For a team that is almost definitely going to need the backup (remember, Vick has made it through, what, one season EVER without going down), this guy has no heart, isn't that good in the first place, and was a distraction in TEN.... all the while throwin gas many TDs and Picks, completing less than 60pct of his passes, and getting beat out in his job by a has been 50 year old QB. Totally unexcited about this move, although there may not have been any better options: all the eggs are pretty much in the Vick basket anyway.

What else is gonna happen?

Making moves

Whether it's a good thing or bad thing that the passionate Ed Snider can feel the cold hand of death on his shoulder is debatable, but at least it isn't a boring thing. You knew changes were coming after the Flyers were sent meekly out of the playoffs via a Boston sweep in the second round, but nobody really thought the changes would be this drastic. So off goes Jeff Carter to Columbus and team captain Mike Richards to Los Angeles to help make salary cap room for the great white hope, Ilya Bryzgalov and his 100 year, trillion dollar salary (actually 9 years, 51 million).

Both Carter and Richards were drafted together in the first round in 2003, were a huge reason the Phantoms won the Calder Cup in 2005 as they were added to the team mid-playoffs, and also lead Team Canada to a World Juniors Gold Medal before that. (Note who was a C and an A in that picture) They also helped take the Flyers to game 6 in last year's finals. They have a history of success together, but suddenly they are a bad locker room presence blah blah blah.

Fans whine about Carter (just like they do about Hamels) because they perceive him as soft, doesn't score on every great chance, and are following the mindless herd. These are the same fans who will soon be whining about the Flyers lacking a pure sniper again as Carter takes his team leading 36 goals (7th in NHL), his 30 assists, his +27 (13th in NHL), and his team lead in power play goals and game-winning goals out of town. He was also improving on faceoffs. I think Carter will continue to improve and become a better all-around player and become more consistent as his brain matures and matches his ability - he still seems like a big, dumb kid to me. Although playing for Columbus and in a college town may make that difficult.

I'm not as upset about losing Richards as most people are because I think we've seen the best from him already. This past season and the playoffs he started to wear down and look tired - a busted wrist doesn't slow your skating down. I think he's like a running back in the NFL and his body has reached the limit of abuse it can take. Richards needs to play a physical style to succeed and he's just not that big and solid and it's starting to take its toll. (It may also have been the tons of hockey he had to play - NHL season, Olympics, all the way to the finals last year, and this year's season.) Notice on the penalty kill he's lost that step that used to make him deadly. His ability to be quick and act on what he's anticipating has seemingly disappeared. His great 2 way play, his minutes, and his time on special teams will still be difficult to replace however. Richards was also trusted to make the right play at the right time. There's a reason he was the captain and was always on the ice at the end of close games.

Other Flyers players that also won't be back include Darroll Powe, who was traded for a 3rd round pick to Minnesota, and Dan Carcillo, who was not offered a contract. Powe was fast, was the team's leading hitter, and helped to successfully kill off a lot of penalty minutes. I guess the Flyers are thinking by not resigning Carcillo and all his dumb penalties it lessens the need for solid penalty killers, but they still have Hartnell and Briere. They also don't need Carcillo to lose fights since Jody Shelley has that covered and then some. It also looks like Boucher will be gone, but that never seems permanent.

So who are the new Flyers received in return? For Carter, the Flyers got a guy that has never lived up to his potential in Jakub Voracek and draft picks that resulted in Sean Couturier (who may actually be great some day) and Nick Cousins.

Video on Couturier:



Richards was traded for proven NHL player Wayne Simmonds and every scout's supposed favorite prospect based on what he did in this year's World Juniors games, Brayden Schenn.

Brayden Schenn reveals his favorite player is Crosby:



Simmonds is being sold as someone that will be a fan favorite, just like Carcillo once was - a physical guy that never stops playing and is aggressive etc., but of course with little offensive talent. Schenn on the other hand seems to have the offensive talent but is only 19. His scouting report reads just like Mike Richards' once did:

ASSETS: Has good playmaking ability and a defensive conscience. Leads by example and could be future captain material. Is feisty and ultra-competitive, and will never back down from a challenge.

FLAWS: Is better at playmaking than he is at goal-scoring. Needs to get stronger to better handle the top big centers in the NHL.

CAREER POTENTIAL: Potential two-way center with plenty of scoring upside.

Source: CBC Sports

So the end result of these deals is the team got younger, bigger, and cheaper and hopefully has a reliable grade-A goaltender for years to come. What they lost is 30 or so goals, excellent penalty killing, and veteran and playoff experience. What are question marks is who is going to fill all these vacated roles, will the younger players like Giroux and JVR step up, and what about their defense which is aging fast and looked very suspect as last year's season and playoffs progressed? Remember when they couldn't protect a lead in the second half of season and all the bad goals they gave up vs. Buffalo and Boston that weren't the goaltender's fault? Either way, even if these moves don't pan out the Flyers are still good for what sports are supposed to do - entertain - and at least they are being aggressive, taking calculated risks and sincerely trying to win another Stanley Cup. And who even knows if they are done yet. An offer sheet to Stamkos that Tampa can't match maybe?...

Doormats again!

Rex gets another Cup (not as a Flyer) and retires.

We become a doormat again. BOS (2011), CHI (2010), PIT (2009), TB (2004), NJD (2000), DET (1997). That's six of the last fifteen Cups. If you take out the West winners that we didn't get to play, that's six of the last nine... DOORMATS! And in those six games, wow, we lost in the semi finals or the finals in four of them.

LOSERS! LOSERS! LOSERS!

Sad. And maddening.

Oh, wait a minute... I'm an ungrateful Philly fan. I should be happy we "compete" that frequently for the Cup. Right.

We didn't draw the Fire

It took me until Friday night to watch last weekend's Union game, and as they're playing at Toronto in less than 12 hours I'll make this quick.

They say good teams find ways to win when they're not at their best. Well, the Union definitely weren't at their best against the Chicago Fire, as evidenced by blown chances for goals in the first half, letting the Fire tie the game on a weak goal almost immediately after taking the lead in the second half, and then almost allowing another goal saved only by a desperate save by fullback Sheanon Williams on the goal line.

Despite the above, though, they found a way to win 2-1, and scored two goals for the first time this season.

Rookie midfielder Michael Farfan got the scoring started with a free kick blast that deflected into the net for his first Union goal.

He then, having been moved to left fullback after Jordan Harvey was substituted out, got beat badly by Fire winger Dominic Oduro who ran right past Farfan and then subsequently badly beat goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon on the near post. Not a great defensive sequence.

But forget all that crap because Carlos "Soccer Chooch" Ruiz then scored one of the best goals you'll see all year — volleying a sweet rebound of his own (terrible) free kick over Chicago's keeper, under the bar, dead center of the goal. Ridiculous.

NOTES:

* Union start early today — noon in Toronto.

* Who ya got in the Champions League final? I'm picking Manchester United with the upset, which I guess means I have to root for them now despite the fact I have no rooting interest in this one. I'd usually take the underdog, but it's hard to look at Man U in that light. Should be an entertaining game any way it goes, though.

* With the NFL lockout ongoing, will we see more soccer on Fox in the fall? Or, as Norm Macdonald joked, "Are you ready for some cricket?"

Utley, offensive production return

I find it a bit hard to believe guy going 0 for 5 on his season debut inspired a long overdue outburst from the Phillies' offense, but if that's what it took I'm plenty OK with it.

The new addition to the lineup was, of course, Chase Utley, off the DL and playing his first game this season. He went hitless, but no one else in the starting lineup did — including starting pitcher Cole Hamels. Overall the Phils rolled up 10 runs on 14 hits against the Reds Monday night, including three homers by Placido Polanco, Jimmy Rollins and Raul Ibanez.

The offense had not scored more than 3 runs in its previous — often excruciating to watch — nine games. Great pitching for most of that stretch kept the Phillies in first place, but let's hope the offense continues to pick it up so the staff has a bit of leeway.

I don't know what to expect from Utley, so some improved output from his teammates could also give him some time to work his way back into contributing with the bat.

NOTES:

* Relievers Antonio Bastardo and rookie Michael Stutes have been very impressive all season, and a big bonus for what looked like a shaky bullpen heading into the season. More importantly, Ryan Madson has flourished as the closer this season, and the team's decent record in the midst of terrible offensive output can be credited to Madson as much as the starters.

* In semi-related business, I was watching the Philadelphia episode of Drinking Made Easy wherein the hosts were served an "I Heart Chase" at ALFA American Tavern. Looked tasty, but definitely a "pinky out" drink.

Pathetically swept

Flyers finish what started after the All-Star break with a pathetic series vs. Boston and were pathetically swept. They didn't show up for the last half of the season, didn't really show up vs. Buffalo (but it turned out they didn't have too because Buffalo just wasn't that good), and only showed up for 1 period out of 4 games vs. Boston.

So a season of great promise that started AWESOME ends in shambles thanks to a sputtering offense that couldn't finish, a horrible defense and a coach that had no answers - the Eagles on ice.

A thorough evaluation of the season will be coming in a few days naming everyone that sucks and why they suck and who must go. But feel free to get a jump on that in the comments.

Flyers suck

Flyers suck. There will be no miracle comeback this year. Boston is the superior team.

Other notes:

• Start Bob for game 4.
• Flyers suck.

Flyers lose game 2 and maybe the series?

Here is one thing you'll never hear: "The Flyers goalie stole this game." We heard it twice for Ryan Miller in Round 1 and now once with Tim Thomas in Round 2 for his effort in this game. Flyers goalies only blow games, not steal them.

The Flyers started great, with JVR scoring on a 2 on 1, 29 seconds in. Then JVR even got a power play goal to put the Flyers up 2-0. But Boston got one back and shortly after that the familiar refrain of "Boucher would like to have that one back." was uttered for the umpteenth time.

The Flyers were outplayed and even dominated in the second, but the game stayed tied at 2-2. The Flyers then dominated the third with "10 bell chance after 10 bell chance," but nobody could beat Thomas. Probably every forward on the ice blew a golden opportunity. Or looking at it from a Boston perspective: Thomas made great saves. But one save Thomas didn't have to make came with 4 seconds left as Briere was looking at a wide open net but fanned and then Thomas saved the second try. Despite outshooting Boston 21-7 in the third you started to get that feeling...

In ovetime the Flyers had the better chances early and even nicked the crossbar. Then Carle, who should not see the ice in an overtime gave it away, but Peverley rang it off the post from 40 feet away. Boucher was beat. Flyers hit the post again themselves a little later. Hartnell made a great block of a Recchi shot to extend the game for at least another couple minutes. But then Timonen blows it, gives it away and Krejci buries it off the back crossbar for the OT win. The refs remained clueless that he scored, but replays confirmed the 3-2 Boston victory.

Other notes:

• If there was any justice in sports JVR would have won it in OT after his great effort and probably greatest game of his young career. But that's not how sports work. It isn't some corny movie following a script.
• Do the Flyers now have Boston right where they want them? Or do they have to lose 1 more game?

U-S-A!

As the Obama news hit the fans, they spread the word quickly, and then chanted U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A! For all the classless talk about our fandome, at least we can now enjoy some national attention for sharing in the moment honorably. And, sure, it's not like this killing will end the terrorism, or justify the hundreds of millions of dollars spent on the hunting (dare I guess billions?), or justify the number of lives cost trying to kill this one tyrant... But it is a nice emotional victory, and it's a great tribute to those that orginally lost their lives in the WTC and Pentagon, as well as those who have died in service since then, especially the honorable efforts in Afghanistan.

I was there on Oct 7, 2001, when Dubya came on live in the Vet Phanavision announcing that we had just started our mission in Afghanistan. Was that the Cardinals game where Jake The Snake beat us on the last drive when Troy Vincent let behind him the Cardinals WR with essentially no time on the clock. This couldn't have been better than that, but it was another nice opportunity for the fans to resume that same chant, "U-S-A!"

Eagles 2011 Draft

The Eagles drafted 3 offensive linemen, 3 linebackers, 2 running backs, and 1 each of safety, kicker and cornerback. They drafted no defensive ends. I'm sure all the picks are "high quality good kids, smart, and captains of their teams."

According to the "experts" that are not employed by an NFL team, the Eagles first and second round picks were guys that were projected to be drafted lower. But I don't think that is really important except a couple years down the road when we look back and see who the Eagles didn't pick. Let's hope most of these guys can play.

ROUND 1, pick 23: Danny Watkins, G, FIREMAN, 6-4, 310, Baylor
Watkins used to play hockey and was a goon and used to be a fireman. He didn't play football until he went to Junior College where he wanted to learn to be a better fireman and apparently got good really quick at football instead and then transferred to and excelled at Baylor. He apparently will be a guard in the NFL because he's not athletic enough and doesn't possess the quick feet and good lateral motion necessary to play tackle. Howard Mudd supposedly loves this guy. At 26 years old he is the oldest player ever drafted in the first round and will be 27 in November. Did you know he used to be a fireman?

ROUND 2, pick 54: Jaiquawn Jarrett, S, 6-2, 195, Temple
The Eagles apparently fell in love with this guy watching him play against MAC competition. He only had 2 interceptions all last year and has a mediocre 40 time, but apparently he plays very instinctually and can hit. While his tackling is fundamentally sound, his coverage abilities appear to be less so. Jarrett says his role model as a safety is Jack Tatum and loves his playing style from watching ESPN clips. Unfortunately for Jarrett, Reid was dumb enough to compare him to Dawkins. Right. Some say he might be more of a free safety, so what about Nate Allen? And see ya Quintin.

ROUND 3, pick 90: Curtis Marsh, CB, 6-1, 193, Utah State
This guy played cornerback for just two seasons in college, and only one as a starter (but that's more than Castillo has ever been a defensive coordinator), so he is another player that is going to need a lot of coaching to get up to NFL speed. Oh wait... He is big and tall with long arms, but is seen as a raw prospect. His former position was running back so I'm going to assume he has some hands and can catch, which only Samuel seems to be able to do consistently in the Eagles secondary. His father, Curtis Marsh Sr., played three seasons in the NFL as a wide receiver with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers if that means anything.

ROUND 4, pick 116: Casey Matthews, LB, 6-2, 235, Oregon
This guys claim to fame is his last name. I'm going to predict he doesn't share the talent and ability of his family members and will mostly make an impact on special teams and not the linebacking corps. He does possess the same good hair of his brother, though. Eagles fans of course already love him. Must be from all those Oregon games they've watched.

ROUND 4, pick 120: Alex Henery, K, 6-2, 175, Nebraska
The Eagles made Henery the only kicker picked in this draft and the highest drafted kicker since 2006 when New England took Stephen Gostkowski at #118. Most say the Eagles reached taking a kicker this high – no kickers were drafted last year. But Akers didn't sign his tender after the Eagles franchised him and we all know what that means. And you don't waste a 4th round pick on a kicker and not keep him and he did make 68 of 76 FG attempts at Nebraska. See ya Akers. Bonus: Henery can also punt! So we can keep Rocca until it gets cold and then have this guy punt too and free up a roster spot. Henery will also be the latest athlete in town whose name will be perpetually butchered by the locals.

ROUND 5, pick 149: Dion Lewis, RB, 5-8, 195, Pittsburgh
LeSean McCoy said on the Twitter that Reid took his advice with this pick as this guy was his backup when McCoy was at Pitt. Like McCoy was when he was drafted, Lewis is being compared to Brian Westbrook as every shortish RB that is shifty/speedy and can catch will be for the next 10 years or more, especially if they are picked by the Eagles.

ROUND 5, pick 149: Julian Vandervelde, G, 6-3, 300, Iowa
Vandervelde sings opera and sang the anthem when Obama visited Iowa a few years ago, is supposedly really smart, is a nerd that likes Dungeons & Dragons, is well coached and is quick off the ball, can probably play center too, and most likely will warm the bench if he makes the team. Todd McShay predicted he would be this year's "Mr. Irrelevant," but was wrong. (shocking!)

ROUND 6, pick 149: Jason Kelce, G, 6-4, 283, Cincinnati
This seems to be a depth pick or a project pick. Kelce though is very quick for being so big, running a 4.89, 40 while weighing 283. He originally was a walk-on linebacker who later transitioned to OL and played both guard and center at Cincinnati and made second-team All-Big East at both positions. Last name will also provide correct pronunciation difficulties.

ROUND 6, pick 149: Brian Rolle, LB, 5-11, 218, Ohio State
This guy seems kind of small to play linebacker in the NFL, but maybe he's fast and can cover a tight end. Probably will make more of an impact on special teams.

ROUND 7, pick 149: Greg Lloyd, LB, 6-2, 234, Connecticut
Lloyd's dad is the son of Greg Lloyd Sr, the Steelers former All-Pro player. Father and son are estranged though apparently because of the dad's abuse and some incident involving a gun. The dad was an Eagles linebackers coach for a brief stint a few years ago. Lloyd had knee surgery his junior year and barely played his senior year when he was still recovering. He's very athletic though, is a big hitter and his combine performance was good! Sold! Another special teams guy looks like.

ROUND 7, pick 149: Stanley Havili, RB, 6-1, 230, USC
A possible fullback to come in if Leonard Weaver is still recovering. But he's probably too small to play fullback in the NFL even though he can catch and can block. Probably a cut or practice squad dude.

Wonder if we'll see these new guys play at all this year. Must suck to be a rookie right now.

Pathetic

Flyers were drubbed SEVEN to 3 and barely competed the entire game. I wonder if they realize they are in the PLAYOFFS, not an exhibition game, and no longer playing the Buffalo Scrubs, but a real team. Everyone was terrible, but especially the defense and goaltending. How many unchecked, untied up forwards will get tap ins? How many too slow to react and bobbling goals and squibbers can these AHL clowns in net let in? Everyone also includes Laviolette as the broadcast noted the poor matchups he created despite having the last change. His refusal to adjust was Andy Reidesque.

Other notes:

• Thomas is eminently beatable. His mask is stupid too.
• Boston's powerplay sucks, but Flyers are giving them a run for their money in terribleness.
• Please refs, call real penalties not taps and nudges. You're making the game a sad joke.
• If his every shot wasn't easily blocked, will Timonen ever manage to get one on net?
• Pronger and Carle were both -4 for the game. Powe was also -4 despite only playing 6:49.
• The fourth line was terrible.
• The only players that weren't a minus were O'Donnell, JVR, Giroux and Zherdev with zeroes.
• The Philadelphia Tea Party shirts were terrible. Great idea Snider.

Why the Bruins suck

On Saturday April 30, The Flyers will again face the Boston Bruins in the second round of the NHL playoffs. Most fans remember what happened last year, but in case anyone forgot, the media is awash with "incredible comback/epic collapse" ledes like this one from Boston.com

As the man behind the moves to improve the Bruins following last year's meltdown against Philadelphia, GM Peter Chiarelli can't be happier about another crack at the Flyers.

or Fox's

While the Philadelphia Flyers long will be remembered for their epic seven-game comeback against the Boston Bruins in the 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals, there's little doubt those same players would prefer to take a more conventional approach this spring when the teams face off once again.

This crap is as predictable as a Benny Hill joke. Willweeverwin looks to rise above such lazy journalism by giving Philadelphia fans 5 other reasons to hate the Bruins:


5. Dennis Leary



An alleged comedian who appeared in the film Operation Dumbo Drop and several annoying Ford truck commercials. Bruins Fan.


4. Jay Miller



The 1980's Bruin goon with the Magnum PI mustache was probably the only dude who more often than not would get the better of Dave Brown.


3. The Dropkick Murphys



As a union man of Irish decent I can certainly relate to this band and even enjoy some of their albums. But somewhere in the early part of last decade this band became a parody of themselves, with every song being about Boston, drinking, or drinking in Boston. To no one's surprise, the band's music began to be featured at Fenway Park and the Garden. Far from being insulted that "toonie" clowns at Celtic games were singing along to their hits, the band instead began to purposely write songs to achieve more sports airplay. Sellouts.

2. Ben Affleck



The man who is responsible for Jersey Girl, Gigli, and Daredevil. Bruins fan.

1. Jack Edwards




Philadelphia has its share of homer announcers (Larry Anderson) and idiot announcers (Chris Wheeler), but Edwards combines idiocy with homerism in a synergistic package that would make any sane individual hit the mute button. Yet he is adored as a hero in Boston. In Jack Edward's mind, a Boston Bruin has never committed a penalty or lost a fight, and the Bruins did not really blow a 3-0 lead in game 7 of last years series.

Not a sweep, but too much Heat

I'll say this for the 76ers: They played with the maximum amount of heart and intensity against the Heat in games 4 and 5, and never backed down an inch.

In game 4, that effort left them down 4 points late, but two clutch 3-point bombs from Jrue Holiday and Lou Williams gave Philly the lead, and a missed LeBron James runner and two free throws from Evan Turner sealed the win.

Those 3-pointers were the kind of killer clutch buckets the Sixers don't get enough of, and they'd be sorely needed if this series had any chance of continuing past game 5. They didn't arrive, though, and the Heat closed out the series as expected.

The Sixers were feisty, the game was chippy, and future Heat opponents probably got some good ideas on how to defend Miami's James/Wade/Bosh trio, but as close as the game was it never really felt like the Heat were going to lose as they could pull out a six- or eight-point lead again every time the Sixers got it close.

So, short of trading Andre Iguodala, the Sixers could now be stuck in that roster limbo for teams good enough to barely make the playoffs.

Luckily, most Sixers fans would have no problem seeing Iguodala go. Short of the team somehow signing a superstar, Iguodala will go on thinking he's "the man" on the team and throwing up too many jumpers when he should be driving and getting to the foul line. He's a good player — a solid if overrated defender who can get to the basket and push the ball in transition — who would best be served on a roster where he filled in gaps next to a star or two instead of being promoted as the franchise's best player, which he no longer is in Philly.

I would think/hope the team knows it at this point, so maybe the roster can, in fact, be improved this offseason. How much is the question for those hoping for more than one playoff win from the 2011-2012 season.

NOTE:

* I've been wondering what kind of sneakers Evan Turner wore all season, and finally just looked it up. It's Chinese company Li-Ning. I'm not sure what kind of marketing strategy the company employed this year for its handful of sponsored NBA players, but a bit of a marketing bump might be needed considering I had to look up what kind of sneakers Turner wears on Wikipedia. Just sayin'.

Finally, the Flyers play up to their potential

After suffering through an anxiety inducing first 6 games of this series, the Flyers gave their fans a break by winning the 7th game easily. The Flyers started strong, completely dominating the first period. Unfortunately, as usual, Ryan Miller was equal, holding the Flyers off the board for the first 19 minutes. Just when it seemed the Flyers would have nothing to show for their great effort and the period would end in a scoreless tie, Miller let in a soft goal on a Coburn point shot. The late goal seemed to energize the Flyers and dishearten the Sabres, as the second period was again all Flyers. Philadelphia scored two power play goals, as the aggressive Buffalo penalty kill from earlier in the series was MIA. Early in the third Villie Lieno scored the Flyers fourth goal on a bad angle slapshot. Miller should have had this one as well, and Ruff replaced Miller with Enroth. Buffalo managed to score two late goals, sandwiched around a good Dan Carcillo scoring effort, to make the final score 5-2. But it was never close after Leino's goal. I was even hoping for a 8-0 drubbing, like the one Ruff's Sabres' gave the Flyers back in 2001, because Lindy Ruff is a horse's ass.

• Players of the series for the Flyers- Briere, JVR and Boucher

• Chris Pronger took a regular shift this game.

• Buffalo seemed to run out of steam in the series (in part due to injuries to key players), but the soft goals the Flyers allowed made the series more competitive than it should have been.

• The second round opponent remains to be determined. Montreal beat Boston to force a game 7 tomorrow. Tampa and Pittsburgh play their game 7 tomorrow as well.

Who would you like the Flyers to play in the next round?