2008 Philadelphia Flyers: A Cinderella Story

In 2005-2006, the Flyers had their worst season in franchise history. Aside from going 22-48-12, the team had the worst defense and the third worst offense in the NHL. Paul Holmgren's job was on the line as fans were calling for his head. One would expect that in the next season, after finishing dead last, the franchise would use the term no fan wants to hear: "A rebuilding year". As a Rangers' fan, I saw the off-season come and go and watched the moves the Flyers were making very closely.  (Mainly because I have a couple of close friends that are Flyers fans and needed something else to talk about over the long summer months.)

While Flyers' fans were skeptical, I knew the Flyers would not only be better, but be a playoff team. With the additions of Daniel Briere and Kimmo Timmonen combined with wiley veterans such as Mike Knuble, and Mike Richards, the Flyers would have a hell of a team.

Though the team struggled early on, they would play solid hockey down the stretch (except against this guy named Steve Valiquette, **wink wink**) and make the playoffs. Now that they've accomplished this, they had to play the high flying Capitals and superstar Alex Ovechkin. It wasn't easy, but in seven games the Flyers were on their way to the second round to face the number one seeded Montreal Canadiens. After stunning the hockey world by defeating them, they were on their way to face Pennsylvania rival Pittsburgh Penguins.

Now that they're playing the Penguins, one must get used to the constant media attention around the so called best player in the world, Sidney Crosby, as the NHL continues to shove him down our throats. But what annoys me is the fact that the Flyers aren't receiving any special attention. The Flyers are only the second team in NHL History to make the conference finals after finishing dead last the season before (the first was the 1987 Detroit Red Wings).

So how come this hasn't been brought up? Does the presence of Sidney Crosby alone trump the feat of finishing twenty games under .500 only to make it to the conference finals in the next season? Of course it does! The NHL has to continue pounding us with Crosby and Penguins hype until the the entire world has heard of them. But just remember, the more the country watches the high fallutin' Pens, the more they will see how they are just a pack of immature, cry babies who whine when they don't get every call their way, and even better, how much of a Cinderella Story this Flyers season really is.