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Tonight, something unthinkable happened,only four games into the season—Flyers' hockey became almost unwatchable. As a hockey fan, I rarely find myself turning off a game because it is boring...

Flyers-Avalanche: Philadelphia Hockey Becomes Almost Unwatchable

by Alan Bass (Senior Writer)

19

605 reads

Sports

October 16, 2008


Tonight, something unthinkable happened,only four games into the season—Flyers' hockey became almost unwatchable.

As a hockey fan, I rarely find myself turning off a game because it is boring.  But tonight, that was almost the case.  The only thing that kept me watching was the play of the Colorado Avalanche, as they toppled over the Flyers 5-2.

I never get mad or pissed at a team for playing badly.  I do, however, get pissed at a team for not trying or working hard enough, which explains my opinion of my hockey team's first three games.

But that is exactly what the Flyers did tonight.  They lost every foot race to the puck, they lost key faceoffs—basically, it looked like they did not care about winning, just as long as they got their paychecks at the end of the week.

When a team plays like this—especially one that I have grown to respect—it makes me sick to my stomach.  I am not paying for merchandise and tickets—in fact, I and the rest of Philadelphia are not paying these players millions of dollars to watch them half-ass their way through an NHL game.  Perhaps the team should send the entire NHL squad down to the minors and see if the Phantoms can challenge an NHL team in a game.

The recap of the game would appear in this part of the article, but the game was so boring, I would lose reads just explaining it.  So I won't.

The only other thing I can possibly say is that the Flyers better put their hearts on the ice and work their butts off to win a game.  Because if they don't, we may be in for a repeat of the 2006-07 season—and no matter how good John Tavares and Victor Hedman are, no Philadelphia fan wants that.

Philly fans are impatient and everyone knows that.  Especially when the team has the potential to challenge for a championship.  Which explains why they often lose loyalty very quickly.  Philadelphia has given us many championship-worthy teams throughout the years, yet have been unable to close the deal.

Hey Flyers, do you want to be another one of those teams?

 

Alan Bass is a Senior Writer for Bleacher Report and the Community Leader for the Philadelphia Flyers section.  He is also the co-host of NHL 2Day, a weekly radio show on Youcastr.com.  You can contact him at ALN424@aol.com.  You can also check out his BR archives here.

 

 

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19 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Ken Armer 8 months ago

    Sounds similar to Stars hockey...

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  2. Ken Armer 8 months ago

    I like how the losers in the conference finals can't win a damn game! What the hell is wrong with the world when the Blues and Wild are dominant and the Ducks are the worst team in the NHL...I bet Burke's seat is warm in SoCal.

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  3. Andrew Mason 8 months ago

    Joffery Lupul killed any chance of the flyers winning getting stripped in the neutral zone with the puck shorthanded and letting them score with 10 seconds left and take the momentum into the 3rd.

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  4. Miah D. 8 months ago

    i didnt watch the game. how was Biron?

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  5. Dave Gainer 8 months ago

    The Flyer's effort is way down, they show up for 1 period the opposition owns them the other 2 periods..Heads are gonna role if they don't get a win soon. Saturday's game against the undefeated sharks is the perfect time to turn things around. The Flyers had a couple of slumps like this last year, the type that no one seems to know why its happening...They need to get to the bottom of these slumps if they're gonna contend for the cup..I'm a habs fan in the tri state area, i see the Flyers on tv alot...and with that talent level they should be hungry to set the pace...with the Phillies in the world series, the media's focus on the Flyers is minimal at best.

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  6. Pete Barr 8 months ago

    It's early yet, but I hear ya! On paper, this team looks dangerous. Never have liked Stevens as coach. Pardon the political incorrectness but hire a proven French coach to speak to some of these underachievers in their own language (Briere, Gagne). I give them another 10 games before something happens. Pat Burns....where are you?

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    • Nelson Santos 8 months ago

      Pete, Gagne is back from a lenghty injury and has 4 goals in 4 games.....he is the furthest thing away from a player we could blame for the poor start.

      I said during camp that if the Flyers loaded up the first line with Briere/Gagne/Richards it would kill Philly's best asset....DEPTH......Hartnell and Lupul are not gonna score 20+ goals getting 3rd line minutes. I love Upshall but he should not be the 2nd line LW.

      Put Knuble back with Gags and Briere and Richie should center Lupul and Hartnell and things would get right back on track.

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  7. Rafal Ladysz 8 months ago

    That was a bomb by Richards on the powerplay. At least the captain is producing like he should.

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  8. Pete Barr 8 months ago

    Nelson, my bad I guess. Offensively the french connection is decent, 4 goals for Gagne and 4 assists for Briere, but they are sub-par defensively. They are even, in the plus/minus area (Gagne +1, Briere -1), and from your top line you need + numbers. Not horrible, and it is early yet, but these guys should be +3 atleast. I agree with putting Knuble with them, the Flyers seem to miss Umberger, agree?

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  9. Chris DiFrancesco 8 months ago

    Alan, all of our problems with this team, we air it out on the phone. But I dont believe I can curse here.

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  10. Mark Jones 8 months ago

    Funny.

    They are pretty bad, but they'll turn it around. Personally, I can't see why everyone is so infuriated about 4 games!

    I think they'll still make the playoffs.

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    • About the Author Alan Bass (senior writer)

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