Bleacher Report - Articles by The Frozen Fan

Flyers-Penguins: Postgame

The Frozen Fan — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 11:04:48 -0400

Postgame

I called this a statement game this morning, and Martin Biron and his fellow Philadelphia Flyers delivered a firm response this afternoon.

Staying out of the box, taking advantage of the power plays given them, and maintaining a confident structure under the duress of the talented Penguins’ onslaught, the Flyers showed their capabilities today.

They are prepared to play smart, disciplined, and opportunistic hockey.

Biron handily won the goaltending duel with Marc-Andre Fleury. He squelched rebounds and did an excellent job managing the puck outside his own crease. I was particularly worried when Biron came out to execute a poke check, flashing back to the last game between these two opponents.

But he quietly and cleanly handled the puck to avert harm. What a contrast to Fleury, who allowed two goals on the first 10 shots he saw.

Particularly impressive was the effort from all six defensemen. The broadcast team commented on the use of Andrew Alberts and Randy Jones against the Malkin line early in the game, noting that Alberts isn’t known as a particularly effective shutdown D. Perhaps that should be remedied.

Based on some statistics assembled by James Mirtle, Alberts pulls numbers similar to Marc Staal, Robyn Regehr, and Kevin Bieksa. You don’t have to be a Nik Lidstrom to contribute positively to your team.

All in all, it was a great win for the Flyers. They now solidly hold fourth place in the Eastern Conference with three games in hand on Pittsburgh and sit three points ahead of sixth-place Carolina. Not a bad position to be in when facing the New Jersey Devils tomorrow night.

Preview

We hockey bloggers liberally toss out terms like “must-win” and “statement game” at this point in the season, but few games truly reflect the meaning of those words like today’s contest between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The two teams are currently tied in the Eastern Conference standings, holding the fourth and fifth seeds, respectively. It is doubtful either team will catch the division-leading New Jersey Devils, and barring a disastrous collapse at the end of the season, it is unlikely either team will be caught by the cluster below them.

The table is set for a Pennsylvania first-round matchup.

Which means whoever wins today’s game will take one step closer to home ice advantage for the first round—and just imagine what a Game Seven between the Flyers and Pens would look like in either city.

Here’s the test for Philadelphia. With a win—regardless of in regulation or overtime—the Flyers control their own destiny. They would prevent the Pens from gaining any ground in the standings while still having games in hand on Pittsburgh.

It’s not a guarantee of finishing fourth, but it would definitely help nudge us towards a Game Seven at the Wachovia Center instead of the Igloo.

Scottie Upshall and Daniel Carcillo by the Numbers

The Frozen Fan — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:50:21 -0400

In his Breakaways portion of yesterday’s Red Wings-Flyers wrap up, Sam Carchidi pointed out that both Scottie Upshall and Daniel Carcillo have contributed three points to their respective teams since the trade deadline and are equal in plus-minus.

Sounds like an okay deal for the Flyers, right? Swapping players, taking less salary back, and getting the same amount of production?

Carchidi’s thought missed two additional key statistical factors to consider when weighing the trade value of role players—time-on-ice and time in the box.

In Phoenix, Upshall is playing top-six forward minutes, typically playing 17-18 minutes and seeing time on the power play. Three points in seven games is adequate, especially on a struggling team like the Coyotes.

Carcillo, on the other hand, managed to put up his three points as a third-liner with only 10 mintues a night and no special teams time. True, it might just be a reflection of the Flyers’ depth at forward. But it’s good sign that Carcillo is finding ways to adapt his game into Stevens’ system. That trade looking any better now, Flyers fans?

It shouldn’t. What the most-penalized team in the NHL this season needed least at the trade deadline was another player who would take costly penalties at crucial moments in the game. And unfortunately, that’s just what they got.

Upshall has only two penalties during his time as a Coyote, one of which was taken late in the third period of Buffalo’s 5-1 rout of visiting Phoenix. I wouldn’t call that particularly harmful in the grand scheme of things.

In addition to his three assists in the Orange and Black, Carcillo has racked up an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, three roughing minors, a fighting major, and a game misconduct. One of those roughing minors was taken Tuesday night in Detroit; his actions cost the Flyers a rare power play opportunity against one of the least penalized teams in the league.

If we only learned one thing from last year’s playoff series between Philadelphia and Washington, it was that maturity makes a difference in the critical moments of the battle for the Stanley Cup. The Flyers had enough veterans who understood the necessary sacrifices and self-discipline. That alone sustained them against a red-hot Capitals squad with youthful exuberance and a hell of a lot of talent.

Carcillo would do well to take note. Preferably before we hit April.

NHL Officiating: When the Black and White Make a Game Too Grey

The Frozen Fan — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:56:44 -0400

Tonight’s Philadelphia Flyers-Washington Capitals game featured the most ridiculous display of officiating ineptitude I have ever witnessed in person.

After such a statement, you could call me a homer. That would be true, if I didn’t believe that the Flyers lost this game because they could not manage to capitalize on a single power play opportunity.

You could say that I’m just blaming the officials for a Flyers’ loss. But please remember that I consistently maintain that you don’t lose because of bad officiating; you win in spite of it.

Or you could say that the four NHL officials botched a series of calls, reducing the integrity of what promised to be a highly-entertaining contest.

The Flyers managed to avoid penalties for several hacking and whacking violations throughout the first two periods. The Capitals’ Mike Green should have received a hooking penalty on a Simon Gagne breakaway. Why the referees opted to assess an interference penalty on Niklas Backstrom with less than five minutes remaining is beyond me. That play is ignored 99 percent of the time in the current NHL.

And that’s all without addressing the bizarre “incidental contact” which disallowed a Capitals goal but failed to elicit a Flyers power play. Without having seen a true replay (I was at the arena, screaming angrily at the refs), I won’t try to analyze the play.

For now, however, I can direct you to the official NHL rules on goaltender contact. Allow me to point out that, other than direct intentional contact between a skater and a netminder, referees are given permission to use discretion in meting out judgment. Given the excellent decision-making they displayed throughout the rest of the evening . . .

Sarcasm aside, I was sad to see this game devolve into an officiating debacle. Both teams played solid hockey tonight, from the beautiful offensive rushes to crisp puck movement to gutsy defensive desperation.

I thoroughly enjoyed the game’s pace and intensity, and I wish we could have seen a more fairly managed bout for this last meeting of the regular season. I’m disappointed that I left my game confused by referees rather than amazed by the sheer talent of both teams.

Daniel Briere: Oh Danny Boy . . .

The Frozen Fan — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:26:53 -0500

The pathetic excuse for hockey the Philadelphia Flyers presented against the Calgary Flames during the first period left me contemplating this morning’s blog. Perhaps I would talk about the importance of work ethic.

Or I could address whether fans should boo their own team—something I will likely tackle in an upcoming entry.

And then I watched as Danny Briere was absolutely mauled in the corner, midway through the second period. It happened directly in front of our seats, so we had an excellent view of the incident.

At the time, two things about that play struck me. First, Briere skated quite slowly to the bench, especially considering that one of his linemates had recovered the puck at center ice and was waiting for him to clear the zone. I asked my dad, who was with me, if he thought Briere might be injured. His reply was just a groan.

In Flyer World right now, that essentially implied “Figures he would come back, cost us Glen Metropolit and Ossi Vaananen, give us no cap space for the trade deadline, and then decide to be injured.” {sigh}

The second thing was the absence of Flyers retaliation. True, the entire performance was rather soft for a franchise built on the Broad Street Bullies’ shoulders. I would expect some sort of response for aggressively targeting a key Flyer forward, though. The Flames rode Briere all night, and neither his linemates nor the rest of the team seemed ready to send a message of protection.

That needs to change, and fast. Briere will be vital to playoff success for the Flyers. They cannot afford constantly recurring injuries. Opponents know both of these things, and the Bruins and the Flames targeted him as a result. This team needs to step up and defend the diminutive center.

Maybe the Flyers are feeling sorry for themselves in light of the personnel losses. But no one is offering the Flyers a free two points simply because life on the ice got rougher. The stretch drive is not a good time to melt down.

It’s very hard to feel optimistic about this team right now.

Thoughts On Trading Upshall for Carcillo

The Frozen Fan — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:09:02 -0500

From a few conversations and bit of surfing the blogs and boards, I’m sensing that Flyer fans dislike today’s trades.

That’s quite understandable. Scottie Upshall arrived as a bright ball of energy to a struggling club that had given up on the season. He gave the fans new life in a disappointing year. And ever since being benched late last season by John Stevens, the young forward presented highly motivated, speedy, mercurial efforts night in and night out. It’s hard not to miss him.

But there are some legitimate reasons behind Paul Holmgren’s actions today, ones that go deeper than a fan’s emotional attachment to a player.

Deadline deals for the Philadelphia Flyers always revolve around four factors:

1. Injuries
Everyone knows that the healthiest team is the one still standing with the Cup raised high in June. So if you’re entering the final stretch already injured, you’d better have a Plan B.

2. Goaltending
We’re talking about Philly hockey here. Do I really need to explain this one?

3. Money
In the pre-cap world, deadlines belonged to the wealthy, and Ed Snider knew how to finance a strong acquisition. In the cap era, teams spend more time contemplating money management rather than pure expenditure.

4. Grit
The Broad Street Bullies earned that moniker the hard way. And there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that Mr. Snider intends to keep it.

With the Flyers’ health finally intact, number one can be crossed off the list. As to goaltending, that will take more than a mere blog to analyze. Like I said, we’re talking Philly here.

So it comes down to two things: money and grit. The cap implications of this deal are clear. Upshall makes $1.225 and Carcillo makes about $875,000. This trade shaves $400,000 off the Flyers’ payroll—a seemingly small amount, but enough to allow them to bring up a spare player like Jared Ross or Nate Guenin without dropping Claude Giroux or Darroll Powe.

It also gives the Flyers a little extra wiggle room when it comes time to sign a goaltender this summer, or when they need to further trim cap for the 2010-11 season.

That leaves us with grit. Regardless of what my fellow blogger might contend over at Broad Street Hockey, the line of Upshall-Giroux-Briere was not particularly successful. While they had speed and the ability to move the puck well, that trio lacked the size and strength to be effective against the strong checking power of the Bruins.

None of them could create any havoc in front of the net, a key component Stevens likes to have on every line. And so it was that Stevens shook up his lines by the second period.

Carcillo delivers a greater physical presence to the Flyers’ bottom six. That’s an understatement, really, considering that the kid led the entire league in penalty minutes during the 2007-08 season. His 324 PIMs outdid number 2 Jared Boll by nearly 100 minutes. No wonder Homer predicts he’ll be a fan favorite.

I grasp the intellectual reasoning behind this trade, but I won’t say I’m a huge fan. I genuinely enjoy Scottie Upshall, both for his high energy style of play and his consistent work ethic this year.

Once again he’s departing a playoff-bound group for another rebuilding team that likely won’t achieve a playoff berth, the disappointment of which I can only imagine.

I recall an episode of FlyerBuzz TV in which Upshall talked passionately about his belief that the current team had the type of bond that championship teams have. Yes, I know all players say that.

But from the look on his face, you could tell this wasn’t just another careless and rehearsed statement for an interview. Hopefully Upshall will find another such situation in Phoenix.

And hopefully the chemistry he believed in was not permanent disrupted today in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Flyers: The Comeback Kids

The Frozen Fan — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:14:33 -0500

Just when you start to count the Philadelphia Flyers out of a game, they can surprise you with a second gear. The Carolina Hurricanes could tell you about the Wachovia Center. The Washington Capitals could add a few words on the difficulty of maintaining a lead over the Flyers at the Verizon Center.

And based on last night’s performance, the Boston Bruins should be added to the list of teams who are painfully aware of the Flyers’ counter attack.

We say so often that hockey is a game of mistakes, that success depends on “getting back to the basics.” Claude Julien’s Bruins take that mantra to heart. They play a simple system - solid defense, clean passing, and an aggressive forecheck. Once they take control of a game, they rarely surrender it. Moreover, the Bruins know how to utilize their home ice - the Bs had only lost four games at the TD Banknorth Garden prior to last night’s tilt.

It seemed unlikely that the Flyers, struggling to find a rhythm with all the injury and flu casualties, could overcome even a one-goal deficit against the East’s best team in their own barn. But that’s where the counter attack began.

Scottie Upshall intercepted a Marc Savard pass, converting that turnover into a perfect shot to beat Manny Fernandez and tie the game. Capitalizing on that one Bruin error shifted the momentum into the Flyers’ hands.

The Flyers were able to maintain team composure —even while facing a deficit—to wait for that mistake to happen. Upshall and his teammates had the presence of mind to act swiftly in response to the error (Knuble was driving towards the net from the opposite wing, drawing Chara’s attention and giving Upshall the option to shoot or pass). That’s the stuff that makes a playoff caliber team.

Martin Brodeur: Ever the Flyers' Buzzkill

The Frozen Fan — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:42:42 -0500

Watching the Flyers during yesterday’s tilt at the Rock, it struck me that the game was practically a replay of every Flyers-Devils game I watched in the mid- to late-90s. Swap a few players out for Daneyko, Stevens, Niedermayer, LeClair, Lindros, and Dejardins, and you’d have yourself an Atlantic Division classic.

Just as in the old days, the Devils scored first and shut it down. Just as in the old days, Brodeur made himself as impenetrable as ever. Just as in the old days, an extremely talented Flyers offense couldn’t discover a chink in the armor.

Sigh.

Martin Brodeur earned yet another milestone against the Orange and Black: He achieved his 100th career shutout with his victory over the Flyers on Sunday.

Two seasons ago, Brodeur broke Bernie Parent’s record for victories in a single season. And what team was he playing when he rewrote the book? The Flyers. In the Wachovia Center.

I was in the building that night, and I remember watching fans slowly depart from the stadium with facial expressions blending disgust, resignation, and disappointment. It was bad enough that the Flyers had the worst season in franchise history; did we really have to watch Brodeur rub his sheer awesomeness and extended domination of the crease in our faces?

Would it be wrong to hope that Lou Lamouriello keels over, ending the Devils strangle-hold over the Flyers?

Flyers-Capitals: Philly Shows Character In Key Win

The Frozen Fan — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:26:00 -0500

In case you didn’t have a chance to watch the Flyers comeback for a huge win over the Capitals at the Verizon Center, Bill Clement put together a great overview of the game or you could just check out the highlights. Either way, this was one of the best games I’ve seen all season long.

When the Capitals took a 2-0 lead over the Flyers, I thought for sure this game was over. Those Washington fans figured out how to Rock the Red during last year’s playoffs; they are now a raucous bunch that feed their team with pure energy.

Couple that with the shark-like offensive pounce the Capitals possess, and visiting teams can struggle to produce goals in the best of situations. Down two goals without your best defenseman is not even close to the best of situations.

What impressed me was that the Flyers never gave up. They pushed forward, in never-say-die fashion, from the first minute to the last. Every line and defense pairing contributed goals and grit. Every line and defense pairing worked together to force the formidable Washington attack out of the middle. When the lines and pairs weren’t enough, Antero Niittymaki held the pipes.

A character win for the Flyers tonight, and a huge two points. Next up—the LA Kings.

What Was Martin Biron Thinking?

The Frozen Fan — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:31:46 -0500

I have spent the last two days pondering the curious play that led to Pittsburgh’s game-winning goal in Saturday’s edition of the Keystone Klash. I’ve read the articles, watched the interviews, scanned the chatrooms, and discussed with friends. Truth be told, I’m still asking the same exact question that I asked as Crosby and Dupuis celebrated that tally: What on earth was Biron thinking?

Watching that play from my perch in section 210 of the Wachovia Center, it felt like a scene out of some C-level sports movie, in the range of The Cutting Edge for example. The instant I saw Biron moving away from his crease, I knew we were in trouble. The play he made earlier this year against New Jersey, giving the puck away directly to Brian Gionta which led to a Patrick Elias goal, has stuck with me all season; the memory flares up each time Biron comes out to handle a puck. Why he chooses to leave the goal empty when facing the best players in the world astounds me!

After that goal, I received a text saying that Marty Biron sure knew how to kill the buzz in a building. I believe, however, that the play did more than just destroy one afternoon’s excitement for Flyerdom.

That type of play destroys fan confidence in a goaltender, particularly in an intense environment like Philadelphia. This city will not stand for subpar performances from a goalie, let alone gigantic blunders in the face of enemy No. 1 Sidney Crosby. But it also chips away at team confidence in their netminder, and that is the worst thing that can happen as the drive to the playoffs begins.

Whatever the cap issues are, whatever the rumors say, and wherever the Flyers’ scouts may be this evening, I suspect that Paul Holmgren may be looking for a new goaltender. Martin Biron and Antero Niittymaki have both had ample opportunity to show they can hold the job. And neither is convincing anyone right now that he is the best man to earn the nod.

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins 11/13/2008

The Frozen Fan — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:16:06 -0500

Pregame.

I posted some pregame thoughts on the Flyers earlier today. You can catch those here.

Otherwise, you might try checking out some thoughts on the big rivalry from bloggers on both sides of the Keystone state. Despite their affiliation with my team’s arch rival, I thoroughly enjoy the output over at The Pensblog. They’re hands down the best photoshoppers commenting on the NHL.

Apparently yours truly has not done a terrific job covering the Flyers, since I don’t warrant a mention from PensBurgh. I’m graciously linking over there anyway. See, Flyers fans do have class.

One Penguins blogger who does acknowledge my existence is the Wicked Wrister. While I don’t agree that Mike Richards is a diver or that Danny Briere is actually a woman, I admire the passion.

Now on to the true hockey fans. Eager to go psycho brings her unique brand of humor to the rivalry. We all know how she loves that Crybaby Crosby. Flyers Goal Scored By . . . is hoping for a November miracle to grant victory to the guys in Orange and Black. And the Flying P pulled out all the stops for the grudge match—I love the animation!

Hopefully I will have some fantastic Flyers hockey to discuss later this evening. Until then, enjoy the game!

Postgame.

What I loved:

John Stevens did an outstanding job handling his bench tonight. The timeout, complete with a stern lecture, was perfectly executed. His team picked up the pace from that moment on, and they never looked back.

Simon Gagne is back with a vengeance and hungry for more. Okay, cheesy taglines aside, the speedy forward looked exactly like the Gagne who made headlines when Peter Forsberg was his center. His burst of power on the first short-handed goal showed every skill that makes Gagne potent. Getting his stick into the passing lane on the defensive end started the play. A little speed sent him racing past two Penguins and forced Malkin to consider a restraining move. Then Gagne protected the puck while driving towards the net, wrapping up the rush with a patient and skillfully executed shot past Marc-Andre Fleury.

Luca Sbisa continued to steamroll through another game. Normally, we talk about taking advantage of young defensemen and attacking their confidence and weaker judgment. Sbisa appeared fully in control of himself throughout the game, even when faced with brilliant moves from Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The kid from Switzerland is downright scary. I’m excited to see how he’s going to develop over the next few years.
Martin Biron proved that it’s going to take more than a slow start to keep a good man down. He put up big saves when he needed to and found ways to stop some of the best players in the League. What impressed me the most was his quiet patience during the shootout. Rarely do you see a goaltender remain that still when facing a shot from players like Crosby, Malkin, and Jordan Staal. It’s a shame the team couldn’t put one in at the other end to give Biron the win.

What I disliked:

The Flyers got behind early and started to wither on defense. This team needs to find confidence somewhere. They did a great job on defensive coverage during the first five minutes of the game and probably would have started to generate good plays if they had hung in there. Instead, they allowed themselves to become cautious and allowed the Penguins too much room to move.
This game was lost due to the lack of momentum in the third period. The Flyers came out pouring energy onto the Penguins much like they did in the first. The offense held sway, controlling the puck and dictating momentum. Then, for whatever reason, the guys decided to go into shutdown mode. The Flyers are not the New Jersey Devils. They need to continue heaping on the offense at all times, especially if they want to win games.

Flyers Lineup Changes: Danny, Matt and the Two Steves

The Frozen Fan — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 18:22:03 -0500

For those of you who are experiencing a crazy weekend—as I currently am—I thought perhaps we should cover the roster movements of the Philadelphia Flyers and the Tampa Bay Lightning before their tilt.

1. Paul Holmgren sent Steve Eminger, Steve Downie, and a fourth round pick south to Tampa in exchange for defenseman Matt Carle and a third round pick.

There should be an award for hockey executive of the year, something separate and distinct from the Stanley Cup. Paul Holmgren continually demonstrates a stunning ability to improve his roster at every turn.

This particular trade could not have come at a better time. The Philadelphia Flyers needed a jolt to propel them out of the rut, the type of jolt that only roster changes can produce.

More importantly, Holmgren managed to acquire the best player involved in the trade. And as is often said in hockey circles, the team who ends up with the best player wins the trade.

Matt Carle showed impressive offensive ability during his freshman campaign, a season in which Ron Wilson had the San Jose Sharks playing some seriously defensive hockey. His struggles as a sophomore left him as bait in the Dan Boyle trade, and playing under Barry Melrose didn’t seem to improve his game.

John Stevens is far more adept at developing his players. I expect to see big things from Matt Carle in Philadelphia this season.

As for Eminger and Downie, I wish both the best of luck. Eminger struggled to find a rhythm in Philadelphia. After his repeated failures to be effective offensively in Ottawa (I counted at least four times when he fumbled the puck at the blue line during a power play), it was only a matter of time until he found a new home.

For Downie, this move is more about change of scenery. There’s too much depth at the forward position in the Philadelphia Flyers for Downie to earn his spot in the Orange and Black.

With prospects like Andreas Nodl, Claude Giroux, Jonathan Matsumoto, and James van Riemsdyk chomping at the bit, Steve Downie became the most expendable piece. His lack of discipline only speeded the process.

2. Danny Briere will play in tonight’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The rate at which NHL players are healing these days is incredible! Just two weeks ago, Danny Briere went under the knife to repair a torn abdominal muscle (also known to us common folk as a sports hernia).

Who imagined he would only miss six games due to the surgery? Having him back should add even more punch to the first line and bring some additional leadership back to the locker room.

The Cost Of Danny Briere's Abdominal Tear

The Frozen Fan — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 23:12:05 -0500

The Philadelphia Flyers started their year 0-3-3 because they couldn't figure out how to function as a team. The top line of Danny Briere, Mike Richards, and Simon Gagne were the only ones who knew how to put the puck in the net, but even those gifted players struggled to provide support to their goaltender.

Speaking of goaltenders, neither Martin Biron nor Antero Niittymaki looked sharp. And the defense corps, riddled with holes due to the injuries to Ryan Parent and Randy Jones, appeared roughshod and soft.

So John Stevens shuffled the lines, returning Briere to his natural position at center between Gagne and Mike Knuble. Mike Richards shifted back to his line with Scott Hartnell and Joffrey Lupul—and suddenly the Orange and Black discovered secondary scoring. The defense rallied around Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Coburn, and even the netminders collected themselves to put up solid performances against New Jersey and Atlanta. The pieces were falling into place quickly.

Then it happened—Danny Briere suffered a torn abdominal muscle, which would sideline him for three to four weeks. Glen Metropolit, a defensive center who normally belongs on a third or fourth line, was elevated to the top line with Gagne and Knuble. Admittedly, they have contributed numerous goals for the Philadelphia Flyers over the past several games, mostly coming from some combination of Metropolit and Knuble.

And therein lies the problem. Simon Gagne and Danny Briere were absolutely on fire to start the 2007-08 season—a chemistry which collapsed when Gagne suffered a concussion after a hit from Florida Panther Jay Bouwmeester. Gagne never returned fully healthy last season, and so he never had an opportunity to rekindle the on-ice relationship with his teammate from La Belle Province. Many in Philadelphia were excited to see what a renewed Gagne and returning Briere could accomplish during the 2008-09 season.

Once again, one member of what is supposed to be a dynamic duo is injured. Briere suffered the second abdominal tear of his NHL career, and the doctor who performed the surgery discovered an additional tear when he actually went in to repair the muscle. Considering that Briere has a long-term deal in Philadelphia with a no-trade clause, I find his re-injury more than a little worrisome.

Gagne, meanwhile, looks lost on his line with Knuble and Metropolit. Where Gagne brings smooth skating, silky hands, and a creative touch to the line, Knuble and Metropolit are straight-forward bruisers who play no-nonsense hockey. They bang and crash and grind most of the time. Watch the games, and you'll note the number of times Gagne attempts a pass that is surprising and smart, only to have a startled Metropolit fumble the puck.

As for scoring, two of Gagne's four goals since Briere went down came on special teams when Gagne was paired with Richards—one power-play goal and one short-handed. On that third goal, Glen Metropolit had the secondary assist; the primary assist was a point shot from Luca Sbisa, which Gagne deflected past Kari Lehtonen. The fourth saw Knuble get the primary Metropolit the secondary.

Simon Gagne needs Danny Briere to return. This Philadelphia Flyers team requires a functional, successful playing relationship between those two players if they want to threaten for the Stanley Cup. And frankly, that can't happen while Briere sits on the sidelines.

Weird NHL Stats from October 2008

The Frozen Fan — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:21:29 -0400

Now that the Phillies mania has settled a bit, let’s get back to hockey. I wandered through the NHL’s new stats machine while researching material for another blog, and I came upon some odd statistics that prove that summertime predictions don’t always pan out as expected.

Vancouver’s anemic offense last year combined with minimal off-season movement to improve the front lines, suggested to many that the team would struggle to put pucks in the net. As of today, Vancouver has scored 38 goals, enough to rank fourth overall in the NHL in goals for. The Canucks are only one goal behind the three teams tied for the lead with 39: Detroit, Philadelphia, and Anaheim.
With Niedermeyer, Pronger and Giguere, the Anaheim Ducks should be one of the finest defensive units in the entire league. But they have allowed more goals (41) than any other team except for Dallas. Maybe Toronto fans should think twice before pushing MLSE to offer a GM contract to Brian Burke.
Speaking of Toronto, the Maple Leafs currently sit at 10th overall in the Eastern Conference. This summer the fans firmly believed that releasing Mats Sundin, ridding the squad of some dead weight (Tucker and McCabe), and replacing them with third-line grinders like Jamal Mayers and Ryan Hollweg would guarantee them a spot in the race for Tavares/Hedman. Apparently, it might just put them right back into no-man’s land.
Mike Smith of the struggling Tampa Bay Lightning continues to lead the NHL in save percentage at .942. And right on his heels at .939 is Tim Thomas, who yet again proves that he will prevail no matter who Boston tries to usher in as a replacement.
Our current plus/minus leader is Nikolai Zherdev. Ken Hitchcock, eat your heart out.
If you thought the only news in Nashville revolved around Boots del Biaggio and Alexander Radulov, think again. Shea Weber is tearing it up on the blue line. He shares the goal-scoring lead among defensemen with Mike Green and Francois Beauchemin. He also shares the points lead among defensemen with Rafalski, Markov, Kuba, and Pronger, and he’s a plus-5. Expect this member of the class of 2003 to challenge Jason Arnott for the Preds’ All-Star Game roster spot.

Philly Phanatic!!! It’s parade day, everyone!

The Frozen Fan — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:22:56 -0400

Sign hanging outside City Hall at Broad Street

If you want the definition of insanity, Broad Street is it. After spending two hours on the train - more than twice my normal commute - and battling through the crowds in Suburban Station, I emerged to find the packed sidewalks surrounding City Hall roaring with elation. That was around 9AM.

It’s now a little after 10, and the streets are impassable. I work on the 16th floor of a building on Broad and Spruce, and you can hear the constant screaming of the fans. The sea of red and white stretches the whole way up to City Hall and down as far as you can see. Each car that manages to squeak by honks its horn repeatedly, drawing even larger swells of joy from the crowds.

They are hanging out of windows, off of balconies, and gathering on rooftops. People are leaning out the sides of the parking garages.

I have never seen a mass of people more energized in my entire life.

Then again, never could there be a more deserving city than Philadelphia today. Celebrate and be merry, Phanatics everywhere!

Phillies fans on Broad Street, 11AM

UPDATE 11:16 AM - A streaker was just arrested outside our office. Sorry folks, no pictures of that one.

Doug Weight’s hit on Brandon Sutter: How should we decide

The Frozen Fan — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:32:58 -0400

Carolina GM Jim Rutherford was incensed that the NHL declined to hand out a suspension to Doug Weight for his open-ice check on Brandon Sutter. He should be.

A bright young rookie with a terrific pedigree sustained an injury with career-ending potential. Combine that with the Hurricanes’ struggles since their Stanley Cup victory three seasons ago and the knee problems of stars like Rod Brind’amour and Justin Williams, and you can understand exactly where Rutherford is coming from.

On the other side of the equation, you have Doug Weight. He’s a veteran NHLer who has contributed his saucer pass to some great hockey teams, including the 2002 American Olympic team that won the silver medal and the 2006 Stanley Cup squad in Carolina. Everyone writing about this incident - and even Rutherford - speaks to Weight’s class and upstanding character. No one believes the devastating results of this hit were intentional.

In the middle, wedged between Brandon Sutter and Doug Weight, is the issue of the hit itself. Was it clean? We all seem to agree that it was. From Matt Karash to the CasonBlog to Red & Black Hockey over at Kukla’s Korner, the Carolina Hurricanes faithful acknowledge that the hit was good according to NHL standards.

Should it be a legal hit? I’ll let the debate over at Puck Daddy decide that.

I will say this. There is a double standard among the National Hockey League, its journalists, and its fans. We see a situation like this one involving Sutter and Weight, and we spend countless hours debating the rules, player safety, personal integrity, etc.

And it certainly has all the components of a great Greek tragedy - stalwart veteran inadvertently takes down young rookie of excellent bloodlines just on the cusp of a career. Both go down in flames as the rabid Toronto media salivates. The rest of the hockey world shakes its fists and blames Gary Bettman, the KHL, and goons everywhere.

If Brandon Sutter didn’t end up in the hospital, would we still be talking about this hit? If he wasn’t sired by a one of the six Sutter brothers, now a coach for the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, would we care so much? If the violator weren’t the well-respected Doug Weight, would we be so quick to judge this hit a clean one?

For the answers, let’s rewind to that 2006 playoff season. To be specific, to the first round at a game in Buffalo between the Sabres and the Flyers. A defense-man known more for his spin-o-rama than his hitting finds a young rookie forward wandering into neutral ice with his head down. He goes for the big strike, knocking the forward onto his back. Clearly dazed, that forward would sustain a concussion and drop off his production dramatically during the next season.

In Buffalo, they called it “the hit,” and it ran as a clip to pump up the crowd at HSBC Arena. It circulated wildly this spring as bloggers tried to excite San Jose about the piece they acquired at the deadline.

What if RJ Umberger never skates again after that hit? What if the star Campbell had received that hit instead of delivering it? What if it happens in the major markets of Toronto or Montreal?

It’s time to stop basing our opinions about the cleanliness of a hit on the players involved and the physical injury sustained. Doug Weight’s good intentions don’t lessen the impact of his actions on Brandon Sutter. RJ Umberger’s relative health in the aftermath doesn’t make Brian Campbell’s hit any less dangerous.

And looking at that play purely, I suggest the NHL take a long, hard look at whether the rewards outweigh the risks. I say no.

Flyers vs. Rangers 10/10/2008: In-game blog

The Frozen Fan — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 19:02:42 -0400

The season is back, and so are the in-game blogs! For readers new to the site, I typically post before and after each Flyers game, checking in between periods with snippets of commentary. Updates are posted at the top of the blog.

Postgame

Rangers 4 - Flyers 3

Climbing out of holes is far more difficult than digging them. The Flyers fell behind early and spent the rest of the game struggling to hold the pieces together.

Kudos to Tom Renney and his entire squad. The Rangers have skill, speed, and the ability to play terrific team hockey. That served them well this evening.

The Flyers deserve credit for mounting a return, from drawing penalties to driving the net and scoring goals. Simon Gagne, Mike Richards, and Antero Niittymaki had stand-out performances.

One thing is certain - there’s work to do before Monday’s tilt against Montreal.

Second Intermission

Rangers 4 - Flyers 2

The Flyers did what they needed to do coming into this period. They stopped the bleeding, and they got themselves within striking distance. With a minute and a half of power play to start the third, I don’t see how it could be better.

Look for more fireworks before this one’s over, folks.

First Intermission

Rangers 4 - Flyers 0

The Rangers came ready to play tonight. The Flyers came ready to find their sealegs. And thus you have New York ahead by 4. Enough said on that point.

I like what Mike Richards is trying to do for his team as the captain. After being grabbed by the much larger Paul Mara, Richards did a great job holding up the Ranger without incurring a five-minute major for fighting.

Pregame

It’s finally here! The Flyers are back with a vengeance and hungry for more!

Okay, I work in marketing, so pardon my cheesy adherence to the taglines. But I could not be more ready for puck drop, even if it is coming ceremonially from Sarah Palin.

Taglines aside, the Flyers have much to prove. Last year could be the foundation of a great season, as many pundits are predicting. Or it could have been a fluke, a precursor to another inconsistent year of missed opportunities and injuries. With Ryan Parent, Randy Jones, and Steven Downie out of the game, this tends to recall the injury plague more than Stanley Cup dreaming.

As for the Rangers, they looked fantastic in Europe. Granted, they are a defense-first team, so they should have been able to shutdown a recovering Vinny Lecavalier and junior Lightning defense. They need to answer a few questions: Is Henrik Lundquist healthy? Can Gomez and Drury lead this team while carrying the almost-dead weight of Zherdev and Redden?

In the words of Lou Nolan - ARE YOU READY FOR SOME HOCKEY?

Why Heart Matters: Toronto Maple Leaps Win Opener over Detroit Red Wings

The Frozen Fan — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:35:12 -0400

Congratulations to the Phillies on their victory over the Dodgers this evening. I caught the highlights, and what a game for the fans at Citizens Bank Park! If anyone in baseball defines clutch, it’s Chase Utley.

On the hockey front, tonight’s games opened the regular season in North America, starting with a battle between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings.

Last season, a prominent Toronto journalist described the Red Wings’ style of play as “ballet on ice,” saying that the media folks actually enjoyed watching the team practice because their puck control and passing abilities made them beautiful to see.

Adding Marian Hossa as a free agent over the summer only strengthened Detroit’s skill at forward. And these Stanley Cup champions had the rare blessing of retaining every key player from their magical march to victory last spring.

But Toronto emerged victorious this evening at the Joe. They didn’t win on skill; they won because they brought more heart to the ice.

Mike Van Ryn blocked shots and dove in the path of oncoming plays like a man on a mission. Jason Blake actually stood in the crease and challenged Detroit’s physical defenseman, almost twice his size. And Pavel Kubina, who most Leafs fans desperately wanted to trade at the deadline and again during the summertime window, scored the first goal of the season.

It was ugly, sloppy, messy hockey with enough board-work and grinding to please any Old Time Hockey enthusiast.

It’s about heart. When the chips are down, when it really counts, who is willing to lay everything on the line? The Toronto Maple Leafs joined together as a unit, and won despite their lack of pure talent. It’s the stuff champions—like Chase Utley—are made of.

Will Toronto maintain that pace through the next 81 games? Probably not. But Toronto fans should be pleased to see that the will and character exist. Now it’s a matter of patiently developing the talent.

Palin, Pucks, and Philly: Flyers Smart to Use Sarah for Attention

The Frozen Fan — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:02:02 -0400

It’s the tanking economy! It’s the skyrocketing costs of health care! It’s...Sarah Palin dropping puck at a Philadelphia Flyers game?

Yes, folks, that’s right. Sarah Palin, the hockey-mom-turned-potential-possessor-of-nuclear-codes, will drop the puck at the opening faceoff at the Philadelphia Flyers home opener against the New York Rangers on Saturday.

Fan responses to this afternoon’s announcement tend to err on the side of anti-Palin. And pro-boo bird. Although one Blue Jackets fan points out that the Flyers' evil qualities may actually sully the Alaska governor. To that I have but one reply—we may have sold our souls to the Devil, but at least we won a cup.

Frankly, this move has nothing whatsoever to do with politics, so Republicans and Democrats alike can sit down and stop being so huffy about the whole thing. In fact, this is possibly the most brilliant move I have seen to launch a season—definitely head-and-shoulders above the NHL’s opening day at the NHL store in New York City.

Palin’s jokes and Detroit Red Wings following brought America’s national attention to the sport of ice hockey in the middle of August. Even a gathering with Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, Wayne Gretzky, and Mr. Hockey himself would not have attracted such a media frenzy south of the border in January, let alone during the hottest days of summer.

And let’s consider the amount of national attention the Flyers stand ready to receive for this gesture. A national figure in the midst of a major presidential campaign is coming into their building for a center stage moment. It’s going to get air-time locally, sure. But it will also gain play on Sunday morning political shows, and probably the Monday morning shows like Today and Good Morning America.

But what if the Flyers fans boo Ms. Palin out of the Wachovia Center? So what! That’s a great story—the Broad Street Bullies and their loyal legions take arms against the Vice Presidential hopeful as she drops the puck at center ice. Can anyone say "SNL skit starring the lovely and talented Philadelphia native Tina Fey as Sarah Palin," just waiting to happen?

It won’t be easy for the Flyers to draw attention within the Philadelphia marketplace this weekend. The Phillies start the NLCS on Thursday night, and the entire city is abuzz with their baseball team. The controversy alone of featuring Palin certainly cuts through some of those obstacles.

The move is pure brilliance on the part of Shawn Tilger and his entire public relations staff at Comcast-Spectacor. It’s going to generate huge quantities of publicity at no additional charge to the organization. And in these economic times, every business can use an expense-free boost.

Maybe Gary Bettman should take a few pointers on how to start a season properly...

The Rebuilding of the Philadelphia Flyers

The Frozen Fan — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:54:00 -0400

We keep hearing that the key to success in the “new” NHL is the draft.

Whether referencing Pittsburgh’s knockout run of Top Two picks (Fleury, Crosby, and Malkin) or Washington’s jam-packed youth corps (Ovechkin, Backstrom, Semin, Green, Laich, Gordon, Fehr,... plus the entire Hershey Bears squad) or Detroit’s miracle late-round success (Datsyuk, anyone?), powerhouse teams know how to leverage their draft choices to create solid lineups.

Which brings us to the Flyers. Journalists rave about Holmgren’s clever trades, attributing the entire revitalization to new acquisitions. And in a sense, that’s all true.

Kimmo Timonen provided the reliable defense missing since the retirement of Eric Desjardins.

Scott Hartnell and Scottie Upshall brought gritty agitation to the forward lines, while Danny Briere added finesse and skill to the power play. Meanwhile, Marty Biron supplied the needed netminding.

But paying for players only works if the core is strong. The Flyers have spent the past 10 years drafting well, especially considering that they usually receive late first-round picks because they are a consistently successful team.

Let’s take a look at the list of Flyers’ draft picks who have made the NHL as regulars since the 1998 draft:

1998: Simon Gagne, Antero Niittymaki
2000: Justin Williams
2001: Patrick Sharp, Dennis Seidenberg
2002: Joni Pitkanen
2003: Jeff Carter, Mike Richards

There may not be a plethora of players there. But the ones who have made it in, have made it big. Simon Gagne scored 40-goals in back-to-back seasons, and he is just now hitting his prime. Justin Williams may be injured, but ask Carolina fans how they feel about his contributions to their team.

Patrick Sharp is the third element on the Toews-Kane line that tore it up in Chicago last year. And need I even explain the quality play of Jeff Carter and Mike Richards?

As the 2008 training camp draws to a close, we see a few more Flyers picks poised to take their places in the NHL. Steve Downie (2005) could prove an integral part of the Flyers’ fourth line with Arron Asham and Riley Cote, aptly nicknamed “the Black and Blue” line.

Claude Giroux (2006) may be down with the Phantoms to start the year, but the talent he displayed during his emergency call-up in February suggests that will not a long-term appointment.

And Luca Sbisa (2008) could prove to be the offensive-defenseman the Orange and Black faithful have been waiting for.

It should prove to be a season worth watching!

Flyers vs Hurricanes Postgame Analysis

The Frozen Fan — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 18:06:40 -0400

I waxed nostalgic in my other post, but I did want to offer a few comments on the players for anyone who wasn’t able to attend this afternoon’s game. I know we’re all looking for some insight into guys trying to make the squad, and into the Simon Gagne situation:

Gagne first

Taking a roughing penalty 10 seconds after you leap over the boards for the first time in eight months says a lot. It says you’re healthy, confident, and serious about playing the game. Gagne may be ready to deliver such a hit, but he also played rather tentatively throughout the afternoon, using his speed and smarts to avoid physical contact in most situations.

There’s no need for panic just yet. It’s only his first game back, and he wisely seemed as though he wanted to pace himself. That said, avoiding checks in the preseason is one thing. In the regular season, it can get you seriously injured.

Other notables

Luca Sbisa

The 2008 first-round draft pick showed some excellent potential. He’s a smooth-skating D with plenty of puck-handling skill. He sees the ice well, pinpointing passes to Simon Gagne at the far blue line a few times. That’s exactly what the Flyers needed in their system, and it’s nice to know that RJ Umberger was well spent in June.

Sbisa still needs to build better decision-making skills and physical strength if he wants to survive in the NHL. In addition to some rather poor choices with the puck in his own zone, he was outmatched on size in the corners and along the boards.

What I liked best, though, was his response to those situations. Sbisa plays with spunk. If someone shoves him, he shoves back. When Carolina crowded too intensely around Biron, Sbisa made his presence felt.

And for all the times he was knocked over, Sbisa always responded by keeping his head up and looking to jump right back into the fray. For a rookie trying to make it with the big boys, that’s the type of heart you love to see.

The Grinders Line of Cote, Asham, and Downie

This group was the most-entertaining forward line, by far. The three guys mucked it up in the corners, ground it out in front of the net, and wreaked general havoc wherever they went.

Any drama or friction that happened usually originated here. And often finished here as well—two fights in the first period for this line. That kind of hockey is always good for the soul, especially after a long summer.

Ossi Vaananen

I can already see this player being a fan favorite in Philadelphia. He loves to play the body, and he’s especially at good standing up at the blue line in the face of an oncoming rush. With Smith signing in Ottawa and Hatcher on the LTIR, the Flyers needed some size and grit on their back end.

Philadelphia Flyers Say Farewell to the Spectrum

The Frozen Fan — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 17:42:54 -0400

Having just returned from today’s preseason game at the Spectrum, I can honestly say the Philadelphia Flyers organization truly embodies class.

Along with the customary recitations of historical statistics and accomplishments as each former captain stepped onto the ice, the Flyers featured pre-recorded memories of the building from major players like Wayne Gretzky and Ron Francis, as well as live interviews with various former captains during breaks in the action.

And to top it off, the singing of God Bless America by the lovely Lauren Hart with Kate Smith.

More importantly, the atmosphere within the building was permeated with memories and hopes for a bright future. A longtime Flyers fan seated behind me spent much of the game sharing stories of the 1970s glory years with his teenage son. I overheard a dad in line for Chickie & Pete’s famous crab fries telling his young daughter about Ron Hextall’s miraculous performances in 1987.

The crowd could not have more passionately displayed its appreciation for the former Flyer captains—particularly when Keith Primeau arrived. And I don’t know how Mike Richards felt as he was officially presented to Philadelphia as the next captain. But as a fan, I felt chills as he shook hands with Ed Van Impe, Bobby Clarke, Dave Poulin, and the others.

Intertwined with the nostalgia was a genuine enthusiasm for the future. Spontaneous chants of “Let’s Go Flyers” arose throughout the game. Whether it was the two short-handed goals from the young captain, Simon Gagne’s first game in eight months, or just the return of hockey to Broad Street, this is one optimistic fan base.

Here’s to another great season!