Hatcher Interview

This isn't definite. Note that. But, I may be able to conduct an interview, of sorts, with Derian Hatcher.

All I need are some questions. I won't be face-to-face with him, but instead, I'll be sending him a list of questions for him to answer.

Instead of giving him my boring questions, I've decided that I'm going to allow you, the fans, the Flyers at heart, send your very own questions in to be answered by Hatcher himself.

I won't be selecting all of them, and I'd rather we kept the questions professional. Nothing that demands answers about his personal life will be submitted.

With that said, you can e-mail me your questions at jrport02@morehead-st.edu.

Now is the chance to get answers to questions that only a Flyer could answer. Be sure to include your name AND the best way for me to contact you.

So, get at it. And here's to hoping that this all works out.

-Jarrod

Flyers vs. Buffalo: Danny Boy in the SO!

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We started off the first period terribly. We really did. Our boys let 3 goals go by early on. Some of them were just flat out preventable. One went directly in front of Biron, from one side of the net to the other, and managed to go untouched by a Flyers stick. Turnovers galore. Horrific defensive plays. Ugh!

The first two of their goals were 11 seconds apart. Just embarassing.

We managed to get two back by the end of the 1st, however, to make it 3-2. It seemed we had some good momentum going until we got a stupid call on Downie.

Flyers Goals in the 1st: Carter, Hartnell

Sabres Goals in the 1st: Roy, MacArthur, Pominville

The second period offered several great chances. So close, but no cigars. The good thing is that Buffalo had the same problem, albeit with less good scoring opportunities.

I almost cried in the 3rd when R.J. Umberger tied it up with a nice wrister during our power play to eventually send it into OT.

Overtime was pretty intense. We got 3 good shots to their 1. The odds were in our favor, but were we going to do it? Were we going to snap the 10 game losing streak and prevent another scar on the name of the Flyers?

The shootout decided it all.

Buffalo sent our Connolly. No goal.

Timonen started it off for the Flyers, making it his second shootout attempt ever. Nice moves, but nothing we could take to the bank.

Kotalik flipped it in for Buffalo, giving the Sabres the temporary lead.

Carter, who had the hot hand, had something to say about that. Addaboy, Carter!

1-1.

Buffalo's final shooter, Roy, approached Biron, putting on his best moves, but released the puck wide of the net.

It all came down to Briere. Shootout over. Briere scores.

And I've been thinking. You know, with all of people whining and beating them selves up over this off-season acquisition, they sure did light up when he snapped the streak with a beauty.

Of course, everyone loves Briere again, because, you know, he won the game for us. Had he missed, though, he woud have been the worst pick-up we've ever had to hear most Philly fans tell it.

It's in times like these that I realize the importance of a player like Briere. Sure, he doesn't put out much in the way of defensive efforts, but boy does he know how to sound that horn. 7 more years of stuff like this? Yeah, I'll take it.

Anyway, congrats to our Flyers for stepping it up when the team needed it most. Especially with major injuries like Gagne, Richards, Hatcher, and Lupul and a horrible losing streak on top of that, we could have easily lost this game. But we didn't. Was Stevens the reason for our success? Who cares? They decided that this game needed to be won. And it was.

Final score: Flyers - 4, Sabres - 3

-Jarrod

Flyers vs. Panthers: How did we lose?

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First, what makes this loss simply unbearable is the fact that Mike Richards is out for 3 weeks with his hamstring.

Here's how we lost. We shot 41 shots and made 1. We had countless scoring chances with no follow thorugh. We held the lead until 3.7 seconds were left in the 3rd period. We put Dowd, Modry, and Smith on the penalty kill in overtime knowing that they are some of the slowest players we have. We allowed Jokinen, who scored the game-tying goal, to add another and win the game.

We simply cannot play like this anymore. While this one wasn't entirely Stevens' fault, he still needs to go. Not only did he shit on last season's chances, he has also led us to yet another 10-game winless streak. That's two now. Two, Holmgren. Two.

So, Stevens allowed for a franchise record 10 game losing streak last year. And what does he do to compensate? He gives us another.

Holmgren, I love you. I do. But I'm fairly disappointed that you won't fire his ass. We have Terry Murray as assistant coach. Let him prove that he belongs back at the helm of the Flyers bench. He will help us. You can help us. Please.

Oh, and P.S., thanks for getting rid of Vandermeer.

-Jarrod

Flyers vs. Sharks: Stevens must go

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I should have known better than to thik we'd win on 45 minute practices every other day. I could go on and on about how horrible of a job Stevens is doing, but I won't. I'd rather congratulate our boys on a pretty decent effort and tell them that help may soon be on it's way, either in the form of a much-needed trade or in the form of a head coach replacement.

I prefer the latter because out team is actually pretty damn talented.

I mean, how does Homer not see that it's not getting any better with Stevens? Many have mentioned Pat Burns, and I'd totally be down with that.

I want my Flyers back.

-Jarrod

Giroux, Ruzicka join the Flyers!

Taken directly from http://flyers.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&id=18891.



The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled forward Claude Giroux from the Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL) and forward Stefan Ruzicka from the Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL), according to club General Manager Paul Holmgren.

Giroux, the Flyers' first round draft pick in 2006, will be making his NHL debut when the Flyers play the Senators on Tuesday night in Ottawa (7:30 p.m., Comcast SportsNet).

A Flyers spokesman caught up with Giroux regarding the call-up.

Q: What is your reaction being called up?

Claude Giroux: "I really didn't think I was going to get that
call, but when I did, I just could not believe it. It is an unbelievable
feeling. I am very excited. I can't wait to start playing. I just want
to prove what I can do on the ice. I wish the Flyers’ game was
tonight."

Q: How did you find out?

CG: "The Flyers called told me that I was going to be able to play against the Sens. But a couple of hours later, they called me back [and said] that I wasn't going to play because the league wasn't allowing me to play. Then, about four hours later, the Flyers called me back and told me I was going to play. It was a pretty long day."

Q: What kind of player are you?

CG: "I think I can make some good plays with the puck and without the puck I can position myself [well]. Playing in the NHL won't be the same as juniors. I will just have to adapt myself quickly and do the best I can.”

John Stevens was asked about Giroux as the Flyers checked into their team hotel in Ottawa on Monday evening.

"He was really an impressive player in training camp and he had a great series against the Russians at the end of the summer. He was a dominant player and impressed everybody with not only his skill with the puck, but also his ability to play without the puck," said Stevens. "He continued to impress in our training camp and was a terrific player in the intrasquad scrimmages. He played well during the Flyers preseason and has gone back to juniors where he has put up big numbers all year long.

“He has the vision and awareness with the puck that you can't teach, and has a real passion to play hockey, so we are looking forward to seeing him play in a regular season game."

So he will definitely play tomorrow?

JS: "He will definitely play tomorrow and we will get him acclimated, and have him playing with some guys he is going to have success with. We are going to sit down tonight and take a look at everything. He might even get the opportunity to play on some special teams."

Who will be his linemates?

JS: "We don't know yet. I have an idea, but I don't want to speculate. We may even look at him with a guy like Danny Briere. Both of them think the game very well. He may play with a variety of people, but he will get the opportunity to play with some very good players."

Giroux leads the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with 88 points (33g, 55a) in 47 games. He is a + 31 with five shorthanded goals and eight game-winning goals.

In 12 games with the Flyers this season, Ruzicka has a goal and two assists for three points and 25 penalty minutes. In 40 games with the Phantoms, he has 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points and 79 penalty minutes. He is tied for third on the team in scoring.

Forsberg deal helped turn Flyers around

Neat article on the Forsberg trade last year and how it helped to make us a much better team this year.

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=353902

Voting ends soon!!!!

Remember, voting for which jersey I should get ends in just a couple of days. Please people, the more votes, the better the statistics.

Also, I'm not entirely positive, but I think those who have voted once already can vote again.

Anyway, I REALLY need YOUR help. So, do it! Help!!!

-Jarrod