While I’m not usually in the habit of throwing shoutouts to ESPN (especially considering the hackjob they performed on their NHL coverage prior to the lockout), but an article by Pierre LeBrun warrants mention.

Pierre is taking exception to the fact that the Flyers to this point have delayed their announcement of the next captain.  Since the departure of Jason Smith, most observers have come to the logical conclusion that Mike Richards, with his shiny new 12 year face-of-the-franchise contract, would be the next choice.

But the Flyers aren’t moving that fast.  Pierre asks the all important question of “Why?”…………

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3591281&name=lebrun_pierre&campaign=rss&source=NHLHeadlines

Amidst all the action of UFA Day, the Flyers were relatively quiet.  No big splashes.  Certainly none with the impact of last year’s signings of Danny Briere, Scott Hartnell, Kimmo Timonen, and the Smith/Lupul/Pitkanen trade.

But along with the 4 smaller UFA signings, Flyer GM Paul Holmgren also sured up the blueline further by resigning defenseman Randy Jones to a new 2 year deal worth $5.5 million.

Join in the forum discussion!!!

Jones was a pleasant surprise coming into last season, as he was largely expected to compete for the 7th D spot.  But he broke through the competition at camp and earned a full time top 6 spot on the roster.  Now, he will cash in and find himself even more heavily relied upon.

Good luck Randy, and we’re glad you’re going to be staying in Philly.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – Marian Hossa scored twice, including the game-winner, as the Pittsburgh Penguins topped the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-1, in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals at Wachovia Center.

Ryan Whitney and Ryan Malone also lit the lamp for the Penguins, who improved to 11-1 in the postseason and are one win away from reaching the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1992.

Sidney Crosby added a pair of assists to take over the NHL scoring lead with 19 points, while Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 17-of-18 shots to record the win.

“This is a young team that’s playing a really mature game,” Penguins coach Michel Therrien said. “They’re committed defensively.”

R.J. Umberger tallied for the Flyers, who are facing an 0-3 series deficit for the first time since falling to the Detroit Red Wings in a four-game Cup Finals sweep in 1997.

Martin Biron surrendered three goals on 24 shots.

Game 4 is slated for Thursday in Philadelphia.

The Pens netted the key goal in the contest, which gave them a 3-1 edge just seconds before the midway point in the third. Petr Sykora took advantage of a broken play in the left circle by finding a loose puck and dishing in front to Malone, who was all alone to slip a backhander past Biron.

Facing a third consecutive loss, the Flyers played with more spirit and aggressiveness late in regulation. However, Fleury was equal on all 10 Philadelphia shots in the period.

Hossa hit the empty net with 53.7 seconds to go, providing the exclamation point on the victory and a stranglehold on the series.

“I don’t think there’s any lack of commitment on our team whatsoever,” Flyers coach John Stevens said. “I think we have to find a way to play with confidence and execute with the pressure we’re receiving.”

Pittsburgh grabbed the lead while on the power play 5:03 into the contest, as Whitney banked a shot from the left wing off Flyers defenseman Jason Smith and through Biron.

Hossa then dipped between a pair of defenders and ripped a shot from the high slot at 7:41 and the visitors opened up a two-goal advantage.

Although the Flyers failed to convert on their first power play, Umberger brought the home team within 2-1 at 10:59. Vinny Prospal’s initial wraparound banked off Fleury at the post, but the Pittsburgh native was unmarked and tapped home the rebound from the crease.

The middle 20 minutes passed without a goal, as the Penguins seemed more intent on shutting down Philly’s passing and shooting lanes than adding to their goal total. The Flyers were held to only three shots on net and remained behind by one heading into the final period.

“We knew if we could score first, we could quiet the crowd,” Hossa said. “That was the first step, and after that we kept at it. If we play well defensively, we know we can be successful because we also have the talent to score goals and create rushes.”

Game Notes
Pittsburgh improved to 9-0 when scoring first this playoff year, and upped its record to 10-2 all time in Game 3s after winning the first two in any series…The 1982-83 Edmonton Oilers were the last club to begin the playoffs at 11-1, but they were eventually swept by the New York Islanders in the Finals…The Flyers missed defensemen Kimmo Timonen (blood clot) and Braydon Coburn (eye)…The Penguins were without forward Gary Roberts due to illness…Umberger’s goal was his 10th of the playoffs, second only to Detroit’s Johan Franzen with 12…Prospal recorded his team-best 10th assist.

Content Copyright 2007, The Sports Network. Distributed by XML Team Solutions.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Scoring

Pittsburgh Penguins:

1. R. Whitney (S. Crosby, S. Gonchar) 5:03 1st Pd
2. M. Hossa (S. Crosby) 7:41 1st Pd
4. R. Malone (P. Sykora, E. Malkin) 9:58 3rd Pd
5. M. Hossa (H. Gill) 19:06 3rd Pd

Philadelphia Flyers:

3. R. Umberger (V. Prospal, D. Briere) 10:59 1st Pd

Penalties

Pittsburgh Penguins:

T. Kennedy (Delay of Game) 8:03 1st Pd
M. Hossa (Hooking) 8:55 1st Pd
R. Malone (Hooking) 11:50 1st Pd

Philadelphia Flyers:

D. Hatcher (Hooking) 3:33 1st Pd
D. Briere (Hooking) 8:30 1st Pd
S. Upshall (Tripping) 7:40 2nd Pd

3/28/08 5-4 SO Loss SCORING 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total PHI 1 1 2 0 2 4 NJ 2 1 1 0 3 5 _______________________________ SHOTS 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total PHI 11 11 8 2 3 32 NJ 11 11 9 2 3 33

_______________________________________________________________________________

Newark, NJ (Sports Network) – Jamie Langenbrunner scored the game-winner in the shootout as the New Jersey Devils got past the Philadelphia Flyers, 5-4, at the Prudential Center.

Daniel Briere had tied the shootout with the Flyers’ last chance as he deked to the forehand and stuffed the puck past the left pad of Martin Brodeur.

However, the Devils still had one more shot and Langenbrunner calmly lifted the puck into the right corner past Martin Biron for the win.

Langenbrunner also scored in regulation while Johnny Oduya tallied twice and Brian Gionta also lit the lamp for the Devils, who snapped a five-game losing streak and have now won 16 of their last 18 games against the Flyers.

Brodeur stopped 28 shots for New Jersey, which has 93 points on the season and sits in the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of idle Ottawa.

Randy Jones and Mike Knuble each had a goal and an assist for the Flyers, who had a four-game winning streak stopped.

Biron made 29 saves for Philadelphia, which has 89 points and moved one point ahead of Boston for seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

Philadelphia had come back from a two-goal deficit to tie the game, but New Jersey took a 4-3 lead with 5:53 to play thanks in large part to Gionta. On the rush, Gionta skated the puck into the Philadelphia end and left a drop pass at the right point for John Madden, who skated to the low right circle before firing a pass across the goalmouth where Gionta tapped it in as he was falling to the ice.

The Flyers, though, again had an answer and tied the game with just 55.2 seconds to play. Good work along the left boards resulted in the puck going behind the net. Mike Richards grabbed the puck and sent a no-look, behind-the- back pass to the left circle where Knuble grabbed the disc and snapped a wrister into the right corner of the net.

The best opportunity of the overtime came less than one minute in as Patrik Elias blasted a big shot on the fly from the left circle, but Biron came up with the pad save.

Philadelphia put on a lot of pressure in the final minute of the overtime, but Brodeur came up with the big stops to force the shootout.

Philadelphia grabbed a 1-0 lead near the midway mark of the first period. Briere brought the puck into the New Jersey end and left a drop pass near the top of the right circle for Vinny Prospal, who fired a wrister over the glove of Brodeur.

New Jersey got on the board on the power play as Oduya sent a hard pass from the left side to the front where it hit off of a Flyer, popped it into the air and behind Biron with 2:39 to play.

In the final minute of the first, Oduya blasted a shot from the right point that deflected off of a sliding Jason Smith and past Biron with just 31.2 left on the clock, and New Jersey took a 2-1 lead after one period of play.

The Devils made it a two-goal game just 3:25 into the second period. Sheldon Brookbank blasted a bouncing shot on net that Biron stopped, but Biron poked the rebound into the slot where Langenbrunner picked it up and slammed it home for his 13th goal of the year.

However, the Flyers got one back at the 9:14 mark of the second. Jones held the disc at the left point and fired a hard pass to the low right side where Jim Dowd redirected it into the net for his fifth goal of the season.

Philadelphia tied the game at the 8:18 mark of the third. Jones kept in a New Jersey clearing attempt at the left point and fired a shot on net that beat Brodeur to the right corner. The play was reviewed as it appeared that the puck deflected off of a high stick from Philadelphia’s Jeff Carter, but after a review the goal was allowed to stand.

The Flyers almost took the lead with 7:15 left in the contest as Briere had three whacks at the puck down low, but Brodeur kept the disc out of the net.

Game Notes
Philadelphia next plays on Saturday as a guest of the New York Islanders…The Devils have off until Tuesday when they will play in New York against the Islanders…The Flyers have not won in New Jersey since March 9, 2004, a span of 12 games…Philadelphia finished 0-for-4 on the power play while New Jersey went 1-for-3.

Content Copyright 2008, The Sports Network. Distributed by XML Team Solutions.
_______________________________________________________________________________

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

PHI – 09:35 Vaclav Prospal, Assists: Daniel Briere and Jason Smith
NJ – 17:21 PPG – David Johnny Oduya, Assists: Paul Martin and Patrik Elias
NJ – 19:28 David Johnny Oduya, Assists: Zach Parise and Colin (John) White

2nd Period

NJ – 03:25 Jamie Langenbrunner, Assists: Patrik Elias and Sheldon Brookbank
PHI – 09:14 James Dowd, Assists: Randy Jones and Kimmo Timonen

3rd Period

PHI – 08:18 Randy Jones, Assists: Mike Knuble and Scottie Upshall
NJ – 14:07 Brian Gionta, Assists: John Madden and Martin Brodeur
PHI – 19:04 Mike Knuble, Assists: Mike Richards and Jeff Carter

OT Period

NONE

Shootout

PHI – Richards – Miss
NJ – Gionta – Goal
PHI – Carter – Goal
NJ – Elias – Goal
PHI – Briere – Goal
NJ – Langenbrunner – Goal

PENALTY SUMMARY

1st Period

NJ – 06:03 Brookbank, S. : Delaying Game-Puck over glass – 2 min
PHI – 14:40 Jones, R. : Interference – Goalkeeper – 2 min
PHI – 14:40 Jones, R. : Fighting (maj) – 5 min
NJ – 14:40 Mottau, M. : Unsportsmanlike conduct – 2 min
NJ – 14:40 Mottau, M. : Fighting (maj) – 5 min
PHI – 16:32 Prospal, V. : Tripping – 2 min

2nd Period

NJ – 00:30 Brookbank, S. : Hooking – 2 min
NJ – 19:05 Mottau, M. : Tripping – 2 min
NJ – 19:18 White, C. : Slashing – 2 min
PHI – 19:18 Hartnell, S. : Interference – 2 min

3rd Period

NJ – 01:09 Brodeur, M. served by Parise, Z. : Delaying Game-Puck over glass – 2 min
PHI – 03:49 Briere, D. : Cross checking – 2 min
PHI – 14:33 Dowd, J. : Boarding – 2 min

OT Period

NONE

3/25/08 2-1 OT Win SCORING 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total PHI 0 0 1 1 - 2 NYR 1 0 0 0 - 1 _______________________________ SHOTS 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total PHI 6 6 10 3 - 25 NYR 11 10 10 1 - 32

_______________________________________________________________________________

New York, NY (Sports Network) – Mike Richards scored 2:16 into overtime as the Philadelphia Flyers picked up a big two points with a 2-1 win over the New York Rangers in an Atlantic Division battle at Madison Square Garden.

In the extra session, Jason Smith picked off an errant pass in the Philadelphia end and sprung Richards on a breakaway. Richards skated into the New York end, and with Marek Malik all over him, he slid a backhander between the pads of Henrik Lundqvist for the win.

Danny Briere scored a goal while Martin Biron made 31 saves for the Flyers, who have won four straight and are now one point behind the Rangers for the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference.

Jaromir Jagr scored the lone goal while Lundqvist made 23 saves for the Rangers, who have dropped four of their last six games. New York has 89 points and sits in the sixth spot, two points behind New Jersey and Ottawa for the fourth slot.

With the goal, Jagr now has 1,591 points, which moved him ahead of Phil Esposito for ninth place on the all-time list.

The Rangers scored just 1:41 into the contest as Jagr brought the puck out from the right boards and used a screen to put a low shot from the right circle past Biron for his 20th goal of the season.

The game turned into a defensive struggle from there as Lundqvist made six saves in each of the first and second periods while Biron stopped 10 shots in the second as the third period started with New York still holding a 1-0 lead.

The Flyers, though, tied the game at the 7:32 mark on Briere’s goal. Jaroslav Modry sent a pass from the left point down to Briere at the left circle. Briere spotted Vinny Prospal in the slot and sent it there. Prospal immediately fed the disc back to Briere and he slammed it home for his 30th goal of the season.

Game Notes
Jagr has scored at least 20 goals in 17 straight seasons…The Rangers host New Jersey on Thursday…Philadelphia plays in New Jersey on Friday…Briere has scored four goals in the past three games…New York won five of the eight contests against Philadelphia this season…New York went 0-for-4 on the power play, while Philadelphia finished 0-for-3.

Content Copyright 2008, The Sports Network. Distributed by XML Team Solutions.
_______________________________________________________________________________

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

NYR – 01:41 Jaromir Jagr, Assists: Martin Straka and Brandon Dubinsky

2nd Period

NONE

3rd Period

PHI – 07:32 Daniel Briere, Assists: Vaclav Prospal and Jaroslav Modry

OT Period

PHI – 02:16 Mike Richards, Assists: Jason Smith

PENALTY SUMMARY

1st Period

PHI – 04:46 Thoresen, P. : Hooking – 2 min
PHI – 16:49 Timonen, K. : Holding – 2 min

2nd Period

PHI – 01:24 Coburn, B. : Holding – 2 min
NYR – 12:49 Malik, M. : Holding the stick – 2 min
PHI – 13:46 Knuble, M. : Slashing – 2 min
NYR – 15:21 Backman, C. : Tripping – 2 min

3rd Period

NYR – 02:36 Orr, C. : Roughing – 2 min
PHI – 05:43 Hartnell, S. : Roughing – 2 min
NYR – 05:43 Prucha, P. : Roughing – 2 min

I hope everybody is having a great holiday weekend.

I don’t care what or how you debate it, Ovechkin is the MVP and the most exciting player in the NHL, it isn’t close.

Ovechkin is so good his linemates could be a monkey and a banana and he could still get 50 goals.

Haven’t heard any Brittany news a few weeks now, I’m predicting a Brittany debacle any minute.

The Red Wings have yet another 100 point season, they are truly an amazing team on and off the ice.

The most profitable team in the NHL the Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t played a playoff game since Roenick playing for the Flyers beat them with a snapshot over Belfour’s shoulder, that’s a long time ago holy cow.

Speaking of a long time ago I saw Gabe Kaplan of Welcome Back Kotter fame on celebrity poker the other day, he looks younger now, how is that possible?

Barry Bonds has not signed on with a team yet, I hope no team extends an olive branch, that steroid popping idiot can rot for all I care.

Unless my beloved Flyers turn it around quickly coach John Stevens may be looking for a new job this summer, not sure he deserves to be fired as some of the players seem to have quit.

Can you imagine if a shoot out decides a playoff spot this year, ugh I hate that crap HATE IT!

Buts Crack of the Week.

Thursday night I took my daughter to see “Disney Princesses On Ice” and then 12 hours later I was in a hockey tournament drinking beer in the dressing room after the game, that is quick 12 hour turnaround in my books! Being a good Dad and then being one of the guys is a pretty cool thing, thus the crack of the week.

The Pens are better with out Crosby, seriously should they trade him? Can you imagine how much they would get, wow.

Sean Avery is a total clown but the Rangers play much better with him in the line up, he’s a UFA after this season but I can’t believe he would leave the Big Apple.

I have a crazy idea, simply insane actually. Why don’t the Flyers stop spending money on older crappy players past their prime and start spending money on a #1 goalie. They had this guy named Bernie Parent that won them 2 Cups in the 70′s, he wasn’t too shabby.

Speaking of Bernie, that is Ryan Parent’s nickname given him by teammates, good stuff.

My wife watches this “Men in Trees” crap show and Anne Heche is in it, I liked her way better when she was a quiet lesbian.

So the major league baseball season opens this week in Japan and the NHL season opened across the pond as well, why? Seriously who gives a crap?

So it is widely reported that Jason Smith of the Flyers will be a NJ Devil next season, is this not tampering and how does Lou and the Devils always get away with this crap?

At work we have 2 mens washrooms and everytime I go in one it seems somebody just dropped a deuce, man I have the worst luck.

I think the NHL should bring back cool nicknames. Instead of guys named Smith being called Smitty they should have cool nicknames, lets try a few here.

Riley “Blackeyes” Cote

Johnny “I love catfish” Oduya

I sometimes get called “The Buzzsaw” as a nickname, that would be a great nickname for an NHL player.

Look at the goalies that are going to be in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, how do you bet against the Devils and Brodeur, he’s a 1000 times better then any of them

Everybody have a great holiday weekend and as usual if I can leave you with a little bit of advice it would be “Don’t fight Chara or you will die”

L8R

3/21/08 4-3 SO Win SCORING 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total NYR 0 0 3 0 0 3 PHI 1 0 2 0 2 4 _______________________________ SHOTS 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total NYR 7 7 9 3 2 26 PHI 8 11 11 0 2 30

_______________________________________________________________________________

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – Mike Richards scored the deciding goal in the shootout, as the Philadelphia Flyers snapped a seven-game home losing streak against the New York Rangers with a 4-3 victory.

In the first round, Richards moved in on Steve Valiquette with speed before faking a backhander and slipping the puck through the five hole. After Brendan Shanahan’s backhand offering went wide of the net, Jeff Carter lifted a backhander high over the blocker of Valiquette. Martin Biron then stopped Nigel Dawes’ shot with the left pad and the bottom of the catching glove to secure the win.

Danny Briere scored twice for the Flyers, who defeated the Rangers at the Wachovia Center for the first time since April 15, 2006. Richards also scored in regulation and Vinny Prospal added two assists, while Biron made 23 saves.

With the win, Philadelphia leapt over idle Boston for sole possession of the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference.

Jaromir Jagr posted a goal and an assist for the Rangers, who saw their two- game winning streak to come to a end. Christian Backman collected three assists and Valiquette stopped 27-of-30 shots in defeat.

The Rangers have 88 points and sit sixth in the East, one point behind Ottawa for the fifth seed.

Briere gave the Flyers a 2-0 lead with 9:10 left in regulation. Prospal did a great job of keeping the puck in at the blue line and dished down low to Briere, who went around the net and banked the disc off the stick of New York’s Dan Girardi.

The Rangers stormed back, netting two goals in a 1:48 span.

Marek Malik cut the deficit in half with a wrister from the left point that eluded traffic in front and found the twine behind Biron with 7:59 remaining.

Scott Hartnell nearly restored a two-goal margin, but his shot skidded off the left post. Moments later, Dawes ripped a shot from the point that deflected off the knee of Patrick Thoresen and between the legs of Biron, tying the score at two with 6:11 left.

Philadelphia regained the lead on Briere’s second goal of the night. Prospal fished the puck free from the right corner and threw a rink-wide pass to Hartnell in the low slot. Hartnell then quickly dished to Briere, who tucked the puck home from inside the crease with 3:37 to go.

New York knotted the score at three with 1:51 to play in regulation, as Jagr collected a loose puck in front and fired a backhander off the leg of Flyers defenseman Jason Smith.

Each club had a power-play chance in overtime, but couldn’t convert.

The Flyers grabbed a 1-0 lead at the 4:37 mark of the first period. Richards blocked Malik’s shot at the point, gobbled up the loose puck, stickhandled around the flat-footed defenseman and skated the length of the ice in alone on Valiquette. Richards, with his head up the entire way, snapped a quick wrister high to the glove side for his 26th of the year.

It marked the first time the Flyers tallied against the Rangers on home ice since Denis Tolpeko lit the lamp with 9:31 remaining in the third period of their 4-3 shootout loss on November 15. Valiquette posted back-to-back shutouts at the Wachovia Center on January 31 (4-0) and February 9 (2-0).

The Blueshirts went nearly 13 minutes without a shot in a scoreless second period.

Game Notes
The Flyers host the Islanders on Sunday, while the Rangers are off until Tuesday, when they welcome Philadelphia…New York center Scott Gomez suffered an upper-body injury near the midway point of the first period and did not return. The injury occurred when he lost an edge and crashed into the end boards. Gomez, grimacing in pain, made his way back to the bench before eventually retreating to the locker room, where he underwent further examinations…Philadelphia finished 0-for-6 on the power play and New York went 0-for-3.

Content Copyright 2008, The Sports Network. Distributed by XML Team Solutions.
_______________________________________________________________________________

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

PHI – 04:37 Mike Richards, Assists: none

2nd Period

NONE

3rd Period

PHI – 10:50 Daniel Briere, Assists: Vaclav Prospal
NYR – 12:01 Marek Malik, Assists: Jaromir Jagr and Christian Backman
NYR – 13:49 Nigel Dawes, Assists: Christian Backman and Brendan Shanahan
PHI – 16:23 Daniel Briere, Assists: Scott Hartnell and Vaclav Prospal
NYR – 18:09 Jaromir Jagr, Assists: Christian Backman and Martin Straka

OT Period

NONE

Shootout

PHI – Carter – Goal
PHI – Richards – Goal
NYR – Shanahan – Miss
NYR – Dawes – Save

PENALTY SUMMARY

1st Period

PHI – 06:18 Cote, R. : Interference – 2 min
PHI – 11:29 Cote, R. : Roughing – 2 min

2nd Period

NYR – 08:17 Avery, S. : Interference – 2 min
NYR – 12:01 Rozsival, M. : Tripping – 2 min
NYR – 13:28 Shanahan, B. : Slashing – 2 min
NYR – 19:54 Tyutin, F. : Interference – 2 min

3rd Period

NYR – 04:23 Avery, S. : Slashing – 2 min

OT Period

NYR – 01:13 Staal, M. : Cross checking – 2 min
PHI – 04:24 Briere, D. : Tripping – 2 min

While most fans have been aware throughout the season that Flyers captain Jason Smith is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, there never seemed to be much concern about whether or not he would be brought back under contract for the 2008-09 season.

But now, the waters are a bit muddied. Tim Panaccio of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported yesterday that Smith is actually likely to forego a new contract with the Flyers, and instead may be eyeing up their hated rivals, the New Jersey Devils, as a home for next season.

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/20080319_Flyers_Notes___Flyers_Modry_coping_with_ill_father.html

On some level, it does seem to make sense. The Devils drafted Smith 18th overall in 1992, and gave him his first crack at NHL action. He spent parts of 4 seasons with New Jersey before moving on to Toronto, Edmonton, and eventually Philly. There’s no doubt that the draw to return to your roots at the tail end of a successful NHL career is strong.

But as a fan who has grown to appreciate Smith’s presence on the ice as both a solid stay-at-home defenseman and a captain, I find it disheartening to think that he could just end up with our hated rivals from the other end of the Jersey Turnpike. Especially after only 1 season in a town that he was custom built for.

His style of play is what Flyers fans love to watch. All-out, blood-and-guts hockey. He is the kind of player that would and does regularly sacrifice his own body for his team. All you have to do is see him at nearly any point of the season, and the war wounds are clearly present. Smith wears them like badges of honor.

While I, like almost everyone else who is a fan of Flyers hockey, understands that this is ultimately going to be Mike Richards’ team, I would have been content to hold off the Richards’ era for at least one more season of the Smith era.

I’m not quite ready for it to end.