11/7/09 2-1 SO Win SCORING 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total STL 0 0 1 0 1 1 PHI 0 1 0 0 2 2 _______________________________ SHOTS 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total STL 10 9 12 0 4 31 PHI 12 8 12 4 4 36

*** PostGame Interviews & Coach’s Press Conference ***

_______________________________________________________________________________

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – Mika Pyorala’s first career shootout tally was the difference as Philadelphia clipped St. Louis, 2-1, at Wachovia Center.

Each club tallied in the first three rounds, then Pyorala began the fourth with a high wrister to put the Flyers ahead. David Backes’ try to keep the game alive for St. Louis ended up in Ray Emery’s breadbasket.

Scott Hartnell tallied in regulation for the Flyers, who have won four games in succession. Emery made 30 stops for the win, his ninth of the season.

“We’ve been playing well. Back-to-back games coming off the road is tough,” said Hartnell, whose club won 5-2 in Buffalo on Friday. “We played a hard, physical game. We knew they were hungry for a win, right from ‘Razor’ on up, we battled hard. It took the extra five and the shootout but we got the win.”

T.J. Oshie scored for the Blues, losers of four straight and five of six. Chris Mason took the loss despite a strong 35-save performance.

The Flyers picked up the game’s first goal with 7:45 to play in the second while on the power play, when Hartnell managed to tip in a dish from Claude Giroux a split second before colliding with Mason.

Oshie’s turnaround shot from a broken play knotted the score 5:43 into the third period and the game remained tied through regulation.

Mason came up with a huge pad stop on a Hartnell breakaway midway through overtime to keep the contest going but neither team could end it before the shootout.

“I know they go to the net really hard. That’s how they score and that’s how they got the goal tonight,” Mason said of his opponents. “Hartnell is always coming hard to the net. We would have liked a better outcome but I think we’re happy with the point.”

Game Notes

Pyorala has yet to record a regulation score in his first 14 NHL games…The Flyers have won seven of the last nine home games against the Blues dating back to December, 1996…Flyers defenseman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen left the game early in the third period with an upper-body injury.

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

Scoring Summary

1st Period
none

2nd Period
12:15 PHI PPG – Scott Hartnell (5) Wrist Shot – Assists: C. Giroux (6) & C. Pronger (11)

3rd Period
05:43 STL T.J. Oshie (2) Wrist Shot – Assists: R. Polak (3)

OT Period
none

Shootout
Mike Richards - PHI - Save
David Perron - STL - Miss
Claude Giroux - PHI - Goal
Brad Boyes - STL - Goal
Jeff Carter - PHI - Miss
T.J. Oshie - STL - Save
Mika Pyorala - PHI - Goal
David Backes - STL - Save

Penalty Summary

1st Period
00:28 STL Keith Tkachuk : Roughing – 2 min
09:45 STL Cam Janssen : Fighting (maj) – 5 min
09:45 PHI Arron Asham : Fighting (maj) – 5 min
12:38 PHI Ian Laperriere : Tripping – 2 min
15:50 PHI David Laliberte : Cross checking – 2 min
19:52 STL David Backes : Holding – 2 min

2nd Period
01:11 PHI Arron Asham : Tripping – 2 min
01:55 STL Paul Kariya : Interference – 2 min
03:15 PHI Chris Pronger : Tripping – 2 min
11:29 STL Cam Janssen : Interference on goalkeeper – 2 min
12:44 STL Keith Tkachuk : Boarding – 2 min
12:44 PHI Daniel Carcillo : Diving – 2 min
17:01 PHI Danny Syvret : Roughing – 2 min
17:01 STL David Perron : Roughing – 2 min

3rd Period
09:00 STL Lars Eller : Cross checking – 2 min

OT Period
none

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – The Philadelphia Flyers signed defenseman Chris Pronger to a multi-year contract extension on Tuesday.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but multiple sources report that the pact is worth $35 million over seven years.

“We are pleased to have one of the NHL’s premier defensemen in our organization and under contract long term,” said Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren.

The Flyers acquired Pronger from the Anaheim Ducks on June 26 with prospect Ryan Dingle for forward Joffrey Lupul, defenseman Luca Sbisa, two first-round draft picks and a conditional third-round selection.

Pronger, the second overall pick of the 1993 draft by the Hartford Whalers, played in all 82 games last season with the Ducks and scored 11 goals and added 37 assists.

Over his 15 seasons in the NHL, Pronger has appeared in 1,022 games and compiled 142 goals and 464 assists. He is a career plus-153 and has 1,457 penalty minutes. In addition to Anaheim, who he won a Stanley Cup with in 2007, he has also played for Edmonton, St. Louis and Hartford.

“I am very excited to be able to retire a Philadelphia Flyer and am looking forward to many years with the Flyers logo on my chest,” Pronger said.

The native of Ontario took home the Norris Trophy as top defenseman and the Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player for the 1999-2000 season and is a five-time All-Star.

1/31/09 4-0 Loss SCORING 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total PHI 0 0 0 - - 0 STL 1 2 1 - - 4 _______________________________ SHOTS 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total PHI 9 12 15 - - 36 STL 12 14 9 - - 35

*** PostGame Interviews & Coach’s Press Conference ***

_______________________________________________________________________________

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) – Chris Mason turned aside all 36 shots he saw for his third shutout of the season as the St. Louis Blues dominated the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-0, at Scottrade Center.

Jay McClement, Carlo Colaiacovo, David Backes and Patrik Berglund each lit the lamp for the Blues, who have won three of their last four.

Antero Niittymaki was charged with all four goals on 35 shots for the Flyers, who had won three of four coming into the game.

The Flyers had a full two-minute, two-man advantage less than two minutes into the game, but the team was unable to get any quality shots on net and the Blues scored shortly after the penalty expired.

Brad Winchester and T.J. Oshie, both of whom were in the box, came out as their penalties expired and helped spring a 3-on-1 break. Winchester fired a shot from the right circle that was stopped, but the rebound was kicked out to the left side where McClement slammed it home just 4:05 in.

In all, Mason stopped nine shots in the first frame to keep Philadelphia off the board.

Early in the second, Brad Boyes’ strong forecheck behind the net resulted in a turnover. Boyes got the puck to Keith Tkachuk, who from the low left circle centered it to Colaiacovo for a wrister over the glove of Niittymaki at the 2:45 mark.

About six minutes later, St. Louis took a 3-0 lead. Mason threw a long pass from his own end to the neutral zone near the Philadelphia blueline where Alex Steen grabbed it. Steen skated down the left wing and faked a shot before centering it to Backes for the easy tap-in.

In addition to the assist, Mason stopped 12 shots in the frame to keep Philadelphia from scoring.

The Flyers had a couple of power play chances in the third period, but were unable to dent the Blues’ netminder.

Berglund’s power-play goal on a one-timer from the right circle with 4:33 to play accounted for the final score.

Game Notes

The last time Philadelphia was shutout in St. Louis was on December 20, 1969…The Flyers host Boston on Wednesday…St. Louis plays in Detroit on Tuesday…The Flyers had won four straight and eight of the last nine against St. Louis prior to this game…Mason has 15 shutouts in his career…The Flyers had won five straight in St. Louis…St. Louis went 2-for-8 on the power play while Philadelphia was a horrid 0-for-11 with the man advantage.

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

Game Summary

Scoring Summary

STL 4:05 Goal scored by Jay McClement (5) Assisted by Brad Winchester (3) and T.J. Oshie (8)

Penalty Summary

STL 1:56 2 minute penalty on Brad Winchester for Tripping
STL 1:56 2 minute penalty on T.J. Oshie for Hooking
PHI 11:18 2 minute penalty on Riley Cote for Hooking
PHI 11:18 5 minute penalty on Arron Asham for Fighting
STL 11:18 5 minute penalty on Cam Janssen for Fighting
PHI 15:55 2 minute penalty on Andrew Alberts for Interference
STL 19:49 2 minute penalty on David Backes for Cross-checking

2nd Period

Scoring Summary

STL 2:45 Goal scored by Carlo Colaiacovo (2) Assisted by Keith Tkachuk (17) and Brad Boyes (18)
STL 8:37 Power-Play Goal scored by David Backes (17) Assisted by Alexander Steen (12) and Chris Mason (1)

Penalty Summary

PHI 7:09 2 minute penalty on Mike Knuble for Slashing
PHI 9:12 5 minute penalty on Mike Richards for Fighting
STL 9:12 2 minute penalty on B.J. Crombeen for Hooking
STL 9:12 5 minute penalty on Dan Hinote for Fighting
STL 10:44 2 minute penalty on Tyson Strachan for Hooking
PHI 10:49 2 minute penalty on Claude Giroux for Hooking
STL 11:07 2 minute penalty on Jay McClement for Holding
PHI 16:49 2 minute penalty on Matt Carle for Interference
PHI 19:24 2 minute penalty on Simon Gagne for Hooking

3rd Period

Scoring Summary

STL 15:27 Power-Play Goal scored by Patrik Berglund (15) Assisted by Brad Boyes (19) and T.J. Oshie (9)

Penalty Summary

PHI 8:20 2 minute penalty on Darroll Powe for Holding
STL 9:42 2 minute penalty on Brad Winchester for Slashing
PHI 13:38 2 minute penalty on Joffrey Lupul for Interference
PHI 13:58 2 minute penalty on Scott Hartnell for Roughing
PHI 13:58 2 minute penalty on Arron Asham for Unsportsmanlike conduct
STL 13:58 2 minute penalty on Jeff Woywitka for Roughing
STL 14:29 2 minute penalty on Alexander Steen for Interference
PHI 17:11 10 minute penalty on Riley Cote for Misconduct
STL 17:11 2 minute penalty on Alexander Steen for Unsportsmanlike conduct
STL 19:45 2 minute penalty on B.J. Crombeen for Roughing
STL 19:45 2 minute penalty on Team for Abuse of officials

Lately, there seems to be some renewal of realignment talk, especially since the rivalry between the Capitals and Flyers has been so hotly resurrected.

Veteran Flyers fans remember the good ol’ days of the Patrick Division when the Flyers and Capitals would face off against each other almost constantly.  Back then, the NHL consisted of only 21 teams, prior to the addition of the San Jose Sharks to the NHL lineup in 1991.  As a result, teams played their division rivals more often, and the rivalries were arguably more intense then they are today.  Add in the rough and tumble style to the game in the 70′s and 80′s, and you had a recipe for some of the most exciting hockey this Flyers fan can remember.

The distain that Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau recently expressed for the Flyers has heated up the realignment debate even further.  Caps fans are licking their chops at any chance they can get to avenge their 7th game OT loss to the Flyers in the first round of last years’ playoffs.

As a Flyers fan, I say bring it on.

The chance to see the Flyers face Ovechkin and the bongo-playing Alexander Semin (if you saw his recent fight with Marc Staal you know exactly what I mean) would be a pleasure.  Besides, I am getting sick of watching the Flyers play the Penguins and having to hear everyone join in on the Sidney Crosby suckfest.  I’d much rather have the announcers direct their loving gazes at Ovy, who in my opinion is far more deserving.

A fellow blogger over at Broad & Pattison has come up with a rather interesting idea for realignment that not only puts the Capitals back in a division where it can appreciate and relish its rivalries once again, but it also blows up the disastrous Southeast Division (something most faithful fans would agree is necessary).  It also would put teams in far more geographically sensible groupings to keep teams’ travel requirements down.  And finally, but most importantly, it would bring back the old conference and division names we all miss.

Here’s the article, and here’s the jist of it…

Prince of Wales Conference (14 teams)

Patrick Division (7 teams)
Philadelphia Flyers
New York Rangers
New York Islanders
New Jersey Devils
Pittsburgh Penguins
Washington Capitals
Boston Bruins

Adams Division (7 teams)
Montreal Canadiens
Ottawa Senators
Toronto Maple Leafs
Buffalo Sabres
Detroit Red Wings
Chicago Blackhawks
Columbus Blue Jackets

Clarence Campbell Conference (16 teams)

Norris Division (8 teams)
Colorado Avalanche
San Jose Sharks
Calgary Flames
Edmonton Oilers
Los Angeles Kings
Anaheim Ducks
Phoenix Coyotes
Vancouver Canucks

Smythe Division (8 teams)
Nashville Predators
Atlanta Thrashers
Tampa Bay Lightning
Florida Panthers
Dallas Stars
Minnesota Wild
Carolina Hurricanes
St. Louis Blues

My main gripe would be the uneven number of teams in each conference.  That could be easily remedied though by simply contracting and getting rid of 2 garbage teams that are not holding up their own weight.  God knows the NHL has enough of those.  But it is also an admittedly selfish structure, as Flyers and Caps fans would get what they want, while two major rivalries are effectively diminished; Montreal-Boston and Dallas-Colorado.

But overall, this seems to be one of the more agreeable ideas for realignment that has come up recently…at least for the fans.  Unfortunately, that usually means that the GM’s and team owners will hate it.

If you don’t have a subscription to NHL Center Ice, you’re missing out.  To see every single NHL game all season for $149 is a steal if you ask me.  Anyway, the season is young and some early observations on each team are in order for those here who haven’t seen much of the other teams they Flyers have yet to play.

Eastern Conference

Atlanta Thrashers: When will this team take the Southeast by the horns and compete with Washington?

Washington Capitals: Was last years run for real or will this team settle for mediocrity?

Carolina Hurricanes: With Justin Williams missing the entire season and Rod Brind’Amour aging, can they compete?

Florida Panthers: With the departure of a much underrated Olli Jokinen, Jay Bouwmeester is the best player on this team… and that should end come deadline time; only question is, where will he land?

Tampa Bay Lightning: This team has far too much talent to be falling behind in the SOUTHEAST DIVISION!

Ottawa Senators: Hey, Craig Hartsburg, there’s only one #1 goalie in the East named Martin and he isn’t from Switzerland

Buffalo Sabres: As Tomas Vanek goes, so go the Sabers

Montreal Canadiens: Carey Price is one year more mature and has the painful exit of May fresh in his memory…. it won’t happen again.

Boston Bruins: I don’t understand why some people think this team will be there come April… I just don’t see it.

Toronto Maple Leafs: On perhaps the worst team in the East, Vesa Toskala is a world-class netminder

Philadelphia Flyers: Will Gagne and Briere find that chemistry we saw briefly last season…. if so, 50 goals isn’t too far fetched

Pittsburgh Penguins: Few play the game like Ryan Malone, he will be missed in the Steel City

New York Islanders: Rick DiPietro deserves better……. much better

New York Rangers: If they find chemistry, its a race for 2nd in the East

New Jersey Devils: Does Lou really think Brian Rolston and Bobby Holik are the answer to staying competitive in the East?

Western Conference

Detroit Red Wings: Is 60 wins out of the question?

Columbus Blue Jackets: Do they crack the Top 8 in the West this season?  I believe in Hitch!

Nashville Predators: Best defensive corps in the league? Shea Weber, Ryan Suter, Greg deVries, Greg Zanon, Dan Hamhuis, Ville Koistinen

St. Louis Blues: Their power play is white hot thus far, 50%

Chicago Blackhawks: If they can find a solid #1 goaltender, they will play more than 82 games this season…. can’t wait for the Winter Classic

Minnesota Wild: Is this the last time the Twin Cities cheer for Marian Gaborik?

Calgary Flames: Youtube Dion Phaneuf……. its worth it

Edmonton Oilers: Sam Gagner has sick hands….. Youtube him, too

Vancouver Canucks: Finally, a goaltender is named Captain.  Now, if they could only sport a C on the sweater

Colorado Avalanche: Joe Sakic still has a twisted wrister, and Milan Hejduk has a different move for every defender in the game

Los Angeles Kings: This great, young core of players is still a year or two out….. some key players need to be brought in to get them over the hump

San Jose Sharks: Does Evgeni Nabokov win 45 games this year and the Sharks get to the Cup Finals?

Anaheim Ducks: Still a threat in the uber-competitive Pacific

Dallas Stars: Marty Turco finally shook that big-game monkey last May…. what does he do for an encore?

Phoenix Coyotes: Tons of potential…. what will The Great One make of it?

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – The Philadelphia Flyers continued to make depth moves on Tuesday, signing unrestricted free agents Glen Metropolit and Ossi Vaananen.

Metropolit was inked to a two-year deal, while Vaananen was signed for one year.

The 34-year-old Metropolit posted 11 goals along with career-highs in assists (22) and points (33) for the Boston Bruins a year ago.

This will be the sixth club in the energetic winger’s eight-year NHL career, which has seen stints with the Capitals, Lightning, Thrashers and Blues. He also spent two seasons in Finland and one in Switzerland from 2003-06 before returning to North America two years ago.

A 27-year-old stay-at-home defenseman, Vaananen spent last season playing in the Swedish Elite League. Prior to that, he played six seasons in the NHL with Phoenix and Colorado, registering 12 goals, 57 points and 460 penalty minutes in 430 contests.

In other roster additions, the club signed forward Nate Raduns to a one-year contract and defenseman Sean Curry to a two-year contract. Both players spent 2007-08 in the American Hockey League.

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

All Star weekend, who gives a crap I hate the All Star game.

I’m predicting that the Ducks and Teemu announce his return Monday after the All Star game.

Where does Mats Sundin end up? I’m thinking somewhere different maybe like Carolina, I heard Bradleyc4 mention that and it made sense to me for some reason.

Speaking of the Leafs JFJ was smart, he didn’t pack up and leave, he stayed until he was shown the door. Now he gets to collect alimony for six months. I wonder if he’ll get support payments from Kubina? I stole that last line.

Funny conversation the other night after hockey, we wondered if somebody with a huge head has a worse headache then somebody with a small head? We have a teammate with a melon so big he uses a beanbag chair for a pillow so we wondered.

I have always been on the Steve Downie bandwagon, some would even say I am the one driving it but seriously if you aren’t a believer now then you need to pay attention. He gets cross checked head first into the boards and comes out at the start of the next period and drops the gloves. After the game he didn’t whine or complain or call for a suspension, good job kid.

I’m wondering how Kovalchuk only got 1 game for his leaping hit from behind? I guess Colin Campbell has different rules for different players.

If Ella Fitzgerald married Darth Vader would her name be Ella Vader, I’m here all week folks.

Whip89 for the love of God help me out here, what is going on with your Sabres, I can’t figure it out, they are better then this I know they are. If they let Brian Campbell go to UFA status I think there may be a riot!

This is for you Sabres fans, I am predicting right now they go on a big run, they have too much talent, it’s go time for the Sabres.

Have Jeff Blake and Jeff Garcia ever been seen in the same room, they look very similar.

I’ve been telling you guys for weeks now to grab some Coyotes for your hockey pool, I hope you listened. Peter Mueller will not become a stud, he is a STUD already.

Daniel Alfredsson had 7 points and +5 Thursday night, holy crappola that is out of this world, I wish he’d grow his hair back and wear those awesome pirate shirts that he used to wear, he was mad cool back then.

2 months ago my good friend Eli Manning was almost out of job and now he’s following in big brother Peyton’s footsteps and playing in the Superbowl, good stuff kid.

What the hell is a high ankle sprain? Honestly what the hell is that.

Hi my name is Dan Boyle and I am a high scoring D-man, get me in your hockey pool now.

How come everybody’s Grandmother was such a good cook?

Speaking of Grandmama’s whatever happened to Larry Johnson?

Did you yell “get the dog off the front lawn” last week, tell me one of you did.

Players to get in your hockey pool quickly……Cheechoo will have a big 2nd half, if you need D-men in your pool get Matt Carle, Dennis Wideman and Jay Bouwmeister.

Heath Ledger was starting to look like Pauly Shore, I think that should have been a warning sign that something was wrong with him.

Why are potato chips so good, seriously why?

From the “get me the hell out here” arcives. Olli Jokinen wants out of Florida and he’s a whale of a player, Florida better be careful with him.

Heard a “Marty Turco for Marty St. Louis” rumour the other day, that makes sense to me actually.

Leaf fans are telling me this Anton Stahlman kid is the real deal, they need something positive in Leaf land so I guess that’s good news.

Remember these words of advice, you fight Chara you die. Don’t fight Chara!

Have a great weekend.

According to Forbes the Leafs are worth $413 million. The Flyers at 6th overall are worth $244 million and at the bottom of the barrel are the Nashville Preds at $143.

I wonder if the Sedin twins ever switch jerseys during a game and pretend they are each other on the ice, that would be awesome.

Basillie offered over $200 million for the Preds and the NHL forced the callopse of the sale. Seriously what a joke that is.

The Big E Eric Lindros called it a career the other day, love him or hate him he sure was a beast. The problem is his mother was a bigger beast.

I think every NHL rookie should be forced to grow a mullet for there first season.

Somethings never change. Gaborik and Havlat are injured, Sergei Samsonov is a healthy scratch, the Leafs are a mess, The Red Wings are great,The Canucks can’t score, The Sens are great, I love beer, The Devils are having trouble drawing crowds, The Preds can’t draw a crowd and Bob Cole is still two plays behind.

Somethings have changed. The Blues,Hawks and Blue Jackets are good, The Yotes may be good, The Sabres are crap and the Canes are good again, The Habs are good, my waistline, The Flyers are the Broad Street Bullies again, The Ducks are treading water and Marty Broduer is average.

Is it shocking that a guy named Dog the Bounty Hunter who has a huge mullet and carries guns is a racist? I think not.

This week Mark Messier, Ron Francis and Al Macinnis all get inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, all well deserved.

Why is Glenn Anderson not in the HHOF? Something smells a bit fruity here?

The NHL has raised over $9 million for breast cancer through pink sticks, ties etc. I think that is pretty cool, good stuff.

Marion Jones was on the juice and Martina Hingis was on the blow, holy crap everybody needs a little something extra I guess don’t they, pretty sad.

Speaking of sad, I think Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn may have jumped the Shark.

I missed the memo that the Flyers re-signed Kyle Calder. Whats that? Oh I’m sorry that’s Scott Hartnell, I must have them mixed up, what a fiasco of a signing so far.

I think the salary cap has really stopped trades in the NHL, seriously has there been any trades lately?

Why doesn’t Jim Basillie just buy the Leafs for $500 million, he’ll make that money back in spades and probably bring a winner to Toronto, as much as it pains me to say this some of the fans deserve that.

Sabres fans said they had more then enough talent and a great system and they wouldn’t miss Briere or Drury. Oops.

Does anybody know what an Ugg is? It is a $250 dollar pair of winter boots, I just bought my wife a pair for her birthday, $250 for boots, no wonder they are called Uggs!

In case anybody is wondering I am out of my hiphop gansta stage, thank God because cornrows just didn’t suit me, BOO YA.

I predict the next Flyer suspended will be Ben Eager, write that down.

I have re-decided(huh)that I actually do hate the Patriots.

Have a great weekend everybody.