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 ***

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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.

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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

Mutt and Jeff    Big and small   anyway you slice it Chara and Savard are one hell of a solid combo leading the Bruins right now.

When did Michael Ryder turn into a very good 2 way sniper, this can’t be.

Love Ovechkin and his Canada flag gimmick in the all star game, the guy gets it.

Don’t look now but here come the Pens primed for a big second half. Sid looks ready to claim his #1 spot back.

Why does popcorn at the movies taste so much better then anywhere else.

Scott Gomez gets no love, he sets his teammates up all game long and they do nothing with the gifts, brutal.

Once big time prospect Justin Pogge looks to be a bust, I’m think the Leafs wish they had the Rask/Raycroft deal as a do over.

Another season and I still have no faith in the Flyer goaltending, never seems to end.

Mono smono, Kessel is back, nothing can keep “The Blowfish” down.

Macho Man or Ricky the dragon Steamboat. I take the Macho man 8 days a week………….Can you dig it.

Sundin has been a disaster for the Canucks so far, they may as well go get Jonas Hoglund now.

Steelers vs Cards? Steelers in a landslide.

Speaking of the Steelers, did you know that they only have the logo on the right side of the helmet? Only team in the NFL to do so.

The reffing in the NHL is getting just brutal again, bad calls in every game it seems.

That being said the Flyers deserve most of the penalty’s called against them, what dumb team many nights.

Speaking of popcorn have you ever had some of that flavoured popcorn from kiosk in the mall? Damn some of that is good. Double caramel is kick ass.

Have a great week end Hooligans.

1/30/09 6-1 Win SCORING 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total PHI 1 2 3 - - 6 TBL 1 0 0 - - 1 _______________________________ SHOTS 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total PHI 10 11 11 - - 32 TBL 16 11 15 - - 42

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

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Tampa, FL (Sports Network) – Mike Richards had two goals and an assist, leading the Philadelphia Flyers to a resounding 6-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning at St. Pete Times Forum.

Jeff Carter also scored twice for the Flyers to raise his league-leading total to 32. Scott Hartnell and Randy Jones both registered a goal and an assist for Philadelphia, which has won three of its last four games. Antero Niittymaki was stellar between the pipes, making 41 saves to earn the win.

“I felt pretty good. I had a lot of work, but I was able to see most of the shots,” Niittymaki said. “I got lucky a couple of times, and that’s all you need.”

Vinny Prospal had the lone goal for the Lightning, who have dropped two in a row on the heels of a three-game win streak. Mike Smith was beaten six times on 30 shots before he was replaced by Riku Helenius. A first-round pick in 2006, Helenius made two saves in his NHL debut.

Richards gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead 7:03 into the contest. Prospal carried the puck into the Philadelphia zone, where Simon Gagne created a turnover. Mike Knuble then sent Richards the other way. The Flyers captain faked a slap shot, skated around Smith and slipped the puck into the open net.

Prospal tied the game on the power play with 2:05 remaining in the first period, and Tampa Bay appeared to grab the lead in the frame’s dying seconds, but Mark Recchi’s power-play goal was disallowed because of a kicking motion.

The Lightning squandered a lengthy two-man advantage early in the middle stanza, then Philadelphia used its power play to regain the lead. Richards found a seam and fed a perfect cross-ice pass to the left circle for Jones, who ripped the puck home at 8:05.

Richards gathered a loose puck in the slot and fired a wrister over the glove of Smith for a 3-1 Flyers lead with 5:19 left in the second.

Tampa Bay was awarded had a penalty shot at the 5:03 mark of the third period, but Martin St. Louis’ chance grazed Niittymaki before sailing high over the net. Two minutes later, Lightning rookie forward Steven Stamkos had a tally waved off because he made contact with the puck as his stick was above the crossbar.

“I believe 100 percent that it was below,” said Stamkos. “Our whole bench was saying it was a goal. I don’t know why th ref waved it off right away.”

The miss seemed to deflate the home team and the Flyers poured it on late.

Carter lit the lamp 53 seconds after the controversial ruling to tie Alex Ovechkin for the NHL’s goal lead, and Hartnell found the back of the net with 9:13 remaining.

Carter’s second goal of the night moved him alone into first among goal scorers, and capped the scoring with 6:52 left in the game.

“It’s not often you see your team get two breaks like that, but I think we were due for some breaks,” said Flyers head coach John Stevens. “I thought our team worked hard tonight and it was nice to see us capitalize.”

Game Notes

Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen appeared in his 700th career game…Tampa Bay had won 15 of the previous 19 encounters between the clubs…The Lightning fell to 0-8-3 when they score less than two goals this season…It was the Flyers’ largest margin of victory on the road against the Lightning since a 6-1 win on April 8, 1998…Tampa Bay finished 1-for-9 on the power play, while the Flyers were 1-for-5.

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Game Summary

Scoring Summary

PHI 7:03 Goal scored by Mike Richards (17) Assisted by Mike Knuble (14) and Simon Gagne (27)
TBL 17:55 Power-Play Goal scored by Vaclav Prospal (13) Assisted by Paul Ranger (10)

Penalty Summary

PHI 5:23 5 minute penalty on Riley Cote for Fighting
TBL 5:23 5 minute penalty on David Koci for Fighting
PHI 8:34 2 minute penalty on Scott Hartnell for Roughing
TBL 8:34 2 minute penalty on Ryan Malone for Roughing
TBL 11:06 2 minute penalty on Ryan Malone for Holding
TBL 13:39 2 minute penalty on Steven Stamkos for Tripping
PHI 13:44 2 minute penalty on Mike Knuble for High-sticking
PHI 16:31 2 minute penalty on Scottie Upshall for Interference
PHI 18:21 2 minute penalty on Braydon Coburn for Hooking

2nd Period

Scoring Summary

PHI 8:05 Power-Play Goal scored by Randy Jones (2) Assisted by Mike Richards (32) and Matt Carle (10)
PHI 14:41 Goal scored by Mike Richards (18) Assisted by Joffrey Lupul (14) and Randy Jones (2)

Penalty Summary

PHI 3:18 2 minute penalty on Arron Asham for Slashing
PHI 3:31 2 minute penalty on Kimmo Timonen for Hooking
PHI 6:12 2 minute penalty on Steve Eminger for Tripping
PHI 10:54 2 minute penalty on Andrew Alberts for Roughing
TBL 13:03 2 minute penalty on Jeff Halpern for Tripping
PHI 14:22 2 minute penalty on Simon Gagne for Stick Holding
PHI 17:24 2 minute penalty on Braydon Coburn for Roughing
TBL 17:24 2 minute penalty on Ryan Malone for High-sticking
PHI 19:31 5 minute penalty on Braydon Coburn for Fighting
TBL 19:31 5 minute penalty on Ryan Malone for Fighting

3rd Period Scoring Summary

PHI 7:59 Goal scored by Jeff Carter (31) Assisted by Scott Hartnell (17) and Kimmo Timonen (26)
PHI 10:47 Goal scored by Scott Hartnell (18) Assisted by Ossi Vaananen (9) and Antero Niittymaki (1)
PHI 13:08 Goal scored by Jeff Carter (32) Unassisted

Penalty Summary

TBL 4:27 2 minute penalty on Evgeny Artyukhin for Tripping
PHI 8:38 2 minute penalty on Arron Asham for Roughing
PHI 8:38 2 minute penalty on Arron Asham for Charging
TBL 8:38 2 minute penalty on Steve Downie for Roughing
PHI 17:21 2 minute penalty on Joffrey Lupul for Hooking

1/27/09 3-2 Loss SCORING 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total PHI 1 0 1 - - 2 FLA 1 2 0 - - 3 _______________________________ SHOTS 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total PHI 12 11 12 - - 35 FLA 10 13 4 - - 27

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

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Sunrise, FL (Sports Network) – Michael Frolik recorded three points on a goal and two assists, and David Booth netted the game-winning goal as Florida snuck past Philadelphia, 3-2, at BankAtlantic Center.

Bryan McCabe tallied the other goal for the Panthers, who picked up their first home win since January 10 and stopped a two-game losing streak.

Tomas Vokoun was strong, making 33 saves for the win.

“We needed this win,” said Florida’s Keith Ballard. “Philly is a team above us and we have to beat the teams ahead of us to try and gain some ground. It was a big win for us.”

Simon Gagne and Claude Giroux tallied for the Flyers, who had beaten Florida in Sunrise, 3-2, in a shootout on January 16.

Martin Biron stopped 24 shots, but lost for the third time in as many starts.

“I think the fact they had five straight power plays to our one the first half of the game,

Panthers defenseman Karlis Skrastins committed a hooking infraction with just under two minutes remaining in regulation but play was not halted until 1:23 remained. On the delayed call, the Flyers pulled Biron, kept possession in the Panthers’ zone, then after the whistle, skated 6-on-4 for the rest of the contest.

However, the visitors didn’t have more than a couple scoring chances and one good shot on the advantage and the home team escaped with the victory.

The Flyers got the game’s first goal at 10:44, as Mike Knuble backhanded a pass from the left wing which caromed off Gagne’s skate at the side of the net and slid in.

McCabe evened the score with 5:26 to play in the first, jumping up to create a 3-on-2 and sticking a wrister through at the near post.

Frolik gave the Panthers their first lead of the game 7:43 into the second when his wraparound from the right side deflected off Philly backliner Matt Carle’s stick and slid through Biron’s pads.

Booth added a power-play marker on a deflection from Ballard’s point shot with 8:10 left in the period for a 3-1 Florida lead.

Giroux netted his first career tally off a feed from Darroll Powe only 1:51 into the third period to cut the Flyers’ deficit to one, then Philadelphia had a potential game-tying goal wiped out a short time later.

A little more than 6 1/2 minutes in, defenseman Randy Jones dished to Mike Richards in the right circle for what looked like an easy score, but a goaltender interference call on Kimmo Timonen kept it a one-goal game and put Florida on a power play.

The Panthers failed to convert and dodged a bullet at the end of regulation.

“There’s a lot of thinks we can do better, the PP (power play) and PK (penalty kill,” said Timonen. “I think the PP we have to go back to the basics, shoot the puck more. The PK…there’s too many penalties…that’s one key.”

Game Notes

Booth reached the 20-goal mark for the second straight year and is just two scores away from his career-best, set last season…Gagne reached the 20-goal plateau for the seventh time in his career and for the first time since a 41- goal year in 2006-07…Knuble’s assist was his 100th as a Flyer…Biron has not won since January 10, a 4-1 decision over Toronto…Florida has won four of the last six games against Philly at home…The Panthers host Montreal on Thursday, and the Flyers play in Tampa on Friday.

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Game Summary

Scoring Summary

PHI 10:44 Goal scored by Simon Gagne (20) Assisted by Mike Knuble (13) and Mike Richards (31)
FLA 14:34 Goal scored by Bryan McCabe (9) Assisted by Cory Stillman (13) and Michael Frolik (12)

Penalty Summary

FLA 2:10 2 minute penalty on Richard Zednik for Hooking
PHI 6:44 2 minute penalty on Scott Hartnell for Roughing
PHI 6:44 2 minute penalty on Jeff Carter for Cross-checking
FLA 6:44 2 minute penalty on Radek Dvorak for Roughing
PHI 15:21 2 minute penalty on Scottie Upshall for Tripping

2nd Period

Scoring Summary

FLA 7:43 Goal scored by Michael Frolik (10) Assisted by Keith Ballard (14) and Stephen Weiss (22)
FLA 11:50 Power-Play Goal scored by David Booth (20) Assisted by Keith Ballard (15) and Michael Frolik (13)

Penalty Summary

PHI 1:45 2 minute penalty on Andrew Alberts for Tripping
PHI 8:58 2 minute penalty on Simon Gagne for High-sticking

3rd Period

Scoring Summary

PHI 1:51 Goal scored by Claude Giroux (1) Assisted by Darroll Powe (2)

Penalty Summary

FLA 3:09 2 minute penalty on Ville Peltonen for Holding
PHI 5:38 2 minute penalty on Claude Giroux for Roughing
FLA 5:38 2 minute penalty on Gregory Campbell for Roughing
PHI 6:33 2 minute penalty on Kimmo Timonen for Interference
FLA 18:37 2 minute penalty on Karlis Skrastins for Hooking

Quick update on our good friend Cam Coughlin, Cam was the young Flyer fan living in Hespeler that use to tell people he lived in Philly and wanted to be a Flyer when he grows up. Well Cam and his hockey team just won the Cambridge International Hockey Tournament this past week end. Congrats to Cam and his Hespeler Shamrock teammates.

Second Half Predictions

Take It To The Bank Predictions.

Ovechkin will take the lead and keep it in the goals department

Jason Spezza will have a big second half.

Alex Hemsky will have a big second half.

Peter Mueller will have a solid 2nd half.

Oprah already has a big 2nd half.

The All Star game is a joke and the players are dropping out left right and center which proves it even more.

Elliot is the answer to the Sens goalie issues.

Sean Avery will spout off again, he’s been out of the spotlight too long.

Don Cherry will say something very stupid

High Risk Predictions

The Bruins will falter, they will still be good just not this good.

Kris Veersteg will hit the sophomore wall.

The Black Hawks will hit the wall for that matter.

Briere has a big post season yet again.

Columbus or Phoenix will make the playoffs.

Out on a Limb Predictions

Manny Fernandez will be the Bruins starting goalie for the playoffs.

The Devils will go into a bit of a funk when Brodeur gets back.

Jiri Tlusty will keep his pants on this year.

Biron will be looking the wrong way on a wrap around.

Sam Gagner will grow hair on his feet and ask to be called Bilbo.

The Old City Outlaws (Carter, Richards, Lupul, Upshall) will lose a member by the trade deadline.

Have a stellar weekend hooligans.

1/21/09 5-3 Win SCORING 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total ATL 0 0 3 - - 3 PHI 2 1 2 - - 5 _______________________________ SHOTS 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total ATL 9 12 10 - - 31 PHI 14 9 10 - - 33

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

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Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – Mike Knuble notched a pair of goals late in regulation as the Philadelphia Flyers wasted a three-goal lead but recovered to top Atlanta, 5-3, at Wachovia Center.

Scott Hartnell, Darroll Powe and Randy Jones also tallied for the Flyers (25-12-9), who hit the All-Star break having won four of six overall and extended their win streak against Atlanta to 13 in a row since November 2005.

Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne picked up two assists each and Antero Niittymaki made 28 saves for the victory, extending his personal record against Atlanta to 12-0.

Eric Perrin, Ilya Kovalchuk and Chris Thorburn scored third-period goals for the Thrashers (17-26-5), who head to the break with their season-best three- game winning streak snapped.

Kari Lehtonen allowed four goals on 32 shots in the loss.

Perrin’s turnaround blast from the left circle made it a 3-1 game at the 4:42 mark of the third period, and Kovalchuk snuck a wrister inside the left post with 10:12 remaining in regulation to bring the Thrashers within a goal.

Only 61 seconds later, Thorburn scored on a breakaway to knot the game, 3-3, and Flyers head coach John Stevens called a timeout, during which he berated his club for losing a solid three-goal edge.

“To see a three-goal lead evaporate like that going into a break was the last thing we wanted to see,” Stevens said.

The move paid off, as Knuble scored off his own rebound with 7:48 to play to give Philly a one-goal lead, then added an empty-net goal with 41 seconds left to seal the win.

“It was a great play by Simon (Gagne) at the blueline, diving to keep it alive, and Mike (Richards) makes a great pass through traffic,” Knuble said of his game-winning goal. “I got one shot off and it kind of bounced right back to me and was able to just slide it in.”

Niittymaki was sharp in the early going, foiling Colby Armstrong’s breakaway with a right pad stop during a Thrashers power play.

Hartnell put the Flyers on the board at 9:54, taking Carter’s muted shot from the left boards and sliding the puck around Lehtonen from the top of the crease.

It was 2-0 for the home team with 2:05 left in the first, as Scottie Upshall sent a slick lead pass for Powe, who lifted a backhander under the crossbar while falling forward.

Jones followed up a Carter shot that went high and wide of the net and slipped a backhander inside the left post for a 3-0 Flyers lead 1:44 into the second period.

Game Notes

The Flyers improved to 3-0 this year against the Thrashers, outscoring them by a 16-6 margin. The clubs play one final time, in Atlanta, on February 8…Knuble has four multi-goal games this season, the last coming on December 13, a 6-3 win over Pittsburgh…Lehtonen fell to 0-8-1 lifetime against the Flyers…Prior to the game, the Flyers announced that forward Danny Briere, originally believed to be ready to return from a groin injury, will have exploratory surgery on Thursday and will need two weeks to recover…Philly has won 16 of its last 17 games against Atlanta, including 10 of 11 at home…The Flyers resume their schedule next Tuesday at Florida, and the Thrashers head to Dallas also next Tuesday.

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1st Period Summary

Scoring

9:54 PHI - Scott Hartnell – Assists: Jeff Carter
17:55 PHI - Darroll Powe – Assists: Scottie Upshall, Claude Giroux

Penalties

1:23 PHI - Claude Giroux - Hooking - 2:00
5:04 ATL - Slava Kozlov - Delay of Game - 2:00
9:58 ATL - Eric Boulton - Fighting - 5:00
9:58 PHI - Riley Cote - Fighting - 5:00
10:00 ATL - Chris Thorburn - Fighting - 5:00
10:00 PHI - Arron Asham - Fighting - 5:00
14:44 PHI - Randy Jones - Tripping - 2:00

2nd Period Summary

Scoring

1:44 PHI - Randy Jones – Assists: Jeff Carter, Joffrey Lupul

Penalties

2:31 ATL - Boris Valabik - Roughing - 2:00
2:31 ATL - Boris Valabik - Fighting – 5:00
2:31 PHI - Arron Asham - Roughing – 2:00
2:31 PHI - Arron Asham - Fighting - 5:00
4:26 PHI - Scottie Upshall - Slashing – 2:00
6:38 ATL - Colby Armstrong - Roughing - 2:00
6:38 PHI - Randy Jones - Slashing - 2:00
9:02 ATL - Marty Reasoner - Holding - 2:00
9:39 PHI - Scott Hartnell - Tripping - 2:00
13:07 ATL - Boris Valabik - Elbowing - 2:00
18:06 ATL - Boris Valabik - Unsportsmanlike conduct - 2:00
18:06 ATL - Scott Hartnell - Unsportsmanlike conduct - 2:00
19:20 ATL - Ilya Kovalchuk - Slashing - 2:00

3rd Period Summary

Scoring

4:42 ATL - Eric Perrin – Assists: None
9:48 ATL - Ilya Kovalchuk – Assists: Colby Armstrong, Rich Peverley

10:49 ATL - Chris Thorburn – Assists: None
12:12 PHI - Mike Knuble – Assists: Mike Richards, Simon Gagne

19:19 PHI - Mike Knuble – Assists: Simon Gagne

Penalties

No Penalties This Period

Hooligans welcome back, lets’ rock.

I blog about sports mostly and sprinkle in some music and entertainment whenever possible. So I was thinking if hockey players were rock bands or rock stars who would they be.

Ovechkin-Red Hot Chili Peppers  He’s everything that hockey players typically aren’t, he’s brash and he’s the King of the NHL, when it comes to that title he’s not going to give it away

Crosby -The Beatles.  Took the NHL by storm and he’s the face of the new NHL’s hockey revolution.

Nick Lidstrom -U2.  He just keeps ticking and he never seems to be off his game, if you need a D-man he’s the one.

Bobby Luongo- The Cure.  Can’t say enough about his great play whether it’s a Saturday, Tuesday or Friday I’m in love.

Mike Richard -AC DC.  Brings it every night and electrifies you with his high voltage style of play.

Peter Forsberg- The Who.  Just when you think he’s gone he’s back to prove that he was the star of my generation.

Tim Thomas- Guns & Roses.  Tim is small and combative and started out with great numbers in the 11th month and hopes to continue his November reign.

Ryan Smyth- Foo Fighters.  A little rough around the edges but when the going gets tough in times like these he’ll rise to the top.

Zdeno Chara -Van Halen. Top dog on a couple teams and will make other players jump with fear.

Jerome Iginla -Metellica.  None stop physical presence that will seek and destroy with a full arsenal of weapons.

Marty Brodeur -The Eagles.  No matter how many players leave his band he just takes it easy at the top of the goalie standings.

Jeff Carter -RUN DMC.  The dude can flat out bring it and right now when it comes to scoring goals he’s the king of rock.

Jeremy Roenick- Pearl Jam  The hockey world is his stage and he will grab the mic any chance he gets, this Jeremy has spoken.

I’m sure you guys can come up with a few more and I’d love to hear them.

Next week I will have my 2nd half predictions, if you are in a hockey pool you won’t want to miss it.

1/16/09 3-2 SO Win SCORING 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total PHI 2 0 0 0 1 3 FLA 0 2 0 0 0 2 _______________________________ SHOTS 1st 2nd 3rd OT SO Total PHI 12 3 7 4 2 28 FLA 15 13 5 1 3 37

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

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Sunrise, FL (Sports Network) – Simon Gagne scored the lone goal of the shootout as the Philadelphia Flyers nipped the Florida Panthers, 3-2, at BankAtlantic Center.

Gagne completed the second round by making several stick fakes before sliding a backhander past a sliding Tomas Vokoun. Nathan Horton had a chance to keep things going for Florida to start the third round, but his forehander was foiled when Antero Niittymaki dove out and knocked away the floating shot.

Gagne and Jeff Carter tallied in regulation for the Flyers, who recovered from Thursday’s loss in Tampa Bay and have won three of five.

Niittymaki made 32 saves for the win, improving to 9-3-4 on the season.

Bryan McCabe and Jay Bouwmeester scored for the Panthers, whose three-game win streak came to an end.

Vokoun fell to 11-13-1 on the year despite a 24-save performance.

Carter potted his career-best 30th goal of the season with 7:48 left in the first period, lifting a loose puck from the top of the crease over a fallen Vokoun.

It was 2-0 a little less than two minutes later on a Philly power play as Gagne snuck a sharp-angle shot from along the goal line through Vokoun’s pads.

McCabe got one back for Florida on the power play with 5:13 remaining in the second, and Bouwmeester converted another advantage with 2:24 left for a 2-2 deadlock.

The Flyers survived a late short-handed situation when Joffrey Lupul was sent off for delay of game with 2:55 to play in regulation. The visitors couldn’t net the winner in overtime despite a 4-1 shot advantage and a 2-on-1 break late in the session.

Game Notes

Carter re-took the NHL lead in goals, separating himself by one from Washington’s Alex Ovechkin. His previous career-high was 29 goals from last season…Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen played despite an upper- mouth injury suffered Thursday when a deflected shot hit him in the face…Philly improved to 3-5 in the shootout this season, while Florida fell to 2-5.

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Game Summary

Scoring Summary

PHI 12:12 Goal scored by Jeff Carter (30) Assisted by Braydon Coburn (13) and Scott Hartnell (16)
PHI 14:08 Power-Play Goal scored by Simon Gagne (19) Assisted by Mike Richards (29) and Mike Knuble (12)

Penalty Summary

PHI 6:11 2 minute penalty on Braydon Coburn for Hooking
FLA 7:35 2 minute penalty on David Booth for Interference
FLA 13:38 2 minute penalty on Brett McLean for Slashing

2nd Period

Scoring Summary

FLA 14:47 Power-Play Goal scored by Bryan McCabe (8) Assisted by Keith Ballard (13) and Michael Frolik (11)
FLA 17:36 Power-Play Goal scored by Jay Bouwmeester (9) Assisted by Cory Stillman (11) and Stephen Weiss (21)

Penalty Summary

PHI 7:12 2 minute penalty on Andrew Alberts for Hooking
PHI 9:51 2 minute penalty on Randy Jones for Closing Hand on Puck
PHI 13:08 2 minute penalty on Randy Jones for Holding
PHI 16:48 2 minute penalty on Kimmo Timonen for Delay of Game

3rd Period

Scoring Summary

No Scoring This Period

Penalty Summary

FLA 4:51 2 minute penalty on Bryan McCabe for Roughing
PHI 17:05 2 minute penalty on Joffrey Lupul for Delay of Game

OT

Scoring Summary

No Scoring This Period

Shootout

Scoring Summary

PHI Round 1 Mike Richards misses shot.

FLA Round 1 Ville Peltonen misses shot.

PHI Round 2 Simon Gagne scores on Tomas Vokoun

FLA Round 2 Michael Frolik misses shot.
FLA Round 3 Nathan Horton misses shot.