Easy Does It - FLYERS DEFEAT RANGERS 6-2

FLYERS - 6
RANGERS - 2

Keeping pace in the Atlantic Division looks like it's going to be quite the chore. Every division game - and every single game for that matter - gains more and more importance as the season draws to a close. Tonight's game against the Rangers was the 41st for the Orange and Black, which marks the official midway point of the season. With the Devils beating Carolina 4-1 and the Penguins beating Tampa Bay 4-1, the Flyers did well to keep up.

Gags, Gator, and Sami Kapanen all returned from their injuries tonight. These three are all leaders both on and off the ice, and it was great to see them suited up.
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FIRST PERIOD

Niittymaki stood between the pipes tonight for the third consecutive game. Coming off of stellar performances in each of those games, John Stevens would have been crazy not to continue with Niitty. Matt over at the 700 Level is chronicling what seems to be a new goalie controversy.

Despite making some nice saves early on, Niittymaki let in two goals to:


Ryan Hollweg. How on earth...never mind.

This looked like a doomed game - and watching the Devils and Pens pull ahead of their opponents, I was worried that the Flyers would soon be joining the Islanders in the cellar of the division.

SECOND PERIOD

The Flyers worked their magic in the 2nd period on Tuesday vs. Atlanta, and they were at it again tonight.

40 seconds into the period on a holdover PP from the 1st, Mike Knuble deflects a Mike Richards shot to put the Flyers on the board.


Knoobed.

Scoring on this powerplay was the turning point of the game - no doubt about it.

After some back-and-forth play, Jim Dowd beat out an icing call and fed a pass right out in front to Stefan Ruzicka, who put it in the back of the net 8:45 into the period. This was Ruzicka's first goal at the NHL level this season.

Before discussing anything else - Sir Topham Hatt, Mayor of Flyertown, would like to congratulate Jim Dowd on his hard work and gritty play this season. Unjustly waived by the Flyers last week, Dowd has poured his heart and soul into every second he is on the ice. Dowd has assisted on three important goals the past three games. Considering the players that are usually put on the fourth line along with Dowd, he does a heck of a job setting up plays and keeping things interesting.


"HATTS Off" to Jim Dowd!

With the game tied 2-2 10:42 into the 2nd, Scott Hartnell decided to wake up and play some hockey! Banking one off of Lundqvist, Hartnell put the Flyers up 3-2. What a disappointment he's been this year. Hopefully he keeps this up...

THIRD PERIOD

Carrying a 3-2 lead into the 3rd period, the Flyers needed to put the Broadway Blueshirts in their place - last place, preferably. On another carryover powerplay, Scott Hartnell nailed home his second of the night...


FLYERPOWER!

Scary defense by the Flyers after Hartnell's second goal. If they want to get anywhere this season, they have to stop giving up a ton of shots and learn how to get the puck out of their zone. With skilled instructors like Murray and McIlhargey, it baffles me why this continues to be a problem. Let's iron this out in practice, boys.


This happens every game regardless of who the goalie is, and it needs to stop.
(Captain Noah thanks BoxTrev for the photoshop!)

But the hockey gods smiled on the Flyers tonight, as the Orange and Black survived the Ranger offensive and went up 5-2 on Scott Hartnell's third of the night...


HAT TRICK!

Congratulations to Scott Hartnell on his first hat trick as a Flyer. Hopefully this is the first of many.

Downie assisted on Hartnell's 1st and 3rd goals. Take that, TSN.

MSG started to empty out after the Hartnell hat trick, but the game was far from over. Anything can happen in the "new NHL". I'm glad the crowd at the Wachovia Center doesn't give up this easily on our Flyers...

Gagne decided to give the Ranger faithful that stuck around some entertainment...


Welcome back Gags!

6-2 is your final score, folks.


"Goodnight and good hockey." - Gene Hart

NEXT GAME:
Bruins vs. Flyers
Sat. 1/12/08
Wachovia Center
1:00pm

Photos courtesy of Yahoo images.

Introducing Captain Noah...

For those of you who grew up in the Delaware Valley, the Flyertown resident I am about to introduce will be no stranger to you...



Captain Noah is a Philadelphia legend. His television show ran from 1967-1994, becoming a regular part of every kids' weekend. Near the end of the program each week, Captain Noah would display art that was sent to him from fans of the show. While the "Ark Art Gallery" was on the screen, Captain Noah would sing the song, "Send your pictures to dear old Captain Noah!..."

Captain Noah still wants your pictures. All pictures, photoshops, etc. having anything to do with hockey will be prominently displayed in the Flyertown "Ark Art Gallery" each week. So if you're ever in the mood to photographically praise your favorite Flyer, or poke fun at the likes of Sidney Crosby, have at it and send it over to Flyertown.

"Send your pictures to dear old Captain Noah!"
flyertown@gmail.com
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The Flyers face off against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden at 7:00pm tonight.


He's baaaaaaack!


LET'S GO FLYERS!!!!!

TSN Attacks Bobby Clarke

TSN is at it again

I check TSN daily to see what they have to say about what's going on around the NHL, since ESPN doesn't cover hockey. Rarely do you find anything positive about the Flyers on the TSN site, and every time a Flyer does something questionable, TSN jumps on the opportunity to blast the entire organization.

Although I am used to TSN bashing the Flyers, this instance really irks me.

Apparently, Toronto fans and the Canadian media still aren't over the Downie/Blake incident.
As of the time of this post, the main headline on the TSN site reads, Clarke: "I Loved It". Must be a slow news day in Canada if THAT is the headline. But why pass up an opportunity to whine about those big, mean, strong, "goon" Philadelphia Flyers? Bobby Clarke thinks Blake deserved everything he got from Downie because of what Blake said after the McAmmond/Downie fallout. What's wrong with that? I agree 100% with Clarke. I also like what Clarke said about the McAmmond hit. Clark points out that Scott Stevens would have been lauded for such a hit - in fact, anyone not in a Flyers uniform would have for that matter. The entire purpose of this TSN "headline" is to put even more of a blemish on the Flyers organization, and to paint Bobby Clarke as a soulless jerk.

The day after I start a blog with the purpose of promoting and defending the Orange and Black, TSN comes out with something like this. How ironic.


Hey TSN - would you like a little cheese to go along with your whine?

Get over it.

Fellow Flyer Bloggers

The Mayor of Flyertown would like to thank his fellow Flyer bloggers for fighting the good fight for the Orange and Black against the dark forces of evil.

Eager to Go Psycho

Flyers Femme

Flyers Goal Scored By...

The FlyerFly

And finally, the Mayor of Flyertown would like to give a special recommendation to The 700 Level. All four Philly sports covered by one blog - good stuff. Gen. Sherman made an appearance on both Flyertown and the 700 Level last night, which may have raised some eyebrows. Anywho, I think it came down to a "Great minds think alike" sort of deal.

God bless you, and God bless Flyertown!

Gen. Sherman lives! FLYERS MARCH THROUGH ATLANTA 4-1

FLYERS - 4
THRASHERS - 1

Great game all around. Special teams, offense, defense, goaltending...everything was running on all cylinders. Although the outcome was good, the Flyers seemed to approach this game with a bit of uncertainty. The Orange and Black got lucky on Saturday, beating Toronto 3-2 while giving up 56 shots. Thankfully Niittymaki was up to the task, making a team record 54 saves. Niitty was in goal again tonight, stopping 27 of 28. He's back, folks.


Niittyfied.
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FIRST PERIOD

The first few minutes of the first were scary, as it looked like Niitty was in for another busy night. 9:08 into the game...


Kovalchuk time.

The Flyers actually outshot the Thrashers in the first, 11-9 - a big step up from the Toronto game.

SECOND PERIOD

*Insert apologetic comment about Steve Downie's sucker punch before praising his game tonight.

It didn't take long for Flyertown to celebrate in the second. 32 seconds in, Steve Downie scores his second in as many games on a nice pass from Hartnell...


KA-CHOW!



Dean McAmmond reacts to the goal...





Downie has played great the past 2 games. Despite his actions, for which he was justly penalized, he brings a ton of energy onto the ice. Like JJ and Clement said tonight during the broadcast, he is a catalyst for a team that desperately needs one at times.**

Meanwhile, the Flyers were just getting started. Carter put two on the board in a matter of 13 seconds, giving the Bullies a 3-1 lead - one on the PP on a feed from Hartnell, one even strength.


So good to see Carter scoring.


Scotty Hartnell adds a goal with six tenths of a second left in the period to go along with his two assists. Solid game for Hartnell.

THIRD PERIOD


*BORING


Niitty and the gang wrap things up with ease.




VICTORY.

Next Stop:
Rangers @ MSG
Thursday 1/10/07
7:00 PM

**The 700 Level also made this astute point on their blog a few days ago.

Welcome to Flyertown

Greetings fellow Flyertown citizens!

Welcome to the new Flyertown blog. There seems to be a lack of Flyers representation in the blogosphere when it comes to sniping back at the anti-Flyers sentiment on the net. This blog will hopefully fill that void. Stay tuned for analysis of (hopefully) every game, with a war of words and some cheap attempts at comedy in between. The Flyertown team is committed to promoting and defending the greatest hockey team to ever grace God's green earth - your Philadelphia Flyers!

Check back often, fill up the combox, and LET'S GO FLYERS!