The Flyer's continued their road trip tonight in Phoenix against the resurgent Coyotes. Considering they were playing their 2nd game in as many nights in the middle of a long road trip, you had expect the Flyers to be tired coming into this one. It appeared they were in fact a bit exhausted with just 24 shots on goal and an 0 for 5 night on the power play. They were also without Darroll Powe and Blair Betts who went down during the game with a shoulder injury. So they didn't have the edge they normally do on faceoffs and they didn't have the power play attack they normally do. Coming into tonight Phoenix had also been playing very well so far this season, and they carried that over into this game. Ilya Bryzgalov had 23 saves, Matthew Lombardi and Keith Yandle each scored power play goals and Shane Doan scored on the Flyer's empty net to lead the Coyotes to a 3-1 win. Scott Hartnell scored the only goal for the Flyers in the 2nd period with assists from Claude Giroux and Kimmo Timonen, but other than that there was nothing to cheer about for the Orange and Black on this night as they drop to 12-7-1 overall but remain 5th in the Eastern conference. Fortunately they now have a little time before their next game on Monday, which they can use to regroup, refocus and get back to winning again.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
SIXERS NEWS
The Sixers traveled to Cleveland tonight for a matchup with King James and the Cavs. Considering they came in having lost their last game to the Grizzlies, this did not figure to be much of a contest. Early on it didn't look good for the Sixers at all as the Cavs jumped out to a 20-4 lead to start the 1st quarter. The Sixers were actually able to fight back though and their chances to steal the win in the 4th quarter, but the King proved to be too much. Like Rudy Gay last night the Sixers just couldn't stop Lebron tonight as he scored a game high 32. The Sixer's scoring was solid again tonight as well, with Lou Williams' 22 leading the way. Also Elton Brand put up 18, Thad Young poured in 21, and Andre Iguodala and Rodney Carney each chipped in with 12, but it wasn't enough. The Sixer's defense actually played pretty well tonight too, holding the Cavs to just 48% shooting from the field and racking up 8 steals. Unfortunately, they also allowed Cleveland to shoot 40% from beyond the arc with 8 threes and that was just as much a killer tonight as Lebron was. Still, the Sixers can hold their heads high knowing they were able to play the Cavs tough and keep this one close. The Sixers trailed by 13 after a quarter of play but were able to close within 3 at the half and take a 6 point lead into the 4th quarter. They just couldn't stop Lebron enough to hang on for the win in the 4th and eventually fell by 6, 97-91. So the Sixers drop to 5-8 overall now and remain 11th in the East, but now a game and a half out of 8th.
Friday, November 20, 2009
FLYERS NEWS
The Flyers continued their road trip tonight in San Jose with a match up against the Sharks. The last meeting between these two teams was an ugly loss for the Flyers at the Wachovia center. This time the Orange and Black were hoping for a little revenge, but instead they were Shark bait once again. They kept it close for a couple periods, but Danny Heatley took over in the 3rd period completing a hat trick for himself and leading San Jose to victory. It's not that the Flyer's played poorly tonight, San Jose just had too much firepower for even Ray Emery to handle. San Jose scored 6 goals, despite being limited to just 29 shots on goal. Unfortunately, too many of those shots for free shots at Emery, which he could do nothing about. Some of it was just the strength and will of the Shark's scoring attack, but the Flyer's also had a bunch of problems with their skates, as Chris Pronger twice fell over on his own, leaving Emery helpless against Sharks' oddman rushes. If nothing else the Flyer's did play better tonight then they had in the first meeting. In fact they had the lead midway through the 1st period with a funky goal that somehow deflected off Danny Briere's stick and in. San Jose answered on the power play to tie it at 1 after 1, then Heatley scored his first of the night to open the 2nd and put the Sharks up 2-1. Midway through the 2nd, Claude Giroux apparently scored another funky goal which deflected off a Shark and in to tie it at 2. Then with about 5 seconds left in the period Patrick Marleau somehow snuck one by Emery for a 3-2 Shark lead. Midway through the 3rd, Heatley scored shorthanded for a 4-2 lead. Giroux answered a minute later to cut it to 4-3, but the Flyer's would not get any closer. A few minutes later Heatley scored on the power play this time, for a 5-2 lead and eventually the Sharks skated away with a 6-3 win. So the Flyers drop to 12-6-1 overall, but remain 5th in the East.
SIXERS NEWS
The Sixers welcomed the Memphis Grizzlies to the Wachovia center tonight as they looked to string together back to back wins for the first time in a while. The Grizzlies came in winless on the road thus far this season, so you would think this one was in the bag for the Sixers. Instead Rudy Gay went off for 33 points and Sixer's defense couldn't get it done down the stretch, as the Sixers dropped their 3rd out of their last 4 games. They put up a decent offensive effort with Lou Williams putting up a career high 31 points, Elton Brand posting 22, and Andre Iguadala adding 15 and 9 assists. The Sixer's defense just couldn't stop Memphis which shot 51% from the field. Rudy Gay in particular though was the guy that killed them tonight. He shot 63% from the field, including 2 threes, and no matter who the Sixers put on him, he couldn't be stopped. It seemed like every time the Sixer's tried to get on a run, there was Gay to hit a jumper and end the run. There's just no defense against a guy who can't miss. Despite Gay, the Sixers were right with the Grizzlies all night, pulling to within 5, 96-91, on a Brand Jumper with 2 minutes to play. Then with 43 seconds to play Iggy put back a rebound to cut it to 3, with the score 98-95, only to watch Gay sink a 20 footer with 2o seconds to push the lead back to 5 at 100-95. From there Memphis hit their free throws and walked away with a 102-97 win. So the Sixers drop to 5-7 overall, and now 11th in the Eastern conference, but only 1 game out of 8th in the East.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
FLYERS NEWS
The Flyer's began a west coast road trip tonight in Los Angeles with a matchup against the surprising Kings, currently 4th in the western conference with the NHL's top points scorer thus far, Anze Kopitar. Kopitar did not score tonight though and the Flyer's walked away victorious. This time it was pretty even on faceoffs and the L.A defense was actually a bit better than the Flyers. Ultimately it was the play of goaltender, Brian Boucher, that saved the Flyer's on this night. After allowing 5 goals in his 1st start of the season, nearly a month ago, Booosh finally got a chance to rebound tonight and he did in a big way, with 37 dazzling saves out of the 39 shots he faced, just enough to hold off L.A for the Flyer's 8th win in their last 9 tries. The Kings had the early lead as Jarret Stoll scored late in the first period to put them up 1-0. Midway through the 2nd period Mika Pyorala knotted it up at 1, with his first NHL goal in regulation time. Then with under 2 minutes to play in the period Mike Richards scored for a 2-1 lead. Early in the 3rd period James Van Riemsdyk scored off the power play for a 3-1 lead. Later in the period L.A tried to begin a late rally with a Drew Doughty power play goal to cut it to 3-2, but Booosh would have none of it and eventually the Orange and Black hung on to win 3-2. So the Flyers move to 12-5-1 overall and remain 5th in the Eastern conference.
SIXERS NEWS
The Sixers welcomed the Charlotte Bobcats and old friend Larry Brown to the wachovia center tonight as they looked to snap a 2 game losing streak. Thanks to Elton Brand's first full performance of the season and heady play by Lou Williams they were able to end the streak. Elton was just everywhere tonight with 19 points, 11 rebounds, 6 blocks, 3 steals, and 2 assists. So for one night at least the absence of Mo Speights was not a problem. Aside from Brand, Lou Williams had a strong night with 19 points and 6 assists, and Andre Iguodala scored a game high 25 in a determined effort. Collectively though, the Sixers only shot 43% from the field and thus had to rely on their defense to win the day. Fortunately, their defense was superb, as they held Charlotte to just 42% shooting from the field, and amassed 9 steals and 7 blocks. Despite all those positives the Sixers still needed some magic at the end to pull this one out. The Sixers had the lead most of the night, with a 9 point lead at the half, and 4 point lead heading into the 4th quarter. Eventually, Charlotte did manage to push ahead late in the 4th quarter, but the Sixers did not back down. With the scored tied at 84 and only 9 seconds left the Sixers stopped Charlotte at one end, and then on the other end Williams laid in the eventual game winner off the breakaway for an 86-84 lead. Elton slapped away the ensuing Bobcat in bounds pass and Iggy swept it away to run out the clock and close out the 86-84 win. So the Sixers move back to 5-6 overall and seem to be headed on the right track now. They simply need to keep up this kind of defense and Elton just needs to keep playing like he did night and they'll be okay.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
FLYERS NEWS
The Flyers welcomed the Atlantic division leading Devils to the Wachovia center tonight. This was a special night for the Flyers as "the Hammer", Dave Schultz was inducted into the Flyer's hall of fame. The least they could do as honor him with a win and that they did. Once again the Flyer's played tough defense, had the edge on faceoffs and Ray Emery outshined Marty Brodeur with 33 saves out of the 35 shots he faced. Daroll Powe, got things started midway through the 1st period with his 6th goal of the season against 0 assists thus far, to put the Orange and Black up 1-0. Just seconds into the 2nd period Scott Hartnell scored off the power play for a 2-0 lead. A successful New Jersey power play made it 2- 1 heading into the 3rd period. Late in that period the rookie sensation James Van Reimsdyk scored unassisted for a 3-1 Flyer's lead. the Flyer's defense made it hold up from there, although a fluky New Jersey goal at the end did cut the final score to 3-2. So the Flyers have won 7 of their last 8 and at 11-5-1 overall for 23 points, they're now 5th in the Eastern conference. Not bad if may say so myself.
PHILLIES NEWS
The rookie of the year award was given out today, but not to J.A Happ, who was beaten out by the Marlins' Chris Coghlan 17 votes to 10. Unfortunately, it seems all the time Happ spent on the DL towards the end of the season may have cost him the award. He's still the winner in my book though
Sunday, November 15, 2009
EAGLES NEWS
The Birds traveled out to San Diego this afternoon for a matchup with the Chargers, as they looked to bounce back from a loss to the Cowboys. Unfortunately, the problems that have been plaguing them got them again today. On their 1st 3 trips into the red zone the Birds were forced to settle for field goals. The defense, minus another linebacker and most of the starting secondary, was shreaded by San Diego to the tune of 331 yards and 31 points. Finally the Eagles committed 9 penalties on the day, with many of them occurring at the most innoportune times. If they could have gotten a TD on any of those 3 drives, and Sheldown Brown hadn't gone down with an injury early in the game, the Birds might have won this one. Instead they settled for field goals and found themselves down 21-9 at the half. Donovan Mcnabb did manage a pair of TD drives in the 2nd half with TD passes to Brent Celek and Jeremy Maclin to cut the lead to 28-23 with about 7 minutes to play. Once again thoug, like last week against the Dallas, the Eagles' defense couldn't get the stop they needed to put Mcnabb back on the field with a chance to win it and eventually San Diego managed a field goal to push the lead to 31-23 with about 30 seconds to play. Mcnabb then managed to drive the Birds down to about the Charger 30 yard line, but neither of the 2 plays he had time for at that point resulted in a game tying score, so the Birds fell 31-23 for their 2nd straight loss to drop to 5-4 overall, still good enough for 2nd in the NFC East, 1 game behind Dallas who also lost today. I think the blame for this one falls squarely on the defense. Donovan Mcnabb threw for 450 yards and 2 TDs and Jason Avant had a career day with 8 catches for 156 yards. So the offense did it's job, other than those few times in the red zone. The defense just couldn't stop San Diego. Here's hoping that banged up defense gets healthy soon.
SIXERS NEWS
Things went from bad to worse for Sixers today as they learned today that backup center/forward Maurice Speights partially tore the MCL in one of his knees and will be sidelined 6 to 8 weeks. As the Sixer's top scoring big man thus far, Speights has been invaluable this season. It is going to be very tough for the Sixers to win without him, especially considering how poor their defense has been this season. If nothing else this means at least that Elton Brad will get a few more touched than he has been, and so perhaps he'll be able to break out of the slump he's been in and then maybe the Sixers would still be ok
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