Saturday, December 13, 2008
FLYERS NEWS
The Flyers welcomed the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Wachovia center tonight for a key divisional matchup as both teams were tied in the standings coming in at 36 points a piece. Marty Biron returned to the net tonight and had a solid night holding the top scoring team in the NHL to just 3 goals on 26 shots. Meanwhile, the Flyers exploded offensively, compiling 6 goals, including 2 for Mike Knuble, in romping to an impressive win. Early in the first period Joffrey Lupul cleaned up a rebound in front of the net for a 1-0 lead. Late in the period Knuble scored his first for a 2-0 lead. Early in the 2nd period Jordan Staal cut it 2-1 for the Pens. Midway through the 2nd, Mike Richards scored for a 3-1 lead. Scott Hartnell followed a couple minutes later for a 4-1 lead. Then late in the period Knuble scored his 2nd goal for a 5-1 lead. Unlike Carolina a few nights ago they would not cough it up. Midway through the 3rd period Eric Godard scored to cut the lead to 5-2. With just over 4 minutes to play, Jeff Carter scored yet another goal for a 6-2 lead. Finally with just under 2 minutes to play ex-Flyer Ruslan Fedotenko recorded a meaningless tally that did little but change the final score to 6-3. So after demolishing Pittsburgh, the Orange and Black improve to 16-7-6 overall for 38 points, 4th in the Eastern conference, and still 2nd in the division 4 points behind the Rangers. I think we can now say this team is hitting its stride.
SIXERS NEWS
The Sixers made news today even before tonight's game against the Washington Wizards, as GM Ed Stefanski relieved Maurice Cheeks of his head coaching duties, and replaced him with team vice president of player personnel Tony Dileo. Dileo hasn't coached since the 80s but boasts an impressive resume nonetheless. Clearly the move was an attempt at a wakeup call for the players, in order to get them to play up to their potential and tonight at least it worked. Of course the Sixers did play the agent zeroeless Wizards tonight who have compiled all of 4 wins so far this season, so in a way a win should have been inevitable tonight anyway, but who knows the coaching change may have already started to help as well. Statistically the team had one of its most complete games. Offensively, it may have been their best night of the season. The bench contributed a season best 50 points, Elton Brand dropped a season best 27 points, and the team shot close to a season best 51% from the field, and dished out 24 assists to just 13 turnovers. Defensively, they were not as impressive but still solid. Essentially They did just enough to get a win, out rebounding Washington 46-37, and holding them to just 41% shooting from the field. Early on the Sixers jumped out to a 5 point lead with the score 25-20 after a quarter of play. Rather than sit on that lead they kept pushing it in the 2nd quarter and by the half the lead was up to 11, with the score 51-40. They just kept it going in the 3rd quarter and by the beginning of the 4th quarter the lead was up to 14, with the score 79-65. Finally in the 4th quarter the Sixers did not let off the gas pedal and eventually sprinted out a 15 point win, with the final score 104-89. So the Sixers improve to 10-14 overall and have perhaps been given the wakeup call they needed. Only time will tell though if inserting Dileo at head coach was the right move.
Friday, December 12, 2008
SIXERS NEWS
Well another night another loss for the Sixers as they traveled to Cleveland to finish a home and home with Lebron and the Cavs. They played better D this time around but Lebron still dropped 28 and the Sixers still struggled to score themselves. This is really beginning to sound like a broken record at this point and I am not sure I even want to talk about it. So let' s just say this, it was a close game for a quarter, but the Cavs pulled away in the 2nd quarter and never looked back eventually hanging on to win by 16 with the final score 88-72, nuff said. So the Sixers drop to 9-13 overall, what a team.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
FLYERS NEWS
Well if it's the Flyers it must be overtime. Yes that's right they went into OT again tonight at the Wachovia center as they welcomed the Carolina Hurricanes to town. Antero Niittymaki got the rare start in goal and did not have his best game, saving just 26 of the 31 shots he faced, but it was enough to keep the Flyers in it which seems to be just about all they need at this point. Meanwhile, Scotty Hartnell scored a hat trick to lead a furious Flyers comeback that forced overtime and eventually helped to pull out the win. Early in the first period Eric Staal scored for a 1-0 Canes lead. Early in the 2nd period Matt Cullen scored for a 2-0 lead. About halfway through the period Hartnell scored his first to cut it to 2-1. A few seconds later Sergie Samsonov pushed it to 3-1 Canes. A few minutes later ex-Flyer Joni Pitkanen made it 4-1. A few minutes later Staal score again for a 5-1 Canes lead and all hope seemed lost. However, Niittymaki finally bared down and shutout the Canes in the 3rd period and halfway through the period Hartnell had finished off his hat trick to cut it to 5-3. With just under 5 minutes to play Scottie Upshall scored to cut it to 5-4. Finally with just under 2 minutes to play Simon Gagne scored to knot it up at 5 and complete the comeback. From there neither team could accumulate another tally until the game had gone into a shootout. There Tomo Ruutu and Rod Brindamour each missed their attempts, while Gagne and Mike Richards were each successful on their attempts to close out the 6-5 shootout win for the Flyers. So the Orange and Black move to 15-7-6 overall, good for 36 points, 5th in the Eastern conference, and 2nd in the Atlantic division, just 4 points behind the Rangers for first.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
SIXERS NEWS
The Sixers welcomed King James and the rest of his Cleveland Cavalier cohorts to the Wachovia center tonight. Cleveland came into tonight with the 2nd best record in the Eastern conference so there was little hope the Sixers would be able to beat them, even with Elton Brand back in the lineup. It was actually a close game for a while but eventually Cleveland's fire power proved to be too much as Lebron dropped 29, and Mo Williams chipped in with 27. Meanwhile, the Andres, Miller and Iguodala with 22 and 27 points respectively kept it close for the Sixers. The Sixers actually had the early 3 point lead after a quarter of play with the score 28-25. By the half Cleveland had pulled ahead by 2 with the score 48-46. In the 3rd quarter the Cavs took control of the game, and actually led by 20 at one point before settling for a 19 point lead, with the score 84-65 heading into the 4th quarter. Finally in the 4th quarter, the Sixers mounted a serious comeback but it was too little too late, and eventually Cleveland hung on to win by 8, with the final score 101-93. So the Sixers drop to 9-13 overall and it doesn't look like anything can save them at this point.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
FLYERS NEWS
The Flyers finished a game in regulation for a change tonight as they faced off with the New York Islanders. Marty Biron got the start in goal and had another solid night saving 24 of the 27 shots he faced. Meanwhile, Jeff Carter scored yet another goal as the Flyers pulled out a nail biter. About halfway through the 3rd period Andy Hilbert scored and Doug Weight followed a minute later for a quick 2-0 Isles lead. Aaron Asham answered a minute later to cut it to 2-1. About midway through the 2nd period Darrell Powe tied it at 2. Then late in the period Carter put the Flyers up for the first time 3-2. Early in the 3rd period Brandon Comeau scored to knot it up at 3. Finally with just under 9 minutes to play Simon Gagne scored to put the Flyers up for good 4-3. Thanks to Biron that lead stood up the rest of the way and the Flyers got the 4-3 win. So the Flyers move to 14-7-6 overall for 34 points and yes still 6th in the Eastern conference.
PHILLIES NEWS
After the leading the Phils to their first world title in 28 years this season, manager Charlie Manuel was rewarded by the Phillies today with a contract extension through 2011, hopefully just enough time for a few more parades down broad street.
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