The Flyers traveled to New Jersey tonight for a matchup with the New Jersey Devils, as they looked to get back on track following a loss to the Ottawa Senators in their last game. They did anything but on this night. They let up an early power play goal to Niclas Bergfors to put themselves behind 1-0 just 2 minutes into the 1st period and never recovered. By the end of the 1st period they were already behind 3-0 as Begfors scored another power play goal and Patrick Elias added a late score. It was not until late in the 2nd period that Claude Giroux finally put the Orange and Black on the board with a power play goal to cut it to 3-1. Then Elias added another score with just second left in the period to push it to 4-1 and that's how it ended with neither team scoring in th 3rd period. It could have been worse but the Flyer's defense hung in there to hold New Jersey to only 28 shots on goal. However, they took 6 penalties, which is too many, and could only kill off 4 of them. Also Brian Boucher did not play very well in goal, as he struggled to handle rebounds and gave up some cheap goals. Finally the Flyers mustered very it little offensively, with just 23 shots on goal and then one score by Giroux. Sure, they're missing top faceoff man Blair Betts, top power play Daroll Powe, and top points scorer Simon Gagne, but the Flyer's still have some dynamic scoring talent in Giroux, Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, Danny Briere, JVR, and Scott Hartnell and should be able to do better than this. Still there is surely no where to go at this point but up right? right?
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
SIXERS NEWS
The Sixers welcomed the Houston Rockets to the Wachovia center tonight as they looked to snap an 11 game losing streak. The Sixers played fairly well on the night, even leading for a while early on, but they dropped off again in the 2nd half, and were forced to put together another desperate rally late in the 4th quarter which alas came up short once again. The Sixers shots just 41% from the field while Houston shot 44% and hit 8 threes, and proved to be the difference. Andre Iguodala led the way offensively for the Sixers with 24, Allen Iverson posted 20, Elton Brand had a nice night with 19 and 10 rebounds, and Thad Young worked hard for 15 and 11 rebounds. Defensively, in addition to holding Houston to just 44% shooting the Sixers also outrebounded them 52-40. Yet, they still couldn't get the stops they needed late in the game for the win. They just didn't defend the perimeter very well at times and allowed the Rockets to score in transition far too easily at times. The Sixers had an early 10 point lead after the 1st quarter, but Houston rallied back to within 3 at the half and by the 4th quarter they were up 10, as they went on to hold off the Sixers 96-91. So the Sixers drop their 12th in a row, and surely at this point there's nowhere to go but up right? right?
Thursday, December 10, 2009
FLYERS NEWS
After a 6-2 thumping of the Islanders in their last game the Orange and Black welcomed the Ottawa Senators to the Wachovia center as they looked to make it 2 in a row. Once again they played solid defense, holding the Sens to just 25 shots on goal, of which Brian Boucher saved 23. However, the Flyer's also went back to struggling to score on this night, as Brian Elliot saved all 23 shots the Flyer's threw at him. Try as they might the Flyers just couldn't get anything by Elliot, and eventuallyy fell 2-0 for their 6th loss in 7 tries. The Flyers just can't afford to keep losing close games like these or they'll never be able turn things around. I just hope it's not already too late for them to turn things around.
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
SIXERS NEWS
The Sixers welcomed the Detroit Pistons to the Wachovia center tonight as they looked to end their 10 game losing at last. They were this close to doin so, but in the end it was not to be on this night. scoring wise Andre Iguodala led the way with 18 , Sammy Dalembert dropped 17 and 11 rebounds, Elton Brand put 17, and That Young and Allen Iversion each added 11 to round out a balanced night of scoring, although the bench did seem to be lacking at times. Defensively, the Sixers performed solidly as they held Detroit to just 45% shooting from the field and only one 3 pointer. They also compiled 6 blocks and 7 steals, but were outrebounded by Detroit 45-32 which did not help matters. The Sixers trailed by 2 after 1 quarter of play, knotted it up at half and trailed by 4 heading into the 4th quarter with the score 67-63. Initially in the 4th Detroit pulled out to a double digit lead, before the Sixers put together one last furious rally that saw them pull back ahead briefly, fall back again then draw even again with just over 2 minutes to play and again as Iversion sunk a jumped to tie it at 86-86 with only about a minute to play. The Sixers fell behind again though and with 3 seconds left and the score now 88-86, Andre Iguodala got an open look at the 3 and the win but he missed and Detroit hung on to win 90-86 for the Sixers 11th loss in a row. What a team.
EAGLES NEWS
The Eagles rewarded Andy Reid today for the great job he has done as the head coach the last 11 years, by signing him to a 3 year extension. Reid has taken the Eagles to 5 NFC championship games and 1 superbowl in his tenure and owns more wins than any other coach in Eagle's history. Now it will be more of the same for the next 4 years with hopefully a superbowl victory mixed in.
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
FLYERS NEWS
The Flyers welcomed the New York Islanders to the Wachovia center tonight as they looked to end a 5 game losing streak. Before the game even started the Flyer's got some bad news when they learned Ray Emery will be sidelined for the next 6 weeks with an abdominal tear head had been trying to play through. Without Brian Boucher will start most of the games in that time, with the rookie Jonas Backlund, recently called up from the Phantoms, backing him up. The way Boosh has been playing I'm sure they'll be alright. Anyway back tonight's game. For the 2nd time in as many nights they Flyer's came out and played some inspired defense, holding the Isles to just 24 shots on goal, 22 of them saved by Boucher who really didn't face any serious scoring opportunities until late in the 2nd period. The Flyers did pick up 8 penalties though, thus presenting the Isles with 8 power play opportunities, and although they killed off 6 of them, they really can't afford to take that penalties on a daily basis. The 8 penalties didn't matter tonight though, as the Flyer's finally figured how score some goals again, that is 6 of them to be exact. In the first period Mike Richards scored twice, one on the power play and one shorthanded for a 2-0 lead. Jeff Carter scored twice early in the 2nd period to push it to 4-0. Then late in the period Claude Giroux scored the Flyer's 3rd power play of the night for a 5-2 lead. Giroux then scored again early in the 3rd period for a 6-2 lead en route a 6-2 Flyer's victory. So the losing is streak is over at last and you can only hope this will be a springboard to further success this season for the Orange and Black.
PHILLIES NEWS
The phils rounded out their bench for the next season, by signing power-hitting utility outfielder Ross Gload, formerly of the Florida Marlins, to a 2 year contract. This means of course that the veteran Matt Stairs won't return to the Phils next season, probably will retire.
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