An Open Letter to the Isles Fan Sitting in Front of me Last Night

Dear Isles Fan,

You fooled me at first.  When you asked whether you were in the right row, I helpfully directed you to your seat since I've had season tickets in the section for years.

When you jumped up to cheer after Nielsen beat Mase just 55 seconds into the game, I cringed.

Then.  THEN.  You turned around and pointed at me.  You yelled YEAH BABY! in my face.

Are you kidding me?

Look, I get it.  I'm sure you get pushed around a lot in real life. You were pretty short.  You didn't even have the guts to wear any Isles gear to the game.

Don't do that again, I said.

Ok, baby, you said.

I hate you, I thought.

(I might have whispered it.)

Your presence made me cheer louder while the Flyers peppered Halak.  PEB's shorty was even more sweet because you had to see it in person.

You knew your team was getting outplayed.  So explain to me why, after my mom (yeah, my MOM) booed a particularly rough open ice hit on a Flyer you decided to turn around and yell at her:

THAT'S HOCKEY BABY SOMETIMES PEOPLE GET HIT!

Like, you just yelled at a stranger's mom at a hockey game. Over nothing.  Feel good?  Whatever you need to do to validate your existence, I guess.

At least you shut up after I shouted, Listen, DUDE, I don't need YOU to tell ME about hockey.  To which the entire section cheered, YOU GO GIRL.  AMEN.

(Your witty retort was to hide in your seat.)

We were all sick of you.

I'm sorry you got to see the Isles win in OT.  If you come back to Philly, please keep your mouth shut next time.

Better yet, just stay in Brooklyn.

Flyerdelphia Fan Files #2 - Winning Cures All

I had the thankless task of putting together the first Fan Files column about a month ago, when there was nothing good to say about the Flyers.  All I could do was preach optimism and keep my fingers crossed.

Much has changed since then, with the team on a three game winning streak and finally showing signs of life.

What, exactly, accounts for the difference?  Wayne Simmonds indicated that the guys are sticking up for one another.  The beats have written endlessly about the energy Shayne Gostisbehere brings to the ice.  Or maybe Dave Hakstol is finding his stride.

From a fan’s perspective, though, the Flyers, even when winning, can be maddening.  Currently, they are worst in the league in goal scoring and team shooting percentage, but 13^th in the penalty kill having killed off 24 straight penalties before allowing a game-tying power play goal in the final minute of regulation on Friday.   

Goaltending is the least of our problems for once.  Four of ten wins were shutouts but the Flyers are posting a dismal -18 goal differential.

The numbers tell one tale but the story is constantly changing.  As long as the Flyers keep putting up wins statistics will cease being the story. 

And that’s what keeps fans interested – the knowledge that fortunes in hockey turn on a dime.

The Flyers are on the right track.  Here’s hoping they keep grinding and give us all a reason to prove those who predicted another season of missing the playoffs wrong. 

With or Without You

I've been thinking about relationships recently, which leads me to this post about ... advanced hockey statistics.  Weird, right?  Bear with me.

(If you thought I was writing about U2, sorry to disappoint.  I did listen to The Joshua Tree while writing this, though.)

My favorite fancy stat is With Or Without You, a.k.a. WOWY.  WOWY measures how well pairs of players perform together and apart.  Like any stat, it has its limitations, but typically good players help others perform better.  WOWY also lets you know if a player is dragging down his teammates, that is, if they perform worse when playing with him.

One of my favorite illustrations of WOWY is this analysis of the Umberger for Hartnell trade, written in June 2014.  It's a quick read.  The bottom line is that, statistically, Hartnell ranked with such elites as Jonathan Toews, Patrice Bergeron, and Anze Kopitar in improving his teammates' performance on the ice.  On the other hand, Umberger's teammates consistently performed worse when paired with him.  

Wonder if anyone at the Flyers organization looked at those stats before the trade.

That aside, I find WOWY fascinating because it distills a two-person relationship down to hard percentages.  Wouldn't it be nice to have a stat like in life?

Instead of complaining to your boss about a lazy co-worker, you could just show her the data proving that he reduces your productivity.  Want to break up with your spouse?  Now you have the numbers to prove that she's literally bringing you down.  

I'm joking, of course.  Relationships are defined by intangibles, they are impossible to quantify.  Numbers can help, but if you ask any two people - whether teammates, friends, co-workers - what gives them a spark when they're together, what gets them in sync, what makes them click...

The answer isn't going to be a fancy stat.  Rather, it's the elusive concept of chemistry, and when a team finds it, underdogs become champions.  

The Flyers need that synergy to succeed.  I can't get a handle on Hakstol's coaching, to be honest, but given the importance of chemistry, how about less practices where the players attack each other and more focus on cohesiveness?  

It certainly couldn't hurt.

Thanks to puckalytics.com and alongtheboards.com

Perspective

The Flyers played a terrible game last night, yes, but let's keep things in perspective.

It's still just a game.

I woke up ready to throw in the towel or write something scathing about the team.  Then I saw the posts on Twitter from today's practice and paused...

The Flyers hosted Liam on behalf of the Make-A-Wish foundation.

Liam could have cared less how many goals Jake Voracek has scored, or whether Claude Giroux is a good captain, or if the players had fifty, let alone two, closed door team meetings.

He was just living out his wish.

And thinking about Liam's perspective made me change mine.

The Flyers are my team.  I love to watch them play.  I will not boo them.

Today I was reminded that, win or lose, hockey is full of heroes.

Go Liam and go Flyers!

Flyerdelphia Fan Files #1 - What Can You Say?

When Flyerdelphia asked me to contribute to Fan Files, I was beyond excited.  I love the Flyers and will take every opportunity to talk about the team.  I’ll start a conversation with total strangers wearing Flyers gear – whether walking down the street, working behind a sandwich counter, or driving next me on Broad Street.

Even when the team is slumping I can find a silver lining.  So I agreed to write for Flyerdelphia’s new feature without hesitation.

But there’s a problem.

I’ve got nothing.

Believe me, I was absolutely convinced that by the Friday night deadline I’d have something good to say about the team’s roadtrip.  I don’t.  (Who does?) I’m so tired, having stayed up past my bedtime practically all week watching the Flyers spiral down, down, down.

What is happening?  This season is so much worse than anyone thought.

Surprisingly, goaltending seems NOT to be the issue.  A lot of people are pointing fingers at the defense, but let’s face it, you can’t win hockey games if you don’t score goals.  And the Flyers are barely scoring at all.

It’s difficult to get a handle on exactly what’s wrong because – let’s face it – everything seems wrong, from the coach to the players to the front office.

What’s a Flyers fan to do?

Hang in there, like always.  Celebrate when the Flyers finally win, because they will.  And hold out hope that, in a long season, the Orange and Black stop slumping, and start streaking, so we’re all holding our breath for a playoff run come the spring.   

Thanks to my friends @Flyerdelphia! Originally posted here.

My Hockey Night in Canada

We went to Montreal, y'all!

It was my first time there and I have to tell you, despite coming down with a nasty cold as soon as we landed, I loved it.  Highly recommend a long weekend there if you can swing it - short flight from Philly, beautiful city, amazing food, nice people.

We went to the Habs/Leafs game on Saturday October 24 at the Bell Center.  The Habs were still undefeated and the Center was on fire!

Literally.  They had the heat blasting in there like nobody's business.  Really different from WFC where it's freezing most of the time.  And on top of that, they were giving out Habs scarves!  To make you even warmer!

But seriously, what a great place to see a hockey game.  Not only because of the intense rivalry between the Habs and Leafs and the size of the Center itself, but because of the amazing fans, and the fact that the entire city is literally obsessed with the Habs and hockey.

I've never experienced anything like that before.  The signs on all of the buses say "GO HABS GO!"  Habs merchandise is sold at every corner store.  Tim Horton's - kind of like Dunks or Wawa - has signs in the window touting NHL trading cards with pictures of Sidney Crosby (of course).  At every restaurant, people are talking hockey - the waiters, patrons, bartenders, whoever.  Coming from Philly, where the Iggles dominate most conversations, it was awesome as a hockey fan to be in a city and country that is totally, absolutely 100% immersed in the sport.  

And I might be biased here but there were easily as many, if not more, female hockey fans at the game than men.  I loved it.  The woman sitting next to my hubs was the best, she hugged him every time the Habs scored and could have cared less that he didn't understand a word she was saying to him in French.  

Not gonna lie, it was fine to masquerade as a Habs fan for a few hours, but my heart wasn't really in it.  I'll always bleed Orange and Black.  

We made sure to give our Habs scarves to a true Habs fan before we flew back home.

Let the Sun Set on Sunrise

There's not much to say about last night's effort by the Flyers other than it was an unmitigated disaster.

Now, time to move on.  I think we will have a better sense of what to expect this season based on the team's response to that 7-1 slaughter.

Coach Hakstol hasn't been called one of the brightest minds in hockey for nothing.  Let's see how he gets his new team to rebound at the home opener Monday night. 

I hope the Flyers pick up momentum at the Wells Fargo Center tomorrow and carry it into Kimmo's retirement night on Wednesday.  Bold prediction:  the Orange and Black get back to back wins against the Panthers and the Hawks.

Then, game 2 would seem like nothing more than a blip on the radar.  

Meh

I know I'm in the minority here but I wasn't thrilled with the Flyers last night.

Yes, I get that they played toe-to-toe with the almighty Bolts.  I hate to break this to you: all but six teams were better than the Flyers last season so playing up to the competition is going to have to be the norm.  

Honestly, wasn't this game the same old, same old?  Flashes of brilliance but with a bad result.  Our top players pretty much invisible.  Missing penalty shots.  Turnovers (Giroux had a nasty one at the end of the 2nd while we were on the power play).  Gaining the lead only to lose it on a bad goal.  Losing in overtime.   

Losing the season opener for the fourth year in a row. (I know we got a point.  It would have been better to get two.) 

Call me a cynic.  I guess I'm just sick of seeing the Flyers lose when they can win. 

Women Matter - Taking the power away from Patrick Kane

Hockey's back!

The Flyers don't kick things off until tomorrow.  I figured I would watch the Blackhawks raise their sixth Stanley Cup championship banner tonight in Chicago, just because it's HOCKEY (and ha ha ha how does that Presidents' Trophy feel now Rangers?)

But given the events of the off-season, I can't lose the feeling of something else hanging over the United Center:  the specter of the ongoing sexual assault investigation against Patrick Kane.

In August, a young woman alleged that Kane raped her in his house after a night spent bar-hopping.  You'd think he might want to fly under the radar for a while.

Unfathomably, Kane's popularity has surged in light of the allegations.  The NHL has done nothing to lower his profile - in fact, they announced a Patrick Kane bobblehead night, and trotted him out for an appearance at a Bears game to hoist the Stanley Cup.  He received the loudest ovation from the crowd. 

The message from this rabid support for Kane is that money and stardom matter.  Women, seemingly, do not.  

Now get this:  Almost half of the Blackhawks fans are women. 

What is happening here?  Do women really hate each other this much?  

Forget about Kane's guilt or innocence; it's not for the public to decide.  There is power in numbers.  Imagine what would happen if 50% of Hawks fans decided not to spend money on the team as a show of solidarity with Kane's accuser because alleged crimes against women deserve as much care and consideration as all other alleged crimes of violence.  

The blow would land where it hurts - the bottom line. It would send a strong message to the NHL, professional sports, and the world that women matter.  

If a fraction of the people standing up for Kane on social media stood up for Kane's accuser we might be able to start a powerful conversation about violence against women.


Louis C.K. has tried; Amy Schumer too.  Unfortunately, their jokes are funny because it's true:  there is no greater threat to women than men.


Watch Lady Gaga's video about sexual assault here (warning, it's graphic).  Then think about this:  what if Kane's accuser was your wife, girlfriend, sister, or daughter?  If you're a woman, what if it was you?  Would you still leap to your feet and give him a standing ovation just because he's good at sports?

Tonight it is difficult to reconcile being a hockey fan with being a woman.  I think I'll skip the banner raising ceremony after all.  

Hakstol's Star Status By the Numbers

Please check out my latest over at Flyerdelphia:

Hakstol's star status by the numbers - Should we hedge our bets on Dave Hakstol as the Flyers new head coach?

(Hint:  it's looking good so far!)

Thanks again to Brian Startare and Kevin Durso.  

If You Ask the Stars - It's Babcock

Please check out my latest post, written exclusively for Flyerdelphia.

Many thanks to Brian Startare and Kevin Durso!

Oh What A Night

The word "Tuesday" is derived from Old English and Middle English words meaning "Tiw's Day" - the day of Tiw, the god of single combat, victory, and heroic glory in Norse mythology.  

Seems fitting for what went down across the NHL last night!

Single combat?  I'm going with the massive right punch Ryan White landed on Eric Boulton's face in the first period last night.   

Victory?  Easy.  Our Flyers continue to play spoilers in thrilling fashion.  Even better:  the Senators.  Nothing could be more fun for a fan of the Orange and Black than seeing Fleury's dejected skate to the bench following Mark Stone's OT goal.

Or reading this from the article "Collapse Continues!" in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, about the Pens:

It was a pathetic performance by a team that doesn’t seem to have much interest in making the playoffs. The postseason is within reach. But this is a team that doesn’t appear greatly interested in reaching it.

Heroic glory?  Two words:  Brayden Schenn.  What a stunner. What a bad goal.  I almost felt sorry for Halak.  Almost, but not really. 

Putting aside that we won't be enjoying a post-season, the biggest loser in Philadelphia last night was Lynne Abraham. (Don't worry, she's ok.)

Some stats for your consideration:

Mark Streit has 51 points on the season.  Claude Giroux is the top ten for points (72) and assists (47). Jake Voracek is 3rd in the NHL with 81 points, and Steve Mason also sits in the 3rd with his .928 SV%.  Not to mention that Simmer was on pace for 30+ goals before breaking his leg on March 25th against the Hawks.  (And of course, B. Schenn stepped up his game to earn the NHL's second star for the week ending April 5th.)

As Sarah Baicker tweeted, the Flyers look like the best bad team ever.  If we keep all of this talent around and find a coach who clicks with players, I really believe we can make it to the playoffs next season.

But in the meantime, I'll be counting down to the Flyers/Senators match up on Saturday, though I'll be sad to see the season end.  

Do you think the Flyers should tank if it means keeping the Pens out of the playoffs?  

The Sunshine State

I know a lot of people are either on spring break this week or at least dreaming of warmer climes, so I thought I'd recap a Panthers/ Flyers game I attended with my mom over Thanksgiving 2013.  

We were visiting family in Florida and I bought tickets for Club Red at the BB&T Center.  They were so cheap at the time, the Panthers were pretty terrible, and the Flyers were coming off a 6-0-1 run where they scored 27 goals.  (Seems unbelievable now!)

Anyway, the Flyers lost 3-1 with Wayne Simmonds scoring the lone goal for the Orange and Black.  

I will never forget how many Flyers fans were there - likely transplants or folks visiting for the holiday - and how empty the seats were - they even put tarps over a whole section in an attempt to downplay the lack of bodies in the seats.

Also - there were cheerleaders and a loud cat roar every time the home team scored a goal.  Could you imagine cheerleaders in the stands in South Philly?  They barely held on to the Ice Girls this season!

Fast forward to today where the Panthers were more in the hunt for a wildcard spot than the Flyers - and now our team is merely "playing for pride" ... Sigh.

Overall it was a fun experience going to Sunrise but it's always strange watching a game in enemy territory.  Nothing as bad as MSG though - stay tuned.

Looking for a breakout game for Jake tonight against the Pens.  Jeez, I hate Pittsburgh. 

I Found Jeff Reese

Seriously.  It wasn't that difficult given the miracles of the Internet.  But it seems like I'm the only one looking for him.  

I understand that he said he would not comment further on his departure from the team, as did Hextall and Berube, but isn't it strange that hardly anyone attempted to track him down for further explanation?  Or that we haven't heard about him joining another team?  I seriously doubt he is sitting at home twiddling his thumbs.  

This is a man with a long hockey history, both playing and coaching, and he certainly isn't old enough to retire.  He is a very successful goalie coach and it seems that he wouldn't have a problem finding a new home in the NHL.

What kind of behind-the-scenes wrangling was going on in the days leading up to his departure?  Do you think we will see him back in the orange and black if (when!) Berube gets canned?

If you credit the reports that he left over the way Mason was being treated, then good for him.  I'd love to see Reese's return, because that kind of loyalty is the foundation of a strong relationship (Mase always praised Reese with helping to ease his mind), which is what our number one goalie needs to continue to excel in his position.  

Think about this:  the Flyers haven't talked about replacing Reese, either.  

Do you think he and Mase will reunite?  



"Jeff, call me, please."  Image courtesy of Lets Go Flyers.

The Magic Number - Welcome Back, Kimmo

Some numerology in honor of Kimmo Timonen's return to Philadelphia tonight:

Kimmo celebrated his 40th birthday a week ago.  I used his birth date to calculate his life path number.  Your life path "is the road you are traveling."  He is a 7, based on a 34.  

So where is Kimmo going?  Apparently, his life path is devoted to "finding the answers to the mysteries of life."  Obviously!  Hockey's ultimate prize has eluded him throughout his career and his recent move to Chicago (sob) was motivated by his singular desire to have his name engraved on Lord Stanley's Cup.

Kimmo is also "a warrior."  Tell us something we don't know:



Kimmo in Game Three of the 2010 NHL Stanley Final against the Blackhawks.  Image courtesy of 
Zimbio.

Finally, Kimmo will only get better with age, as he will "radiate refinement and wisdom."  I dare say he already does:


Image courtesy of Zimbio.

He might not be number 44 ("a visionary" with "great potential") for the Flyers anymore, but he will always have a place in the hearts of the fans who bleed orange and black.

All numerology information from decoz.com.

Three goals in three days

My daughter's "spring recess" this year is three days long, the same amount of time the Flyers have between their Twilight Zone loss to the Oilers on Saturday and their next game against the Blackhawks on Wednesday night in South Philly.  

During that time, my daughter is hoping to swim, spend quality time with her grandparents, and eat at least a hamburger a day.

What are the Flyers hoping to do?  I imagine:

(1)  Regroup.  Whatever was said at that players-only meeting will hopefully set in and resonate with the team.  I realize that with eight meaningless games left on the calendar it may be difficult to motivate.  But by all accounts the guys on this team are tightly-knit off the ice, and in spite of Craig Berube.  I'd like to see them regroup and play for pride, especially with Voracek in the hunt for the Art Ross trophy.

(2)  Relax.  In all honesty, no one on the team seems to be having much fun anymore.  There's been so much drama since they took off for Western Canada, am I right?  The beat reports sound more like Facebook posts from a sorority house than coverage of a professional hockey team.  

Anyway, it may sound hokey, but I was really sick this past weekend and was forced to watch the movie Million Dollar Arm.  The takeaway from the film was, even if a player has put in the training and practice hours, he cannot succeed without letting go.  That is, having fun.  Now is the time for the Flyers to relax, maybe stick it to a few teams in playoff contention, and end the season on a high note.  

(3)  Eat at least a hamburger a day.  (Just not off the ice after the game.) 

We are all looking forward to seeing Kimmo back in Philadelphia on Wednesday.  

The Magic Number of Claude Giroux

Not a lot to write about when the Flyers are tanking.  I must have read about the "tragic number 11" in at least 10 different articles this week.

So I decided to read up on numerology, hoping to find a magic number.  (What else am I supposed to do with 9 games left, a Cold War between Berube and Mason, and cryptic accounts of a players-only meeting that occurred about 30 games too late?)

For your consideration, I present a brief and admittedly amateur analysis of our captain Claude Giroux's Number 28, which seemed appropriate given the number of idiots wanting to rip the "C" off of his sweater.

We start, of course, with number 28, which apparently is the number 10, but with "more compassion and tolerance."  In turn, the number 10 "enhances all the qualities of the 1."  Slightly vague, but wait, stay with me:

A 10 is "a powerful leader, sharply focused, and streamlined for success.  It can be ruthless in the pursuit of its goals.  It can become a dominating tyrant."  

Sounds like a perfect captain to me!  

And it gets better, because the number 1 "is masculine, progressive, courageous, and rebellious in a constructive way."  

Wow!  We've seen that NUMBER 28 before, folks, and I surely hope to see him again.  G, please stay away from golf clubs and cop butts this off season:


Thanks to decoz.com and numerology.com for educating me.
YouTube video posted by GalNasty.

Motivating for Mason?

I can't get a handle on what may or may not motivate the Flyers this season.  Seeing Giroux slam his stick on the ice in frustration certainly doesn't do it.  Berube doesn't seem to be cutting it either.  But after this most recent 4 game losing streak was snapped on Saturday with a 7-2 win over the Red Wings, I sensed something that might have finally lit a fire under the Flyers:  

Steve Mason loudly proclaiming his displeasure with the team.

Let's face it, it was a long time coming.  And unusual too, as most player interviews are humble protestations where a lot goes unsaid.  Mason laid into everyone, on the heels of a report that he wanted to be involved in the search for Jeff Reese's replacement.

Then the team went out and killed the Red Wings, giving Mase the goal support he so desperately needed all season.

We can't lose Mason.  He's our best shot at a franchise goalie in, well, forever it seems.  I'd like to think that the team was sending him a strong message to stay.

Sucker Punch

Welp.  Could be the only thing worse than the Flyers losing to the Bruins is them losing to the Bruins in overtime, especially when getting the loser point seems inconsequential.  An OT loss, as any hockey fan knows, is just like a sucker punch to the gut:  unexpected, and it completely knocks the wind out of you.

The officiating has been killing the Flyers lately.  I understand that they need to score more even strength goals and that it is their fault they are in this position so late in the season given their failure to beat lesser teams, but still:

Yesterday, the Bruins were on a power play at the end of all three periods, leading to both of their goals in regulation.  So during both intermissions, the Flyers had to focus on the penalty kill, rather than the attack, which fundamentally changes the players' mentality, focus, and momentum.  

Worse was the call on March 3 against the Flames when Nick Schultz's goal was disallowed after being called a goal on the ice.  After the officials huddled and reversed the call, Toronto deemed the play unreviewable.  Huh?  

If that hadn't happened, the Flyers likely would have picked up 2 points.  And, if they held on for another 14 seconds yesterday after the highly questionable tripping call on Wayne Simmonds, they would have picked up another 2, and today would have all but closed the gap on a wild card spot.

That penalty call against Simmonds, in such a critical game, and after the Bruins already had 3 power plays to the Flyers 2?  Officiating (make that bad officiating) does make a difference.

P.S. Does anyone else think Dougie is a silly name for an adult professional hockey player?  Just sayin'.

Rising to the Occasion

What to make of a Flyers team that loses to the "bottom feeders" but defeats the leading teams in the NHL?

It's not the best way to make it into the playoffs.  But, if they make it, isn't it exactly what you want this team to do?

In other words, they are going to have to beat the "best" teams if they want to make any sort of a deep playoff run.  And, based on their performance in the regular season, it looks like they can rise to the occasion.  The Flyers have recently beaten (in no particular order) the Blues, Rangers, Predators, and Lightning.

I read an article on NHL.com pegging the Blues as Stanley Cup contenders the day before the Flyers scored three unanswered goals on them in the third period last night to win.  So what does anyone really, really know about the Flyers this season?   

They just have to make it to the playoffs.  The game tomorrow in Boston is HUGE.

But I don't need to tell you that.

Here's the NHL.com article referenced:  http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=756606

Talismans

So we can all agree that Saturday night's game against the Rags was amazing.  I mean, a shorthanded GWG from MDZ against his former team?  Sick.  I'm sorry to have missed it.  My family has been ill for weeks and we just couldn't get there, though it was easier than usual to unload our season tickets.

Apparently there was an explosive atmosphere at the Well.  Twitter was rife with accounts of Rangers fans misbehaving and getting kicked out, including a bunch of Rangers fans ("men") who heckled a little kid:

@nickpiccone rangers fans were taunting a little 5 year old earlier. They're getting kicked out left and right #LetsGoFlyers

You stay classy, New York.

P.S.  I believe all of the accounts.  I was at MSG for Game 7 of the Flyers/Rangers playoff series last year.  Those "hockey fans" are gross.  (Subject of a later post.)

But on to talismans.  Most Flyers fans I know have some sort of a good luck charm that they are convinced wins games for the team.  When I was growing up, there was a puck on top of the television in our basement.  It sat in a precise spot during the 1986-87 season.  I accidentally moved the puck and to this day my family blames me for the Flyers losing to the Oilers in the '87 Stanley Cup Finals.

This year, I have the shoe.  Ever since I put it on my desk the Flyers have gone on an amazing run, as they try to make their way into the playoffs.

What is your talisman?