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?