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.