Flyers Take the Ice

I'm just not used to this. I've been watching the Flyers for years, and it always seems like such a long wait before they get started in the fall. For one reason alone, the 2008-2009 NHL season opener snuck up on Philadelphia; it's been since 1993 that we've had anything other than a weekly football game to watch this time of year.

But through some stroke of luck, the surging Phillies have their travel day today, and the Eagles obviously don't play until tomorrow, leaving tonight all to the Flyers.

Just one season after finishing dead last in the NHL, the Flyers reached the Eastern Conference Final last spring, where despite getting smoked by the Penguins, I think most fans were more than satisfied with the overall season. This year, the young core will have great expectations, starting right away against the Rangers.

Opening their season with an NHL teaser in Europe, the Rangers got off to a 2-0 start before winning again at home last night. Jen C. of Rangerland.net warns us that the newly dubbed Playstation Line is already locked in. With three real season wins under their belts, the Rangers do have some idea of what they have on the ice, whereas I think the Flyers still have a question or two.

The offensive units should be set, with lots of excitement at the top. Simon Gagne, Mike Richards, and Danny Briere lined up together have tremendous potential, and there are plenty of potential 20-goal scorers to fill the next two lines as well, led by Jeff Carter, Joffrey Lupul, Scott Hartnell, Scottie Upshall, Steve Downie, and Mike Knuble. Scoring should not be a problem with this tight-knit group.

The biggest questions are on defense, where after potential All-Stars Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Coburn, the Flyers have a somewhat depleted corps to start the season. Randy Jones, who was steady down the stretch last season, and promising young talent Ryan Parent are both out with significant injuries. Any further depletions on the blue line could be devastating, and for now, the team will have to count on Mike Eminger, Lasse Kukkonen, Ossi Vaananan, and Enrico's favorite Flyer, Luca Sbisa. 

In net, playoff hero Marty Biron is already full of chatter and fire. With some unknown quantities on defense, we'll need him to step up and steal some games all on his own early this month.

In case you hadn't heard, it should be some puck drop tonight. LET'S GO FLYERS!

PALIN UPDATE: Fans have reported that there were positive and negative responses to Sarah Palin, with the boos coming across a little louder, although not necessarily greater in number. Some "Asshole" chants rained down, and clearly, there was music pumped in loudly, at about the same level as it was during the player intros.

Comments

[Liam]

I am watching with Comcast's free preview of the nhl center ice package. Unfortunately I am stuck with the rangers broadcast of the game. Can't complain though its better than nothing

[Liam]

And with that entrance, anybody else think that they played the loud ass music solely to drown out the crowds reaction?

[Joe]

I could still hear the crowd. Bout 50/50. Although the music was a smart move by Snider.

[MSM]

Liam,

That's exactly what I was thinking. I couldn't tell what the overall reaction was because the music was so loud.

Nice asskissing touch by the Rangers putting Gomez out there, seeing as he's from Alaska.

[Liam]

It started out basically all boo's before the music started, and then became more mixed after the music started (I think?) though I couldn't tell precisely how much it was due to that music. Good to see Gagne and the boys back.

LETS GO FLYERS

[Jay]

GAY. They blasted music so the boos couldn't be heard. It was so blatantly obvious that's what they were doing. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[petey]

cowardly decision to jack the music up all the way to drown out the boos. i wonder if that was the tv producer, or if the music was really that loud in the arena. i'm guessing that was the tv producer.

cowardly comcast.

[Liam]

Due to my watching on the rangers broadcast I can tell you it was loud o n here too so I would assume it w as like that in the arena, but more for the sake of the people watching at home and for when highlights are shown later

[Jay]

Was it done on purpose??? You betcha!

[Joe]

Well, at least we can be done with the partisan political bitching and get onto something that actually matters- Flyers Hockey!

This is an important year for me and my Flyers...my roommate is a bitch ass Pens fan.

[Liam]

Flyers look rusty, and its kind of bullshit to have a team playing its fourth game while the other is on their first.

[Liam]

Yep, the team is rusty. Gotta weather the storm and get some chances and get back into this game.

[HLH]

I have direct tv and it's blocked out. The free preview is blocked out as well. And if you wanna order their package to get all the games you get everything besides Flyers home games and games in the surrounding area such as n.y. and n.j.. I have to hope a game comes on vs. or the very rare occurence of it being on upn 57 or nbc. Direct tv sucks! Looks like i'll have to go old fashioned with the a.m. or hit the local sports bar.

[Liam]

@ HLH

I believe Tuesdays game is the first game that will be televised on VS

[mustardstache]

i wish i was there to chant ASSHOLE AAAAASSSHOLE AAAAASSSHOLE!!!!

[Joe]

What the hell was Biron doing on that goal? That was awful.

[Liam]

Who knows, but its obvious this team needs to just get its feet and gel some. They'll be fine, though its dumb the NHL gift wrapped this game for the Rangers

[Hummer]

this is Palins fault, damnit

[jungle boy]

not that i am complaining but why is that not a 4 on 3 power play?

[Liam]

Anyone else think Biron has looked out of position the entire game? He just looked like he had no idea how to play goal today

[Liam]

At least Penn State is off to a good start defensively

[Matt P]

So good to hear that Pennywise...

[Liam]

Flyers really could use a second goal before the third

[Liam]

And as I say that they score. They flyers sure could use a third goal going into the third

[Matt P]

Bullshit call on Luca... Guy lost his edge and he gets 2 minutes.

Crowd reacts appropriately.

[Liam]

And this is a game

[theoldsport]

Yeah, Richie!

Gotta love how this team responded to going down 4-0 early. As exciting as the baseball team is right now, I'm glad hockey's back.

What a time to be a fan!

[Liam]

Christ that goal was close. Gotta score on the 5 on 3

[Liam]

I mean that was close to being a goal

[Liam]

Great effort after the first period. The rangers got pretty lucky as the flyers missed chance after chance to tie the game up. I hope nobody else has to watch a broadcast on MSG as every single play by the Rangers is slobbered over by the announcers

[Joe]

That was all on Biron. He looked awful. SO close at the end there.

[Carl Goodman]

I'm a life long Flyers fan, but I'm glad they lost tonight. The classless fans who booed Palin deserved to go home unhappy.

[doubleh]

Oh, for the love of Pete--we deserve to lose because we don't like the idea of our games being hijacked by political hacks? It was a bad idea, plain and simple, especially for opening night.

I don't care if it was Obama, Biden, McCain or Palin; don't want to see them. Too polarizing and it just leaves a bad taste in everyone's mouths. We go to the games to ESCAPE politics and the horrible economy; not to be reminded of it.

[g]

whats with the designer jacket? how many real hockey moms wear italian designers?