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Meltzer's Musings: Two Major Flyers Anniversaries, Quick Hits |
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TWO MAJOR FLYERS ANNIVERSARIES
Forty years ago today, Bernie Parent authored a 30-save shutout to make a first period deflection power play goal by Rick MacLeish stand up for the duration of a 1-0 victory at the Philadelphia Spectrum over the Boston Bruins. The win, of course, clinched the Stanley Cup for the Flyers and turned coach Fred Shero's pregame bulletin board message into a prophesy.
Indeed, the members of the Broad Street Bullies have walked together forever since the afternoon of May 19, 1974. I was not quite four years old at the time but I distinctly remember where I was that day. I was at my Aunt Elizabeth's house, watching the game on a small black-and-white television. I didn't understand yet what winning the Stanley Cup actually meant, but I did know it was very exciting.
By the time the Flyers won their second straight Cup (which I watched on my parents' bedroom television set) the following spring, I was already becoming obsessed with the Flyers and hockey. Like so many other kids who grew up in or around Philadelphia in that era, Bobby Clarke was my first sports hero.
Apart from marking the 40th anniversary of the Flyers' first championship, May 19 is the 45th anniversary of another important day in franchise history. On May 19, 1969, Philadelphia first moved head coach Keith Allen into a front office role. He became the club's vice president and assistant general manager. On Dec. 22 of that same year, Allen officially replaced Bud Poile as general manager.
Without Allen as the general manager, there probably would not have been two Stanley Cup parades in Philadelphia or three straight trips to the Finals. It was Allen who hired Shero and assembled most of the Broad Street Bullies era team.
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FLYERS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDUP
* Canada captured a 3-2 overtime victory against defending gold medalist Sweden in preliminary round action yesterday at the IIHF World Championships in Minsk, Belarus. Tre Kronor jumped out to a 2-0 lead by the early stages of the second period only to see the Canadians roar back to tie the game. Ryan Ellis scored the winning goal in overtime.
Flyers center Brayden Schenn helped Canada trigger its comeback, scoring his third goal of the tournament to trim its 2-0 deficit in half at 3:52 of the second period. Several minutes later, Kevin Bieksa cashed in a high-sticking penalty on former Flyers defenseman Erik Gustafsson to tie the game.
The Kyle Turris line was out for both Sweden goals; scored by Joakim Lindström and Linus Klasen. Matt Read, who did not record a point, finished the day at minus-two with one shot on goal in 18:24 of ice time.
Schenn had three shots on goal in the second period, including his momentum-changing goal. Overall, Schenn skated 16:17 of ice time. Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn was minus-one with one shot on goal in 20:43 of ice time. Gustafsson, who was on the ice for Schenn's goal, was minus-one in 19:31 of ice time for Sweden.
* Team Germany battled Russia to a scoreless deadlock for two-plus periods yesterday before the Russians broke through for three unanswered goals in a 3-0 victory. Phantoms forward Marcel Noebels had two shots on goal in 14:18 of ice time.
* Phantoms defenseman Oliver Lauridsen and Team Denmark are in action today. The Danes will take on France.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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