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Quick Hits: 2018-19 'Fatigue Factor' Games, Charity Classic, Flett and More

July 12, 2018, 9:50 AM ET [191 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
QUICK HITS: JULY 12, 2018

1) A poster on Twitter compared the 2018-19 schedules of every NHL team in terms of potential "fatigue factor" games: games in which a team that played the previous night are playing against an opponent that did not have a game the previous night.

He found that the Flyers are in the middle of the pack, with 10 games where the fatigue factor could work against them and 9 where they'll have the edge of being a rested team against a potentially tired opponent. By far, the Vancouver Canucks (11 disadvantage games, 3 advantageous games) have the most unfavorable schedule in that regard, while the Edmonton Oilers have the most potential advantage games (18 of them, against 8 potential disadvantage games).

A few notes about the fatigue factor:

* There are other variables that are not necessarily represented by the raw breakdown, such as travel and schedule immediately ahead of an off-night. Example: A "rested" Metro team could have just finished a grueling road trip, had one day off and then be back in action against a "tired" team that is in the second game of busy stretch after a mini-break in the schedule.

* At least anecdotally, many players will attest to the third game of a 3-in-4 , the fourth of a 4-in-6, 6th game in nine nights, etc. being tougher energywise than a back-to-back in and of itself.

* The nature of the front end game of a back-to-back -- Was it a game with a lot of special teams or one mostly played at even strength? Was it an OT/shootout game? A blowout? What time did the team arrive in the city where the second game is played? -- can affect the fatigue factor the next game. These variables are unknowns until the first game is actually played.

* The fatigue factor tends to be less significant very early in the season, except in instances such as the one that led up to the Flyers home opener last season. The Flyers had three nights off after completing their season-opening road trip. Meanwhile, the Washington Capitals were playing for the third time in four nights (a home-road (Newark)-road). Philly won, 8-2.




2) Over on Sportsnet.ca, Down Goes Brown (Sean McIndoe) created a list of what he feels are the NHL's top defense pairings of the last 30 years. If the list were extended to the last 35 years or so, I would hope that the Flyers duo of Mark Howe and Brad McCrimmon would make the list. They certainly would deserve to be.

3) A huge thank you to all who have donated to the Flyers Charity Classic on behalf of me and Brad Marsh's "Ides of Marsh" team, as well as Flyers Alumni, Bundy's Chariot of Flyers and Team Guffaw teams.

Thanks to all of you, I am just $66 away from reaching my individual goal of raising $1,000. We'll get there! As a team, Ides of Marsh has raised nearly $5,100 so far. Collectively, the Alumni-related teams have raised $5,985.

Reminder: All proceeds raised by the Flyers Alumni-related teams will go to the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation. All funds collectively raised by the four Flyers Alumni-related teams will be matched dollar-for-dollar (up to a max $10k match) by Flyers season ticket holder George Fill's firm, David and Fill Financial, Inc.

To donate, click here.

4) Happy birthday: ACL-rehabbing Flyers defenseman Samuel Morin celebrates his 23rd birthday today.

5) In memoriam: After battling liver failure and having an unsuccessful transplant, "Cowboy" Bill Flett passed away in Edmonton on this day in 1999. He was nine days away from his 56th birthday. Flett was survived by wife Doreen and three sons, Cody, Dean and Shane.

Flett was born in Vermillion, Alberta on July 21, 1943. The big (6-foot-1, 205 pound) former rodeo cowboy was not a fast skater or fancy puckhandler but had good hands and an ability to score goals when paired with a skilled playmaker.

Best known for his bushy beard and thick hair, the Cowboy was a colorful and tough character who was well-liked by his teammates and popular with the fans. Although Flett struggled with off-ice demons, those who knew him said he was a generous, gentle and caring person at heart; the type of person who would give someone the shirt off his own back.

On January 28, 1972 the Flyers acquired Ross Flett, Lonsberry, Ed Joyal and Jean Potvin from the LA Kings in exchange for Serge Bernier, Jimmy Johnson and Bill Lesuk.

Playing right wing on a line with Bobby Clarke and Bill Barber in 1972-73, Flett produced a 43-goal, 74-point campaign in 74 games. The next year, hindered by injuries and off-ice issues, he slumped to 17 goals and 44 points and was moved down in the lineup. Flett dressed in 17 playoff games (zero goals, six assists) as the Flyers won their first Stanley Cup. Flett assisted on Clarke's famous overtime goal in Game Two of the Final against Boston; one of the most iconic moments in franchise history.

The Flyers traded Flett to the Toronto Maple Leafs on May 27, 1974 in exchange for Dave Fortier and Randy Osbourne. After leaving the Flyers, Flett played for the Maple Leafs, Atlanta Flames and the Edmonton Oilers (both in the WHA and NHL). Later, he became a popular figure at NHL alumni games, sporting a cowboy hat on his head and sometimes even wearing spurs on his skates as he played.

Flett had serious health problems late in life, sustaining liver failure that ultimately took his life. Flett was sober for the final four years of his life, but the damage had already been done.

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