Beat the defending champs. Took the EC finalist to OT. Beat the Rags who were in the ECF. Schedule hasn't been the kindest to us but we've played while missing some key guys like Schenn and Couturier. Raffl for much of the night.

Still early and only 7 games in,but this team might be a little better than we had originally thought.

so it seems that people dissagreeing with the non goal think hooking a goalie is ok.

Goulbourne scored his second goal for the Phantoms and also had a one punch TKO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z33fPCyJtbc

Thanks Bill. I really don't care for Stoll. I am surprised that NYR signed him when he was on his way out of the league. When you get some more information on Raffl, please let us know Bill. Wish him the best.
Gagner is looking better, and better every game. I hope that he has turned the corner in his career. Confidence, and a change in scenery is what some players need.
Again, we relied upon Mason to kill penalties, and odd man rushes. The forwards have to stop making those bad passes, and going too deep into the O-zone.
However, it was a win. 4-2-1, is a lot better than I thought that we would be after that 7-1 loss in Florida.
How is Neuvy progressing? I hope that he will be able to backup Mase soon. I am not feeling warm, and fuzzy with JB as the backup.

so it seems that people dissagreeing with the non goal think hooking a goalie is ok.
- JoeRussomanno

Mason got in the way of his stick and clearly should have been kicked out of the game.

If any of you happened to see the singing of the national anthem with Lauren Hart before the game last night, my nephew was standing next to her during the song. Being a cancer survivor he was asked to come out and stand with her. He stayed in a suite for free and they granted him access to the press box and the locker room. He hung out with Vorachek and his girlfriend for a while too. The kid had the time of his life!! Such a classy organization for what they do for charities and kids with cancer in the community.

If any of you happened to see the singing of the national anthem with Lauren Hart before the game last night, my nephew was standing next to her during the song. Being a cancer survivor he was asked to come out and stand with her. He stayed in a suite for free and they granted him access to the press box and the locker room. He hung out with Vorachek and his girlfriend for a while too. The kid had the time of his life!! Such a classy organization for what they do for charities and kids with cancer in the community.
- Hop Head

Great to see, and great to hear that your nephew is doing okay.

Thanks Bill. I really don't care for Stoll. I am surprised that NYR signed him when he was on his way out of the league. When you get some more information on Raffl, please let us know Bill. Wish him the best.
Gagner is looking better, and better every game. I hope that he has turned the corner in his career. Confidence, and a change in scenery is what some players need.
Again, we relied upon Mason to kill penalties, and odd man rushes. The forwards have to stop making those bad passes, and going too deep into the O-zone.
However, it was a win. 4-2-1, is a lot better than I thought that we would be after that 7-1 loss in Florida.
How is Neuvy progressing? I hope that he will be able to backup Mase soon. I am not feeling warm, and fuzzy with JB as the backup.
- OrangeAndBlack1

Will do. Flyers have an optional practice this morning but there is no way Raffl will be among the skaters. Monday is a full practice and will be more telling.

I am trying to get clarification from the Flyers on whether Neuvirth was placed on IR and/or if LaBarbera was designated as an emergency recall yesterday in order to be compliant both with the 23-man roster limit and also the requirement that two able-to-play goaltenders be on the roster at all times.

Goulbourne scored his second goal for the Phantoms and also had a one punch TKO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z33fPCyJtbc
- Feanor

Goulbourne looked like he was gonna tug his helmet off as a courtesy before the "fight", but he didn't even need it.

If any of you happened to see the singing of the national anthem with Lauren Hart before the game last night, my nephew was standing next to her during the song. Being a cancer survivor he was asked to come out and stand with her. He stayed in a suite for free and they granted him access to the press box and the locker room. He hung out with Vorachek and his girlfriend for a while too. The kid had the time of his life!! Such a classy organization for what they do for charities and kids with cancer in the community.
- Hop Head

Beat the defending champs. Took the EC finalist to OT. Beat the Rags who were in the ECF. Schedule hasn't been the kindest to us but we've played while missing some key guys like Schenn and Couturier. Raffl for much of the night.

Still early and only 7 games in,but this team might be a little better than we had originally thought.
- Pelle31Forever

How much is the players simply having a bad taste in their mouths from last year and how much is a new coach/new system? Tough to say.

Anyone have any of that video of the Radko Gudas hit on Stalberg that Larry Brooks bleated on about on twitter? I didn't see it.

Just a great game. Fantastic effort.
Was very happy to be there in person.
One question though:

Bill, what is "firewagon hockey"?

Ok, two questions.
If firewagon hockey has us beating the Rags, can we do more of it?
- FlyersFirst

i'm not bill, but i'll answer...

firewagon hockey simply means trading chances up and down the ice, back and forth. a 5 on 5 version of what we see with this silly 3 on 3 OT format.

it's one of doc emerick's favorite phrases.

it may be entertaining but it's not really a formula for winning, at least not consistently.

(frank) Scott Stevens
- Giroux_Is_God

he seems like a nice man, but yes. (frank) stevens.

How much is the players simply having a bad taste in their mouths from last year and how much is a new coach/new system? Tough to say.

Anyone have any of that video of the Radko Gudas hit on Stalberg that Larry Brooks bleated on about on twitter? I didn't see it.
- johndewar

It was a blindside hit; not nearly as late as the Rinaldo hit on Couturier but, in the modern day NHL, it was not the cleanest of hits.

How much is the players simply having a bad taste in their mouths from last year and how much is a new coach/new system? Tough to say.

Anyone have any of that video of the Radko Gudas hit on Stalberg that Larry Brooks bleated on about on twitter? I didn't see it.
- johndewar

It really doesn't matter what system a team plays, all NHL coaches have and teach a system capable of winning. How the players buy in, and how they execute is what matters most. They seem to be buying in to Hakstol at this point, but it is a small sample size.

It was a blindside hit; not nearly as late as the Rinaldo hit on Couturier but, in the modern day NHL, it was not the cleanest of hits.
- MidnightMarauder

Unless they remove hitting altogether, that was a perfectly fine open-ice hit. IMO, of course.

It was a blindside hit; not nearly as late as the Rinaldo hit on Couturier but, in the modern day NHL, it was not the cleanest of hits.
- MidnightMarauder

Like to see a replay to get a better look and make a final decision, but my initial reaction is that it looked questionable.

Solid game. This team might not have a lot more skill than last year's squad (although there have been some small upgrades), and this warm-fuzzy feeling might not last, but they are definitely playing a stronger team game, getting hard work and fighting for the puck up and down the lineup, and it's good to see.

Short of that blowout down in Florida, they've been in every game this season. And the 4th line (I think now officially the 3rd line) are getting it done. Could be the extra minutes or the coaches confidence or whatever, but they seem to spend a lot of time in the o-zone working hard and getting some nice chances.
- wolfhounds

it can be a bit annoying to see the 4th line out so much, especially late in these tight low scoring games (which seems to be how most of our games are going to be all year), but on the other hand, it's fantastic that they're capable of being effective, and can hem in the other team's top line while creating a chance or two. i'm not worried when i see them out there.

ultimately this faith in the 4th line is going to pay dividends down the road late in the season if they're still in the playoff hunt, because it will allow for the top guys to have gas in the tank. i am not underestimating this benefit.

Unless they remove hitting altogether, that was a perfectly fine open-ice hit. IMO, of course.
- wolfhounds

Point of contact was the head though. Like I stated, it wasn't the dirtiest of hits we have seen even in this week alone, but I would be surprised if this doesn't get reviewed by Player Safety. Although, how hysterical is that department name since they don't protect any of the players, unless they are hit by Raffi Torres.

Will do. Flyers have an optional practice this morning but there is no way Raffl will be among the skaters. Monday is a full practice and will be more telling.

I am trying to get clarification from the Flyers on whether Neuvirth was placed on IR and/or if LaBarbera was designated as an emergency recall yesterday in order to be compliant both with the 23-man roster limit and also the requirement that two able-to-play goaltenders be on the roster at all times.
- bmeltzer

With the way the Flyers and Phantoms schedules line up it seems like it would make sense to keep Labarbera with the Flyers for Tuesday and Thursday's games. Hopefully Neuvirth will be ready to play on Friday in Buffalo.

Buffalo, Devils, Buffalo this week. If ever there was a time for a let down...

Let's see if you can keep the team on track, Hak!

And let's see if we can get our Goal Differential into the plus side.
- wolfhounds

the sabres may suck, but they've got some good young players, and the devils i think have won 4 straight and are right behind us. i honestly don't have much of a clue who's on their team other than schneider and kinkaid in net...so i don't know if they're really any good. is elias still there as the final remaining piece of the nightmare that i hate so much?

the GD is out of whack because of the florida game. close to evening out.

Which one? Both Gagner and Giroux made Hank look bad.
- MidnightMarauder

both of them, and it was (frank)ing glorious.

Point of contact was the head though. Like I stated, it wasn't the dirtiest of hits we have seen even in this week alone, but I would be surprised if this doesn't get reviewed by Player Safety. Although, how hysterical is that department name since they don't protect any of the players, unless they are hit by Raffi Torres.
- MidnightMarauder

I just watched a replay, it's not clear cut, but on that replay it looked more like shoulder to the chest than a hit to the head.

If any of you happened to see the singing of the national anthem with Lauren Hart before the game last night, my nephew was standing next to her during the song. Being a cancer survivor he was asked to come out and stand with her. He stayed in a suite for free and they granted him access to the press box and the locker room. He hung out with Vorachek and his girlfriend for a while too. The kid had the time of his life!! Such a classy organization for what they do for charities and kids with cancer in the community.
- Hop Head

both of them, and it was (frank)ing glorious.
- hammarby31

I, as a Rangers fan, appreciated the Giroux goal. That was just extremely high skill at it's finest.

Gagner's goal was excellent too, no doubt, but the finish on that Giroux attempt was one of the best I have ever seen.