Posted: Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 4:50 PM | 4 comments |
 
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Celebrated National Hockey Column Month, which is February, at the Skate Zone in Voorhees on Wednesday. Walked into the press room and the regulars looked at each other and said, "Oh, man. Is it February already? Where did the season go?"

They pretended they were joking, but you know how those guys are. Post-sarcasm, I talked to Marty Biron for a column in Thursday's editions of The Inquirer and Philly.com. The goaltender, so great in last year's playoffs, has been sort of average this season and it's time to hit the gas -- which he did in two wins over the weekend.

The Flyers have been using both Biron and Antero Niittymaki recently and the old saying is that a hockey team with two goaltenders has no goaltenders.

A couple things Biron said that didn't make the column, but were interesting, include how slumps happen during the long, 82-game season.

Biron: "Sometimes, you get an average game and you say, 'Ah, you know what? Bad bounces. And you keep going and the next one you say, 'Ah, another one, just OK, but I wasn't lucky here and there.' Then you realize it's three or four games down the road and it's been two weeks and you've got to put a stop to it... You look at what makes you successful and it's because you created the good bounces, you created the luck, you created the effort saves and all that. That's what makes a difference."

The Flyers are the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, but only nine points ahead of the ninth seed, so it's time for a difference-maker. Last season, that was Biron. This season? We'll find out. 

Posted by BOB FORD @ 4:50 PM  Permalink | 4 comments
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:56 PM, 02/18/2009
    Think what you will about Biron, but it is nice to hear a thoughtful, reflective player who takes responsiblity for his play.
    Ohmy
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:33 PM, 02/18/2009
    I agree, Ohmy. We don't get that many professional athletes to interview who use the word "fragility" correctly. He's a thoughtful guy, even in his second language.
    Bob Ford
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:53 PM, 02/18/2009
    Didn't the Eagles 3rd string full back do something this week? I mean, really, a Flyers story?
    JSaq
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:03 AM, 02/19/2009
    Confidence and apparently mental preperation play a lot into a player. You think talent would be the bottom line.
    foreverinour


4 comments
About Bob Ford
Bob Ford has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 1981, and is still trying to figure it all out. A former beat writer covering the Phillies and the 76ers, Ford became a general sports columnist for the Inquirer in 2003, following in and occasionally falling in the deep footsteps of Bill Lyon, Frank Dolson and many distinguished others. He comes to the Philly.com blogosphere after award-winning success as designer/editor of the fabulous Pen & Pencil Club softball blog. Likes: Palestra, inside-the-park home runs, sunny days. Dislikes: phony people, cloudy days, rewrites.
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