Reason for Flyers success in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH -- Peter Laviolette was asked to give his reasoning as to why his Flyers are now 5-0-0 at the Consol Energy Center since its opening on Oct. 7, 2010.

The Flyers were 13-27-8-3 in regular season games at the old Mellon Arena from 1991-2010.

Laviolette said it comes down to the Flyers' food on the plane ride home from Pittsburgh, where they are greeted with mouth-watering ribs from a restaurant across the West Virginia border.

Laviolette said the tradition started last season, which may or may not have sprung from his roots as a coach in the ECHL with the Wheeling (W. Va) Nailers.

"You know, we buy ribs from Dee Jay's in Weirton (W. Va) after the game, and we have them delivered to our plane," Laviolette said. "Those ribs seem to be doing the trick.

"It went back to last year. Whenever the ribs are ordered, we win. I want to thank Dee Jay's."

Scott Hartnell, on the other hand, said the Flyers' recent success in Pittsburgh is because they got out of the aging Igloo.

"This is a much different building than the Igloo," Hartnell said. "We were almost scared coming into the Igloo. People were right on you, and just how dumpy the place was. Rats (were) everywhere. There's even more rats now (in the rubble). It was tough. But I think it's good that we have the confidence to win here and play hard. We know in our hearts and our heads that we can come in here and win here."

Food for thought.

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