Sloppy ice in Newark?
Daily News Flyers blog
Sloppy ice in Newark?
NEWARK, N.J. – Since it opened in 2007, the Prudential Center in gritty downtown Newark has never been confused for an arena with a hard and fast ice surface. It’s a common complaint in Pittsburgh’s Consol Energy Center, a seemingly forgotten aspect of building operations for some of the NHL’s newest stadiums.
The Prudential Center took an all-time hit last round when Panthers coach Kevin Dineen ripped the ice conditions before Game 3 against the Devils.
Yes, the coach of the Florida Panthers, home to usually the worst ice on the planet, was critical of the ice in New Jersey. That’s saying something.
“If the quality of ice is anything like it was this morning at the skate, I don't know,” Dineen said. “I think their customer service probably will be pretty embarrassed to see that's what they are putting out there for people to see.”
Heading into Game 3 one round later, the ice conditions are the biggest thing to watch for the Flyers on an otherwise quiet Thursday morning. The Flyers held an optional morning skate after a brief practice on Wednesday.
Normally, they wouldn’t be too much of a problem, but it’s a perfect storm for the ice making staff in Newark.
That’s because New Jersey’s favorite son, Bruce Springsteen, made the sold out Prudential Center crowd roar late into the night on Wednesday. It was Springsteen’s final stop on tour before heading to Europe and unbelievably his first-ever concert in Newark.
With a late changeover, little time to work on the ice, and messy conditions outside, it could be an interesting morning. It’s supposed to be nearly 70 degrees in North Jersey on Thursday with 80 percent humidity.
The sloppy ice would seem to benefit the Devils, who are already used to the conditions, and a valuable tool to slow down the faster Flyers.
Just something to keep an eye on before puck drop…
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Shocking! What a dump. I pas through every week on my way into NYC on Amtrak. Doesn't matter, man. The FlyBoys have to find a way to win tonight, period. No worries over here.— 5NOT4
Comment removed.- The worst arena I have ever seen a hockey game at. I mean, they have "ice girls" with pom-poms dancing on platforms around the arena during commercial breaks-- I had flashbacks to high school football games. No personality to the building at all. No wonder half the seats are empty.— snipesmorris
- No excuses. Flyers need to win tonight no matter what the ice conditions are.— BobbyD
- The Flyers have little room to talk, Game 2's ice was atrocious. Players were losing edges all over the place, and before the 3rd period they were using shovels to clear the ponds that had built up behind the Flyers net.— Pelti
- Comment removed.
- Yeah and the guardrail on the Parkway jumped out at me and hit my new car. So sick and tired of people blaming everything else. It's ice; deal with it.— rbecker1963
- Agree with Pelti. The ice was horrible in game 2.— Joe Lis lives
- Pretty sure that both teams have to deal with the poor ice conditions.— bradleyc4
- Its 2012 can't someone keep ice cold? Maybe the Stanley Cup playoffs would be better in the winter. Just win tonight/make the Devils work, that last game was a freebie for them.— NYPHILLYPHAN
- Until you've competed in a sport that is on ice, you have no idea how important ice conditions can be. It will be an advantage to the Devils tonight. But, the Flyers will have to adjust accordingly. It's the same thing when the games are at the Wells Fargo Center. The boards are different, as is the ice. It's why there is home ice advantage. It's not just your fans, it's your ice.— NYluvsPhylers
- The Tonner once "dated" a broad he called Sloppy Sally. This article reminded him of her. It also reminded the Tonner to never upset a woman with an over-bite.
- aint eva scared.— azguz
- If you are the relatively faster team on hard ice, then you are relatively faster on mushy ice.— wvdon
- We all know the Ice in NJ has sucked for like ever! Yes basd ice will benefit the Devils a lot but we will over come and the FLYERS will take game 3 tonight! LETS GO FLYERS!!!— srcdaddy1216
