City turns toward Flyers
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
City turns toward Flyers
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Phillies, shockingly, are out of the playoffs. The Eagles are 1-4 and on a road to nowhere. The 76ers _ and the rest of the NBA _ may not play this season, and the Union are still trying to find their niche among fans.
And, so, suddenly, the Philadelphia sports nation has turned more of its attention toward the 2-0 Flyers.
They welcome the focus.
“Why not? We’re entertainers, I guess, and go out there and play an awesome game that we grew up playing,” winger Scott Hartnell said after Monday’s practice in Voorhees. “The city is behind us, and we know they’ll be there, win or lose.”
Having a good start “obviously helps the momentum and people are focusing on us,” Hartnell said. “We have to go out there and use that to our advantage. Play hard and win games.”
The city’s other teams’ woes “doesn’t change anything for us, really,” defenseman Braydon Coburn said. “For us, the focus doesn’t change with outside pressure. We have a goal and we’re trying to build on our regular season. We’re a young, new group and we’re trying to build some chemistry.”
The Flyers are 2-0 for just the 14th time in franchise history. They will aim for the franchise’s 11th 3-0 start _ they last did it in 2009 _ when they open their home schedule against Vancouver on Wednesday.
“The first two games were a great first step,” said Coburn, referring to road wins over the defending Stanley Cup champion Bruins on Thursday and the Devils on Saturday. “Anytime you play in home openers, everyone’s adrenaline is running a little bit _ on both teams. You have to try to control that and play relaxed and energized.”
They will attempt to keep that mindset Wednesday against the Canucks, who lost to the Bruins in last season’s Stanley Cup Finals.
“I heard a quote the other day and it’s (true),” Coburn said. “You’re playing ‘hormone hockey’ " in an opener. "You’re so jacked up. Your hormones are going and it can be a little sloppy at times. I think there are definitely some things we can clean up, but there were some good positive steps. It’s good to see we’re building some chemistry with the new guys.”
Breakaways. The Flyers play seven of their remaining nine games this month at home…..Blair Betts, whom the NHL returned to the Flyers after he failed his physical in Montreal, did not skate but was working out. Betts has a knee injury and said he doesn't expect to play again for the Flyers. GM Paul Holmgren said Betts passed the Flyers' physical before being put on waivers.....Andrej Meszaros was given the day off…..Coburn’s wife is expecting the couple’s first child in a few weeks….
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Man i hope this Betts situation doesnt turn into what Edmonton had with Souray. Took them 2 yrs to get rid of that guy. There is no room for him on this team sadly.— shanehockey28- sad that betts wont play again for us.. the pk with betts and lappy was exciting to watch... betts was a big part of our stanley cup run a couple of years ago. talbot fills betts role now and he does it well. good luck to betts wherever he lands.— zwarte piet
- i feel sorry for Coburn's kid if he/she gets that schnoz.— uncle meat
- Hey Sam, I would love to get a billboard advertisement saying: Dear Flyers, you are our last hope!!! Please help us give our city some pride!!" Unfortunately I cant afford to do it myself. You have a better chance to get it organized I will gladly donate whatever I can to make it happen!!— hansgimlet
- I hate to see a good guy like Blair Betts in hockey limbo but it really speaks to how good the Flyers got in the off-season that Betts can't break into this lineup. I watched the first 2 games and was impressed by the way they swarmed on defense once they got their hockey legs under them. Maybe the new motto for this team should be, "The kids are alright." I hope the older guys like Pronger, Timonen and Jagr can hold up for the full season. The kids may be fine but it is the graybeards who are the glue that keeps the club together and focused. I also like the fact that scoring can come from almost anywhere in the lineup. There is not going to be one superstar scorer but if 8 or 9 guys can get 20 +/- there will be plenty enough points on the board for Bryzgalov. Under cover of a great Flyers campaign, maybe the Eagles can dump Andy and Co. and start fresh. It can't be any worse than their present mess.— gotedge
- "And, so, suddenly, the Philadelphia sports nation has turned more of its attention toward the 2-0 Flyers, a franchise they didn't fully understand." That's my obituary. See you opening night. I'm not saying a word. No antics. My sports psychologist said so. And poor Phillies. If any team deserved success, it was the Phillies.— 2rowsfromtheice
Comment removed.- More than the PK I miss Betts' ability to win faceoffs. If I had one criticism of the Flyers, then that would be it. We are not winning enough faceoffs and at some point it will end up hurting the Flyers in some way. But other than that, we look big, fast, skilled and our defense and goaltending is great.— dsh129
- Comment removed.
- TMI on the hormone hockey.— drog
- yes...yes...yes...I'm so puck'd up right now. i love the phils and birds, well the birds less and less everyday, but thank god hockey is back.— AndyReidsMustache
- Hopefully Coburn does not hump the Goalies leg.— dawkbeast20
- The team looks real good so far. I know it's only two games but they have not taken a period nap like they used to do all the time last year. So far, no blown 2 or 3 goal leads. This team looks exciting on the ice.— General Turgidson
- "Hormone Hockey" should be the slogan for this season— n62
- The premise of this article, and its headline, is unsound. The author assumes that all residents of Philadelphia, and its surrounding suburbs, like all sports. There are those who do like just the Eagles, or just the Phils, or, just the Flyers. But some don't like any of those sports. There are individuals who only follow golf, or tennis, or rugby, or, just college sports. My personal preference is to following college basketball and the phils. So, maybe the author needs to think again before assuming that because the Phils are done, and the Eagles aren't doing well, that everyone will cheer/follow the Flyers.— mlefkoe
- Flyer's management went out and had the guts to make drastic changes to improve their team. Still early in the season, but the Flyboys look like they will be right in the mix this season. Sometime change is good.— dogman5
- Here come the Flyer fans with the usual chip on their shoulder. Give me a break. Flyers are the Eagles times 10. If anyone is the king of the worthless regular season followed by post-season futility and chasing your tail in the off-season by failing to address the same obvious problem (e.g. goalie), it's the Flyers.— DennyP
- Flyers D looks real good although don't discount the Union. 18k sellouts, first place and a blue collar team.— Earl J
- hey DennyP, since you've been blacked out all offseason apparently, try looking up this guy we got called Bryzgalov.— phillyfan27
- Victorino is a DOG. Happy as a clam to 'compete'.. doesn't feel bad at all. Tweeting, laughing, golfing when he isn't flying out. F that loser.— Nezhy
- Has anyone given any thought to the possibility that the outcome of the playoffs is decided by someone not on the field and about 10 months in advance? Maybe Shane wasn't drowning his sorrows because he already knew they weren't supposed to win it this year.....Brewers for Bud and Rangers for Texas and the legend NRyan.....either way it's a win for baseball and those long suffering fan bases.....just a good ole' boys club where everyone is supposed to take turns? Record salaries paid out to hide (illegal) bribes? Do you wanna know who exactly was on the grassy knoll??????— Mark1npt
- Some of us remember the 90s, when the post-strike Phillies stunk and the Vet was almost empty, and the Eagles were getting blacked out during the Rich Kotite / Ray Rhodes years. Meanwhile the Flyers were selling out almost every game, opening a new building, and were pretty clearly the top team in town.— Pelti
