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Broad Street Bully: No doubt about it, fans stoked for Flyers fortune

WE DOUBTED them last year, and they gave us a thrill ride to the Stanley Cup Finals. We've doubted them this year, but they . . . could. . . go . . . all . . . the . . .

Frank Rao of South Philly is all masked-up for playoff hockey.
Frank Rao of South Philly is all masked-up for playoff hockey.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff photographer

WE DOUBTED them last year, and they gave us a thrill ride to the Stanley Cup Finals.

We've doubted them this year, but they . . . could. . . go . . . all . . . the . . .

way!

Not even a playoff-opening 1-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres last night should make you think otherwise.

GAME 1 DIE-HARDS: Last night at the Wells Fargo Center, Brad Scheirer was easily the best-dressed die-hard at Game 1, wearing a full-body box in Flyers-jersey colors with "SpongeBob 35" on the back, and pucks embedded all over his chest.

He topped off his tribute to Sergei Bobrovsky by wearing a goalie mask that read "Bobs."

"In 1978, I was thrown out of art class at Wilson High School in Easton," the 50-year-old Unionville, Pa., fan, said.

"The teacher said I would never amount to anything. I said, 'I'll show you someday,' and here I am."

His wife, Kathy, wearing an orange cowbell, laughed.

"She's been sponging off me for 14 years," Scheirer said affectionately.

"Bless you," said an eavesdropping fan, raising his beer. "That's sweet."

PORT RICHMOND DIE-HARDS! Joan Jannotta of Port Richmond tells Broad Street Bully: "My oldest daughter had no choice but to become a Flyers fan. The date was May 16, 1976, the Flyers were playing the Montreal Canadiens for the chance to win their third Stanley Cup, and I was in labor! Needless to say, I could not go to the hospital until the game was over.

"Sadly, the Flyers lost the game, dashing the dream of a third Cup, and I delivered my daughter the next day," Jannotta said.

Last night, her daughter, Susan Pickford, and the Flyers-loving neighbors got together at Jannotta's house to watch Game 1 of the playoffs. Tomorrow, Pickford will be at the Wells Fargo Center for Game 2.

"My 8-year-old grandson, Brennan Whitaker, plays for the Ed Snider Youth Hockey program," Jannotta said, "and says he plans to be the next 'Skinner - only for the Flyers!'

Jannotta is referring to the Carolina Hurricanes' Jeffrey Skinner, at 18 the youngest player in the NHL.

"I still have the Daily News editions when the Flyers won the Stanley Cups," said Jannotta - bless her heart.

"Bleed orange and black? You betcha!

"Let's go, Flyers! My children and their children would like to meet Lord Stanley in June!"

GOT DIE-HARD? Send your Flyered-up photos and family

stories to: bully@phillynews.com.