http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/sam_carchidi RSS Feed for Inq Col Sam Carchidi en-us Mon, 28 May 2012 02:50:19 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/sam_carchidi/20120527_Inside_the_Flyers___Trade_advantage_goes_to_Flyers__but_Cup_could_go_to_Flyers_West_-_the_Kings.html After a monumental turnaround from their less-than-overwhelming regular season, the Flyers have reached the Stanley Cup Finals. Uh, make that the Flyers West, also known as the Los Angeles Kings. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/sam_carchidi/20120520_Inside_the_Flyers___Adding_Parise_would_likely_give_Flyers_league_s_most_dynamic_offense.html So where do the Flyers - after a very good regular season that morphed into a very weird playoff showing - go from here? http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/sam_carchidi/20120513_Inside_the_Flyers___Expect_Bryzgalov_to_adjust_and_settle_in_and_raise_his_play.html The Flyers want goalie Ilya Bryzgalov to perform like Martin Brodeur, not Martin Lawrence. Like Jimmy Howard, not Jimmy Fallon. Like Jonathan Quick, not Jonathan Winters. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/sam_carchidi/20120506_Inside_the_Flyers___Flyers_seem_to_play_better_as_underdogs.html Maybe the Flyers were looking past the New Jersey Devils and ahead to a likely series with their Winter Classic pals from the city that doesn't sleep. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/sam_carchidi/20120505_Inside_the_Flyers___Flyers__stars_need_to_step_up_and_take_control_of_the_series_with_the_Devils.html The Flyers' stars aren't shining. The Devils' stars are. That's one of the many reasons New Jersey has a two-games-to-one lead over the Flyers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/sam_carchidi/20120429_Inside_the_Flyers___Flyers_may_show_that_offense_wins_championships__too.html Popular misconception: Defense and goaltending win Stanley Cups. Oh, they help, no question. And the Flyers wouldn't mind if goalie Ilya Bryzgalov somehow came close to matching his stunning regular-season numbers against New Jersey - a 0.29 goal-against average (gulp) and .987 save percentage (double gulp) - in the Eastern Conference semifinals. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/sam_carchidi/20120425_Inside_the_Flyers___With_plenty_of_leaders__Flyers_in_no_hurry_to_pin__quot_C_quot__on_Giroux.html With no disrespect to the injured Chris Pronger, it's time to make center Claude Giroux the Flyers' captain. Now. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/sam_carchidi/20120422_Inside_the_Flyers___Flyers_cite_home_advantage_for_Game_6.html There is loud, and then there is EARSPLITTING LOUD. Pittsburgh Penguins fans were the latter Friday night, shaking the Consol Energy Center during their team's 3-2, stay-alive win over the Flyers. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/sam_carchidi/20120420_Inside_the_Flyers___Flyers-Penguins_no_ordinary_playoff_series.html The getting-stranger- by-the-shift series between the Flyers and their cross-state pals from Pittsburgh has resembled a glorified men's league. Only most men's leagues likely have better goaltending. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/sam_carchidi/20120415_Inside_the_Flyers___Despite_two-game_lead_over_Penguins__Flyers_aren_t_satisfied.html Twenty minutes after their Pittsburgh Comeback Tour was over, after the Flyers had pulled another escape that would have made Harry Houdini proud, Max Talbot was so exhausted he could barely move.