« September 2006 | Main | November 2006 »
October 30, 2006
Fright Night At The Wachovia Center
Posted by aetchells at 03:16 PM | Comments (0)
Reminder: Beef & Beer Is Coming Up
Yes the Penguins/Rams Beef And Beer is just around the corner. And if you don't volunteer for a role, expect to get one assigned to you. So start planting the seed in friends' ears. Details to follow.
Posted by aetchells at 12:19 PM | Comments (8)
Perseverance
Stevens overcomes odds to make it as Flyers coach
One errant, hissing puck to the right eye.
In a flash, John Stevens' career as a fringe minor leaguer was over. Little did he know as he was being prepared for surgery, a new calling for him was in the works.
Posted by aetchells at 11:14 AM | Comments (0)
Atlanta Ends Sabres Bid At History
Thrashers put an end to Sabres' bid for NHL record start
Goalie Ryan Miller and the Buffalo Sabres were finally reminded how disappointing losing can feel.
Then again, it's been a while.
Vyacheslav Kozlov scored the lone shootout goal and the upstart Atlanta Thrashers put an end to the Sabres' bid for an NHL record start with a 5-4 victory Saturday night. The loss ended Buffalo's season-opening winning streak at 10, the Sabres having to settle for sharing the league record for best start to a season set by Toronto in 1993.
Sabres' depleted D loses LW Tallinder with broken arm
Buffalo defenseman Henrik Tallinder has a broken left arm and the Sabres said he will miss up to two months. He is scheduled to undergo surgery on Sunday.
Tallinder was hurt in Buffalo's 3-0 victory over the New York Islanders on Thursday night, and missed Buffalo's 5-4 shootout loss to Atlanta on Saturday, the Sabres' first of the season.
It is the same arm he broke in a collision along the boards in Game 3 of last season's Eastern Conference finals against Carolina.
Yanic Perreault finally has a new home.
The veteran free-agent centre signed a one-year, $700,000 US contract with the Phoenix Coyotes on Sunday.
Perreault notched a career-high 57 points with the Nashville Predators last season, after which he became an unrestricted free agent.
Posted by aetchells at 10:25 AM | Comments (0)
2006-07 Statistics Now Available
The 2006-07 Rams statistics are now available. They will always be available on the right column, or just click below.
View Statistics
Posted by aetchells at 10:22 AM | Comments (8)
October 27, 2006
Sabres Go 10-0
Sabres move to 10-0, matching best NHL start ever
In the opening seconds of a historic victory, Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller had a serious "uh-oh" moment.
A quirky bounce off the glass gave New York Islanders forward Shawn Bates a chance in front. Miller turned aside the slap shot -- and the other 28 pucks that later sailed his way -- in backstopping Buffalo's 10th straight victory Thursday night, tying the Sabres for an NHL record to open the season.
Study backs Cherry's stance on Europeans
He's famous for speaking off the cuff and going with his gut, but a recent study suggests there may be something more to one of Don Cherry's familiar rants namely, that there are too many Europeans in the NHL.
Goalie's 'Quiet Eye' key for big saves
In a study to be published in the medical journal Human Movement Science, graduate student Derek Panchuk and professor Joan Vickers, who discovered the "Quiet Eye" phenomenon, found that the best goaltenders rest their gaze directly on the puck and the shooter's stick almost a full second before the shot is released.
Linda Cohn: My top five underachievers
Don't tell Linda Cohn it's too early to panic. Here are her top underachievers to far this season.
Posted by aetchells at 01:59 PM | Comments (0)
October 26, 2006
Gretzky On Hot Seat?
Ten games into the 2006-07 season, the Coyotes have only two wins on the season. During that period the club was dead last in the Western Conference and only the Philadelphia Flyers sport a worse record.
They’ve scored the third fewest goals (19) yet lead the league in goals-against with a whopping 44.
Shane Doan, Ladislav Nagy and Mike Comrie are the team’s best forwards but they’ve struggled to score. They lost center Steve Reinprecht and promising blueliner Keith Ballard to injury.
UFA acquisition Ed Jovanovski has been underwhelming as a Coyotes thus far, but at least he’s made some offensive contributions and isn’t a minus player. Veteran forward Owen Nolan and Jeremy Roenick are looking their age, struggling to keep pace with the faster game.
Goaltender Curtis Joseph has received little help from his defense corps, but he too is showing signs of age. Backup Mike Morrison, meanwhile, is doing very little to stick with the club beyond mid-season with his current play.
Speculation is rampant that management may swing a big trade to shake up the roster, but there’s a much easier solution, one that doesn’t need the moving of players to possibly turn around the fortunes of the Desert Dawgs.
Head coach Wayne Gretzky must step down in favor of Ken Hitchcock.
Far be it from me to jump on the fire Wayne Gretzky bandwagon.
But...
Seriously.
He's just not a great coach.
Posted by aetchells at 05:25 PM | Comments (2)
New Era Begins Tonight
The John Stevens era begins tonight. When the Flyers skate onto the ice in the Wachovia Center to face the Atlanta Thrashers, they will put what has happened in the past 4 days behind them and face the future with a new coach and a new attitude.
Posted by aetchells at 05:13 PM | Comments (0)
Snappy turns 36; Kratzer not invited
With a full bench, two cases chilling in the room, and a chip on all 30 shoulders, the Rams had a party on the Continentals last night winning 5 to 1.
Shoup tallied late in the first wanting to make an impact on the game before his wife hit the labor and delivery ward. Kevin held the Rams in the second as the parade to the penalty box ensued, followed by a parade of goals by Carter, Fire, Z, and Dean - who put the icing on the birthday cake by deflecting a wrister from Snappy.
Speaking of icing ... Kratzer, in the midst of his historic comeback, was a healthy scratch and Baker's run for the Tiger Williams PIM trophy was put on hold as Rob Mell and Arty visited the box.
Next games (schedules are in):
Sunday, 11/5, at 6:10 pm vs. Bandits
Saturday, 11/11 at 10:30 vs. Penguins
Sunday, 11/19 at 6:10 vs. Bandits
Sunday, 11/26 at 2:50 vs. Zebras (post B&B)
Posted by aetchells at 09:24 AM | Comments (4)
October 25, 2006
Malkin Move Wows
Playing on the same line as fellow phenom Sidney Crosby, Malkin was terrific and now has a goal in each of his first four games in the NHL. Forgettable ex-Ranger Steven King (no, not the writer) was the last rookie to get off to such a good start. What makes Malkin's start so impressive is that he missed most of training camp with a shoulder injury.
Don't look now, Pittsburgh Penguins fans, but eight games into the 2006-07 season, your team is currently sitting atop the Atlantic Division and third overall in the Eastern Conference.
Now I know it's far too early to suggest the Pens can keep up this pace. This club still needs a lot of work defensively and their lack of skilled depth on the blueline and on their checking lines will probably drag them down in the standings as the season progresses.
But after last season's horrific start that sunk any hopes of getting with sniffing distance of the 2006 playoffs, this year's holds a lot more promise.
How the mighty Wings have fallen
Soon, the Tigers won't be a smoke screen for the Red Wings, who went on a four-game western road trip last week and returned having scored just six goals, including three in their final three outings, all defeats.
There are a number of things that have to happen for the Flyers to turn things around, but topping the list might be rejuvenating their player with the most upside, Joni Pitkanen.
Posted by aetchells at 02:59 PM | Comments (0)
October 24, 2006
Grab a Leinie
New beer for you Hoegaarden lovers to try. Leinenkugel has come to Philadelphia. The seventh oldest brewer in the US is now shipping their Honey Weiss to Philadelphia from their home state of Wisconsin. Look for it to be popping up on taps around the area.
Another wheat beer that's been tasting especially good this Fall is Sly Fox's Royal Weisse. Mmmmmm, yummmm. Pouring as recently as a week ago at the Royal Tavern.
Posted by aetchells at 04:25 PM | Comments (8)
Malkin Faces Devils On Versus
The Pittsburgh Penguins are hoping a trio of young players can help them end years of futility. The Penguins try for their first three-game winning streak in more than two years Tuesday when they host the New Jersey Devils. The Penguins (4-3-0) beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3 on Saturday, earning back-to-back wins for the first time this season. Pittsburgh, which beat the New York Islanders 4-3 in overtime on Thursday, has not won three straight since March 19-23, 2004.
Posted by aetchells at 03:26 PM | Comments (4)
Quick Notes
Sentencing postponed for cop in gambling ring case
The New Jersey state trooper who admitted helping run a betting ring involving several NHL figures will not be sentenced this week, as originally scheduled.
James Harney pleaded guilty in August to conspiracy, promoting gambling and official misconduct for running a sports-betting ring. Authorities say he was a partner in the ring with former NHL star and coach Rick Tocchet.
New jobs for Berube, Samuelsson
When John Stevens was named the Flyers' head coach, it left a vacancy on the bench. That assistant's position held by Stevens under Ken Hitchcock was filled yesterday. Stevens reached out to Phantoms coach Craig Berube, a guy he is more than a little comfortable working with.
Posted by aetchells at 02:38 PM | Comments (0)
First, the Injuries....
Hawks' Handzus done for season
Broken arm ices the Pens' Ryan Malone
Wild forward Marian Gaborik will miss two weeks with a mild groin strain.
Blues' McKee breaks hand
Posted by aetchells at 01:11 PM | Comments (0)
NHL Three Stars
Maxim Afinogenov named the top star in the NHL this week. Maxim scored ten points in three games to lead the NHL last week. Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Montreal Canadiens defenceman Sheldon Souray completed the NHL's three-star selection.
Posted by aetchells at 01:06 PM | Comments (0)
October 23, 2006
On Versus Tonight
Posted by aetchells at 03:37 PM | Comments (0)
On This Date Forty Years Ago....
Bobby Orr scored his first NHL goal.
Here's a video of some of his highlights including an assist that rivals Ovechkin's play from last season.
Posted by aetchells at 12:25 PM | Comments (0)
Eight Moves To Hate, Eight To Appreciate
Rob Parent and Tim Panaccio come up with two lists of Bob Clarke moves to remember, or forget.
Posted by aetchells at 11:03 AM | Comments (1)
Clarke Pours Out Heart
Heartfelt end for Stanley Cup hero
The last time he left the job, Bob Clarke offered his trademark Cheshire cat smile and little else as he confounded his critics.
This time, his exit from the Flyers' general manager's chair staged willingly, Clarke gave a squeeze and poured his heart out.
He did so yesterday as an executive who in two terms with the Flyers had been in that chair for nearly 20 years. He did so later in a news conference that presented him as loyal organizational soldier, swearing from his bared soul that this was a resignation, not an honorable discharge by friend and chairman Ed Snider.
Clarke's confidence melted away
Bob Clarke tried for years to do what Bobby Clarke did: bring a Stanley Cup to Philadelphia. He fell short, and yesterday his quest came to a stunning end.
Eras don't end every day. Clarke's face changed over the decades, from the gap-toothed cherub to the stern middle manager, but the face of the Flyers had not.
Until yesterday.
Two days after his team was embarrassed by the Buffalo Sabres, Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock was wondering how much time he had before he would be fired.
Three veteran players had been waived, and chairman Ed Snider was promising a major shakeup.
Hitchcock has been fired before and, even though he had been given a new, 3-year contract in training camp, Hitchcock could feel the ax falling.
Posted by aetchells at 10:25 AM | Comments (3)
October 22, 2006
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Flyers fire Hitchcock, Clarke resigns
Flyers general manager Bob Clarke has resigned and coach Ken Hitchcock has been fired. Assistant GM Paul Holmgren replaces Clarke, and assistant coach John Stevens replaces Hitchcock.
Posted by aetchells at 10:05 AM | Comments (0)
Shorthanded Rams Drop One To Zebras
In the end it was the short bench that did in the Rams as they dropped a tough one to the Zebras 5-2.
The Zebras led 2-0 after one before an Amos laser wrist shot put the Rams on the board. A second power play goal by the Zebras got them their two goal lead back.
Part way through the third Amos tallied his second and the Rams pressed before finally succumbing to another Zebra goal. The Zebras added an empty netter leaving the final at 5-2.
Next game is this Wednesday versus the Continentals at 9:30.
Posted by aetchells at 12:12 AM | Comments (0)
October 20, 2006
Keeley Hazell Makes Me Feel Tingly
Well Philadelphiarams.com is certainly back this week. And just to make sure you know it, we leave you this weekend with a picture of Keeley Hazell and her all-natural wonderfulness.
Have a great weekend and see you at the rink!
Keely Hazell [Hollywood Tuna]
Posted by aetchells at 04:08 PM | Comments (1)
PRISM Signs Off
Ahh, PRISM, if you grew up in Philadelphia you have to have fond memories of PRISM. And not just of their late Saturday night programming.
Here's the sign-off of their last broadcast.
Posted by aetchells at 12:53 PM | Comments (0)
Could Hitchcock Be Canned?
For whom the Liberty Bell tolls
It appears that Hitchcock could be the first coaching casualty of the season. Rumour has it, Hitchcock was given two games to straighten out the Flyers after their 9-1 non-triumph against the Sabres. Game one didn't go too well for Hitchcock, another one goal performance last night in Tampa Bay. Tonight Philadelphia takes to the ice against Phlorida. If things don't go well, it could be a long weekend for Hitchcock.
Is Evgeni Malkin the next Mario Lemieux? The legendary No. 66 can see the similarities.
Flyers center Forsberg jams wrist but X-rays negative
Philadelphia center Peter Forsberg sprained his left wrist in the first period of the Flyers' 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday night.
X-rays were negative, but Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock said Forsberg will miss the team's game Friday night at Florida.
"We don't think it's broken, but we'll have a better update in the next 24 hours," Hitchcock said. "We'll see next week how bad it's hurting him."
Posted by aetchells at 10:38 AM | Comments (3)
October 19, 2006
Jessica Alba Makes Shopping Hot
Posted by aetchells at 11:44 AM | Comments (3)
Malkin Tallies In Debut
This was a night Evgeni Malkin will remember forever, and he should.
After all, he played his first game in the NHL and scored his first goal.
But it also might be a while before he forgets the way New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur played in the Devils' 2-1 victory against the Penguins before a standing-room crowd of 17,030 at Mellon Arena last night.
Snider: Flyers moves only the beginning
It had been almost 24 hours since Flyers chairman Ed Snider watched his team being pushed around like children by the Sabres, and he was feeling no better. Reached last night, Snider said that what happened yesterday was just "one small step.
"We have a lot more to do," Snider said. "I've got to evaluate and analyze the entire situation. This is just a start. I need a complete understanding of exactly what's going on. I have no idea what's going to happen next and I don't want to speculate as to what I'm going to do. But this is a start. I've got to evaluate this. I have ideas and theories, but I'm going to straighten this out.
Are the Sabres the Newest Powerhouse in the Eastern Conference?
Twelve different Sabres tallied 30 or more points last season, and eight players already have multiple goals this year. There's a long way to go, but maybe this young club has arrived. It would be far ahead of schedule, but it couldn't come too soon for a franchise that hasn't been an NHL powerhouse for more than 20 years.
Posted by aetchells at 11:05 AM | Comments (0)
October 18, 2006
Flyers Waive Nedved,Dimitrakos and Baumgartner
Flyers Place Three on Waivers, Recall Three From Phantoms
“We decided we wanted to recall three players from the Phantoms. In order to do that, we had to place some players on waivers today. We placed Petr Nedved, Niko Dimitrakos and Nolan Baumgartner on waivers in order to make roster spaces available for those players that we are going to recall tomorrow.”
“We are going to recall Alexandre Picard, Ben Eager and Stefan Ruzicka.”
Posted by aetchells at 04:00 PM | Comments (5)
Open Hockey Tonight At 9 PM
Don't forget there is open hockey tonight at Melody Brook.
Remember the directions, take 309 north from the Turnpike till you're pretty sure you must have missed it, then you'll see Yum Yum Donuts on your left, cross the train tracks and look for the poorly illuminated sign on your left. You can't miss it. Well you can, but if you see Hockey Heaven, you know you went too far.
Think of Melody Brook as more of a hockey purgatory. Would have said hockey limbo. But limbo doesn't exist anymore. Except at Hedonism.
That is all.
Posted by aetchells at 03:07 PM | Comments (0)
Saturday Against The Zebras
NEXT GAME SATURDAY NIGHT 8:50 pm against the Zebras.
We know a few guys are missing but don't remember them all...
Dean is out
Bern is out
Tim is out
Who else?
Posted by aetchells at 02:48 PM | Comments (8)
Wild Running Loose
Wild remade in likeness of new NHL.
In the off-season management brought in scoring depth in forwards Pavol Demitra and Mark Parrish and defenseman Kim Johnsson, but there were questions if head coach Jacques Lemaire, the man credited (or blamed) for introducing trapping hockey to the NHL in the mid-1990s, could change his tactics to adapt to the new rules.
Movie based on Howe's WHA stint planned
A movie based on the origins of the World Hockey Association and Gordie Howe's brief stint in the league is in the works.
Coyotes' Nolan scores first goal in 2 years
Owen Nolan scored his first goal in two years, and the Phoenix Coyotes' offense broke out in a 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night.
Posted by aetchells at 11:46 AM | Comments (0)
October 17, 2006
Picking A New Favorite Team
Well the Flyers season ended Tuesday night at 9:36. So you may as well pick a new favorite team.
Here's a guide to some of your closest geographic choices.
New Jersey Devils
Pros: Short drive up the Turnpike. Hall of Fame goaltender and exciting offense plus defensive responsibility. Plenty of good seats still available. Have more to talk to Dowell about.
Cons: They're the Devils. One day Brodeur will retire and it will all be over. They're moving to Newark. Face painters.
New York Rangers
Pros: Mike Richter was a Ranger and he played at Wissahickon. You secretly were happy when they won in 1994. You want to chant 1975 at a certain divisional rival.
Cons: Rangers Fans. Jaromir Jagr.
Washington Capitals
Pros: Alexander Ovechkin. No one can accuse you of front-running. Easily accessible home games via Amtrak.
Cons: Traveling to games via Amtrak. No one from Washington is a Caps fan, why should you be one?
New York Islanders
Pros: Owner may ask you to be GM. Long term contract makes you confident in buying DiPietro jersey.
Cons: Garth Snow is GM. They play on Long Island.
PIttsburgh Penguins
Pros: Crosby and Malkin guarantee highlights. New arena likely to be in a casino. You already play for the Penguins.
Cons: Rubbing elbows with Steelers fans. The mills closed.
Buffalo Sabres
Pros: Came within one game of the Stanley Cup Finals and return the same core. Won 9-1 in their last game. Play exciting wide-open hockey. Traditional hockey market with a loyal fan base. A real feel-good story.
Cons: Snow, and lots of it. That stupid new logo.
Posted by aetchells at 09:55 PM | Comments (7)
Flyers Look To Shake Things Up
Flyers shake up starting lineup
Ken Hitchcock will change goalies and break up his top line for today's game at Buffalo.
With only one win and a total of 11 goals to show for five games, the Flyers coach feels he has to make some moves for his last-place club.
Robert Esche will make his first start in goal since an opening-night loss at Pittsburgh.
Hitchcock also is breaking apart his first line. He's taking Mike Knuble off the No. 1 unit and replacing him with Kyle Calder.
Posted by aetchells at 12:59 PM | Comments (2)
This Week's Three Stars
Goaltender Marty Turco has rebounded from a disappointing 2006 playoff for the Dallas Stars to capture the first star in the NHL's revamped weekly player awards.
The league has chosen to award three stars this season instead of doling out offensive and defensive honours.
Chicago Blackhawks winger Martin Havlat and Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin were named the second and third stars, respectively.
Posted by aetchells at 12:53 PM | Comments (0)
October 16, 2006
Malkin To Make Debut
Malkin to make NHL debut Wednesday
Penguins center Evgeni Malkin, out since injuring a shoulder in his first preseason game, will make his NHL debut Wednesday night against New Jersey.
Posted by aetchells at 03:57 PM | Comments (0)
Professor Jenkins And The Denny Scale
Full analysis after the jump.
Talked to Denny yesterday because I bet him a case of beer that Penn State
would upset Michigan in Happy Valley (damm). He told me there was an
earthquake in Hawaii the night before while he was sleeping. He said he
didn't hear it and it didn't wake him up yet it registered a 6.6. I then
asked him if he was banged up from the night before but already knew the
answer before the said "Well, what do you think?"
This leads to a suggestion. There should be a "Denny Scale" to judge
alcohol level in functioning alcoholics. It would be somewhat of an
inverted BAC because earlier test have shown that the BAC is too sensetive
to measure such massive amounts of alcohol in the body. The "Denny Scale"
would be the magnitude earthquake necessary to rouse a slumbering Denny from
a drunken stuper.
Theory: It would take x amount of buddyweisers to ensure that Denny would
not be wakened by and earthquake of magnitude X-7 (at lower limits) and
about X-22 at the upper limits.
When I put this into Microsoft Excel and tried to deduce the equation
with math and past Denny experiences I found a more exact equation of
y = 8E-05X^2 + 0.2467X + 0.5059
With x representing the BuddyWeiser Count (BWC) corresponding to y
being the Magnitude Required for Rouse (MRR). Plugging and Chugging data
with this equation gives a varience between Magnitude and Beers of 0.997.
A varience of 1 would correspond to a dead-on match so this is would mean
our derived equation is 99.7% accurate
Using this equation we can deduce that the 6.6 magnitude earthquake
that occured near the Island of Hawaii means that Denny had atleat 25
BuddyWeisers. And since we are aware of the number of golf courses in
Hawaii and the fact that it was indeed a Saturday, this is highly likely.
Posted by aetchells at 01:12 PM | Comments (9)
Hockey Sucks On TV! Wah!
NHL still isn't must-see TV for Americans
We've heard it all before, but here is Fox Sports columnist Ian O'Conner's take on the NHL in America.
And here's a couple of responses:
- Next Commissioner of the NHL? [Hockey Dirt]
- Razor [Dallas Stars Blog]
Posted by aetchells at 08:59 AM | Comments (0)
Too Scared To Show
Saturday night the Continentals were so fearful of the Rams only four of them even had the guts to show up.
But the Rams weren't too proud to take the forfeit win. Interestingly, this is the second time in three years at Wintersport that the Rams first win of the season was by forfeit.
Posted by aetchells at 08:50 AM | Comments (0)
October 09, 2006
Rams Drop Opener
Despite a late Goat goal to get within one, the Rams failed to tie the game in the last three minutes, losing to the rival Penguins 3-2. Both Wanger and Dowell looked solid in net, and both teams played good D despite having only 3 defensemen.
Next Rams game is this Saturday 10:30pm vs. Continentals,
Golin has beer duty. The new home Jerseys will be ready!
Posted by aetchells at 12:01 PM | Comments (6)
October 02, 2006
Rams Stick It To Zebras
Preseason, preview, premature ejaculation ... call it what you will but the Rams beat the Zebras 8-5, led by
Bern's HT, Turkey's 2, and one each from Colin, Goat, and Amos. After going up by a touchdown, the Rams sat back and let the zeebs put more rubber on kevin than ... well, you fill in the blanks.
Next game, Sunday vs. Penguins at 2:50 pm.
If you can't make it Sunday, put it in the comments below. if we know we're going to be short, we have a few subs that could join us.
Posted by aetchells at 12:38 PM | Comments (10)