http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/4851 Recent articles about Martin Biron en-us Here is a rundown of the players the Flyers took in the 2008 NHL Draft, held this past weekend. (Click the link to see their profile from NHL.com) Round 1, Pick 19: Luca Sbisa, D Round 3, Pick 67: Marc-Andre Bourdon, D Round 3, Pick 84: Jacob DeSerres, Goalie Round 6, Pick 178: Zac Rinaldo, C Round 7, Pick 196: Joacim Eriksson, Goalie My thoughts: I am not going to pretend like I know all these players and their strengths and weaknesses, but I like what the Flyers did in the draft, addressing their organizational need for more defenseman. The Flyers are loaded with young forwards both in the NHL and still in the minors but they have very few top defenseman that are coming through the system, besides Ryan Parent. Sbisa and Bourdon appear to be players that can fill that void, although nothing is guaranteed. Sbisa looks especially promising, considering he has decent size and will continue to get bigger and he can move the puck. Bourdon also was the QMJHL's best defenseman and looks to be offensive-minded, picking up 59 points in 69 games. The Flyers also lack a true goalie of the future, so they took a flier on a pair of goalies in the draft. No goalie drafted by the Flyers would help for several years, so everyone calling for someone to replace Martin Biron need to relax. The Flyers will need to look elsewhere for their next goalie, getting one via free agency or a trade. The NHL Draft does not hold the same prestige and instant gratification as the NBA and NFL drafts, but the Flyers have done pretty well in the last few years, and I see no reason for this year to be any different. If we are lucky, we might see the fruits of the 2006 draft this season if Claude Giroux makes the team. I expect Sbisa to make his impact sometime next decade. Click the link for player profiles. Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:43:52 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/280804 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/280804 So much for a miracle comeback. The Penguins dominated the Flyers in every facet of play, beating them 6-0 in Game 5 to win the Eastern Conference Finals 4 games to 1. The Flyers season ends on a sour note but we shouldn't forget how far they have come since last season. From the worst team in hockey to a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals is an amazing turnaround, it was just too bad it had to end the way it did today. Pittsburgh scored early and often in the rout. Despite the return of Kimmo Timonen, the Flyers defense looked slow and couldn't keep up with the Penguins forwards. So the Flyers season ends with them playing poorly. It was a bad way to go out, but it certainly didn't represent how they played all season. Click the link for much more on the game and the future of the Flyers. Sun, 18 May 2008 17:10:13 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/268321 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/268321 The Flyers of the first two rounds showed up tonight when they absolutely had to. Down 3-0 in the series and facing elimination at the hands of their cross-state rivals the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Flyers played inspired hockey and pulled out a 4-2 win to keep their slim Stanley Cup hopes alive. The Flyers jumped out in the first period and absolutely dominated the Penguins. Feeding off the booming home crowd, the Flyers scored three goals in the first period. Joffrey Lupul started off the scoring and Danny Briere and Jeff Carter both added power play goals as the Flyers offense showed more energy and intensity than it had all series. Philly looked like they were going to steamroll the Penguins as Pittsburgh could do little else but sit back and withstand the onslaught of the Flyers. Click the link for much more on the game, including highlights. Thu, 15 May 2008 21:41:19 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/267494 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/267494 The Keystone Clash crossed the state to Philadelphia on Tuesday night, but the game looked very similar to the previous two. The Penguins looked better in nearly every facet of the game, dominating the Flyers 4-1 in Game 3 to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. The Flyers were over-matched from the beginning when the Penguins got two quick goals in the first 8 minutes. The goals were a bit fluky with the first going in off a Jason Smith's foot and the second coming when Martin Biron was screened, but the Penguins managed to take the Flyers right out of the game. Philly responded with a goal by R.J. Umberger, but from there on they barely challenged Marc-Andre Fleury, finishing with a mere 18 shots. The Penguins sealed the victory with a goal halfway through the third period and an empty netter at the end of regulation. Click the link for much more on the game, including video highlights with reactions from John Stevens and Mike Richards. Tue, 13 May 2008 21:35:59 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/266677 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/266677 After another tough loss for the Flyers, the Live Blog will be back on tonight at 7:15 for Game Three in the Battle of Pennsylvania. Come and discuss the game as it happens with fellow Flyer fans as Philly looks to get back into the series. Click the link at 7:15 to participate in the Live Blog. Tue, 13 May 2008 16:08:10 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/266563 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/266563 After Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, many said it was the worst game the Flyers played so far in the playoffs. Many of the players agreed with that assessment. For the Flyers to take game 2 they could not get caught standing still and letting the likes of Evgeni Malkin, Marian Hossa, and Sidney Crosby skate freely in the their end of the ice. They had to stay out of the penalty box and play a consistent game. The game did not start well for the Flyers. Philadelphia was already without the services of their best defenseman Kimmo Timonen, when Braydon Coburn took a puck to the face and left the game. Coburn did not return but is a possibility for game 3. "My left eye is swollen shut right now," he said. "I will keep the ice on it and get the swelling down and see what happens [Monday]." Mon, 12 May 2008 12:19:08 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/266067 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/266067 The Flyers lost Game Two by the same score as they lost Game One, 4-2, but Sunday's contest was a completely different story in terms of effort. In Game One, the Flyers looked flat-footed and played most of the game back on their heels, while in Game Two they showed more of the effort and intensity that we have grown accustomed to seeing in this playoff run. The Flyers simply took too many penalties that allowed the Penguins to get their offense going and couldn't generate enough offense of their own. The night started off terrible for the Flyers when Braydon Coburn took a puck to the nose and collapsed to the ice. There were several questionable calls made by the refs throughout the game that went against both teams. Click the link for much more on the game, including highlights. Sun, 11 May 2008 22:06:32 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/265864 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/265864 The Live Blog is back! After missing Game One, a tough loss for the Flyers, the Live Blog will be back on tonight at 7:15 for Game Two. Come and discuss the game as it happens with fellow Flyer fans as Philly looks to even up the series before heading home. Click the link for the Live Blog. Sun, 11 May 2008 13:48:31 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/265743 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/265743 The Flyers simply don't like to win the first game of a series. For the third time in a row, the Flyers lost a Game One, this time in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-2. Philly had previously dropped the first games in the Captials and Canadiens series and we all know how those turned out, so there is no reason to think the season is over. But, if the Flyers let the Penguins play the way they did yesterday, this series could be over quickly. The Penguins stars, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, both scored goals and flashed their speed and ability throughout the game. Malkin was easily the best player on the ice, finishing with two backbreaking goals, one with 7 seconds left in the first period to give the Penguins a lead and the other coming 5 minutes later while shorthanded. If Kimmo Timonen was able to play, his assignment would have been to shadow Malkin and try to slow him down. With the way Malkin played tonight there might not have been much he could have done. Click the link for much more, including video highlights of the game. Sat, 10 May 2008 12:56:57 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/265480 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/265480 Tonight was the start of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers. The Penguins take Game 1, 4-2. The first period was very entertaining with five goals scored in the period. Evgeni Malkin added two goals and added a helper. Sid the Kid added a nice tip in goal that was assisted by Marian Hossa. Petr Sykora got the scoring started with a backhander... Sat, 10 May 2008 00:34:25 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/265389 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/265389 There are some people around the National Hockey League who think the-powers-that-be really, actually wanted to see a Canadian team win the Cup for the first time in 15 years. But despite some pretty dicey calls during their second-round series, the Flyers did away with that dream in quick order. Meanwhile, over in the Rangers-Penguins second-round series, anyone with functional eyes could see the NHL's brightest star, Sidney Crosby, flailing his arms and losing his footing at every choice opportunity to draw penalties. He often actually succeeded in fooling the most established of referees, and he wasn't the only Penguin to benefit from some dubious calls. In the series-deciding game, Ryan Malone from the Pens clipped Chris Drury in the face and drew significant volumes of blood yet somehow no call was made and the game was lost by one goal. Conspiracy theorists start your engines, because this tomfoolery will not end when Philly and Pittsburgh square off starting this Thursday night. Amazingly, the Flyers come into a series with their in-state rivals in a wonderful position. Unlike most years in Philly, nobody thought the Flyers could get to where they are, and they are certainly not done learning, growing and fighting as a team to realize their potential. Unlike past Flyers teams and most every year's Eagles teams — the Flyers are playing in a consequence-free environment much as a golfer always performs better in a "scramble" tournament, where each shot isn't so pressing. "Why not win?" is this team's mantra. Blow a two-goal lead — "who cares?" — we've won like that before. Down a few goals? We have the firepower to fight back. Moreover, the Flyers have the mental advantage over Pittsburgh in that many on the team think that by benching Crosby for the last game of the regular season, Pittsburgh coach Michel Therrien was purposefully tanking to avoid playing the bruising Flyers (especially the angry Derian Hatcher, who is always looking for No. 87). Paul Holmgren says there is no way the Penguins tanked to avoid the Flyers to instead play the flailing Senators. Conspiracy theorists, back to your blogs. The Flyers have to know that their early season suspensions and Broad Street Bullies reputation from over 30 years ago will likely follow them into this series. Crosby will dive until some referee makes a point of calling him for it and he stops. The Flyers' second-ranked power play from the regular season could make that meaningful point with a few pucks behind Fleury if so desired. And with the dead and rotting carcasses of Washington and Montreal waiting for burial, the Flyers have every reason to believe they can beat (and beat up) a young and highly talented Pittsburgh team. Crosby is good, but they already know they could shut down Alexander Ovechkin. At the same time, the Flyers must crank up their preparation to another level if they have plans on playing in the Finals against one of the powerhouse teams from the West. The idea of blowing a game like they did in Game 1 vs. Montreal isn't going to fly when you are eight playoff wins from hoisting the hardware. The Flyers need to adopt the idea of playing the game with high energy without gross stupidity (see: Derian Hatcher's hit on Francis Bouillon). The refs will be looking for reasons to get Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Marian Hossa on the power play, and so ultimate discipline will be an absolute key to the series. If the Flyers can accomplish this, there is no reason the league shouldn't be calling PETA to report some animal abuse, because the Penguins can be beaten. Fri, 09 May 2008 08:23:08 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/265142 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/265142 The Eastern Conference Finals between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins is going to be unbelievable. That is all I have to say, just unbelievable. If you have any friends or family that don't watch hockey, sit them down and have them watch this series, they'll love the sport after seeing it. This series is going to have everything that hockey has to offer. Hard hits, two teams with incredible scoring punch, and two teams that hate each other (the fans hate each other as well). The Flyers won 5 out of the 8 meetings between the two teams this season. If like most of things this postseason, the season series will mean nothing. The "experts" realize that too, and are looking at the Flyers as underdogs. The underdog role is fine with me. It makes winning feel even better. Thu, 08 May 2008 17:53:02 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264977 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264977 The Eastern Conference Finals features the Pittsburgh Penguins, along with the Philadelphia Flyers. This match up is extremely tough to call and could easily go seven games. Let's take a look at how the teams have done thus far throughout the playoffs and how they match up. Thu, 08 May 2008 14:37:28 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264897 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264897 With the Conference Finals set to start, FIO staff writer Greg Gibeault provides a concise preview of those teams fighting to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. Find out what each team needs to succeed, as well as some predictions. Thu, 08 May 2008 08:05:29 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264707 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264707 The wait is killing me. After only a day between the first and second rounds of the playoffs, the Flyers will end up going a full six days between games when they finally start their series with the Penguins. The Pens will have also been off for five days, so neither team will be carrying much momentum with them into Game One. I understand why the NHL wants to wait until the weekend to start the series, but they are really ruining the flow of the playoffs. Flyers fans have been salivating about a match-up with the team that ducked them at the onset of the playoffs for almost a month now and they are ready to get it started. We are still two days away from the start of the series, but it's time to take a closer look at what we are going to see when they finally drop the puck on Friday. Click the link for an in-depth analysis. Wed, 07 May 2008 20:02:34 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264540 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264540