By Joseph Turkos
Instead of spending this New Year’s Day watching a bunch of meaningless college bowl games, here’s a better way to spend your time while nursing that New Year’s Eve hangover: Watch hockey. The NHL Winter Classic to be more specific.
Now I know it’s hard for many Philadelphia fans, except for the hard core puck heads, to watch a hockey game that doesn’t include the Flyers, who -- as of this post -- are 0-2 on their current Western swing. But the Winter Classic is something special.
This year’s game will pit the host Blackhawks (20-6-7) against the Detroit Red Wings (23-7-5).
Played on an outdoor rink, the first installment of the classic took place on New Year’s Day 2008 at Buffalo’s Ralph Wilson Stadium where the Buffalo Sabers hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins. A great idea by the NHL brass, this wasn’t the first time that the NHL experimented with regular-season outdoor play.
In November of 2003, the Edmonton Oilers hosted the Montreal Canadians in the Heritage Classic. That game was played at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium in temperatures that hovered around -22 degrees. Talk about Old Time hockey.
Professional hockey players from all points north talk about growing up playing hockey on frozen ponds, an experience that escaped many hockey fans.
Growing up in Northeastern Pennsylvania in the late 70’s and early 80’s, I wasn’t exposed to too much hockey. At that time there were few organized leagues and the game wasn’t played at the high school level. But armed with a hockey stick given to me by my uncle and sporting my new ice skates (the figure-skating kind), I, along with a few friends, would head to the local basketball court that, during the winter, was flooded and doubled as a hockey rink. There we would attempt to play ice hockey. The experience still resonates in my mind.
The play wasn’t pretty or highly skilled, but it was fun, especially when it snowed. And while I never had plans of playing organized hockey, the experience helped to cement my interest in the game.
I watched last year’s classic and with the snow falling, the thoughts of my early, albeit crude, hockey experience rushed back like a slap shot.
The first puck will drop on this year New Year’s Day classic at 1 p.m. on the configured rink at Chicago’s Wrigley Field. Unfortunately snow isn’t in the forecast. But with temperatures expected in low 30s and with two of the Original Six teams on the ice, we’re sure to see an exciting, well-played and entertaining hockey game.
And don’t forget, Penn State and USC kick off at 5 p.m.
December 30, 2008
December 20, 2008
Second Savior: Niittymaki saves Saturday for Flyers
By Joseph Turkos
Flyers fans may have wanted to ask for their hats back after prematurely celebrating an apparent hat trick by Jeff Carter in the third period of the Flyers’ 7-1 thrashing of the Washington Capitals Saturday at the Wachovia Center.
It turns out that all they had to do was wait another eight minutes until Scott Hartnell’s goal, his 13th of the season and third of the game, prompted a second shower of hats.
When Carter appeared to bat in a floating puck in the third period of Saturday’s game, the sellout crowd began throwing their hats on the ice. It turned out that the goal was actually scored by Hartnell.
In addition to the five goals scored by Carter (24) and Hartnell, the Flyers also received goals from Joffrey Lupul (11) and Simon Gagne (17), as the Flyers dismissed the Southeast-leading Capitals.
Saturday’s game possessed every component of an exciting hockey game: scoring, great goalie play and fighting. And boy, was there ever fighting.
At times the game had the feel of the movie Slap Shot, just without the Hansen Brothers. But then again, Donald Brashear may be the next best thing.
Brasher, the former Flyer, was involved in six on-ice altercations Saturday, including two fights, two roughing penalties, an unsportsmanlike conduct and a game misconduct.
The third fight of the game (between the Flyers’ recent call up, Josh Gratton, and the Caps Matt Bradley) exemplified the frustration of Washington. That frustration was no doubt the lingering effect of last year’s first-round loss to the Flyers in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup playoffs last season. The Capitals may have been looking to prove something on Saturday. A fact that was not lost on Flyers head coach John Stevens.
“We ended their season last year. There was a lot of motivation for them,” Stevens said. “They felt like we stole something from them and they wanted to make amends.”
And as for the Capitals All-Star winger Alexander Ovechkin, he may as well have spent Saturday in Cuba, welcoming his countrymen as Russian warships entered Havana Bay.
Ovechkin, the league’s third leading scorer (43), was held to one shot on the day. And of his three hits, he ended up on his backside twice.
But the true star of the game was Flyers goaltender Antero Niittymaki. Niittymaki, starting his second game in a row after Marty Biron missed the game with the flu, faced down 48 shots. Washington shot on goal 25 times in the first period alone, breaking the record Flyers’ home record for allowing shots on goal, 22, which was sent Dec. 28, 1975 against Boston.
“I have seen him good but he was great,” Stevens said of Niittymaki.
With the Flyers leading 1-0 in the first period, Washington went on the power play three times, but Niittymaki kept the Flyers in the game, turning away shot after shot.
“He was sensational and when your goalie plays that well early and he allows your team to regroup, he was the reason we won,” Stevens said.
After yielding five goals in the Flyers’ 5-2 loss to Montreal Thursday night, snapping the Flyers’ five-game winning streak, Niittymaki’s strong start on Saturday allowed him to leave Thursday behind.
“You just have to go save-by-save and I looked up and it was twenty-something saves, so I actually think it was good for me after the Montreal game.” Niittymaki said. “And I got a few good saves to start feeling better.’’
A short memory is a valuable asset for a goalie to have. It’s even more valuable if he’s your backup.
Comments can also be mailed to jturkos@ingnews.com
Flyers fans may have wanted to ask for their hats back after prematurely celebrating an apparent hat trick by Jeff Carter in the third period of the Flyers’ 7-1 thrashing of the Washington Capitals Saturday at the Wachovia Center.
It turns out that all they had to do was wait another eight minutes until Scott Hartnell’s goal, his 13th of the season and third of the game, prompted a second shower of hats.
When Carter appeared to bat in a floating puck in the third period of Saturday’s game, the sellout crowd began throwing their hats on the ice. It turned out that the goal was actually scored by Hartnell.
In addition to the five goals scored by Carter (24) and Hartnell, the Flyers also received goals from Joffrey Lupul (11) and Simon Gagne (17), as the Flyers dismissed the Southeast-leading Capitals.
Saturday’s game possessed every component of an exciting hockey game: scoring, great goalie play and fighting. And boy, was there ever fighting.
At times the game had the feel of the movie Slap Shot, just without the Hansen Brothers. But then again, Donald Brashear may be the next best thing.
Brasher, the former Flyer, was involved in six on-ice altercations Saturday, including two fights, two roughing penalties, an unsportsmanlike conduct and a game misconduct.
The third fight of the game (between the Flyers’ recent call up, Josh Gratton, and the Caps Matt Bradley) exemplified the frustration of Washington. That frustration was no doubt the lingering effect of last year’s first-round loss to the Flyers in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup playoffs last season. The Capitals may have been looking to prove something on Saturday. A fact that was not lost on Flyers head coach John Stevens.
“We ended their season last year. There was a lot of motivation for them,” Stevens said. “They felt like we stole something from them and they wanted to make amends.”
And as for the Capitals All-Star winger Alexander Ovechkin, he may as well have spent Saturday in Cuba, welcoming his countrymen as Russian warships entered Havana Bay.
Ovechkin, the league’s third leading scorer (43), was held to one shot on the day. And of his three hits, he ended up on his backside twice.
But the true star of the game was Flyers goaltender Antero Niittymaki. Niittymaki, starting his second game in a row after Marty Biron missed the game with the flu, faced down 48 shots. Washington shot on goal 25 times in the first period alone, breaking the record Flyers’ home record for allowing shots on goal, 22, which was sent Dec. 28, 1975 against Boston.
“I have seen him good but he was great,” Stevens said of Niittymaki.
With the Flyers leading 1-0 in the first period, Washington went on the power play three times, but Niittymaki kept the Flyers in the game, turning away shot after shot.
“He was sensational and when your goalie plays that well early and he allows your team to regroup, he was the reason we won,” Stevens said.
After yielding five goals in the Flyers’ 5-2 loss to Montreal Thursday night, snapping the Flyers’ five-game winning streak, Niittymaki’s strong start on Saturday allowed him to leave Thursday behind.
“You just have to go save-by-save and I looked up and it was twenty-something saves, so I actually think it was good for me after the Montreal game.” Niittymaki said. “And I got a few good saves to start feeling better.’’
A short memory is a valuable asset for a goalie to have. It’s even more valuable if he’s your backup.
Comments can also be mailed to jturkos@ingnews.com
December 15, 2008
It ain't over 'til ... you know
By Joe Turkos
Watch out Broadway Blueshirts, the Philadelphia Flyers are playing their best hockey of the season. Their latest victim: Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Flyers skated past the Pens, 6-3, in a Saturday matinee at the Wachovia Center.
Finally, the play on the ice was more interesting than watching security escort two groups of Penguins’ fans from section 219 or listening to the boos every time Crosby touched the puck.
The Flyers (15-7-6) entered Saturday’s game tied for second place in the Atlantic Division with the Penguins (16-9-4) with 38 points, just four points behind the division-leading New York Rangers (19-11-2) 40 points.
After Joffrey Lupul’s wrap around goal just over five minutes into the first period, it was clear that the team was not going to experience a hangover from Thursday’s night’s come-from-behind victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Against Carolina, the Flyers trailed the Hurricanes, 5-1, heading into the third period. The Flyers tied the game on a goal by Simon Gagne (15) with 1:84 to play. Gagne also scored the game-winning goal in the shootout.
Interestingly enough, on Saturday, the Flyers led the Penguins by a score of 5-1 after two periods. The thought of Thursday sat in the back of the minds of some of the players and their coach.
“In a hockey game you never relax until it’s over,” Flyers coach John Stevens said.
“Now that power plays are so dangerous and there are so many good offensive players in the game certainly tonight we knew that we had to keep playing the same. Hopefully close it out and we did.”
Even though Pittsburgh cut the Flyers lead in half by the end of regulation, the Flyers received power play goals from Mike Knuble (12) Jeff Carter (21) to stave off the Pittsburgh threat. One of Pittsburgh’s third-period goals also came via the power play.
With the win over Pittsburgh, the Flyers increased their winning steak to four games, this after starting the season at 0-3-3. And while Thursday’s win may have been exciting and may have carried over into Saturday, continually having to come from behind isn’t something to make a habit.
“It was a great comeback but it’s not something we’re gonna do all the time. Maybe it’s possible once or twice a year,” Lupul said of Thursday’s victory.
“It was a good game but it’s also a good lesson to our team and a lot of teams. The way the NHL is now with penalty calls and stuff, the game is never over.”
Lesson learned.
Watch out Broadway Blueshirts, the Philadelphia Flyers are playing their best hockey of the season. Their latest victim: Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Flyers skated past the Pens, 6-3, in a Saturday matinee at the Wachovia Center.
Finally, the play on the ice was more interesting than watching security escort two groups of Penguins’ fans from section 219 or listening to the boos every time Crosby touched the puck.
The Flyers (15-7-6) entered Saturday’s game tied for second place in the Atlantic Division with the Penguins (16-9-4) with 38 points, just four points behind the division-leading New York Rangers (19-11-2) 40 points.
After Joffrey Lupul’s wrap around goal just over five minutes into the first period, it was clear that the team was not going to experience a hangover from Thursday’s night’s come-from-behind victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Against Carolina, the Flyers trailed the Hurricanes, 5-1, heading into the third period. The Flyers tied the game on a goal by Simon Gagne (15) with 1:84 to play. Gagne also scored the game-winning goal in the shootout.
Interestingly enough, on Saturday, the Flyers led the Penguins by a score of 5-1 after two periods. The thought of Thursday sat in the back of the minds of some of the players and their coach.
“In a hockey game you never relax until it’s over,” Flyers coach John Stevens said.
“Now that power plays are so dangerous and there are so many good offensive players in the game certainly tonight we knew that we had to keep playing the same. Hopefully close it out and we did.”
Even though Pittsburgh cut the Flyers lead in half by the end of regulation, the Flyers received power play goals from Mike Knuble (12) Jeff Carter (21) to stave off the Pittsburgh threat. One of Pittsburgh’s third-period goals also came via the power play.
With the win over Pittsburgh, the Flyers increased their winning steak to four games, this after starting the season at 0-3-3. And while Thursday’s win may have been exciting and may have carried over into Saturday, continually having to come from behind isn’t something to make a habit.
“It was a great comeback but it’s not something we’re gonna do all the time. Maybe it’s possible once or twice a year,” Lupul said of Thursday’s victory.
“It was a good game but it’s also a good lesson to our team and a lot of teams. The way the NHL is now with penalty calls and stuff, the game is never over.”
Lesson learned.
December 10, 2008
More sad news
Manayunk-born character actor Robert Prosky passed away this week. While for the past 50 years, Prosky lived in Washington DC, he never really forgot his roots. Earlier this year, Prosky appeared at the Walnut St. Theater in a production of Arthur Miller's The Price. Prosky believed it was one of Price's most unrated works. He performed with his town sons John and Andy.
Prosky when in town would hold a Q&A night for fans. One year, he gave it at Old Academy Players. He was surprised to learn that they had kept all programs from shows he performed in.
"There were shows I don't even remember doing," Prosky said in February.
Throughout his long career, Prosky fielded many questions but I believe I got him with one he couldn't answer. He seemed pretty appreciative of the challenge.
I took up an invitation by Prosky to visit him backstage after a performance of The Price. As I waited in line to go to the green room, I told a lady there I had been invited by Mr. Prosky. She was polite if not a little bemused. It was Mrs. Prosky.
I personally delivered the story I wrote from our phone interview. Prosky was gracious and quiet almost contemplative. Boy, could he act.
Our prayers and thoughts go out to the Prosky family.
December 1, 2008
Save A Prayer
We learned today that Brian Hickey, of City Paper fame, was seriously injured in hit-and-run incident in New Jersey over the Thanksgiving holiday. Hickey, who lives in East Falls, had left City Paper after a four and half year stint to be the campaign manager for John Dougherty's failed State Senate run.
I read Hickey's column in my early days. I've even knocked back a few with the man himself, notably during Fellow Fallser Matt McClure filed bid for a City Council nomination. We last corresponded during Obama run for the Presidency.
We send out prayers and sympathy to Hickey and his wife and hope he pulls through soon. I'll keep the Jaegermeister cold for you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)