Dear Everyone who thinks they are a psychologist over Steve Downie,

You aren't. And even if you are, he is not your patient. So please put a sock in it for now and pray none of your guys make any questionable hits this season.

Love,
Kristin

Oh Briere, you make it so easy!

Mike Stobe Getty Images

This photo is just screaming for a caption...it practically writes itself...have at it y'all.

Semi live game blogging from the game

At this point, I don't even need a goal, just some puck possession
would be nice!!!

Look we lost to the Sens, but it was preseason...

And it's not like we played any of our big guns. AND, we started Nitty. (Hence the previous letter to Nitty.) So stop hating on the Flyers because they lost to the Sens (I'm looking at you, Teka!)

Dear Antero,

Please stop sucking. Soon I will start calling you Esche.
Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

Kristin

OMG! Another flyers blogger! And she is a girl!!!

Okay, so I am totally ripping off Margee's SportSquee Featured Fangirl feature. But come on, this is big news...another female Flyers blogger. It is a momentous occasion! (No offense to Danny, Mike, or Enjoying the Heat).

After I came to (I had passed out upon hearing that there was another Flyers chick blogger), I decided I needed to ask her some totally random questions, HLOG style. So without further ado, let me introduce flyers.femme!!!

1. You like the Flyers. WHA?!? How the heck did that happen?

It's all my family's fault. My brother started playing and the whole family was sucked into it. But there was no going back afterward.

As for the Flyers, I like them because they've always seemed to do well, they had some really funny guys on the roster, and they had ron hextall in the crease.


2. You've got a thing for goalies. You can't have Michael Leighton. Who is your current favorite goalie?

I'm going with our new starting goalie, Martin Biron. I think it's his turn to shine (finally!) after having to shadow Hasek and Miller in Buffalo. Plus, have you heard that guy? He's hilarious. Marty's a talker and I really wish I could get a live feed during games!

(BTW, after we acquired him late last season, Stevens just about killed me every time he put Nittymaki in the crease against the Pens. Antero is stung by them every time, so what was the deal? Ugh!)

3. Why do the ladies have such a thing for goalies?

I can't speak for others, but I like them because I lived with one for so long...my brother. I have an insider's perspective on how nuts that job is on the ice.

I mean, game-in and game-out, those guys put themselves on the line to make their team succeed. Also, they're part of the team but separate from everyone else.

And on a squee-note, have seen them doing their stretches? (I don't have to say anything else about that, do I? I mean, it's completely obvious!) (Editor's note: When I took my friend to her first hockey game, she saw the goalie doing his stretches and said "I bet goalies get all the girls..")

4. How do you get through the off season?

Barely. Thank god for youtube.com.

5. Howard Stern or Opie and Anthony?

With this choice, I'm taking O & A. I can't stand Stern anymore.

6. Favorite place to be for Flyers games?

Wachovia Center. I like the nose-bleed seats because you can see the whole ice and catch any "additional" play away from the puck.

7. Why do you hate the Eagles?

I don't hate the Eagles, I just don't like American football. In addition to being a hockey family, we all played soccer. Plus, sorry to tattle, but they did lose some of my respect when they booted Trotter - he's a hockey fan. (Editors' note: this was a trick question, I was just trying to get you to say you hated the Eagles. God, how I hate the Eagles!)


8. Most squeeworthy players in the NHL? (The players that bring out your inner puck bunny, no matter how hard you try to push said puck bunny back in!)

Ooooh, the Holy Grail question! (Shamelessly being coy here...) I'm actually writing a post about this, so be watching flyers.femme for details and pics over the weekend. It will include current players, but also some classics as well.

9. Anything else we need to know about you?

I'm going to crack that pink merchandise thing yet! I have a message into one of the NHL team's PR directors to see what I can find out and share with all of the annoyed/ pissed/offended non-puck bunny fans.

So there you have it: a smart, articulate, female hockey fan! Be sure to check out her blog!

Devils 3, Flyers 2....in a shootout!

Just kidding! That would have been the title of this post last season, since every Devils/Flyers game I attended ended in a shootout. Argh!

I made the trek to Sovereign Bank Arena to catch some preseason action. Here is my recap (which as usual, contains little or no actual game info!):

• I forgot my ticket and had to turn around to get it 10 minutes into my trip. Nice start!
• Traffic at the Valley Forge tolls was pretty ridiculous...if this was anything other than a hockey game, I would have packed it in at this point. Actually, I would have packed it in after the forgotten ticket, figuring it was a sign to stay home. But this is hockey dammit!
• I saw more fights in the first period then I saw all last year. Really. I like a good fight every now and then, but this actually got in the way of the game a bit. I think at one point, there was a fight and two guys sent to the box, and then another fight at the next faceoff. Sheesh!
• The fights did seem to give the Flyers some good momentum and a chance to work on "gelling" and "team chemistry".
• I would mention who looked good and who looked bad, but as a sports jinx, I don't want to say. Let's just say Nitty did not look good. And Briere did not look good.
• I got to meet Schnookie and Pookie, who are even funnier in person (if that is possible) and so smart and so hockey smart. If only I had been able to find some margaritas, I could have been funny and smart too! But I still wouldn't have understood their fancy New Jersey phrases like "he got a summer slower..."

Thank god hockey is back!!

What on earth?

Okay, thanks to Teka for this one.

Click here to see the weirdest commercial ever.

I am worried for Briere in this commercial...he looks like he is lost in a bad part of town. And what is up with the dog? And why is he calling his shots like Vincent in The Color of Money? And really, he should never try to make a mean face, it just makes me laugh.

But it does get me pumped for the start of the season (after I stop laughing of course).

Do you like blurry pictures?

I hope so, because I suck at taking pictures of hockey boys. I took about 155 pictures and got 3 that are worth posting. No Lie. We'll get to the pictures later. First things first.

I went to the scrimmage between the Flyers and Capitals rookies today (essentially a Phantoms/Bears game). A few quick notes about that:

1. If you want a spot on the glass, get there early, bitches! Look, I drive about an hour to get there and I got there at 3:20. The scrimmage starts at 4. Therefore, I get a spot on the glass. If you get there at 4:20, you do not get a spot on the glass. If you get there at 4:20, just turn around and go home.

2. If you do get there late, don't try to squeeze in. I will step on your feet.

3. I am in love with Karl Alzner.

4. Downie was nearly unrecognizable, as he has grown a mountain man mustache and beard.

5. Patrick Maroon is so klutzy and so talented at the same time. How can it be?

6. There appears to be a new Flyers blog written by a chick. Whoa. Stop the presses. This event deserves a post of its very own!!!

That's all for now, I will post the pictures later...

Fakeout!

I wish I could say this was from training camp, but alas, it is from the July rookie camp. Work is preventing me from getting to much preseason action. Grrrrrrrrr!