Don't call these Flyers bullies
The Flyers are the NHL's version of the New York Yankees this year.
Best as I can tell everybody, Therrien included, has a full-blown hate-on for the Orange and Black.
Hate the Flyers all you want.
But don't get your knickers in a bunch because you think the Flyers are the reincarnation of the Broad Street Bullies and coach John Stevens is the antichrist in a nifty suit.
I know that's how everybody outside of Philly perceives the Flyers this season.
Therrien sure believes it.
He said the Flyers showed a lack of respect during their 8-2 ass-kicking of the Pens Tuesday night. Then he sent Georges Laraque out to beat some respect into the Flyers.
I think Ben Eager nailed it when he told Therrien, "You're a joke."
As far as I'm concerned, the belief that the Flyers are a bunch of goons is flat-out wrong.
The Flyers play a tough, in-your-face brand of hockey that opponents despise. Take a shift off against the Flyers and you're liable to wind up being being a colorful smear on the Viagra rinkboard ad.
It's an effective strategy in the NHL. Teams can overcome highly skilled opposition. It's much harder to be successful against teams that scare the crap out of you.
Canadians, in general, take great solace in knowing "our boys" play with character and heart. Translation: We'll beat you to a bloody pulp if it's going to result in a win.
Americans are a little more ambivalent about physical hockey. Much of the hue and cry about the Flyers' style comes from the U.S., where fighting is apparently a turnoff.
That seems odd, coming from a country where $50 will buy you a sweet little six-shooter to play with.
I'm losing focus here so I'll get back to my point.
Playing tough has worked for the Anaheim Ducks but I don't recall the Ducks being put on notice by the league office like the Flyers were.
Yes, five Flyers have been suspended for transgressions of varying degrees this season.
What Steve Downie and Jesse Boulerice did is indefensible. I won't waste your time attempting it.
The other suspensions were the result of incidents that happen on a nightly basis in rinks around the NHL.
There is no epidemic of violence in Philly. It's not endemic or systematic. It's not a reflection of the coach.
It's aggressive hockey, nothing more.
Something Michel Therrien, judging from Laraque's role with the Pens, knows all about.
Philly is a hockey team run amok
Posted by: Kean Doherty
Hey, Pollard, just what color is the sky in your world?
Because you can't be reading and seeing the same things as reasonable people about the Philadelphia Flyers.
As evidenced by the gong show at the Wachovia Center on Dec. 11, they are just a flashier version of the Broadstreet Bullies they have always been.
Sure, Joffrey Lupul and R.J. Umberger did record hat-tricks in an 8-2 pasting of Pittsburgh. Good for them.
However, the Flyers being the Flyers, they couldn't leave well enough alone — they had to thug it up to rub some salt in.
The Penguins are no wilting daisies, for sure, racking up 98 penalty minutes to Philly's 58 in that ridiculous side show.
Those penalty minutes came honestly, though.
Tired and on the tail end of a successful — and incident-free — four-game road trip, Pittsburgh was forced to defend itself against an amped-up opponent in hockey's snake pit.
Even Flyers' coach John Stevens, who I thought was a mild-mannered, bookish guy, got into the act.
What he did near the end of the game exposed a Jekyll lurking under that Hyde exterior.
He sent out his No. 1 power-play unit with less than three minutes to go, in a 7-2 game.
And dim-wit Ben Eager called Pens' coach Michel Therrien a joke.
Now, that's a good one.
As if things weren't bad enough, it wasn't just the Flyers laying the smack-down on the Pens. Their loony fans were in full throat, as was a local columnist.
I'm sorry, Dave, but these kinds of antics and the atmosphere this team generates tell me the Flyers are in serious need of attitude adjustment.
For Pete's sake, they have been put on notice by the league for being goons.
And pointing the finger at the Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks - who are No. 1 in penalty minutes - is certainly a great cover-your-editorial-ass move.
I don't recall any Ducks receiving a single suspension this year.
Oh, but the poor, misunderstood Flyers have.
Hmm, let's see.
Jesse Boulerice viciously cross-checks Vancouver's Ryan Kesler —25 games.
Steve Downie blindsides Ottawa's Dean McAmmond — 20 games.
Riley Cote head-hunts Dallas' Matt Niskanen — three games.
Randy Jones runs Boston's Patrice Bergeron — two games.
Scott Hartnell duplicates Jones' feat by clobbering Boston's Andrew Alberts — two games.
This isn't evidence of tough, in-your-face hockey, Dave.
It's proof the Flyers still like to employ marginal knuckle-draggers to do dirty deeds, because violence sells.
In my opinion, the Broadstreet Bullies are back and out of control as ever.