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intheslot

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  1. Canadians do tend to say "sorry" a lot..
  2. It is January 1st and the Maple Leafs are undefeated in the 2020-2021 season
  3. 3) Today in Flyers History: 2010 Winter ClassicThe Flyers have played eight New Year's Day games in franchise history. The Winter Classic game at Boston's Fenway Park in 2010 was the only New Year's Day match the Flyers played between 1983 and a 2017 game in Anaheim.In the third annual NHL Winter Classic, the Flyers did not trail the Boston Bruins at any point in regulation but dropped a 2-1 overtime decision.After a scoreless first period, Flyers defenseman Danny Syvret opened the scoring at 4:42 of the second period. The goal was an odd one. Driven to distraction by Scott Hartnell in front of his net, Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas neglected the ongoing play to skate out and attack the Flyers forward. Just then, Syvret shot into the now-open net.The Flyers carried the 1-0 lead until time ticked down to 1:18 left in the third period. Former Flyers right winger Mark Recchi broke up Michael Leighton's shutout bid and tied the game.In the final 46 seconds of regulation, Flyers center Danny Briere was penalized for tripping. Boston does not score on the ensuing 4-on-3 power play in overtime but won the game nine seconds later as Marco Sturm' scored. The Flyers settled for one point from the regular season game. Philly would get its revenge in the playoffs, recovering from a three games to zero deficit to defeat the Bruins in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
  4. Today in Flyers History: December 25Until the early 1970s, it was not uncommon for National Hockey League teams to play on Christmas Day. The Philadelphia Flyers have never played a Christmas Eve game but played on Christmas Day in four of their first five seasons of the team's existence.The team posted a 1-2-1 record in those games.The lone victory was a 3-1 triumph over the Oakland Seals in 1969. A crowd of 10,071 came out to the Spectrum and saw the Flyers quickly jump on their opponent. Goals by Jim Johnson, Dick Cherry and Simon Nolet gave the Flyers a commanding lead before the game even nine minutes old.Doug Favell went on to stop 31 of 32 shots, yielding only a second period power play marker by Gerry Ehman. Gary Smith stopped 42 of 45 Flyers' shots in a losing cause. Flyers defenseman Joe Watson earned first-star honors for the game. Favell was the second-star selection.1967: The New York Rangers defeated the Flyers, 3-1, at the Spectrum. Ed Hoekstra broke up an Eddie Giacomin shutout bid (32 saves on 33 shots) with a late third period power play goal. Bernie Parent (33 saves on 36 shots) played well but got tagged with the loss.1968: A seesaw game between the Flyers and Rangers at the Spectrum ended in a 2-2 tie. A late first period goal by Brit Selby and a mid-second period shorthanded marker by Dick Sarrazin turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead before the Rangers re-tied the game with the only goal of the third period. Doug Favell stopped 36 of 38 shots while Gilles Villemure denies 23 of 25 Philadelphia shots.1971: In the lone Christmas road game in franchise history, the Flyers took a 1-0 lead against the Boston Bruins to the first intermission after young center Bobby Clarke scored his 13th goal of the season. Thereafter, Boston took over the game and went on to down the Flyers in a 5-1 blowout. Bobby Orr, Ken Hodge, Phil Esposito, Wayne Cashman and Derek Sanderson scored for the Bruins.
  5. Today in Flyers History: December 23, 1984 (Christmas Death Skate Eve)A hat trick by Tim Kerr and a pair of goals by Murray Craven powered the Flyers to a 7-4 home win over the Washington Capitals. The win was the Flyers' second in their last three games, ending a mini-skid.The next morning, head coach Mike Keenan (unpleasantly) surprised the team with what becomes known as the Christmas Death Skate -- an intense two-hour practice featuring extensive goal-line to goal-line sprints. Players had water breaks but the session was otherwise relentless. Even the most well-conditioned players on the team were on the brink of collapse.At the end, before the team convened for a holiday party, Keenan told his troops, "Always expect the unexpected. And Merry Christmas."
  6. Capitals and Devils unveil helmet advertisements for the 2021 NHL season Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported a few weeks back that the NHL is "investigating possibility of selling ads on players' helmets" as a way to generate income during a season in which it looks like they will have no ticket revenue.
  7. 3) Today in Flyers History: December 22, 1979Prior to the 1979-80 NHL season, the longest unbeaten streak in Philadelphia Flyers history was a 23-game run (17-0-6) during the 1975-76 campaign. Four seasons later, the Flyers not only shattered the previous franchise and league records (a 28-game run by the Montreal Canadiens in 1977-78) but they went on to set a North American pro sports record with a 35-game unbeaten streak (25-0-10).On December 22, 1979, the Flyers surpassed the Habs’ NHL record with a 5-2 win over the Bruins at Boston Garden. The victory gave the Flyers a 29-game unbeaten streak (20-0-9).Ken “the Rat” Linseman’s goal in the opening minute of the second period gave the Flyers a 3-0 lead after Bobby Clarke and Bill Barber scored in the first period. After the Bruins struck back quickly for two goals, Jim Watson built a 4-2 lead with a goal just 30 seconds after Mike Milbury had cut the Boston deficit to a single goal.Bob “the Hound” Kelly restored a three-goal cushion midway through the third period. Defenseman Mike Busniuk collected a pair of assists, while winning goaltender Phil Myre stopped 18 of 20 shots compared to the 13 saves made by Gilles Gilbert.The game also featured multiple fights, including a lengthy grappling match between Paul Holmgren and John Wensick and, simultaneously, a one-sided beatdown of rookie Boston defenseman Ray Bourque by Flyers captain Mel Bridgman. Late in the third period, truculent Flyers defenseman Behn Wilson dropped the gloves with Boston scrapper Stan Jonathan.Following the Flyers win in Boston, Philly would rattle off five wins and one tie in its next six games to bring the unbeaten streak to 35 games. The streak finally ended with a 7-1 road loss to the Minnesota North Stars on January 7, 1980.
  8. The Board of Governors are currently meeting...more after that, but here are the important dates for the coming season... Key Dates.. !!!12/28/20- Waiver Period Begons12/29/20- Non Playoff Teams Open Camp1/3/21- All Camps Open1/13/21- NHL Season Begins2/1/21- Teams can start asking players to waive their NMC for Expansion Draft 4/12/21- NHL Trade Deadline....FUN FOR US!5/8/21- NHL Season Ends5/11/21- Playoffs Start7/15/21- Last Day Playoffs can End24 Hours After the Cup is won Teams can begin to buyout players7/21/21- The Expansion Draft for Seattle Team7/22,23/21 The NHL Draft7/28/21- UFA DAY!
  9. 7) Today in Flyers History: December 201973: There's a goal-scoring bonanza at the Spectrum as the Flyers crush the Vancouver Canucks by a 9-3 count. Forward Bill Clement leads the charge with two goals and an assist, while Bobby Clarke and Ross Lonsberry also tally twice apiece. The game features a bench-clearing brawl in the second period that sees backup goaltender Bobby Taylor ejected from the game on a game misconduct. Two of the Canucks' three goals are scored by future Flyers defenseman Bob Dailey. 1980: Two goals by Reggie Leach spark the Flyers to a 5-2 road win in Washington after Philly trailed 2-0 at the first intermission. The second Caps goal is scored by longtime Flyers forward Bob "the Hound" Kelly. Rookie forward Tim Kerr scores his eight career goal, while Philly also gets goals from Tommy "T.J." Gorence and Bob Dailey. Leach's second goal is a third-period shorthander that gives Philly a stranglehold on the game.1984: Vezina Trophy winning goaltender Pelle Lindbergh does not see many shots or have one of his best games but the Flyers win comfortably in an 8-4 blowout of the New Jersey Devils at the Spectrum.Twelve different Flyers register at least one point in this game, led by two goals apiece by Rick Tocchet and Ilkka Sinisalo as well as three-point nights (one goal, two assists apiece) for defenseman Thomas Eriksson and right winger Tim Kerr.1986: Six different Flyers score goals to build a 6-2 road lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins before Philly holds off a furious charge by the Pens in the third period to leave the Igloo with a 6-4 win. Defense partners Brad McCrimmon and Mark Howe each tally goals for Philly, along with forwards Tim Kerr (power play), Pelle Eklund, Dave Poulin (shorthanded) and Murray Craven. Ilkka Sinisalo racks up three assists. Mario Lemieux has a goal and an assist for Pittsburgh.1990: The Flyers saw three separate one-goal leads slip away after getting goals from enforcer Craig Berube (3rd of the season), second-year NHLer Mike Ricci (10th) and Czech rookie Martin Hostak (2nd). The game ended in a 3-3 tie. Ron Hextall saw only one shot in overtime, finishing with 29 saves. 1997: Power play goals by Rod Brind'Amour and Eric Lindros were all the team needed as they held the visiting Florida Panthers to 14 shots and skated off with a 2-0 victory. Garth Snow earned the shutout and third-star honors. For his Flyers career, Snow recorded three shutouts. This game marked the final one before he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks for goalie Sean Burke on March 4, 1998.2001: The Flyers hold off the visiting Dallas Stars, 2-1, courtesy of a 29-save performance by Brian Boucher. A first period goal by Marty Murray and a mid-game tally by Keith Primeau are just enough offense to win.2008: Scott Hartnell compiles a hat trick and Jeff Carter (four-point game) scores twice as the Flyers pummel the visiting Washington Capitals by a 7-1 count. Joffrey Lupul has a three-point game (one goal, two assists). Antero Niitttymaki stops 47 of 48 shots as the Flyers get outshot 25-6 in the first period and 14-7 in the second.
  10. Today in Flyers History: Dec. 171967: The Flyers were outshot 37-22 by fellow first-year expansion team Pittsburgh, but skated away with a 2-1 win at the Spectrum courtesy of stellar goaltending by Bernie Parent. An early first period goal by Brit Selby and a mid-second period tally by Leon Rochefort provided just enough offense to win.1968: Bernie Parent made 34 saves against the Penguins but, unlike the previous season's squeaker, this game was an 8-2 home rout for the Flyers. Brit Selby scored a pair of goals, as did Andre Lacroix and Dick Sarrazin. Leon Rochefort and Forbes Kennedy tally once apiece, while Jim Johnson racked up four assists in the game. 1975: Four different Flyers players and three different lines scored in a 4-2 road win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Goalie Wayne Stephenson (27 saves) outdueled Hall of Famer Tony Esposito. Rick MacLeish, Ross Lonsberry, Bob Kelly and Reggie Leach supplied the offensive support.1981: Flyers defenseman Behn Wilson converted a late-second period penalty shot for what proved to the game-winning goal in a 2-1 home win over the Buffalo Sabres. Trailing 1-0 late with less than four minutes remaining in the second period, Ray Allison knotted the score at 1-1. Wilson's penalty shot goal came at 17:50. Winning goalie Pete Peeters made 31 saves.1988: Rick Tocchet notched his fifth career hat trick as the Flyers pummel Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens by a 7-1 count. Tim Kerr, Doug Sulliman, Scott Mellanby and Dave Poulin also tallied for the Flyers.
  11. 2) Today in Flyers History: Parent's 1st Flyers Shutout (December 16, 1967)During his Hockey Hall of Fame career with the Philadelphia Flyers, legendary goaltender Bernie Parent recorded 50 regular season shutouts and six more in the playoffs, including the deciding games of both the 1974 and 1975 Stanley Cup Finals against the Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres respectively. For his NHL career, he had 54 total shutouts in the regular season, including one as a rookie with Boston and three as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Parent authored the first shutout of his Flyers' career (and the second of his NHL career) on December 16, 1967. On that night, Parent turned back all 25 shots he faces in a 1-0 road win against the St. Louis Blues.Team captain Lou Angotti's goal in the final minute of the second period stood as the game's only tally. Blues' goaltender Glenn Hall, himself a Hall of Famer, stopped 18 of 19 Flyers' shots. A crowd of 7,570 turned out at St. Louis Arena for the game between the two first-year expansion teams. 1971: Serge Bernier tallied two goals and an assist, while Doug Favell recorded a 35-save shutout at the Spectrum. The Flyers blew out Buffalo, 5-0.1981: Tied 3-3 at the second intermission at Madison Square Garden, the Flyers erupted for four goals in the third period to turn the game into a 7-3 rout. Ray Allison enjoyed a three-point game (one goal, two assists) for the Flyers. 1982: The Flyers earned a 7-2 home win over the Detroit Red Wings at a costly price. Despite the lopsided final score, the game was not an easy one for Philly. The team found itself trailing just nine seconds after the opening faceoff, as Detroit's Dwight Foster scored. On his first shift of the game -- returning to the lineup from a November knee injury -- Bill Barber tore ligaments in his right knee and misses nearly two more months of action. The Flyers bounced back led a four-point (two goal, two assist) night for Bobby Clarke and 38 saves by Pelle Lindbergh. Clarke reached a career milestone with his 1,100th regular season point.1993: Flyers rookie Mikael Renberg boosted the team to a 3-2 home win over the Quebec Nordiques, scoring one goal and later assisting Mark Recchi on the game winning goal. Earlier in the game, red-hot forward Josef Beranek scored his 21st goal of the season for the Flyers. Philly outshot Quebec, 35-18, for the game as winning goalie Dominic Roussel saw just 10 shots over the final 40 minutes. Garth Snow, a future Flyer, took the loss for Quebec. 1995: Two goals by Rod Brind'Amour, a shorthanded goal by Shjon Podein and a third-period tally by Eric Lindros sparked the Flyers to a 4-2 win over the Canadiens at the Montreal Forum. Pat Falloon assists on both Brind'Amour goals. Ron Hextall made 23 saves. The Flyers went 8-for-9 on the penalty kill on this night, including Podein's shorthander.2000: Simon Gagne racked up two goals and assists on another (Rick Tocchet) as the Flyers strafed Martin Brodeur for a half-dozen goals in a 6-3 Flyers home win. Daymond Langkow generated a goal and an assist, while Mark Recchi, Ruslan Fedotenko and even low-scoring tough defenseman Chris McAllister (two goals in 121 games as a Flyer) chipped in one goal apiece. Tocchet, who assisted on Gagne's second goal and had a second period fight, recorded the ninth and final Gordie Howe Hat Trick of his two-stint Flyers career.2003: The Flyers announced a trade with the Edmonton Oilers: Philadelphia received forward Mike Comrie and sent defense prospect Jeff Woywitka, a 2004 1st-round puck (Rob Schremp) and a 2005 3rd-round pick (future Flyers defenseman Danny Syvret) to Edmonton.2006: The Flyers made a trade with the New York Islanders: Philadelphia received veteran defenseman Alexei Zhitnik and sendt defenseman Freddy Meyer and a 2007 third-round pick (Mark Katic) to the Islanders. Several months later, the Flyers traded Zhitnik to Atlanta in exchange for defense prospect Braydon Coburn.
  12. 4) Today in Flyers History: December 131974: Power play goals by Reggie Leach and Rick MacLeish, sandwiched around an even strength goal by Bob "the Hound" Kelly lifted the Flyers to a 3-2 road win over the pesky Atlanta Flames. MacLeish's game winner came with 1:33 left in the game, making a winner of goaltender Bernie Parent (21 saves). Future Flyers goalie Phil Myre made 35 saves in a losing cause.1979: The Flyers extended their unbeaten streak to 25 games (18-0-7) with a 6-4 win at the Spectrum over the Quebec Nordiques. Two goals apiece by Bill Barber (three-point game) and Reggie Leach lead the way for Philly, while Dennis Ververgaert and Al Hill (empty net) added some insurance. 1987: Murray Craven's shorthanded goal at 14:26 of the third period rescued a 4-3 road win for the Flyers in Winnipeg after the club was unable to protect a 3-1 lead heading into the final frame. Peter Zezel, Derrick Smith and young defenseman Kerry Huffman also scored for the Flyers.1995: The Flyers acquired right winger Trent Klatt from the Dallas Stars in exchange for former "Crazy Eights" line member Brent Fedyk. Klatt, a native of Robbinsdale, Minnesota, who won the coveted "Mr. Hockey" distinction during his high school career before attending the University of Minnesota, formed a highly effective Flyers third line as he joined fellow Gopher State natives Joel Otto and Shjon Podein, not surprisingly dubbed "The Minnesota Line."
  13. Today in Flyers History: Bladon's 8-Point Game (Dec. 11, 1977)Defenseman Tom Bladon was never a player who sought out the spotlight despite being an offensively talented member of the Broad Street Bullies era Flyers. As with most of his teammates from that era, Bladon went by multiple nicknames. Some called him "Bomber" for his explosive point shot. Others good-naturedly called him "Sparky" in joking reference to his relatively quiet demeanor on boisterous Flyers' teams.On December 11, 1977, Bladon could not avoid being the center of attention. That night, he set a franchise record by notching eight points - four goals and four assists - in an 11-1 rout of the lowly Cleveland Barons at the Spectrum. The game was scoreless until Reggie Leach got the Flyers on the board at 10:45 of the first period. Late in the first period, however, the explosion began. At 17:54, Bladon scored to make it 2-0. Nineteen seconds later, he assisted on Don Saleski's 18th goal of the season. Twenty-seven seconds after that, Bladon picked up his third period as he and Saleski assisted on a Mel Bridgman tally.After Rick MacLeish opened a 5-0 lead in the second period, Bladon scored the next two Flyers goals to complete his first NHL hat trick and create a 7-0 lead. Paul Holmgren made the score 8-0 late in the middle stanza.At 2:47 of the third period, Bladon notched his fourth goal and sixth point of the game. As the third period progressed, he had a secondary assist on MacLeish's second goal of the night and the primary helper on a Bill Barber tally. The score was now 11-0 and Bladon had a direct hand in eight of the Flyers' goals. A Dennis Maruk power play goal in the final 1:15 of the game broke up a Bernie Parent shutout bid. The Flyers outshot the Barons by a whopping 52-18 for the night.Bladon's eight-point game is one of 14 such performance in NHL regular season history (it has also been done twice in the playoffs), and remains the lone occasion that a Flyers player has managed the feat. However, Bladon is one of just two defensemen in NHL history to do it. The other is Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Paul Coffey.
  14. Today in Flyers History: December 101972: Gary Dornhoefer recorded the third hat trick of his Flyers' career as the Flyers downed the Toronto Maple Leafs, 5-2, at the Spectrum. All three goals came against the legendary but aging Jacques Plante. Don Saleski and Bob Kelly also score for the Flyers.1978: Bernie Parent notched the 55th of his 56 career regular season and playoff shutouts as a Flyer, blanking the New York Rangers on 28 shots. Two goals apiece from Bill Barber (shorthanded and even strength) and Blake Dunlop (power play and even strength) provided the goal support.1983: The visiting Flyers whipped the woeful New Jersey Devils by an 8-2 count. Philly received multi-point games by Bobby Clarke (two goals), Len Hachborn (two goals), Mark Howe (one goal, one assist) and Brian Propp (one goal, one assist). Tim Kerr also tallies for Philly. 1985: One of Marke Howe's best performances of the 1985-86 season took place on December 10, 1985 at the Spectrum against the Boston Bruins. Howe dominated a 7-4 Flyers win as the eventual Norris Trophy runner-up defenseman notched two power play goals and a power play assist while compiling a plus-three rating at even strength and playing nearly 32 of the game's 60 minutes. Howe's defense partner Brad McCrimmon, whom the Flyers acquired from Boston, opened the scoring. Brian Propp scored shorthanded and even strength goals for Philly while adding an assist. Dave Poulin and Pelle Eklund notch a power play goal and an assist apiece. Both Propp and Poulin later played for the Bruins.1988: Veteran checking forward Derrick Smith, who recorded 80 goals for his 494-game Flyers career and never scored more than 16 goals in a season, recorded the first and only hat trick of his NHL career. The host Flyers downed the Chicago Blackhawks, 6-4.
  15. Rank Team Current Value 1-Yr Value Change Debt/Value Revenue Operating Income #1 New York Rangers $1.65 B 0% 10% $225 M $87 M #2 Toronto Maple Leafs $1.5 B 0% 11% $223 M $56 M #3 Montreal Canadiens $1.34 B 0% 18% $219 M $87 M #4 Chicago Blackhawks $1.085 B 0% 9% $178 M $45 M #5 Boston Bruins $1 B 0% 8% $170 M $27 M #6 Los Angeles Kings $825 M -3% 15% $171 M $45 M #7 Philadelphia Flyers $800 M -3% 12% $161 M $7.9 M #8 Detroit Red Wings $775 M -3% 10% $157 M $31 M #9 Washington Capitals $750 M -3% 20% $148 M $7.7 M #10 Vancouver Canucks $725 M -2% 17% $146 M $2.9 M #11 Pittsburgh Penguins $650 M -2% 22% $159 M $14 M #12 Dallas Stars $575 M -4% 27% $142 M $4.5 M #13 Vegas Golden Knights $570 M -2% 26% $156 M $14 M #14 Edmonton Oilers $550 M -4% 26% $137 M $17 M #15 New Jersey Devils $530 M -4% 24% $152 M $4.1 M #16 New York Islanders $520 M 0% 62% $93 M $-38 M #17 San Jose Sharks $515 M -5% 15% $118 M $-15 M #18 St Louis Blues $510 M -4% 25% $129 M $-8.2 M #19 Minnesota Wild $500 M -2% 32% $123 M $-6.2 M #20 Calgary Flames $480 M -4% 26% $120 M $400 K #21 Tampa Bay Lightning $470 M 0% 31% $125 M $-8.3 M #22 Colorado Avalanche $465 M -2% 11% $115 M $-10 M #23 Anaheim Ducks $460 M -4% 21% $119 M $-9.1 M #24 Carolina Hurricanes $440 M -2% 34% $116 M $-15 M #25 Nashville Predators $435 M -5% 25% $121 M $-13 M #26 Ottawa Senators $430 M -3% 47% $115 M $-2.9 M #27 Winnipeg Jets $405 M -4% 38% $117 M $-7.6 M #28 Buffalo Sabres $385 M -4% 34% $120 M $-11 M #29 Columbus Blue Jackets $310 M -5% 40% $106 M $-10 M #30 Florida Panthers $295 M -5% 56% $92 M $-29 M #31 Arizona Coyotes $285 M -5%
  16. Not finalized yet, and still subject to change, but the 2020-21 four-division re-alignment currently looks like this according to sources: Bos-Buf-NJ-NYI-NYR-Pha-Pgh-Was Car-CBJ-Det-Chi-Fla-Min-Nas-TB Ana-Ari-Col-Dal-LA-SJ-STL-VGK All-Canadian teams 4:01 PM · Dec 9, 2020
  17. With news of the NHL and NHLPA aiming to start a 56-game regular season (depending on the establishment of pandemic-related logistics and revised procedures) on January 13, 2021, teams are now moving forward with roster moves and signings. On Tuesday afternoon, the Flyers announced that they have re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Philippe Myres to a three-year contract extension. The deal will carry a $2.55 million average annual value. The Flyers are currently about $2.24 million below the salary cap ceiling for 2020-21. All internal free agents have now either been re-signed or signed elsewhere.Upon the new contract's expiration after the 2022-23 season, Myres can become an arbitration-eligible free agent. He will be one year away from unrestricted free agent rights at this point, so the new contract extension is at least partially a bet on himself that a major raise in his future by that point. With the retirement of Matt Niskanen this offseason, Myres is likely slated to get the first crack at playing on the right side of the team's top defensive pairing in conjunction with Ivan Provorov.Officially an NHL rookie this past season after playing 21 games for the Flyers in 2018-19, the 23-year-old defenseman started the 2019-20 with a brief stint in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms but was recalled on Oct. 31. He's been in the NHL ever since.Myers established himself over the course of the 2019-20 season as a regular starter, initially on the third defense pairing and later on the second pairing. By the second half of the season, he was typically paired with Travis Sanheim.Myers is an outstanding natural athlete, combining imposing size (6-foot-5, 210 pounds), excellent muscular and cardiovascular conditioning, exceptional range and mobility as well as an aggressive style of play. There are many things he does well, and others that, with some further improvement, could help propel him to being the total package as a modern-day NHL defenseman. He's not a finished product even now, but he's significantly refined many of the raw materials he brought into pro hockey. The best is probably still yet to come as he gains experience beyond the 71 NHL games that he's played to date in his young career.As with virtually every young defenseman, Myers had his share of ups and downs from a consistency standpoint as he navigated the learning curve from junior hockey to the AHL to the NHL. It has taken him some time to work his reads and pick his spots so as not to get himself too far out of position, over-relying on the recovery abilities afforded by his ranginess and long reach. As this season has progressed, however, things seemingly clicked on a more regular basis.In addition to his burgeoning abilities to impose his will in denying oppoing entries into the Flyers' zone and triggering breakouts, Myers has some still-nascent NHL-level offensive upside. He has a very heavy shot, but still can improve the timing of his release and his ability to get the puck on net rather than getting blocked or missing the net. Myers suffered a fractured right kneecap on March 7. In his case, the NHL pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic was a blessing in disguise. He returned at full strength for the round-robin and the Eastern Conference playoffs.
  18. 5) Today in Flyers History: Hextall Goal Makes NHL HistoryIn a 5-2 win over the Boston Bruins at the Spectrum on December 8, 1987, Ron Hextall carved out a special place in NHL history. He became the first goaltender in NHL history to score a goal by shooting the puck into the opposing net. Hextall was not the first NHL goaltender who was adept puckhandler, and not the first who was willing to venture far out of his crease to play the puck. But he took it to whole different level both with his skill and aggressiveness. Hextall was eminently capable of triggering the breakout with a long stretch pass or intercepting a dump-in by the attacking team and clearing the right back out of the defensive zone.And then there was his shooting ability. Hextall was so adept and physically strong that he developed the ability to routinely be able to fire the puck from goal line to goal line using his goalie stick.rom the time Hextall arrived in the NHL in 1986-87, many people said that it was only a matter of time when he became the first NHL netminder to score a goal by shooting the puck. in 1979, the Islanders' Billy Smith was credited with a goal by virtue of being the last Islander to touch the puck on a delayed penalty call in which the Colorado Rockies accidentally put the puck into their own net after an errant pass by Rob Ramage. Hextall's puckhandling ability became a major asset for the Flyers' defense. The team's defensemen certainly appreciated the goalie's ability not only to stop the puck behind the cage but to take it himself and pass it to safety."Hexy really was like a third defenseman out there for us," Mark Howe recalled in a 2009 interview. "He saved me a lot of wear and tear."On his history-making goal against the Bruins, Hextall corralled the puck near his own net, and saw a clear shooting path down the ice. He measured his aim momentarily and fired a dart that went straight down the ice into the center of the vacated net.Earlier in the game, Peter Zezel (two power play goals) and Brian Propp (power play and even strength goals) tallied for the Flyers. On the same night, Flyers defenseman Brad Marsh suffered a frightening head injury on a sandwich check by Ray Bourque and Cam Neely, as his unhelmeted head crashed into the stanchion and hits the ice. Marsh was hospitalized for precautionary reasons.On April 11, 1989 Hextall became the first NHL goaltender to score a goal in a playoff game, accomplishing the feat in Game Five of the Flyers' 1989 first-round playoff series with the Washington Capitals.
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