Chasing the game.......

[Vanflyer]

"WASHINGTON -- The Philadelphia Flyers have allowed the first goal in a staggering nine-straight games and in 12 of their last 13 games overall.

The notoriously slow-starting Flyers have led just once in the last 36 games at the ten-minute mark of the first period."

http://www.nhl.com/ice/blogpost.htm?id=7124

Just astounding. I am not sure I have ever seen a Flyers team this inept in the first period. Having the lead just ONCE at the 10 minute mark in the LAST 36 games?? Really??? pfft!

[Phlyer1]

The past few years the 2nd period has been theirs. Not sure about this year early on b ecause we know it has not been so of lat.

[AlaskaFlyerFan]

"WASHINGTON -- The Philadelphia Flyers have allowed the first goal in a staggering nine-straight games and in 12 of their last 13 games overall.

The notoriously slow-starting Flyers have led just once in the last 36 games at the ten-minute mark of the first period."

http://www.nhl.com/i...ost.htm?id=7124

Just astounding.

What is really astounding is your new avitar. Is that a teddy bear???

[radoran]

"WASHINGTON -- The Philadelphia Flyers have allowed the first goal in a staggering nine-straight games and in 12 of their last 13 games overall.

The notoriously slow-starting Flyers have led just once in the last 36 games at the ten-minute mark of the first period."

http://www.nhl.com/i...ost.htm?id=7124

Just astounding. I am not sure I have ever seen a Flyers team this inept in the first period. Having the lead just ONCE at the 10 minute mark in the LAST 36 games?? Really??? pfft!

Some more stats.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/teamstats.htm?fetchKey=20122ALLSAAAll&sort=goalsInPeriod1&viewName=goalsByPeriod

The Flyers are third in the league in first period goals for with 62 and are just +4 as they have given up 58.

Vancouver (#1 first period goals with 68) has only given up 39 (+29). Detroit is 66 and 49 (+17).

In the top ten first period scoring teams the Flyers (+4 goal differential) are in the same company as Toronto (+6), Winnipeg (+5) and the Islanders (-6).

They're second in the second period with 76 goals and are a more comforting +21. But just 10th in the third with 64 goals and +1. No one else in the top ten is less than +10 in the third. (Ottawa is +23 with 85 goals for; Pittsburgh +23 and Boston +34 are the top three)

More evidence that the real story with this team - as I think we've all seen - is starting and finishing games. Both between the pipes and in front of them.

[aziz]

The Flyers are third in the league in first period goals for with 62 and are just +4 as they have given up 58.

....

They're second in the second period with 76 goals and are a more comforting +21. But just 10th in the third with 64 goals and +1. No one else in the top ten is less than +10 in the third. (Ottawa is +23 with 85 goals for; Pittsburgh +23 and Boston +34 are the top three)

More evidence that the real story with this team - as I think we've all seen - is starting and finishing games. Both between the pipes and in front of them.

seems to me it points more towards the offense than anywhere else. 58-55-63 is pretty consistent goals-against-wise. 62-76-64 goals-for says the 2nd is the happy time for scoring. even there, though, a 14 point spread between most and least productive periods kinda isn't a big deal.

[radoran]

seems to me it points more towards the offense than anywhere else. 58-55-63 is pretty consistent goals-against-wise. 62-76-64 goals-for says the 2nd is the happy time for scoring. even there, though, a 14 point spread between most and least productive periods kinda isn't a big deal.

There's not another top eschelon team in either conference that has two periods below +10.

Vancouver: +29, -5, +20

Detroit: +17, +11, +21

Rangers: +4, +19, +21

Boston: +11, +18, +34

Flyers: +4, +21, +1

I think we've seen on many occasions where teams have more jump in their skates to starts (see the Isles game the other day for starters) and are able to put pressure on in the third. I'd like to reverse that tendency going into the playoffs.

[aziz]

I think we've seen on many occasions where teams have more jump in their skates to starts (see the Isles game the other day for starters) and are able to put pressure on in the third. I'd like to reverse that tendency going into the playoffs.

i don't disagree. i'm just saying the goals for:against per period numbers suggest other teams aren't scoring against the flyers in any particular period, they are suggesting the flyers do most of their scoring in the second.

as for heading into the playoffs, hell, i'd like to see them at least double their for:against ratio across the board. +20-ish isn't even kinda going to get it done come april.

[Vanflyer]

@AlaskaFlyerFan

It is a dancing bear. An icon from the Grateful Dead era. I think the original concept came from this painting: http://www.fulcrumgallery.com/William-Holbrook-Beard/The-Bear-Dance-c1870_28698.htm

[JackStraw]

@AlaskaFlyerFan

It is a dancing bear. An icon from the Grateful Dead era. I think the original concept came from this painting: http://www.fulcrumga...c1870_28698.htm

That painting may have provided the concept, the inspiration was of course, Bear. They first appeared on the "Bear's Choice" album. Along with the original "Stealie".

Edit: I didn't know this little tidbit, from wikipedia:

Dubbed "Bear" as a young teen, when he sprouted body hair before the rest of his friends, Stanley had studied ballet in his early 20s. He displayed a distinctive style of dancing while tripping on LSD at shows, becoming what his friends deemed "The Dancing Bear".

Edited March 5, 2012 by JackStraw

[Vanflyer]

@JackStraw

Interesting- I never knew that (or maybe once upon a time I knew and have since forgot, old age and all that).

I found this excerpt as well:

The dancing bears symbolized the fun-loving aspect of the Grateful Dead and their fans. Over the years these bears have appeared on multi-colored bumper stickers, T-Shirts and posters.

The origin of the bear was taken from the Bob Thomas album art cover. The back cover of History of the Grateful Dead, vol 1 (Bear's Choice)(recorded Feb 13 and 14, 1970) showed multi-colored marching bears. Bob's inspiration for the bear came from a 36 point lead slug of a generic bear that was a standardised figure from a printer's font box.

The First Grateful Dead Bear

What has now become the "jester collar" on the "dancing bears" was actually the chest fur of Bob's marching bears. How things were switched is not clear.

for more-

http://members.tripod.com/~toginc/deadbears.html

http://www.thebear.org/bearstory.html

Also, not to digress, but I found this the other day. I thought of sending to you when I read it, but it kind of really bummed me out (though I already knew most of what the article details).

http://www.levity.com/gans/SFFocus.html

[JackStraw]

@Vanflyer - I read a biography of Garcia which dealt with that stuff. Apparently he was not the happiest of campers for last 15 or so years of his life. On a lighter note, I just came across this interesting stuff relating to the Wall of Sound:

http://obie1.homesite.net/deadcd/wall_of_sound.htm

It does actually give some hints of the difficulties that were to come, and that Garcia had trouble coming to terms with.

[Vanflyer]

@JackStraw-

Yeah, just always kind of a bummer to see that the "machine" got too big for them / him to handle. Not sure if its released yet, but I have a smokin' copy of the allman brothers and the dead playing together at watkins glen.

[Green Man]

@JackStraw

Also, not to digress, but I found this the other day. I thought of sending to you when I read it, but it kind of really bummed me out (though I already knew most of what the article details).

http://www.levity.co...ns/SFFocus.html

Interesting read on Jerry, and a little sad for sure.

Furthur is at the Mann on July 7th, last few years the shows there were fantastic!

[flyerrod]

@AlaskaFlyerFan

It is a dancing bear. An icon from the Grateful Dead era. I think the original concept came from this painting: http://www.fulcrumga...c1870_28698.htm

It is also the icon of Happy Bear Manufacturing. They made wheel alignment parts and equipment....When I was growing up, one of the garages on rt 61 had a sign with the same bear that said "Have a shimmy, Come see Zimmy".

[Vanflyer]

@Green Man, @JackStraw

Not sure if either of you have ever seen this, but this is the Jerry I like to remember. Having a bit of fun just sitting in with a friend in a small club with zero pressure on him.

[Vanflyer]

@flyerrod

What was the era for that company?? Interesting- would have been apropos had the company resided on route 66.

[flyerrod]

I believe the company originated in the 1920's and branched out into wheel alignment tools and parts in the 60's. If you look in any older shops today that still has the drive over for checking alignment, you will see the Bear on the deflection scale(for toe in/out). Mr. Zimmerman was a nice guy that liked to talk with the customer as he worked on your car. He was getting up in years the last time I stopped by there which was about 10 years ago. I had the front axle go out on the mini van and i changed the axle and needed to get it aligned(was home on vacation in Sunbury, Pa). It took him a less than an hour, and he only charged me 20 bucks. I tried to tip him and his response was "pass it on to someone that needs the money". He was happier to have someone to talk to for an hour than he was worried about getting money.