Last night’s rare shootout win over Buffalo stopped a seemingly endless 10 game skid. Combined with the acquisition of former Flyer Vinny Prospal from Tampa Bay, there is a ray of hope for the Flyers yet, who despite the worst month in recent memory, actually lead for the final playoff spot in the East.
The acquisitions of Prospal and D Jaroslav Modry from the Kings show that GM Paul Holmgren hasn’t given up hope, and that hope trickles down to the team, who came back from a 3-0 deficit in a building where they have had very little success in recent years. If the Flyers can hang on until the injured cavalry can come back, all may not be lost.
What point, Peter?
I realize the Flyers were in a free-fall, but for Peter Forsberg to return to Colorado, who is currently 10th in the West and with injury problems of their own? I don’t get it. The West is loaded, and the Avalanche aren’t getting in the playoffs, and even if they do, they aren’t going far, no matter how healthy and effective Forsberg is.
As much as I would have loved to see Forsberg back here, Prospal is at least healthy.
Injuries, Injuries, Injuries
One of the most commonly-used clichés in sports in that every team has injuries and that a championship team will have to overcome them in order to win. In Philadelphia, though, it is starting to get ridiculous. Is it me, or do our teams get hit worse than most? The Flyers recent losing streak has been rife with injury after injury, all to key players. Simon Gagne and his concussions, Joffrey Lupul, Steve Downie, Derian Hatcher, have all been hurt. Defenseman Braden Coburn suffered a severed artery in his butt. What the heck is that about? How does that even happen? Even in victory last night, D Jaroslav Modry suffered an “upper body injury”, which may be another concussion. To top it all off, Mike Richards, the team’s best player all season long, tore his hamstring on Saturday night.
The Phillies’ biggest off-season acquisition, closer Brad Lidge, hurt his surgically repaired knee on the FIRST WARMUP PITCH OF SPRING TRAINING!!!!!
I could spend all day listing injuries that have crippled the local teams, but I don’t have that kind of time. Maybe you readers can list some of the worst.
It’s just getting really frustrated having any shred of optimism in our town tempered by constant injury news.