Welcome to FLYER BEACH
Game by Game Recaps by Jim Beach
phillypage2 columnist

Recaps start with the most recent, and will be archived by month in the space to the right.

Flyers are now 4-1-2-0

The Flyers outplayed the Habs for the second time this season. There weren’t many bad things to come of this game (except, of course, the lack of a fistic gathering)-they avenged their only loss of the season and easily their worst played game this year; they controlled all areas of the ice; their special teams played well even recording a shorthanded goal; most importantly, they didn’t play down to the Canadiens lack of talent-a trait long suffering followers of this club will note is a rarity. Cechmanek played well. The 2 goals he allowed were stoppable. But, he made up for them by stopping a couple of big opportunities. Overall, I am very pleased with this game and the season so far. I hope to be writing the same thing in June.

Goals- Murray opened the scoring dumping the puck into the open net from in front after a nice feed from Brendl (who played his best game as a pro also tallying the last goal on a slap shot from the face-off dot). Primeau and Handzus both scored their 2 goals from right in front of the net. I would say the Flyers again scored their goals in a pretty fashion. Something I’m having trouble adjusting to. After all, the dump and chase game and banging in rebounds as a way to win the last decade can be frustrating to sit through.

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Flyers are now 3-1-2-0

The Flyers have done it again. For about the 100th time in the last few years they have made the Sabres look like the finest hockey team ever assembled. I’d rather watch a video of myself being ejected through the windshield after smashing my truck into a pole in a drunken stupor than continue watching a squad with minimal talent dominate the Flyers. At least we don’t see them again until mid December. More disappointing than the result, was the fact that there were no fisticuffs to lighten my spirits. Despite the Flyers dressing their three tough guys and the presence of the Sabres chief goon, there wasn’t much more than the obligatory staring down and acting hard. In fairness to the potential combatants, Kevin Collins was a linesman so why even bother squaring off when that jackass is just going to jump in. A few bright spots I recall-the HSBCrap Arena was half empty; and there were plenty of Flyers fans to fill up the void. The goal by Weinrich was a tracer from the point and the 1st goal by a Defenseman. Finally, Cechmanek turned in another solid effort between the pipes continuing a season long trend of excellent Flyers goalkeeping.

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Flyers are now 2-0-2-0. Next game vs. Capitals, 11/19 @ 1 pm.

Once again the flyers pretty much carried play. Once again they tossed away a 2 goal lead late in the 3rd period. Two disturbing early trends-not capitalizing on scoring chances and pissing away late leads. Oh well, they are undefeated!

The Flyers spent a large part of the evening in the Isles end but, couldn’t score enough to get the two points. They failed to capitalize on numerous odd man rushes in the 3rd and two separate 5 on 3’s in the 2nd. The Isles meanwhile scored the game tying goal when Desjardin swept a rebound from in front of Cechmanek that bounced off Marty Murray’s leg and into the net. An unlucky break for the Flyers, needless to say. Overall a solid game without the expected result.

Goals-Fedoruk’s came on a rebound of a Gagne shot after Williams outworked an Islander in the corner and fed Gagne at the faceoff dot. Handzus scored on a line rush with a sweet wristshot to the top shelf. Roenick scored after a scramble in front found the puck behind Snow-he pulled it from slightly behind the goal line and stuffed it in.

Fight-Fedoruk and Cairns squared off in the 1st. I was quite excited by the prospect of a top tier heavyweight battle. However, neither one could get off before falling to the ice. Hopefully a rematch is in order for a later game. There wasn’t even much jostling beyond that fight. It wasn’t a very physical game which surprised me since they are two of the biggest teams in the NHL.

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Flyers are now 2-0-1-0.

Last night was the second game in a row where the Flyers seem to be reversing their negative trends of the last decade. Saturday night in Calgary they erased a 3rd period deficit and won a game for the first time in recent memory. Last night they scored 6 goals and every one of them was pretty. Recchi skating in on the off wing and picking the top shelf. LeClair one timing a sweet pass into an open side of the net. LeClair and Murray with perfectly placed deflections. In other words, goals you don’t usually see from this club. They always seemed to need a sledgehammer to score, banging home rebounds and driving to the net. I know it’s early yet but these are encouraging signs.

RECAP-No fights but a monster hit (or elbow) by Fedoruk that seemed to rile up some tension. Goals by Recchi, Murray and four from LeClair. Cechmanek looked solid-Montreal’s goals were of the somewhat unlucky variety. Special teams were strong again. Overall, a very well played game for the Flyers against a smallish team with less talent.

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