Jackets: 3, Flyers: A BIG, FAT, JUICY, STINKIN', ZERO!!!!!!!



What a Christmas present that was. In October I asked Hitch for two things for Christmas: a team that is 5 games above .500 and a win vs. the flyers. I got one of the things I asked for, and quite frankly, the most important one.

Right from the opening face off the jackets swarmed the flyers. It is a much different style of play than the flyers of the eastern conference is used to. The east is a wide open, 'shinny' type style that relies on scoring a lot of goals and few teams are able to defend as well as necessary. The western conference is something like +30 in wins vs. the eastern conference. The jackets are 6-1-1 vs. the east this year. The west...is just better. It may lack some of the flash of the west, but not really. That is what people who support teams in the east will say, but the style of hockey that gets played in the west is what wins.

My only regret is that I acted polite when I met Paul Holmgren after the game. This is, afterall, the guy who fired Hitch in philly. He actually stabbed Hitch in the back and I went ahead and shook his hand. I was slightly caught off guard and was still drunk with glee from our decisive slaughtering. Hitch says that it is good to be 'classy' and keep your head about you, but at what point do you appear a doormat over being classy?

Apparently when Hitch saw John Stevens (Hitch's replacement) after the game, Hitch offered his game plans and scouting reports to him for his west coast trip and Stevens' reply was: 'no thanks, Hitch, we just need our health'. Right. If you are going to sit around and wait to get healthy before you think your team can win, then you are going have to wait until July. It is rare that a team gets through the year without guys on the injured list. Using injuries as an excuse is for losers (yes, that is you John Stevens) instead of demanding more from your team then you are in for a world of hurt. Hitch has always said: 'you worry about who is in, not who is out'. The jackets are grossly undermanned and to come out and play that way was impressive. The flyers top 6 remains formidable and they still couldn't get anything going. It was a thing of beauty.

Thanks Hitch and the jackets, that was the best gift of them all!