1) While I often disagree with many of his positions, I believe that the New York Post's Larry Brooks hit the nail on the head with his article about how the NHL has come to punish big-market, deeper-pockets teams that are willing to spend to win. The league seems happy with this arrangement.

One thing that used to puzzle me about Ed Snider,given his competitiveness and burning desire to maximize the Flyers' Stanley Cup chances, was how he supported NHL initiatives that chipped -- sometimes outright chopped -- away at the competitive advantages the Flyers once had in the NHL landscape.

I thought it was quite interesting -- and surprising -- that Gary Bettman addressed that very topic directly and honestly in his speech at Mr. Snider's memorial. Bettman said that the longtime Flyers chairman struggled with many of these issues, and sometime vehemently fought over them behind the scenes. In the end, when it came to disputes between what was strictly in the Flyers' (and other big-market, wealthy teams') best interests and what Bettman (whom Snider liked and respected, despite occasional differences) said was in the best interests of the game as a whole, Snider would fight what he believed to be the good fight and then would support the final decision.

In retrospect, it really was not a surprise at all that Snider would get on board once the debate was done behind the scenes. That was his style.

2) Two significant moves involving goaltenders were made on this date in Flyers history. In 1979, with the Flyers in need of a veteran goaltender following the retirement of Bernie Parent and Wayne Stephenson's impending departure via trade, the Flyers acquired Phil Myre from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Blake Dunlop and Rick Lapointe. In 2011, the Flyers acquired the rights to impending free agent Ilya Bryzgalov from the Phoenix Coyotes.

3) On this date in 1995, Eric Lindros' overtime goal off a drop pass from Mikael Renberg gave the Flyers a 3-2 overtime road win over the New Jersey Devils at cut their deficit in the Eastern Conference Final to two games to one. Kevin Dineen and Rod Brind'Amour scored in regulation.



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