Quick Hits: May 29, 2021
1) Starting on June 2, the Wells Fargo Center will go back to full capacity. All in attendance must still wear a mask.
2) Flyers Alumni Every Child Deserves a Bike program: On Thursday, Flyers Alumni Association board members Brad Marsh and Bob "the Hound" Kelly delivered a fully customized adaptive bike to Anthoy DeCristoforo of Bucks County, as the second recipient of the Every Child Deserves a Bike program.
Through the generosity of donations made by Flyers fans and sponsors, the Flyers Alumni are ordering and then personally delivering one adaptive bike per month to special needs children in the Delaware Valley. For many families, the adaptive bicycles are cost-prohibitive, as they can cost up to $5,000.
The program recipients are selected in partnership with Radnor-based Help Hope Live. Both Anthony and first recipient Lucy Brooks, as well as their families, are diehard Flyers fans. However, potential recipients need not enjoy hockey to be considered.
To make a donation in any amount to the "Every Child" program, click here.
👠The @NHLFlyers are donating adaptive bikes to children with special needs!!
— Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) May 28, 2021
The story with @BradMarshNHL and @FlyersAlumni on how they helped a family and child in Bucks County tonight at 6pm@6abc @FlyersCommunity@FlyersCharities #Flyers #Anytimeanywhere pic.twitter.com/FEBBTSD1Zg
3)Today in Flyers History: May 29, 2010
In a seesaw Game 1 of the 2010 Stanley Cup Final against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Flyers were unable to build on or protect leads of 1-0, 3-2, or 4-3. The game went to the third period tied at 5-5. With 11:35 left in regulation, Tomas Kopecny beat relief goaltender Brian Boucher (who replaced starter Michael Leighton after Leighton stopped just 15 of 20 shots in 35:18 of play) to put the Blackhawks ahead, 6-5. The Flyers could not generate another tying goal, and went down to a one-goal loss in a very winnable game.
Danny Briere notched a goal and three assists for the Flyers in a losing cause. Philly also got a goal and at lease one assist apiece from his linemates, Scott Hartnell (1g, 2a) and Ville Leino (1g, 1a). Chris Pronger (2a, 2 blocks, 4 hits, 26:26 TOI) was named the game's third star and drew some ire from the Blackhawks by scooping up and taking the final game puck with him off the ice rather than letting the winning side claim it.
4) May 29 Flyers Alumni birthdays: Willie Brossart (1949), Marc D'Amour (1961)
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Brian Elliott on the Offseason
I meant to post this a couple days after the Flyers' Exit Day media availability. Brian Elliott had some interesting observations on Carter Hart's struggles this part season; speaking from his own experiences. He also addressed his own season and his situation as an impending unrestricted free agent at age 36. Transcription is courtesy of the Flyers' Brian Smith and Alexandra Samuelsson.
Carter Hart is a guy that obviously this team relies on a lot as well as with you. But what did you see from Carter this season? As far as handling all the things adversity on the ice and off the ice this season?
That's a tough question. I wasn't expecting it. Talk about that right away. You know, it's a tough league. You're gonna have ups and downs. I went through as a younger goalie, where you try to solidify yourself as a player in this league. You kind of have to battle your way back to get your spots back and making sure that you get your starts, you get your opportunities, and it's something that I think everybody has to go through. I think we talked about it in the past, where you can't really talk anybody through some of the situations that you go through as an NHL goalie.
I think you really have to experience things and you have to dig yourself out of holes yourself and you try to take advice from whoever you trust and goalie coaches and trust in yourself. And obviously, I can't speak for him. There's lots of good things this year from him, and from everybody. Then there's stuff that you want to clean up as well. It's about learning from the bad stuff, the tough experiences, and trying to get better.
That's what we always talk about is day by day and trying to treat each day like it's new, not take any baggage into the next game and into the next practice. And that just comes with more and more experience. Goaltending is in hockey is one of the toughest positions in sports and the mental side of it is so huge to be able to have a bad start or a bad break and get yourself back to square one. I think those experiences can only help you if you handle them the right way.
Brian, heading into March, your personal numbers were really strong. Obviously, March didn't go as well. But I'm curious. How challenging was the sheer number of games that you had to play in March, but because of the schedule, and because of Carter struggling? And how much of an impact did that have on you and your performance?
That's just the thing. You say one guy struggling. As a team, we struggled. And as the goaltender you’re usually the product of that and your numbers will suffer because of it. You have to realize that and you can't put it all on yourself, even if you know the outside world wants to. Those numbers are as much team numbers as personal and when the team struggles a little bit, you're gonna kind of feel that too.
Like I said, if you can handle it the right way and try to come back the next night and forget about those bad experiences, it can work out well. For myself, numbers-wise, the year started out really good and sometimes you're the product of some bad bounces. Little bit sloppy in the defensive zone and you kind of pay the price, numbers wise.
What I really focus on and what I'm really proud of this year is personally my record, having 15-9-2 and on a team that's two games over 500. I take pride in that. Those are the numbers when it comes down to it, wins is kind of all that really matters as a goalie and trying to get your team over a hump and into the playoffs. That's what I'm proud of.
Brian, your last two deals have been one year deal. Is that difficult at times? You know? Are you ever hoping and searching for maybe a two year deal where you can get a little bit more security at this stage of your career?
Yeah, obviously you want to get as many years for as much money as you can, right? I mean, that's what everybody would say. But, you know, it doesn't really bother me. I mean, I've kind of fought my whole career and proved it every year. I think it makes you a little bit stronger, actually knowing that you'd have to really show yourself and you can't rest on your laurels from years past. And you have to bring it every night, if you want to stay in this league. And if that's the cards you're dealt and you've got a plan, you've got to play them.
Brian, kind of going back to a little bit about what you said, in regards to Carter. I don't know if you necessarily meant you can't help him talk his way through it, or if that was just him specifically, but as kind of that veteran goaltender back there. And even with a guy like Alex Lyon, as well, who has been honest about his struggles before, is there really anything you can do or you can share? Maybe about those tough times you went through and kind of, you know, having to prove that, you know, you can go above the adversity?
That's not my point. Obviously, you can share stuff to help, stories and tricks or mental swing thoughts that helps you get through those tough times. My point is that, it sometimes doesn't matter. Like you have really have to go through those experiences yourself, and learn how to handle on your own way. You got to take little pieces from all the mentors and all the coaches that you've had and try to piece together what makes you tick and what makes you kind of respond in a positive way. I don't mean that. It's more of a generalization that sometimes you got to go through the tough times to get to the greener pastures.
Brian, this is a two-part question kind of thing. Last season, everybody during the summer had you guys went to the summer, you guys, you didn't really get to see family a lot. You were more in the bubble, focused on the bubble, you couldn't have family there. My question is how good is it going to be getting back to normalcy going through a full offseason spending it with family doing things you normally used to do? Train normally way you would train? And then how quickly will you come to a decision when you want to make the decision, if you want to start reengaging back here, or if you want to go towards free agency?
I don't know. Like my set-up, where I train, it was pretty much the same any other year and I felt good coming into this year, really, really healthy all year long. So, I was fortunate that my situation was pretty good personally, as far as training goes. And I was with my family. I was away from extended family. I got to a good little pack and when you got that, it does make it a little easier when you're kind of squared away and hunkered away from going out and doing your regular things socially.
Definitely lucky to have that and have a family to focus on and kids to raise. It kind of makes you worry less about the outside world and just kind of focus on what's going on on a day to day basis trying to wrangle two boys around the house. So sorry, I don't know if there was another part of that question that I'm not getting to.
It was just how when do you feel like you're going to start making decision towards next season, whether to reengage with the Flyers. You're gonna take a lot of time off? You're spending your family. Are you going to just make a decision point and saying this is the decision point whether to reengage with the Flyers or go to free agency?
Any conversations, well, I don't know when they're gonna happen, but you're open to everything. So we'll see when that comes out. And there's no timelines right now. So every things kind of fresh for the organization and for us as players. So you just take some time away. You don't have to tie your skates anytime soon right now. So it's just try to reset and reconnect.
With the schedules, it's been tough for everybody being away from kind of your everyday and whoever you spend most of your time with and your families. I'm definitely looking forward to that and when it comes time to talk, definitely open for everything.