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Quick Hits: Giroux, Therien's Take, Recchi, Selby |
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Quick Hits: March 27, 2020
1) Flyers captain Claude Giroux participated in an NHL-organized conference call on Thursday with other Metro Division players, including Sidney Crosby, Jordan Staal, and Marc Staal. Among other topics, the players discussed how they're holding up during the NHL pause, how they're keeping in touch with teammates and, if they had the power to choose, how they would conduct the rest of the 2019-20 if and when the league is able to resume.
Giroux admitted that it's tough mentally dealing with the uncertainty over when or if the season will be completed. He also said it's hard not to be a little frustrated with the stoppage after the Flyers had been among the NHL's best teams for two-plus months beforehand. However, he's trying to stay optimistic.
In terms of staying physically ready to play, Giroux said that home workouts have to suffice with no access to team workout facilities or rinks.
"I have a bike in my basement, and that's pretty much it," Giroux said. I'm doing the old-school workouts, doing pushups and sprints. Trying to stay busy but it's definitely tough when you don't have the equipment for it."
The Flyers captain believes that, presuming a return this season, the caliber of play leaguewide will depend on how much preparation opportunity the players are given. Will there be a a bonafide mini-camp? Will there be additiional regular season games played before the start of the playoffs?
"I think it would be good to get a few games in before the playoffs, especially teams that are fighting for a spot. You want to give everybody a fair chance. Whatever's the fairest, I think everybody would kind of accept that," Giroux said.
In terms of how the Flyers players are staying in touch with one another while cooped up at home, Giroux said it is mostly by group chats.
"We have a busy group chat. Everybody gets involved. We did a group FaceTime the other day. It didn't go very well. Everyone just started screaming, so you couldn't hear anybody. So we're just trying to keep the group chat going," Giroux said.
The 32-year-old Giroux said he recently bought an Xbox, played teammated Scott Laughton twice in FIFA, and lost twice. He hasn't played since,
"My confidence is hurting right now," Giroux joked.
The conference call participants were also asked about what they least miss about playing against each other. Grinning the whole time, all three among Giroux, Crosby and Jordan Staal accused either other of serially cheating on faceoffs and Giroux was also cited as a non-stop chirper. The three forwards, including Staal, said they do not miss getting slashed and hooked by Jordan's veteran NHL defenseman brother, Marc.
2) The weekly "Therien's Take" on the Flyers official website will resume later today. I will post a link when it is available.
3) Today in Flyers History: On March 27, 1994, Mark Recchi recorded his 100th point of the campaign for a second straight season. However, the Flyers sustained a 3-2 overtime home loss to the Anaheim Ducks. The Flyers trailed, 2-1, late in the third period when Recchi set up rookie Mikael Renberg (35th goal of the season) for a power play goal with 2:44 remaining on the clock. Unfortunately for the Flyers, Garry Valk's second goal of the game won the match in OT for the Ducks.
4) March 27: Brit Selby celebrates his 75th birthday. A former Calder Trophy winner with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Selby was selected by the Flyers from Toronto in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft. He spent two seasons with the Flyers, recording 25 goals and 53 points in 119 regular season games and two points (1g, 1a) in seven games in the 1968 Stanley Cup quarterfinals against the St. Louis Blues.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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