Umberger returns to Philadelphia at the price of Hartnell

What is it about June 23? 

A player who never should have had to leave the franchise, one whose memorable playoff round against the Montreal Canadiens six years ago appeared to have cemented his place as a regular, has been re-acquired.

In a Monday bombshell revealed at high noon, the Flyers announced that R.J. Umberger was brought back from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Scott Hartnell. A fourth-round pick in the draft next year was also picked up.

It's the fifth major deal the franchise has made in the last three years on this specific date. Three years ago, Paul Holmgren sent Mike Richards to the Kings for Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn, shipped Jeff Carter to Columbus for Jake Voracek and the draft picks which led to Sean Couturier and Nick Cousins, then signed Ilya Bryzgalov to a $51 million contract. Two years back, it was Luke Schenn from Toronto for James van Riemsdyk. And now this.

"R.J. is a versatile guy who can play all positions," Flyers head coach Craig Berube said in a press release issued shortly after the announcement. "He's a good penalty killer who skates well. He's a veteran who has been around a long time and knows how to play the game properly. He'll be used in a lot of different areas.I think with our team it is nice to have a real versatile guy like him."

A simple crunching of the numbers reveals the up-side to the transaction: Hartnell had five years remaining and $23.75 million cap hit on a lengthy contract extension signed in 2012, while Umberger only has three years and $13.8 million left on his current deal. Cap relief in the short term doesn't look satisfying, but if Ron Hextall is looking to the future and excising contracts instead of adding on, that's a significant upgrade and cause for elation.

"Cap flexibility moving forward was part of the thought process here and that is attractive to us. Three years down the road and looking ahead, we got guys who will be up," Hextall stated."When you look at a move, you look at a lot of things...tomorrow, a year, two years, three years, four years.

It's also key to note that Hartnell had a no-movement clause built into his latest contract, so whatever spurred the move might have been tipped behind closed doors between player and management. Hextall later revealed that the club came to Hartnell with the trade last week, and that the latter took some time to digest the ramifications. He also admitted it's a lateral move from a player standpoint.

The 32-year-old Hartnell leaves behind seven seasons, 157 goals, 326 points and 908 penalty minutes in 517 regular-season games, then 75 playoff appearances during which he totaled 16 scores and 25 helpers. Despite first-line minutes, he was never able to capture the magic of a career-best 37 goals, aided by the passing of Claude Giroux, in the 2011-12 campaign.

Hartnell's speed and discipline was also a concern over the last two seasons, something which precipitated a drop-off in his minutes. Umberger saw a dip in his playing time under Todd Richards.

"The number one thing is that we needed to get quicker up front," added Hextall.

Umberger, also 32, picked up 18 goals and 16 assists in 74 games with the Jackets last season. He had connected for 13 goals and 37 assists over 74 games for the Flyers in 2007-08, before being a salary-cap casualty roughly one month after the Flyers' season ended against the Penguins in the East Finals. He's played the last six seasons in Ohio's capital and took part in Columbus' only two playoff trips in that span.

The native of the Pittsburgh area had participated in three full NHL seasons, before his coming-out party in the 2008 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the top-seeded Habs. In that five-game triumph, Umberger netted eight of his 10 goals that postseason, doing more than the celebrated Danny Briere to help the Orange and Black pull off the series upset.

"I guess no matter where I was going, it was going to be a surprise. But I wasn't expecting it to happen this morning. It was apparent that the team wanted to play the younger guys more. We've had over the last couple years some great young talent, and they deserve to play. Plus, there are some guys waiting to come up next year, so it's totally understandable," Umberger said on a conference call with local press. "It was time to move on to somewhere else and finish my career."

As for immediate gains, it does open up the possibility of either a trade or signing in the near future for the open winger spot on the presumed first-line Giroux-Jake Voracek pairing.  There's also little doubt that Umberger isn't a replacement on the top line for Hartnell. Rumors and internet speculation just after season's end has pinned Winnipeg's Evander Kane as a possibility to fill that slot up front.

In addition, the solution to the Vinny Lecavalier question is still forthcoming, with speculation abounding that his lack of cohesion in Berube's system mandates a move. There are also rumors of an ancillary deal between the Flyers and Edmonton Oilers -- but nothing of more substance than had been bandied about during the second half of the regular season.

If you recall, on June 23, 2011, those of us in the business of news gathering had to track down unsubstantiated rumors of a Brayden Coburn contract extension and the acquisition of the rights to free-agent forward Michal Handzus -- both of which wound up being dead ends. 

Hartnell moves on having accumulated six hat tricks during his time in Philadelphia, the most for a departing player since Eric Lindros (2000) and John LeClair (2004) both left the franchise with 12 trifectas. 

Umberger was a member of the John Stevens coached 2005 Calder Cup winning Philadelphia Phantoms, and earned a promotion to the big club the following season.

"It's never easy to make a trade. And it's never easy to make a trade with a guy who's been a really good Flyer," Hextall added. "If you look at what Scott Hartnell has done for the franchise, on the ice and off the ice, it's been a lot. So part of that, we'll all miss Scott and his personality."

MO Radio Show on Sports Live w/NFL Insider John McMullen 06/23 by Mo Radio Show | Sports Podcasts

MO Radio Show on Sports Live w/NFL Insider John McMullen 06/23 by Mo Radio Show | Sports Podcasts

Meet the Flyers' other picks at #17

Our fair city will be hosting the 2014 NHL Entry Draft this coming Friday and Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center, the first time it's occurred in the 47-year history of the franchise.

For only the third time in club history, the Philadelphia Flyers' first pick in the upcoming draft will be located at No. 17.

Looking past the immediate hopes, dreams and fears of the fandom and the thought process of the front office in making a mid-first-round choice, there's not very far to go for the team to make an impression with this particular selection.

Let's hope Ron Hextall and the rest of the brain trust can come up with a better, longer-lasting player  than the two gentlemen taken previously with that slot. Here's a brief look at both.

One of Peter Laviolette's assistant coaches until this past October, Kevin McCarthy was one of the first players to bookend his career in Philadelphia. He spent parts of 10 seasons patrolling NHL bluelines, and was even well-respected enough to assume the captaincy for one club. He recorded 258 points and 527 penalty minutes over 537 regular-season appearances from 1977-87 -- but only 3-17-20 and 57 of those came with the Flyers franchise.

Taken from Winnipeg of the Western Hockey League with a pick strangely enough based upon the

Flyers' standing from the previous season and not from the fleecing of another team, McCarthy was supposed to represent one of the new vanguard of defensemen taken by Keith Allen who could move the puck and move bodies at the same time.

The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder made an impact during his rookie season under Fred Shero with a respectable 17 points (2G, 15A) and plus-29 rating over 62 games despite missing more than a month with a sprained right knee. However, things changed drastically in his sophomore campaign with Bob McCammon at the helm. McCarthy saw his ice time reduced and the press box view more prevalent, and on December 29, 1978 he was bundled off to the Canucks with Drew Callander for forward Dennis Ververgaert. In typical Flyers front office fashion, the deal was struck because of the potential gain.

"Kevin is a very positive kid," Allen said in Full Spectrum. "But Ververgaert is a guy who should get 30 to 35 goals for us. Everyone is concerned with his attitude, but he's a solid player in every way."

Note: final tally for Ververgaert was 23 in 95 games over less than two seasons.

McCarthy needed to be positive after a hip injury cost him the rest of the 78-79 season, but he recovered enough to be a mainstay on the Vancouver rearguard -- and assumed the role of team captain from 1979 through the miracle run to the Cup Finals in the Spring of '82 -- until a trade two-thirds of the way into the 1983-84 season shipped him to lowly Pittsburgh.

It seemed a comeback story was in the works as now GM Bob Clarke signed McCarthy as a free agent in the Summer of 1985, once the Pens were through excising veterans from their roster to build around Mario Lemieux. In the offseason, Miro Dvorak returned to Czechoslovakia and head coach Mike Keenan wasn't pleased with Thomas Eriksson's effort, yet McCarthy did not play well enough in camp to garner more than a spot with the Hershey Bears.

Over the next two seasons, he participated in just six games, as an injury replacement. McCarthy did end up winning the Calder Cup as a veteran backliner for the 1988 Hershey Bears under current Flyers assistant John Paddock.

To be charitable, Mark Suzor's tenure in Orange and Black was as memorable as it was long-lasting.

A left-handed shooting defenseman out of Ontario who plied his trade for the Kingston Canadians of the Ontario Hockey Association, Suzor was taken in the first round of the 1976 draft after connecting for 16 goals, 30 assists and 108 PIM in 48 games during his third and final year in juniors.

Suzor didn't make an impression close to McCarthy's, and was sent down to the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League for the balance of the 1976-77 season.

He performed in his NHL debut on March 10, 1977 in a 7-2 Spectrum trashing of the Cleveland Barons and stayed for two more wins before returning to Western Mass. His fourth and final Flyers appearance came in a season-ending 3-3 tie with the Atlanta Flames, giving Suzor the distinction of never having lost a game here (3-0-1) in which he took at least one turn on the ice.

That wouldn't be the case the following season, as Allen sprang into action in August of '77 and shipped Suzor to Denver for equally-disappointing winger Barry Dean. Given a bigger role on a losing club, Suzor totaled four goals and 19 points in 60 games for the Rockies and never saw NHL ice again, kicking between the AHL and IHL until his career-ending eight-game stint for the Toledo Goaldiggers in 1980-81.

Reflections

Looking back at the draft in 10-year increments yields some interesting results from Allen, Clarke and Holmgren.

In 1974, with the club's seventh-round pick (125th overall), Allen chose goaltender Rejean Lemelin. Lemelin spent the bulk of his professional career with the Calgary Flames and Boston Bruins, while he's most remembered here for his 13-year tenure as goaltending coach (1996-2009).

Ten years later, Clarke's first draft yielded a bonanza of personality thanks to Greg Smyth (22nd overall), Scott Mellanby (27th) and Jeff Chychrun (37th) in the second round alone, plus John Stevens (fifth round).

Smyth was more famous as a Flyer for his poor attitude, work habits and mohawk haircut than his actual play, and was flipped to Quebec in 1988 for Terry Carkner.

Mellanby made his NHL debut late in the 1985-86 season, and became a regular the following year under Mike Keenan -- who rode Mellanby mercilessly and taunted him about his father's connection with the CBC and his relationship with Clarke. He tallied 83 goals and 197 points in 355 regular-season games adding nine goals and 11 assists in 50 playoff appearances for Philadelphia.

Chychrun spent parts of five seasons in Philly, more a punisher than a legitimate defenseman after 20 points and 608 penalty minutes in 199 contests. Stevens only took part in nine NHL games over two seasons at the end of Keenan's tenure, but has served the franchise as Phantoms and Flyers head coach, winning a Calder Cup in 2005.

In 1994, Clarke's first shot in his second tenure as GM, the club had no first or second round picks. First choice: Artem Anisimov...no, not that one who plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets, but the one born in 1976, a defenseman, who never played in North America. His next notable selection was in the sixth round, known best as Phil Esposito's son-in-law, the player who scored in overtime of Game 3 in the 1996 Eastern Conference Semifinals for Tampa Bay -- Alexander Selivanov. 

One round later, with the 166th pick, it was Colin Forbes. He totaled 33 goals and 61 points over 311 games from 1996-99 and was used as bait to snag Mikael Andersson and Sandy McCarthy from the Lightning in March of 1999. At 6-foot-plus and over 200 pounds, Forbes was a large enough presence to be used on the top line along with Eric Lindros and John LeClair post-Legion. In the ninth round, it was Johan Hedberg out of Leksands, who played 11 years in the NHL, the last in 2013 with New Jersey.

The last season where there was a draft, but no season, occurred 10 years ago. It was not one of Clarke's finest hours as the sands in the hourglass nearly reached the bottom. Hamstrung again without picks in the first two rounds, the first choice, 27th overall, was the forgettable Rob Bellamy. His second pick in the fourth round (124th overall) was David Laliberte, who potted two goals and one assist in his lone 11 NHL games for the Flyers in 2009-10.

Which brings us to the 170th selection in the draft: Ladislav Scurko. The now-28-year-old confessed to killing a referee in January of 2008 in Slovakia. He was released from prison in 2011, but eventually convicted of the crime during a new trial in July of 2012 and sentenced to eight years based on diminished sanity. Scurko never made it higher than the Western Hockey League of Canadian juniors before returning to Europe.

Goaltender Martin Houle (8th round, 1 game) and forward Triston Grant (9 games, 2006-07) was taken in the ninth round and didn't make much of an impact on a roster which was part of the worst season in franchise history.

Portugal stuns U.S. with late goal

MANAUS, Brazil - In hot, humid conditions at Arena Amazonia, the U.S. Men's National Team earned one valuable point in a 2-2 draw against No. 4 Portugal during its second match of Group G play at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Jermaine Jones and Clint Dempsey each scored for the USA with Dempsey's 81st-minute tally giving the USA a 2-1, come-from-behind lead.

The U.S. was seconds away from clinching a spot in the Round of 16 as a win would have sent the U.S. through and Portugal would have been eliminated. However, Portugal's Silvestre Varela tallied the latest of equalizers in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time on virtually the last touch of the game.

The USA is now tied atop Group G with Germany at points each, but Germany holds the tiebreaker based on goal differential. The USA will face Germany in its Group G finale on Thursday, June 26, at 12 p.m. ET (ESPN, WatchESPN, Univision) and can clinch a spot in the Round of 16 in the following ways:

    A victory against Germany, which would also give the USA the group title
    A draw against Germany
    A draw between Ghana and Portugal in the other Group G match, which will be played concurrently to USA vs. Germany
    A loss combined with ending group play with superior goal differential over the winner between Ghana and Portugal

For full standings and results, visit ussoccer.com's 2014 FIFA World Cup homepage.

Goal Scoring Rundown:

POR - Nani (unassisted), 5th minute: Portugal capitalized on a mistake to go ahead early in the match. The sequence started on the left side from Andre Almeida to Miguel Veloso, who then crossed into the middle of the box. Central defender Geoff Cameron failed to clear the ball as it skipped off his left foot and straight to Portugal forward Nani, who found himself alone in front of the U.S. net. Nani settled and powered the ball over U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard to make it 1-0. USA 0, POR 1

USA - Jermaine Jones (unassisted), 64th minute: After the goal, the U.S. was the aggressor and the more dominant team and finally got the goal it had seemingly earned. The U.S. earned a corner kick from the right and Graham Zusi's delivery was deflected away by Portugal's defense. U.S. midfielder Jermaine Jones collected outside the box toward the left, took a touch inside to his right to make space, and with Nani defending, crushed his 27-yard shot just inside the right post into the side netting as Portugal goalkeeper Beto could only watch flat-footed. USA 1, POR 1

USA - Clint Dempsey (Graham Zusi), 81st minute: Michael Bradley passed to second-half sub DeAndre Yedlin on the right, and the young defender - who played in the midfield after coming on for Alejandro Bedoya in the 72nd minute - took the ball to the end line and crossed on the ground into the middle. The ball was deflected and Bradley got a shot attempt, which was blocked. The ball ricocheted to Graham Zusi on the left, and he calmly clipped a short left-footed cross over Portugal's Joao Pereira to Clint Dempsey, who guided the ball into the net from the doorstep with his mid-section for the go-ahead goal. USA 2, POR 1

POR - Silvestre Varela (Cristiano Ronaldo), 90+5th minute: With the USA clinging onto the lead and just seconds left in the five minutes of allotted stoppage time, Cristiano Ronaldo crossed from the right side on a counter attack. The connection to Silvestre Varela was pin-point as Varela dove to powerfully head the ball from the edge of the six-yard box into the right side of the net for the dramatic equalizer. USA 2, POR 2

Key Saves and Defensive Stops:

POR - Beto, 17th minute: The USA's best scoring chance in the first half from the run of play came from Michael Bradley's pass from the midfield to Clint Dempsey who was sprinting into the right side of the box. The well-timed run led to Dempsey getting a look at the goal from a stiff angle in the right side of the box, but his shot toward the near post was knocked away by Portugal goalkeeper Beto.

POR - Beto, 27th minute: Clint Dempsey once again challenged the Portugal defense when he was set up Graham Zusi on the right. Dempsey had a tight window as he fended off a defender, and then shot right-footed toward the near right post, where Beto cleaned up with the foot save.

USA - Tim Howard, 42nd minute: Portugal's counter attack went through Cristiano Ronaldo on the left side, where he crossed to a wide-open Nani on the right. Nani shot from outside the box, trying to find the left side of the frame, but Howard dove for the save, eventually leading to a free kick that Ronaldo fired over the goal.

USA - Tim Howard, 45th minute: Nani's strike from outside the box snuck pass diving U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard, who tried to bat the ball away. Instead, it clipped off his glove and hit the right post flush for a rebound. First-half sub Eder had a chance to strike the bouncing ball at goal, but the off-balance Howard managed to stick up his left hand to spectacularly lift the ball over the goal or it would have been 2-0.

POR - Ricardo Costa, 55th minute: The USA's most clear-cut scoring opportunity to this point pulled a last-ditch block from Portugal's defense. Graham Zusi led Fabian Johnson on the right side. Johnson brought the ball to the end line and drew goalkeeper Beto toward him before crossing to Michael Bradley in the middle of the box. With Beto on the ground, Bradley shot at the goal from almost point blank range and somehow sprawling Portugal defender Ricardo Costa cleared the ball off the line with his left knee.

Milestone Watch:

    Clint Dempsey scored his second goal in this year's FIFA World Cup and his fourth in tournament history. His four goals tie Bert Patenaude for second on the all-time USA list, and is one goal behind Landon Donovan's five tallies.

    Dempsey moved past Eric Wynalda in all-time appearances with his 107th game on Sunday and sits in ninth place on the list. Wynalda had 106 caps from 1990-2000.

    Dempsey earned his eighth FIFA World Cup cap, which moves him into a tie for ninth place on the U.S. MNT list alongside Marcelo Balboa and Wynalda.

    With his 102nd international appearance, Tim Howard ties the U.S. MNT goalkeeping record set by Kasey Keller (102 caps from 1990-2007). Howard and Keller are tied for 11th on the all-time caps list overall.

    DaMarcus Beasley, the only USA player to appear in four FIFA World Cups, played in his ninth World Cup game, which ties him for sixth on the U.S. MNT's all-time list with Eddie Pope and Tab Ramos. Beasley also played in the 118th match of his career as he sits in fifth place on the all-time list, nine caps behind fourth-place Balboa (127).

    Midfielder Michael Bradley moved past Steve Cherundolo on the all-time caps list with his 88th appearance. Bradley is 19th, two caps shy of 18th-place John Harkes (90 from 1987-2000).

Next on the Schedule:

The U.S. MNT faces Germany in the third and final game of Group G play at the 2014 FIFA World Cup at 12 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 26, at Arena Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil.
Broadcast information: ESPN, WatchESPN, Univision and ESPN Radio
Social: Twitter (@ussoccer); Facebook; Instagram

Additional Notes:

    The USA is now 8-17-6 all-time in the FIFA World Cup while Portugal moves to 12-9-4 all-time.
    The USA is 2-2-2 all-time against Portugal.
    The 13th-ranked USA faced a top-10 FIFA-ranked opponent for the 58th time in its history. The USA is now 16-33-9 all-time against top-10 teams in FIFA's ranking system and 9-22-3 against top-5 teams.
    The U.S. MNT moves to 5-1-2 in 2014.
    The USA is now 2-4-1 all-time in games played in Brazil.
    U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann's starting lineup featured Tim Howard in goal and the same back line from the Ghana match: left back DaMarcus Beasley, right back Fabian Johnson and center backs Geoff Cameron and Matt Besler.
    The USA's midfield-heavy 4-5-1 formation included holding midfielders Jermaine Jones and Kyle Beckerman, along with Graham Zusi on the left, Alejandro Bedoya on the right and Michael Bradley in the center.
    Clint Dempsey played up front and wore the captain's armband.
    The USA is 9-3-3 in games with Dempsey as the team captain.
    DeAndre Yedlin made his FIFA World Cup debut when he replaced Bedoya in the 72nd minute. Yedlin played in the midfield after mostly playing at right back both professionally and internationally.
    Chris Wondolowski replaced Dempsey in the 87th minute to earn his first cap in a FIFA World Cup.
    In the first minute of second-half stoppage time, Klinsmann utilized his final substitution when he brought in Omar Gonzalez for Zusi.
    The USA is now 32-11-9 all-time under Klinsmann.
    The U.S. is 0-14-2 when trailing at halftime in FIFA World Cup play.
    When the USA faces No. 2 Germany on June 26, it will mark the sixth occasion in which the U.S. MNT will play top-5 FIFA-ranked teams in back-to-back games.
    The USA played without forward Jozy Altidore (hamstring). Portugal was without defender Pepe (suspended), forward Hugo Almeida (thigh), midfielder Fabio Coentrao (groin) and goalkeeper Rui Patricio (thigh).

Group G Disciplinary Notes:

    Germany: No infractions through two Group G games
    Ghana: Mohammed Rabiu (caution on June 16; another caution during group stage through quarterfinals would result in one-game suspension); Sulley Muntari (served his one-game suspension on June 22 against the USA; will be available for selection on June 26 against Portugal)
    Portugal: Pepe (served his one-game suspension on June 22 against the USA; should be available for selection on June 26 against Ghana); Joao Pereira (caution on June 16; another caution during group stage through quarterfinals would result in one-game suspension)
    USA: Jermaine Jones (caution on June 22; another caution during group stage through quarterfinals would result in one-game suspension)
    For players who have only one caution through the conclusion of the quarterfinal stage, that yellow card clears from his record heading into the semifinals.

- U.S. Men's National Team Match Report -

Match: U.S. Men's National Team vs. Portugal
Date: June 22, 2014
Competition: 2014 FIFA World Cup - Group G
Venue: Arena Amazonia; Manaus, Brazil
Kickoff: 6 p.m. ET
Attendance: 40,123
Weather: 86 degrees, sunny

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA                        0 2 2
POR                        1 1 2

POR -- Nani                                               5th minute
USA -- Jermaine Jones                               64
USA -- Clint Dempsey (Graham Zusi)           81
POR -- Silvestre Varela (Cristiano Ronaldo)  90+5

Lineups:
USA: 1-Tim Howard; 23-Fabian Johnson, 20-Geoff Cameron, 5-Matt Besler, 7-DaMarcus Beasley; 15-Kyle Beckerman, 13-Jermaine Jones; 11-Alejandro Bedoya (2-DeAndre Yedlin, 72), 4- Michael Bradley, 19- Graham Zusi (3-Omar Gonzalez, 90+1); 8-Clint Dempsey (capt.) (18-Chris Wondolowski, 87)
Subs Not Used: 6-John Brooks, 10-Mix Diskerud, 12-Brad Guzan, 14-Brad Davis, 16-Julian Green, 21-Timmy Chandler, 22-Nick Rimando, 23-Aron Johannsson
Not Available: 17-Jozy Altidore
Head coach: Jurgen Klinsmann

POR: 22-Beto; 2-Bruno Alves, 13-Ricardo Costa, 19-Andre Almeida (6-William Carvalho, 46), 21-Joao Pereira; 4-Miguel Veloso, 8-Joao Moutinho, 16-Raul Meireles (18-Silvestre Varela, 69); 7-Cristiano Ronaldo (capt.), 17-Nani, 23-Heider Postiga (11-Eder, 16)
Subs not used: 1-Eduardo; 9-Hugo Almeida, 10-Vierinha, 12-Rui Patricio, 14-Luis Neto, 15-Rafa Silva, 20-Ruben Amorim
Not Available: 3-Pepe (suspended), 5-Fabio Coentrao, 9-Hugo Almeida, 12-Rui Patricio
Head Coach: Paulo Bento

Stats Summary: USA / POR
Shots: 15 / 21
Shots on Goal: 5 / 7
Saves: 5 / 3
Corner Kicks: 6 / 4
Fouls: 11 / 14
Offside: 1 / 4

Misconduct Summary:
USA -- Jermaine Jones (caution)        75th minute

Officials:
Referee: Nestor Pitana (ARG)
Assistant Referee 1: Hernan Maidana (ARG)
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Pablo Belatti (ARG)
Fourth Official: Walter Lopez (GUA)

Budweiser Man of the Match: Tim Howard

Flyers to open season in Boston

PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Flyers, in conjunction with the National Hockey League, unveiled their schedule for the 2014-15 season over the weekend.

The Flyers will open their 48th NHL season on Wednesday, October 8 at Boston, with the home opener coming the next night on Thursday, October 9 vs. New Jersey.  The Flyers will close the season at home when they host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, April 11, 2015.

The NHL heads into its second season under the current alignment of four divisions –two each in the Eastern and Western Conference.  The two Eastern Conference divisions contain eight teams each and the two in the Western Conference each have seven teams. Once again this year, the Flyers will play all of their divisional opponents at least four times – twice at home and twice on the road.  The schedule format includes an additional game against two of their in-division counterparts for a total of five.  This year, the Flyers’ five-game opponents are Carolina and Columbus.  They will visit the Hurricanes a total of three times and will host the Blue Jackets three times.  The Flyers will play a total of 30 games against opponents in their division.

The Flyers will play the eight Atlantic Division teams three times each for a total of 24 games against that division.  The Flyers will play two home games and one road game against Detroit, Florida, Ottawa and Tampa Bay.  They will play two road games and one home game against Boston, Buffalo, Montreal and Toronto.  The breakdown of home and road games against each Atlantic Division team is the reverse of what it was in the 2013-14 season.

The Flyers will again play a home-and-home series with every Western Conference team, assuring that fans will have the opportunity to see every NHL club at the Wells Fargo Center at least once this season.  The Flyers will play a total of 28 games against the Western Conference, which is split into the Central Division and the Pacific Division.

The Flyers will enjoy a more balanced schedule this year than they have in recent years, with between 10 and 14 games each month.  Their heaviest month of travel comes in December, when they will play 10 of 14 games on the road, and their busiest month at home comes in January when they play nine of 14 at the Wells Fargo Center.

The early part of the season includes a visit from the 2014 Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings on October 28 and the annual Black Friday game, which takes place on November 28 vs. the New York Rangers at 1:00.

The Flyers will visit Dallas and Chicago as part of a three-game road trip in October; after that, they won’t play more than two games in a row on the road or leave the Eastern time zone until early December.  The first extended road trip of the season comes from Nov. 29 – December 9.  After a trip to Madison Square Garden on the 29th, the Flyers will head to California to visit San Jose, Anaheim and Los Angeles before hitting Columbus on the way home.

A four-game homestand follows before the Flyers depart for their annual holiday season road trip, which comes while Disney on Ice Presents Frozen takes over the Wells Fargo Center December 25 through January 4.  This year’s journey is an eight-game trip split into two halves, with three games before Christmas and five games after.  Overall, the stretch runs from Dec. 20 in Toronto to Jan. 3 at New Jersey, with the club returning home to host Ottawa on Jan. 6.

The second half of the season includes a season-high five-game homestand from Jan. 20 – Feb. 5, which starts off with the first of two visits on the season from  Pittsburgh.  The season also concludes with a four-game homestand that begins with Pittsburgh’s second visit, on April 5.  After they return from their holiday trip on Jan. 3, the Flyers only have to deal with two trips of more than two games – a four-game stretch from Feb. 8-15 that’s entirely within the Eastern time zone, and another four-game trip from March 15-21. 

Also on the schedule is the 38th annual Flyers Wives Carnival, which will take place on Sunday, March 1 at the Wells Fargo Center.

Gladiators edge Soul with Hail Mary

PHILADELPHIA – A last-second, 47-yard, Hail Mary pass from Shane Austin to Dominic Goodman sent the Philadelphia Soul (6-8) home with another heart-breaking loss to the Cleveland Gladiators, 69-68 in front of 8,033 fans at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday night. 

Austin tied a League record with 11 touchdowns on the evening.

“We were in position to win tonight,” said Soul head coach Clint Dolezel of the final play.  “We knocked the ball down but they made the catch – it is as simple as that.  Luck has not been on our side, but we have to keep grinding to make it to the playoffs.”

Philadelphia’s offense was led by Derrick Ross who had 19 rushing yards for three touchdowns.  Leading the receiving corps was Tiger Jones with six receptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns.  V’Keon Lacey also helped by putting up six receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown, while Markee White had four catches for 38 yards and a touchdown.  Emery Sammons finished with three receptions for 25 yards and one touchdown.

Soul quarterback Dan Raudabaugh finished the night by completing 19-of-27 passes for 250 yards and five touchdowns and one interception.

Defensively the Soul was led by Riddell Defensive Player of the Game, James Romain who had 7.0 total tackles and two pass breakups.  Also for Philadelphia, LaRico Stevenson had 5.0 total tackles.  Both Calvin Fance and Brandon Perkins each had a sack for the night.

Cleveland’s offense was led by Russell Athletic Offensive Player of Game, Shane Austin as he completed 26-of-040 passes for 409 yards and a franchise-record setting 11 touchdowns.  Dominick Goodman had 10 receptions for 168 yards and three touchdowns, while J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Game, Thyron Lewis tallied eight receptions for 172 yards and four touchdowns.

Gladiator defense was led by Marrio Norman with 7.0 total tackles.  Both Joe Phinisee and Anthony Degrate had 5.0 total tackles for Cleveland.  Randy Colling had the only sack of the night for the Gladiators.

The first quarter kicked off with a Gladiators touchdown, and a missed extra point.  Jones caught Austin’s pass for 23 yards three minutes into the game.  The Soul responded shortly after when Sammons caught Raudabaugh’s 20-yard pass.  New kicker, Jon Striefsky also missed the extra point and with 10:51 left in the first, Philadelphia and Cleveland were tied 6-6.  Four minutes later Cleveland’s Goodman scored on a 17-yard reception from Austin, before Pettrey missed another extra point.  Tiger Jones scored an easy touchdown, being unmarked and able to catch Raudabaugh’s long 40-yard throw.  Striefsky’s extra point kick was good and at 4:19 the Soul were leading 13-12.  With 20 seconds left in the first, Soul defense held strong as Fance forced a fumble that was recovered by Bryan Robinson in the Gladiators for a Soul touchdown, and at the end of the quarter, Philadelphia led Cleveland 20-12.

Soul defense continued to hold strong in the beginning of the second quarter, holding off the Gladiators to third down before they scored.  Austin’s 47-yard pass proved successful when Lewis’ touchdown catch put the Soul only ahead by two points.  Jones got on the board again and after a penalty, Striefsky still gained the extra point from 28 yards out.  Jones’ touchdown put the Soul up 27-18 with 9:20 left in the first half.  Cleveland’s Lewis also got on the board again after connecting with Austin for a 40-yard catch and reducing Philadelphia’s lead to 27-25.  Soul’s Little quickly answered with a 55-yard kick return touchdown.  With less than a minute to go in the half, Gladiator Collin Taylor caught a nine-yard pass from Austin to score, and once again Pettrey missed the extra point, his team trailing by three points.  Ross furthered that lead for Philadelphia after rushing a yard for a touchdown, followed by another successful extra point kick for Striefsky.  At the end of the first half, the Soul led the Gladiators 41-31.

The third quarter started off slow for Philadelphia, with an interception for Raudabaugh.  Cleveland’s Lewis had another touchdown, catching Austin’s 14-yard pass.  Pettery was successful with his extra point kick, and with 10:51 left in the third, the Gladiators trailed the Soul 41-38.  Ross made it 48-38 after rushing one yard.  The Gladiator’s Goodman scored his second touchdown of the night after receiving Austin’s 17-yard pass.  With 6:03 remaining in the quarter, Cleveland trailed Philadelphia by four.  The third quarter ended with the Soul leading the Gladiators 48-44.

Ross’ 1-yard touchdown run kicked off the fourth quarter, 12:34 minutes remaining, putting the Soul up 55-46.  Cleveland’s Taylor received a 7-yard pass from Austin to answer Ross’ touchdown.  A failed two-point conversion kept the Soul in the lead, 55-50 with 8:09 left in the game.  Philadelphia added 12 points to their lead when Lacey caught Raudabaugh’s 7-yard pass.  The Soul led the Gladiators 62-50 with less than three minutes remaining in the game.  Cleveland responded when Taylor received a 2-yard pass from Austin, cutting Philadelphia’s lead to 62-57.   The Gladiators took the lead with 33 seconds remaining in the game after Austin connected with Lewis again.  Their two-point conversion attempt failed, and with under a minute remaining in the game, Cleveland led Philadelphia 63-62.  The Soul answered when White caught Raudabaugh’s 3-yard pass with two seconds left in the game, making it 68-63.  Cleveland used those last two seconds to win the game when Goodman caught Austin’s 47-yard Hail Mary deflected pass, and beat the Soul, 69-68.

In Week 16, the Soul travel to Des Moines, Iowa to play the Iowa Barnstormers for the last time this season.  The game will kick off Saturday, June 28 at 8:05 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Arena.

Russell Athletic Offensive Player: Cleveland’s Shane Austin

Riddell Defensive Player: Philadelphia’s James Romain

J Lewis Small AFL Playmaker:  Cleveland’s Thyron Lewis

Cutter’s Catch of the Game: Cleveland’s Goodman caught a 47-yard pass from Austin in the last play of the game to seal the victory

Spalding Highlight of the Game: Philadelphia’s Ray Little returned a kick for 55 yards for a touchdown

Extra Points: Strange bedfellows, Rex defends Belichick | CharlotteObserver.com

Extra Points: Strange bedfellows, Rex defends Belichick | CharlotteObserver.com

Witherspoon returns to action in West Deptford

West Deptford, New Jersey -  Heavyweight contender Chazz Witherspoon will returns to the ring after a two-year absence when he takes part in an eight-round bout at the Riverwinds Community Center in West Deptford, New Jersey on Saturday, July 12.

Witherspoon (30-3, 22 KOs) of nearby Paulsboro established himself as one of the top American heavyweights by winning his first 23 bouts, including triumphs over solid fighters like Michael Alexander,  Talmadge Griffis and Jonathan Haggler.

The St. Joseph's product's first defeat came at the hands of two-time world title challenger Chris Arreola via a controversial disqualification and he also struggled against another two-time world title challenger in veteran Tony Thompson.

Witherspoon did, however, top  Adam Richards in a bout voted Ring Magazine's 2008 Heavyweight Fight of the Year.

He is trying to get back to winning form after a third-round stoppage defeat to then-undefeated prospect Seth Mitchell on April 28, 2012 in a bout where Witherspoon had Mitchell badly hurt in several occasions.

"I feel good and rejuvenated after the layoff," said Witherspoon. "I haven't been out this long because I wanted to.  I had several fights fall through, so I decided to start my own company and do my own shows and I can't wait until July 12 to put on a great event not far from where I live."

Witherspoon's opponent will be named shortly.

Short distance runaround: Flyers who have come back to the fold

In the space of only 16 days, four men who once and recently graced the ice on South Broad Street -- Ville Leino, Mike Richards, Michal Handzus and Ilya Bryzgalov -- will likely be on the market, either through expected compliance buyouts (Leino, Richards) or through plain old unrestricted free agency (Bryz, Handzus).

Add to that the consternation thrown towards the Inquirer's hockey beat writer for the bordering-on-fetishization of the immediate success of three Los Angeles Kings who used to wear the Orange and Black over the last month, the eyelids begin to twitch and the gears began to turn.

That gave rise to a joke about looking up the shortest time a player spent away from the franchise before coming back.

Drawing inspiration from those tweets from Tuesday, I decided to scan the record books and try to locate as many players -- skaters and goaltenders -- as possible who suited up for the Flyers in at least two separate stints throughout their history and track how long it took for those Prodigal Sons to return.

With a margin of error in the 1-2 person range, and removing certain technicalities like Keith Acton being stashed in separate deals with Winnipeg in the offseason prior to the 1989-90 campaign, the totals were still startling, primarily because of the number of transactions which took place before Bob Clarke and Paul Holmgren started to call their boys back home.

In all, at least 38 different players have had their Flyers tenure interrupted by time spent with at least one other organization before returning. Six have been goaltenders, and the rest skaters, with 11 of those defensemen and 20 forwards.

The recently departed Keith "Thief" Allen was responsible for five of those, with the biggest of all happening on his watch: the re-acquisition of Bernie Parent from the Toronto Maple Leafs in May of 1973 after having traded him to the Leafs in February of 1971. In that bunch, the most obscure name is Larry Wright, a center who logged 36 games over parts of two seasons from 1971-73 and came back for two more in 1975-76. Current Phantoms bench boss Terry Murray got his second go-round in 1980-81 after a stint in Detroit thanks to Allen, and the first enforcer retread, Jack McIlhargey, was returned on Day 2 of 1980.

The unlamented Bob McCammon, coach here for parts of four seasons and General Manager for 1983-84, was responsible for another surprise move -- re-signing Rick MacLeish on the eve of that season after Allen had shipped him to Hartford in July of 1981.

And even Russ Farwell, the bridge between the Bob Clarke front-office eras, has two retreads to his credit: bringing back defenseman Moe Mantha for five games after his Olympic experience with Team USA in 1992 and snagging Dave Brown back from the Edmonton Oilers in June of 1991 in a deal which saw the Flyers briefly obtain Jari Kurri.

Over 17-plus seasons in two separate tries in the GM's chair, Clarke spun the wheel and took a chance a whopping 18 times. Mirroring the man who selected him in the second round of the 1969 draft, Clarke's biggest turnabout was also in the acquisition of a goaltender, this time Ron Hextall from the Islanders for Tommy Soderstrom in September of 1994.

The franchise icon also brought back Pete Peeters (1989) and Sean Burke (1998) for the 2004 stretch run after Jeff Hackett retired due to vertigo. He provided a fresh infusion of grit into the lineup for anticipated playoff runs by welcoming Craig Berube (1999, Washington) and Rick Tocchet (2000, Phoenix), bolstered the blueline with deals and signings to net Kjell Samuelsson (1995), Kerry Huffman (1996), Karl Dykhuis (1998), Steve Duchesne (1999), Dmitri Yushkevich (2003) and Chris Therien (2005), and added forward depth with Dan Quinn (1996), Mikael Renberg (1998), Mark Recchi and Jody Hull (1999).

There were also the head-scratchers of taking in former Canucks captain Kevin McCarthy (1986) only to have him play the rest of his career in Hershey; misplaced faith in a washed-up Ken Linseman (1990) for Dave Poulin, and taking back Phantoms hero Mike Maneluk (1998) after a 13-game audition was enough to ship him to Chicago.

Holmgren's handiwork was all over the last lockout-shortened season, as Ruslan Fedotenko, Mike Knuble and Simon Gagne all took their NHL bows here between January and April of 2013. Homer also dug deep to bring back Steve "Human Missile" Downie for Max Talbot on Halloween, and how can we forget the other rocket-fueled miscreant Jesse Boulerice, whose second tenure didn't last long after a 20-game suspension for charging Vancouver's Ryan Kesler. Todd Fedoruk had the honor of his face caving in thanks to a Colton Orr punch in his second time around.

It wasn't all bad, though. Vinny Prospal charged up his line and the power play during the 2008 playoffs, Danny Syvret notched the franchise's first-ever outdoor goal and was so essential he was returned twice more to the organization. Ray Emery, once starter whose career was in jeopardy, provided a rock-solid backup to Steve Mason, Brian Boucher came back so much he decided to retire to South Jersey and Michael Leighton spelled him in the 2010 postseason until the goal that dare not be named.

The Long and Short of It

Upon further review, Jody Hull garners the honor of the player whose two tenures with the Flyers occurred the quickest. After playing the 1998-99 season in Philly in the first of a two-year deal, Hull was exposed in the expansion draft and taken by Atlanta on June 25, 1999. Yet, after 13 days of the 1999-2000 season elapsed, and having not seen a single second of ice time with the nascent Thrashers, he was sent back here for cash on October 15, 1999. 

Syvret is the next closest. His glory as the lone goal scorer in the 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park was no buffer when let go and signed as a free agent by the Anaheim Ducks on July 21, 2010, and given back exactly four months later following six appearances in a deal which saw problem child Patrick Maroon exiled to Southern California.

It's no contest when trying to ascertain the Flyer with the longest period between tenures. Ruslan Fedotenko wins the crown of laurels. The native of Ukraine was shipped to Tampa Bay by Clarke on June 21, 2002 in a package deal which included the draft pick used on Joni Pitkanen, and returned via free-agent signing by Holmgren on September 16, 2012.

Ed "Boxcar" Hospodar was the first player to be dealt in the middle of one season only to return the next, sent packing with Todd Bergen to Minnesota for Dave Richter and the forgettable Bo Berglund on November 29, 1985 and then re-signed in June of 1986.

Who is Gord Murphy?

The Flyers' newest assistant coach arrived in Philadelphia in the Fall of 1988, as one of the new vanguard on the club's blue line under first-year head coach Paul Holmgren. He joined fellow rookie Jeff Chychrun, along with new acquisition Terry Carkner and Jay Wells. Aided by the steady influence of Mark Howe and Kjell Samuelsson, the lanky, somewhat gawky-looking Murphy totaled four goals and 31 assists with a minus-7 rating in 75 games for a club at .500 whose goal differential stood at plus-22 -- adding nine points (2G, 7A) in the memorable 19-game run to the Wales Conference Finals.

In the following season, Murphy set career highs with 14 goals and 43 points over 75 games, one of the few players, skaters or goaltenders, to be relatively healthy. With Howe sidelined for most of the first of his three Hellish seasons given over to severe back issues, Murphy had to be leaned on more to carry the defense as part of the primary pairing. It was a baptism by fire, and he did well considering the Flyers dropped to last in the Patrick Division and out of the playoffs for the first time in 18 years.

Over the next two seasons, though, mirroring the club's frustrating slide into a slot below mediocrity, Murphy was one of several key players counted on to carry the load who either peaked or plateaued well short of expectations. When the chance came for then-GM Russ Farwell to pull the trigger on a deal, he made it with Boston, exchanging Murphy -- who needed a change of scenery and would presumably benefit from Ray Bourque's aegis -- for veteran Garry Galley just after the New Year in 1992.

Flash forward to the second round of the 1996 postseason, where Murphy had settled into his role as a second-pairing stopper for Florida. The first line of defense against the Legion of Doom being mammoth rookie Ed Jovanovski, who primarily went head-to-head against Eric Lindros, Murphy was counted on to take up the cerebral part of Doug MacLean's passive neutral-zone trap along with Jason Woolley and former Philly teammate Carkner. The Panthers ended up winning that series in six games, largely handcuffing Lindros and the Legion, and neutralizing the scattershot second line.

In a strange twist, if it weren't for the Bruins being bounced from the 1993 playoffs in a first-round sweep by fourth-place Buffalo, Murphy never would have had the chance to haunt his former team. After less than two seasons with the B's, and in the wake of the Sabres' infamous "May Day" victory, he was designated expendable by Harry Sinden and left to be picked up by either expansion club. Florida snagged him, and Murphy played six capable seasons there.

Former Flyers D Murphy hired as assistant coach

Reshaping the franchise has taken on a different dimension, as the Flyers announced on Wednesday that Gord Murphy has been named an assistant coach, taking over for the recycled John Paddock, who will not return next year.

"Gord brings a wealth of experience as a player and as a coach at the NHL level." Flyers GM Ron Hextall said. "We are excited to have Gord on our staff and look forward to him working with our defensemen and the rest of our coaching staff. "We'd like to thank John for being an integral part of our organization and we wish him the best in his future endeavors."

Murphy, taken in the ninth round of the 1985 draft from the Oshawa Generals, made his NHL and club debut in October of 1988 and remained with the Orange and Black until a January 2, 1992 trade which saw him shipped to Boston for Garry Galley. Prior to arriving here, Murphy was part of the Hershey Bears' one and only Calder Cup championship as a Flyers' affiliate, in the Spring of 1988.

He played 261 games for Philadelphia, accumulating 31 goals and 97 assists while participating in 19 playoff games during his rookie campaign. All told, Murphy patrolled NHL blue lines for 14 seasons with Philly, the Bruins, Panthers and Thrashers, totaling 85 goals and 238 assists in 862 contests.

"I’m very excited and really looking forward to the opportunity and challenge of working with the Flyers organization and with Craig Berube and his staff," Murphy said. "I couldn’t be more thrilled for this opportunity for myself and my family coming back to Philly. As a former player and now the last 11 years in my role as an assistant coach, I consider myself a good teacher with a good balance of experience. I really look forward to working with and mentoring the defensemen everyday by having them continue to improve and get the Flyers to where we all want to be."

While with Florida, Murphy was one of the core of defenseman charged with shutting down the Legion of Doom line during the 1996 Eastern Conference Semifinals -- a series the Panthers ended up winning in six games en route to the club's first and only Stanley Cup Finals appearance.

The 47-year-old native of Ontario has logged 11 seasons as an NHL assistant, first with Columbus (2002-10) and recently with Florida (2010-13). It's not surprising, even with Paddock's removal, that another former player with coaching experience and a connection to the Flyers was reeled in.

Paddock had been more or less a loyal person within the organization ever since his days as a player beginning with the 1979-80 season, though his multiple tenures with the franchise were interrupted by stints as head coach in Winnipeg and Ottawa. 

Point/Counterpoint: What to do when confronted with a Cup you didn't win

Photo courtesy of Crossing Broad

Welcome to another edition of Point/Counterpoint, where yours truly and another poor schmuck...er...hockey writer... duke it out over matters of extreme hockey importance. 

This time around, heading into the ring with me, it's the mastermind @4who4whatsports, as we discuss proper fan protocol when you're in the presence of a major professional sports trophy located in a likely place during an unlikely situation. 

One significant part of hockey's "Code," whether you believe it or not, revolves around the public and its right to handle the Stanley Cup once a team -- and it doesn't necessarily have to be the one you like or that's representing your hometown -- wins it and it is put on display or is carried by a winning player for their one day with the trophy. 

The Los Angeles Kings have wrapped up their second title in the last three seasons, and that means ex-Flyers and Jersey Shore homeowners Justin Williams and Jeff Carter will be bringing their silver, 35-pound reward to Margate and Sea Isle, respectively. It may be unlikely that the Philadelphia Flyers will win the Cup in our lifetimes, so what happened in 2012 with the Cup's tour of the Shore and what is likely to occur again this Summer is the closest many fans may get to see the oldest and most prestigious trophy in professional sports up close.

Is it your right to touch the Cup or not?

Point, Bob: It's been told and shown to me over the years by various hockey personnel (including Chris Therien and Keith Jones) that the "Code" is most likely to be obeyed, no matter how ridiculous the "rules" are at the moment -- like the furor and superstition about touching/not touching the Prince of Wales Trophy or Campbell Bowl before reaching the Stanley Cup Finals. Therefore, no member of the public should just up and touch the Cup when presented, and it should only be done once a player who has won it gives express permission.

Even then, it's verboten to lift it or drink from it, because the hard work and sacrifice as a fan to wait however long it was to witness the Cup up close isn't anything compared to the same experienced by the player who put in his time to win it. So, when you're out at the Jerome Avenue playground or sitting on a deck somewhere off Landis Avenue, just wait until a signal is given. If none is forthcoming, tough luck. See with your eyes, not with your hands.

Counterpoint, 4Who: Did I just play through the most emotionally and physically demanding tournament in the Big Four to win the best looking trophy in all of sports? No, I'm just some schlub who tweets during those games and makes snide remarks. But if you think that if I'm going to be in the immediate vicinity of the Stanley Cup and not touch it you're dead wrong, "Code" be damned. 

That being said, being the respectful person that I am, I definitely don't have the gall or stupidity to grab Lord Stanley's Cup without permission. Will it take every fiber in my being not to run over and lay a finger on it? Probably. Then again I didn't win the thing. So out of respect I'll wait until a member of the team offers the opportunity to touch, and if I'm lucky enough drink from, the Cup because they are the ones who put their blood, sweat and tears into winning the thing. If they so choose to let some random guy have that opportunity who am I to say no?

Bob: Scenario: we're finished with the SeaGoal Cup and through some machinations, bribery, internet stalking and plain ol' good luck, we end up at a certain Sea Isle condo owned by a certain Los Angeles King and the Cup...it's right there in the living room. Every other partygoer, male and female, is fawning over the Cup, taking shots from the bowl, passing it around,. feeling it up, whatever. 

What do you do...what do you do?

I do nothing. Well, I try and locate at least one member of the winning team and make my intentions clear: one picture of me drinking out of the Cup, but only if two persons connected with the team lift it for me. If they agree to the plan, then I get one of the thrill moments of my life and a picture to last forever. But...if a winning member just waves it off and says they don't care what I do, then it's time to spring into action.

I quote the "Code" back and express my disappointment that a professional hockey player wouldn't abide by the rules, bacchanalia or not. This lack of aggression will not stand, man. Without the go-ahead, the closest I get is right next to the Cup, hands folded behind my back. Anything less would be uncivilized. 

4Who: You're worried about being civil at a house party in Sea Isle?

Alcohol adds a different variable to this argument. The deeper in the hole you are the more inhibition goes out the window. But let's say I'm fairly with it by the time we grace the Carter house and the Cup is being passed around (among other things), I may be feeling a little bullish and straight up ask if I can drink from it. Now, if they say no I might get us kicked out of said party but when they say yes I will be doing the holding. It is my Hockey Gods-given right to do so, in my opinion, because that might be the only way I ever get to be with the pristine 35 pounds of sterling silver. 

Don't give me that this would jinx the Flyers chance to win it all for years to come. For the same reasons no person should ever use "we" when discussing their favorite sports team, a fan has NOTHING to do with a teams success. Not that I don't believe in jinxes and bad juju but that is for players in the National Hockey League. Neither you or I are members the league nor the organ-eye-zation and because we are not we have zero involvement of the fortune and mojo of the Philadelphia Flyers. 

Bob: Ills, you ignorant slut.

Rules are rules and someone clean and sober has to enforce them. All the Hockey Gods do is based upon how we treat things down on Earth.  Maybe it's not about sinking any chances of this city winning or losing a Stanley Cup, but just for us to win or lose a SeaGoal Cup or league title. Either way, I'm not hedging.

See this? This is a major violation. It's TSN of Canada "reporter" Cabbie partying with the Cup, filled with

M&M's and he's holding it with both hands.

Last I checked, this guy is not a member of the Los Angeles Kings, its coaching staff, front office, nor does he hold a position in any NHL organization which has won it previously.

Media personages, myself included, are not exempt from the "Code." Maybe he received permission, but maybe not. My guess is, in this instance, he was just allowed to handle the thing in the middle of a celebration, which does not fly.

Therefore, Toronto gets five more years tacked onto its title drought, which has already reached 47 years. Can't risk that for the team I was taught to love and which I cover on a semi-regular basis.

Loyal to the end: Timonen back for another year

Neither wild horses, the promise of staving off the bumps and bruises, discomfort and fatigue of carrying the defense for another season nor the lure of his native Finland, could keep Kimmo Timonen away.

On Friday, he and his hockey club ended months of speculation by signing a one-year contract agreement with the Flyers, meaning the 39-year-old pending unrestricted free agent will be back patrolling the blue line for his eighth season in Philadelphia.

"I think the biggest key is whether Kimmo thinks he can play and whether Kimmo has enough in the tank to go through another offseason and be in shape in September," said Flyers GM Ron Hextall. 

An ESPN source indicates that the deal is for a base salary of $2 million with another possible $4 million in bonuses, but there was something greater at stake which led to his decision to return.

"For me, it really wasn't about the money. I wanted to see how I felt, I went away and thought about if I could really do it, to be able to play at a high level," Timonen said at an afternoon conference call with local media members. The biggest thing (about staying) is my family really likes it there, so they were on board saying 'play one more year, go for it.'"

The five-time Barry Ashbee Trophy winner as the club's top defenseman, Timonen saw his playing time cut by almost a minute per contest (from 21:46 to 20:20) and effectiveness reduced last season, one in which he still recorded six goals and 29 assists in 77 regular-season contests. Those six goals were his most since 2010-11.

However, he looked labored at times and picked up a lone assist and was a minus-2 in a seven-game, first-round loss to the New York Rangers.

"Kimmo’s going to dictate that, in part," offered Hextall when asked how many minutes his most-respected defenseman will play. "We had a wide range of conversations, and we had conversations on different things like roles, and where he sees himself and where he fits."

Heading into his 16th -- and presumably final -- NHL season, the former 10th-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings back in 1993 has racked up 117 goals and 454 assists over 1,092 games with the Predators and Flyers since arriving in North America for the 1998-99 campaign.

At 38, Timonen carried an incredible $6 million salary for his previous one-year pact, which outpaced all other battery-mates last season, including the newly-acquired Andrew MacDonald, who now has a $5 million cap hit following his recently-awarded multi-year extension.

Despite his advancing age, it's not a stretch to believe that Hextall might be throwing Timonen more money than he's worth, just to acknowledge his time served. If the deal is accurate as reported, it's a promising sign that Hextall understands the vagaries of the cap world slightly better than his predecessor while honoring a solid player.

"I will say to his credit that the first time he talked to me about coming back and playing, he said I understand the situation we’re in, and in saying that, I want to play for the Philadelphia Flyers and nowhere else," Hextall added.

What the deal doesn't address, is the need for the defense to have an anchor who is in the prime of his career. Braydon Coburn is the longest served of the corps, but has shown he's not a leader either on-ice or in the dressing room. Mark Streit will only enter his second season here, McDonald hasn't been here for a half-season yet, and Nick Grossmann has enough trouble staying upright and skating.

Say what you want about why he feels this way, but Timonen sees things differently, and if he didn't, then it's reasonable to assume he wouldn't have ventured back to North America for any other team. 

"I like the team. I like our chances. We have a fairly young team and we contend every year. The biggest thing is I still want to win the Stanley Cup," he intoned.

That loyalty and belief stands in sharp contrast to the litany of recent ex-Flyers who have had less say in their transaction process and eventually went on to win the Cup multiple times. He did admit, in talking with other players and personnel in the offseason, that he was advised to keep playing if a team wanted him and he was still mentally and physically invested in hockey. Naturally, he went to the Orange and Black first and naturally, they'd have him back in a second.

It will be Philadelphia come September, and in typical understated Finnish fashion, Timonen isn't looking for a farewell tour or special treatment for his final go-round for a franchise which has most likely given him less than he has given it. 

"When I come to camp, I don't want to think that I'm 39. I want to feel like I'm one of the guys. I still want to play a lot of minutes. Anything after that, it's up to the coaches in the way they want to use me."

Couturier has abdominal surgery

The offseason saw its first surprise on Wednesday, as new GM Ron Hextall announced that forward Sean Couturier underwent successful abdominal surgery.

Couturier was not on the list of maladies which accompanied the usual end-of-season triage list, but Paul Holmgren hinted he had a sports hernia which might need fixing. He went under the knife this past Friday and is looking at a 5-to-6 week rehab.

The 21-year-old native of Phoenix posted career highs of 26 assists and 39 points over 82 games last season, his third in the NHL.

Speculation about his trade value is sure to continue throughout the off-season as Hextall gets his first crack at shaping a roster.

Sixers to practice in Camden

PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia 76ers have confirmed they will locate a new 120,000 square foot training center along the revitalized Camden waterfront in New Jersey, situated near popular tourist attractions that include the Adventure Aquarium and Campbell’s Field.

The team expects to break ground on the new facility in October.


“Our commitment to player development will shine through in this facility,” said Sixers President of Basketball Operations & General Manager Sam Hinkie. “Our goal is to provide our players and staff with a Training Center that fosters development, encourages hard work, and allows for innovation.”

The decision comes following the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) unanimously approving an incentive package that is integral to the decision to locate the largest and most advanced facility in the league – which will house the team’s basketball and business operations staffs – along the New Jersey waterfront.


“This marks the culmination of an exhaustive and collaborative effort, which would not have been feasible without the New Jersey Economic Development Authority incentive package,” said Sixers Chief Executive Officer Scott O’Neil. “The new 76ers Training Center speaks volumes about the vision and commitment of our ownership group, led by Josh Harris and David Blitzer. I would like to recognize and offer a special thanks to Mayor Dana Redd, the EDA and Coopers Ferry Partnership for their tireless efforts and assistance in making this project a reality. We are focused on improving every facet of the organization and this is a big step on that journey.”

The firms involved in the Training Center project include AthenianRazak, a Philadelphia-based real estate services company, which will serve as the Development Manager for the project. In this role, they will assist with the process of designing and erecting the facility, which includes obtaining required approvals and permits, assembling and coordinating a team of design professionals, contractors and other consultants for the project, managing cash flow and financing sources, overseeing the detailed hands-on management of the construction process and helping the Sixers prepare the facility for efficient acceptance and operation.

Also involved in the project is INTECH Construction, a Philadelphia-based contractor, which will serve as the project’s Construction Manager, and architecture and engineering provided by Jacobs Global Buildings Design as the architect of record, along with nationally recognized architecture firm Threesixty Architecture as the consulting design architect.

“Today marks another significant step toward making the Philadelphia 76ers a premier destination for the best players and executives in the league,” said Harris.  “We are committed to building an elite team and a top priority in pursuit of that goal is the new Training Center, one which will define our culture and is befitting of an organization that strives for excellence in every area.”

“It is imperative we are able to provide our players, coaches and staff with the resources necessary for success,” added Blitzer. “This facility – the size and scope of which will be unmatched in the NBA – will allow our team to make great strides on and off the court as we work to join the league's elite.”

Phillies sign Nola

PHILADELPHIA - The Phillies have signed their first-round pick, right-handed pitcher Aaron Nola.

Nola, an LSU product who was selected seventh overall, was one of three finalists for the Golden Spikes Award, given annually to college baseball’s top player.

The 21-year-old went 11-1 in 16 starts with a 1.47 ERA and 134 strikeouts to only 27 walks in 116.1 total innings. The Tigers went 15-1 this season in his 16 starts.

Nola, 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, finished his career at LSU going 30-6 with a 2.09 ERA. He was honored as the Southeastern Conference’s Pitcher of the Year in both 2013 and 2014, the only player in conference history to win the award twice.

A native of Baton Rouge, La., Nola was originally selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 22nd round of the 2011 draft, but did not sign. He is the younger brother of Austin Nola, a shortstop in the Miami Marlins farm system.

Union fire Hackworth

Chester, Pa. – The Philadelphia Union fired team manager John Hackworth on Tuesday.

Assistant coach Jim Curtin will take over as interim team manager effective immediately.

A native of Oreland, Pennsylvania., Curtin, 34, played over two hundred games for the Chicago Fire and was named an MLS All-Star and the Fire’s defender of the year in 2004.  He helped the squad to two U.S. Open Cup titles in 2003 and 2006, as well as the 2003 MLS Supporters Shield.  Curtin played his final two seasons in the League with Chivas USA before retiring in 2009.

"We are a very ambitious club and although we are just in our fifth season we expect to win and be in the top tier of MLS,” said Philadelphia Union CEO & Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz. “Today we will begin a serious global search for a Team Manager who will help guide us to our goal of competing to win the MLS Cup. Philadelphia is a major market and we expect that there will be significant interest from a wide variety of qualified candidates to become Philadelphia Union’s Team Manager.

"Our great fans, partners and community deserve a winning team and we will doing everything in our power to win. We appreciate the work, time and efforts John Hackworth put into building the club and his influence on our growing youth academy. He is a first class person and we wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

In November of 2012, Curtin was hired as an assistant coach for the Union’s First Team after spending three years working with the Union Academy.  In addition to working as YSC’s Director of Curriculum Development, Curtin was also the Union’s Under-18 Academy head coach and was instrumental in the U-18s capturing the 2012 Generation Adidas Cup.

Curtin attended Villanova University, where he was named BIG EAST rookie of the year in 1997 and a three-time team MVP for the Wildcats. The All-American defender was a two-time first team All-BIG EAST selection in 1999 and 2000 and was the 2001 Philadelphia Soccer Seven Player of the Year. He became the first player from Villanova to be drafted into the MLS when he was selected by the Chicago Fire in 2002.

Hackworth posted a 23-30-20 all-time MLS record since taking over as interim team manager on June 13, 2012.  He led the Union to a franchise best 12 wins in 2013.

Curtin’s first game as interim team manager will be Tuesday, June 17 when the Union host the Harrisburg City Islanders in the fifth round of the U.S. Open Cup at PPL Park. 

If not Emery, then who?

Without appropriate action on the part of GM Ron Hextall and his agent, Ray Emery's second stint with the Philadelphia Flyers is set to end at midnight on July 1, the official conclusion of his one-year, $1.65 million contract.

Last season, the 31-year-old Ontario native performed pretty much how a veteran backup on a team with wild momentum swings would, going 9-12-2 with a 2.96 goals-against average and a pair of shutouts over 28 appearances.

Subbing for Steve Mason in the first round of an eventual seven-game loss to the New York Rangers, he played to his capabilities given the defense in front of him, going 1-2 in three starts.

Emery also provided counterpoint in the crease. While Mason is a wide-eyed kid looking to revitalize his career, showing his leadership through performance as the No. 1 guy going forward, Emery was the wily vet, his best days behind him, providing guidance and a bit of a push for the new guy and the looming spectre of brutal assault to the opposition.

And yes, "Emory and Ivory" was a clever way to market the duo, an opportunity for promotion that doesn't come along very often unless you're stockpiling the Phillies pitching staff.

While Paul Holmgren cited Emery's 17-1-0 record with the Chicago Blackhawks two seasons prior as a deciding factor in his signing last July, there's simply no way Emery could ever live up to those numbers here with a defense we'll be charitable and say isn't very close to Stanley Cup caliber. So, the question becomes, how can Hextall justify re-signing a goalie over 30, with a losing record and GAA approaching three-per-game even with the salary cap due to increase?

Let's look at the options.

Unrestricted Free Agents: It's a bonanza of big-name talent at the high end of the cap among UFA goaltenders, automatically disqualifying the top nine names (Ryan Miller, Martin Brodeur, Jonas Hiller, Tim Thomas, Devan Dubnyk, Evgeni Nabokov, Ilya Bryzgalov, Nikolai Khabibulin, Tomas Vokoun) with Emery holding the 10th highest cap hit of those available.

Below that, it's the sure-to-retire Jean-Sebastien Giguere, but the next two names following practically leap off the page: Jonas Gustavsson and Scott Clemmensen.

Gustavsson, an imposing agile presence in the crease at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, went 16-5-4 with a 2.63 GAA in 27 games for the Red Wings. His cap hit was just $1.5 million last season for the final season of a two-year, $3 million deal, and at age 29, has only slight wear-and-tear thanks to 141 games in parts of four NHL seasons under his belt.

He did well to keep Detroit afloat last season in the face of its bizarre and never-ending string of injuries, which included incumbent Jimmy Howard, and was a factor in keeping the Wings in the thick of the playoff race in spite of that. A multi-year deal where a cap hit reaches the $1.5-1.75M range will work to the Flyers' benefit while Hextall attempts to rebuild the defense and try to shop some of the bigger albatross forward contracts.

Clemmensen, like Emery, is a journeyman with some additional miles, but you know right off the bat there's no chance he'll do enough to take over a starting spot. At 36, the Iowa native and national champion with Boston College has played 188 games for three other NHL organizations plus 199 AHL appearances for their affiliates since 2001. He was 6-7-1, 3.09 in 17 games for the Panthers in 2013-14.

It's been five seasons since he took over for an injured Martin Brodeur, going 25-13-1 with a 2.39 GAA and two shutouts in 40 appearances for the Devils -- but nice to know he can take the mantle if Mason should be sidelined long-term. It wouldn't make much sense to sign him to anything more than a one-year deal, and for something close to his $1.2M cap hit from last season, it's another no-brainer to kick the tires.

Below that, we start heading into the remainder bin as the cap hits quickly shrink below $1 mil: Jason LaBarbera, Joey MacDonald, Thomas Greiss, Cristopher Nilstorp and the Phantoms' Yann Danis.

Restricted Free Agents: The talent pool drops off considerably. Top name on the list is Toronto's James Reimer at a cap hit of $1.8 million, but since he'll be looking to get out of Hogtown and go somewhere quieter in pursuit of a starting job, he shouldn't be on the Flyers' radar. Emery was signed to give Mason a push, but Reimer's the kind of goaltender who might want to shove Mason out of the spotlight and this franchise cannot stand another crease controversy. 

After that, only three other names leap out: Anders Lindback, Antti Raanta and Robin Lehner.

Lindback ($1.8M cap hit) is Bob Clarke's wet dream: a goaltender attractive because of the way he performed against the Flyers. The rangy 26-year-old Swede (6-foot-6) went 3-0-0 while stopping 88-of-95 Philadelphia shots in three games this past season. Overall, he went 8-12-2 with a 2.90 GAA and one shutout in 23 appearances for the Bolts, and is just 34-35-5 in 85 appearances in four NHL seasons with Nashville and Tampa Bay.

Raanta ($1.4M) took Emery's slot as Corey Crawford's backup in Chicago. The 25-year-old Finn survived his first season of North American hockey by going 13-5-4 with a 2.71 GAA and one whitewash in 25 contests for the defending champions. Small-ish at 6-foot and 187 pounds, Raanta nonetheless moves well and is positionally sound, but has none of the emotion, spirit or flair the Flyers might be looking for.

Lehner, at 22 already having seen parts of four NHL seasons with the Ottawa Senators, might be the pick of the crop. With a cap hit of just $870,000 and more experience than most goaltenders his age, one can overlook a 12-15-6 record, goals-against above three and a .913 save percentage in 36 games for a struggling Senators club and see how those numbers might improve on a Flyers team presumably on the upswing.

Emery should recognize that he's in the portion of his career where he shouldn't be looking to get rich or find a franchise that needs a starter, so it's tough to imagine his demands being unreasonable on Hextall if he wants to remain in Philadelphia. If he wants to find a comfortable situation on a potential Cup winner, then it's likely we've seen the last of Razor here.

One potential cringeworthy destination in that case, is Pittsburgh, which needs to find a suitable replacement for Tomas Vokoun, whose potential for recurring blood clot issues plus his advancing age, puts his career at risk.

Flyers lock down Royals as ECHL affiliate

Photo courtesy of WFMZ

The move was made official on Wednesday.

The Philadelphia Flyers and the Reading Royals of the ECHL have agreed to an affiliation, with the parent club providing a two-year contract.

Reading had most recently been joined with the Washington Capitals for the last two seasons, but the club let that agreement lapse following the end of last season, in spite of the Caps and Hershey Bears aiding in the Royals' 2013 Kelly Cup championship with an influx of talent including Drew McIntyre, T.J. Syner, Barry Almeida Philipp Grubauer and Riley Gill -- the former netminder who saw time in the NHL this past season and the latter goaltender who stoked the fires of the successful playoff run.

The Royals were unable to defend their crown in 2013-14, bowing out in the first round against Fort Wayne despite winning the three-team Atlantic Division with a 46-22-4 record.

"I’m looking forward to working with the Flyers coaching and scouting staffs," Royals’ Head Coach  Larry Courville said in a statement issued shortly after the announcement was made. “Our goal in Reading has not changed—to put a championship team on the ice."

A long-standing Flyers' affiliation with Trenton, begun in 1999 with the Titans' founding and interrupted by the club's purchase and operation by the Devils from 2007-11, finally went belly up in April of 2013 when the Titans revealed the franchise would fold. The Flyers then transferred their players to the Greenville Road Warriors at the start of last season, only to see that agreement dissolved upon Greenville's request so that it might align itself with the New York Rangers.

“We are pleased to announce an ECHL affiliation agreement with the Reading Royals,” Flyers GM Ron Hextall stated. "We’re excited to be entering a new era for the Flyers with respect to player development and look forward to working closely with them in a winning environment. "The geographic proximity of our minor league affiliations in the Lehigh Valley and Reading will give our coaches and scouting department the best possible platform to monitor, and promote the growth and advancement of our young prospects.”

Hextall has stated publicly that one of his main goals in his new position of power is player development, something which was spotty at best in the Orange and Black's second tenure with Trenton, which struggled financially. The Royals, now one of the longest-tenured ECHL franchises which has remained in one place, offer more stability.

Carsen Chubak and Doug Clarkson did end up spending time last year with Reading after the Greenville debacle.

"A big part of our success is linked to having an affiliate who is committed to stocking their minor professional system with young, talented players and getting these players as much game time as possible in the early phases of their career," added Courville, who spent a brief NHL stint with the Vancouver Canucks. "Of course, I’m sure our fans will enjoy watching the Flyers’ prospects assigned to Reading as they pursue their goal of advancing to the highest level of the game, while helping us achieve our team goal of winning another ECHL championship.”

The Royals are entering their 14th season in the ECHL, the primary Double-A league affiliated with the NHL.

Philadelphia and the Schuylkill Valley have a long history of connection through sports, as the Phillies have operated their Double-A farm club in Reading continuously since 1967. 

Union's Hatch inked to AHL deal

The Lehigh Valley/Adirondack Phantoms continue to be an ongoing experiment in stocking a roster with a glut of college talent.

Per Ken Schott, the Philadelphia Flyers have signed forward Matt Hatch -- late of the national-champion Union Flying Dutchmen -- to an American Hockey League contract.

Hatch completed his senior season by recording a personal bests of 13 goals and 22 points in 42 contests. One of the players who engineered the program's swift rise to prominence under Rick Bennett, the 24-year-old native of upstate New York completed his college career with 35 goals and 39 assists over 147 appearances.

Hatch's most productive game of the NCAA tournament was a two-goal effort in Union's opener, a 5-2 decision over Hockey East's Vermont.

“I’m really very excited to get going and being a part of a world-class organization," Hatch stated to the Daily Gazette.

As of this moment, the nomadic spectres feature a staggering 14 players on the roster with decent experience at the American Division I level, including, of course, Hatch's former teammate and Flyers' draft choice, defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere. At the end of the past season, each Adirondack's four goaltenders (Yann Danis, Matt Weninger, Carsen Chubak and Tony Capobianco) arrived via the college route.

At 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, Hatch is nothing more than a line filler. He'll need a major leap forward in size, weight and skill set, plus a rash of injuries at Philadelphia, to have a shot at making the big club after a year or two.

Eagles extend OL Barbre through 2017

PHILADELPHIA - The Eagles have agreed to terms with versatile swing tackle Allen Barbre on a three-year contract extension through the 2017 season.

The six-year veteran has appeared in 47 games with seven starts during his career and provided depth on the Eagles' offensive line in 2013, his first year in Philadelphia.

Prior to arriving here, Barbre had appeared in 32 games, splitting time between Green Bay (2007-09), Miami (2010) and Seattle (2010-12).

"Allen has great versatility and his ability to play both outside and inside on the offensive line makes him so valuable to what we do," said Eagles head coach Chip Kelly. "He's been in this league for a number of years and we know we can count on him to step up and fill in whenever he is called upon. When Jason Peters went down in Green Bay last season, Allen jumped right in and our offense didn't miss a beat."

Originally a fourth-round pick of the Packers in 2007, Barbre was a four-year starter at Missouri Southern State where he was named a consensus All-American, All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and All-Region first-team selection as a senior in 2006.

Soul dominate Talons

PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Soul (6-5) took control of the game early by outscoring the San Antonio Talons (1-10) 28-0 in the first quarter.  With their new season high score, the Soul won 76-40 in front of 7,811 fans at the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday night.  Plenty of forced turnovers and offensive balance led to this victory.

“This win was great for us.  We came out strong in the beginning and didn’t let up throughout all for quarters,” said Soul head coach Clint Dolezel.  “We have moved passed last week’s game, but still continue to better ourselves.”

Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game, Dan Raudabaugh finished the night by completing 14-of-17 passes for 224 yards and five touchdowns.   Leading the Soul receivers was Tiger Jones with seven receptions for 118 yards and four touchdowns.  Emery Sammons had four receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns, while Markee White added three catches for 33 yards and V’Keon Lacey tallied two receptions for 30 yards and one touchdown.

Riddell Defensive Player of the Game, Rayshaun Kizer led the defense with 7.0 total tackles, two pass breakups and a nine-yard interception returned for a touchdown.  Joe Goosby added 5.5 total tackles, a forced fumble and a fumbled recovery for a touchdown.  James Romain chipped in with 3.5 total tackles, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.

The Soul started off the game scoring their first touchdown with an eight-yard pass to Tiger Jones.  Two minutes later, Kizer had a nine-yard interception return gaining a second touchdown for the Soul.  With 9:18 left in the first quarter, Goosby recovered a fumble in the end-zone bringing the score to 21-0. James Romain stole an interception giving the Soul the ball sparking Raudabaugh’s connection with Jones for a 10-yard pass, leading to the fourth Soul touchdown of the game.  The score at the end of the first quarter was 28-0.

At the beginning of the second quarter, Derrick Ross runs the ball two yards to the end-zone for a Soul touchdown. The Talons make it on the board with a 12-yard pass from Shane Boyd to Doug Pierce, leaving the score at 35-7 with 11:07 left in the quarter.  Jones scored his second touchdown of the game by catching a 31-yard pass from Raudabaugh.  Talons then score again with another connection for six yards by Boyd and Pierce.  With 4:08 left in the half, Ross grabs another touchdown by running the ball four yards. Boyd threw a 45-yard pass to David Little resulting in another touchdown for the Talons.  In the last seconds of the half, Raudabaugh threw a seven-yard touchdown to V’Keon Lacey, ending the second quarter at 55-20.

Sammons kicked off the third quarter with his first touchdown of the night, catching a 35-yard pass from Raudabaugh, making the score 62-20. The Talons follow up with a touchdown by Mykel Benson who caught a four-yard touchdown from Boyd. At the end of the third quarter the score stood at 62-27.

With 11:43 left in the fourth quarter, Sammons connected with Bryan Randall who caught another 35-yard pass into the end-zone.  Two minutes later, Benson ran seven yards to complete his second touchdown for the night. Jones then caught a 28-yard pass from Randall to make the score 76-33. The Talons answered with a five-yard touchdown caught by Moqut Ruffins.  The Soul defeated the Talons with a final score of 76-40.

Next week, the Soul will hit the road and take on the Tampa Bay Storm for the third time this season. The game will take place on Saturday, June 7 at 5 p.m. at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

Russell Athletic Offensive Player: Philadelphia’s Dan Raudabaugh

Riddell Defensive Player: Philadelphia’s Rayshaun Kizer

J Lewis Small AFL Playmaker: Philadelphia’s Tiger Jones

Cutter’s Catch of the Game: San Antonio’s Kelvin Rodgers interception at the end of the third quarter

Spalding Highlight of the Game: Philadelphia’s Joe Goosby off the net recovery fumble touchdown

Union capture rare road win vs. Chivas

Carson, Calif. – The Philadelphia Union (3-7-5) defeated Chivas USA, 3-0 Saturday night at StubHub Center behind two goals from forward Conor Casey and another from Cristian Maidana.

“We tried to emphasize that we needed to be better defensively,” said Union manager John Hackworth postgame. “We feel like we are a team that can play…tonight we felt like we really needed to keep a zero [on the Chivas side of the scoreboard] and the longer we did that we gave ourselves a chance. Our performances all year have been better than our results show, but you have to get these results in order to get that confidence.”

It was Casey who got the night going in the 28th minute, after a Chivas handball in the box saw the striker step up to the spot and score his first goal of the season, blasting a rocket past Goats goalkeeper Dan Kennedy. In the second half, a ball into Chivas’ 18-yard-box from Maidana found the head of an onrushing Casey to make it two. Maidana also closed the affair in the 76th minute when he made a run into the box off a ball from midfielder Vincent Nogueira, cut into the middle and firmly placed his shot just Kennedy.

“We were able to find ourselves in some good spots and although we didn’t always pull off the play, we were trying to just get balls into the box which is important,” Casey said postgame. “We’ve played against some tough opponents this year and this [was] a game that we definitely wanted to win. Hopefully we’ll be able to take the confidence from this week and use it to follow up with getting points at home.”

As result of the three points, the Union (3-7-5, 14 points) improved to 5-0-2 all-time as the club has never lost to Chivas (2-6-4, 10 points) in its five-year history. In the 83rd minute, Osvaldo Minda was ejected from the match, dropping Chivas down to 10 men for the sixth time this season. It was an ejection that helped secure three points for the Union and saw things go from bad to worse for the Goats, which dropped their fifth straight loss at home.

The stats portray a good night for the Union, who held the edge in shots on target (6-1), final third entries (118-82) and 63 percent of the possession throughout the contest.

As for the Union, it hopes a much improved defensive effort and strong midfield play – aided by the insertion of Fred into the starting lineup – will continue as the Union look to close out on a high before the League takes a hiatus during play of the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Before that happens, the Union will host Vancouver next Saturday, June 7 (7 p.m. ET) its third Western Conference opponent in as many games.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve felt like this,” Fred who earned his first MLS start since June 11, 2011 told reporters after the win. “We got three points from playing well and we feel confidence now. Now we just need to stick together and try to get these three points at home so we can go into the break feeling good and confident about the second half of the season once we come back from this break.”

BOX SCORE

Philadelphia Union 3, Chivas USA 0

Saturday, May 31; 10:30 p.m. ET

StubHub Center

Carson, California

SCORING SUMMARY

PHI: Casey 28’ (PK)

PHI: Casey 66’ (Maidana)

PHI: Maidana 76’ (Nogueira)

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

CHV: Barrera 63’ (yellow)

CHV: Torres 64’ (yellow)

PHI: Fabinho 65’ (yellow)

CHV: Avila 73’ (yellow)

CHV: Minda 83’ (red)

UNION STARTING 11

MacMath, Fabinho, Williams, Okugo, Gaddis,Fred, Edu, Nogueira, Maidana, Cruz (Pfeffer 86’), Casey (Wenger 75’).

CHIVAS STARTING 11

Kennedy, Toia, Lochhead, Zavaleta, Avila, Rivero, Minda, Barrera (Pelletieri 87’), Alvarez (Finley 68’), Delgado (Rosales 45’), Torres.