Biron does it again, gives Flyers 3-1 series lead

(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

The Flyers decided to make it interesting in the end, blowing another 2 goal lead, but they still managed to pull out a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens to give them a 3-1 series lead. Martin Biron was once again the hero for the Flyers, making numerous brilliant saves to keep the Flyers in the game. The Flyers will continue to win in the playoffs if Biron, who finished with 36 saves, can play like this every night.

The Canadiens goaltending is a totally different story. Carey Price, the Habs goalie for every game in the playoffs so far, was benched prior to tonight's game following his awful performance in Game 4. Jaroslav Halak was called upon to make his first career playoff start for the Canadiens, and while he looked good for a long stretch in the beginning of the game, he would eventually let in two goals that he should have been able to stop. The problem the Canadiens have now is they can't go back to Price even if they wanted to because the young goaltender's confidence has to be shot after getting benched. They will be forced to go with Halak for the rest of the series regardless of how well he plays.

The first period of tonight's game was very even, with both teams looking crisp and playing with a ton of energy. Biron made a few big stops early that proved he was on point again, and Halak stopped a breakaway chance by Jeff Carter to get himself focused. The Canadiens had two powerplays in the first, but the Flyers killed them off without any trouble.

R.J. Umberger, who has been red hot in this series, scored the first goal of the game on the powerplay in the second period. Umberger flipped a shot on net that Halak should have stopped, yet it went past him to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead. The Flyers played great defense for the rest of the period and Biron continued to stop everything coming his way.

Scott Hartnell scored the second goal of the game for the Flyers when he tapped the puck into the back of the net after a Vaclav Prospal shot rebounded off Halak and onto his stick. The goal gave the Flyers a comfortable two goal lead, something they have had huge problems with maintaining. Several times this postseason, the Flyers have blown two goal leads and tonight was no exception. Later in the third, the Canadiens scored two goals within 37 seconds and tied the game right back up. The first goal they scored was a deflected shot that Biron had no chance on, the second was a nice goal scored by Saku Koivu.

With the game tied at 2 and under 4 minutes left to play, the Flyers got a break from the refs. The refs called an interference penalty on Steve Begin of the Canadiens that would put the Flyers on the powerplay. The play was questionable at best, and I am sure Montreal fans will say that they were screwed, but I don't have much sympathy for them considering how Game One in this series went. Danny Briere took advantage of the power play chance and scored the game winning goal. R.J. Umberger later added an empty net goal to give the Flyers the 4-2 win.

The Flyers now take a 3-1 series lead for the second time this postseason. Hopefully the Flyers have learned from their series with the Capitals that they need to put the Canadiens away now that they have the chance. The next game will be in Montreal, where the fans are crazed and the Canadiens can feed off their energy, so the Flyers will have to weather a storm at the beginning of Game Five. If Biron and the Flyers can get past the initial storm unscathed, they will be rolling to the Eastern Conference Finals to likely face the Penguins.

Let's all sit back and enjoy how far this Flyers team has come. They are the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference and they have completely dominated the best team in the East. The Flyers have looked like the better team on the ice in nearly every game and if it wasn't for some questionable calls in Game One, the series would already be over. They have the best goaltender in the playoffs right now, and they have the most complete team of anyone in hockey. Enjoy it Flyers fans, this amazing playoff ride doesn't appear to be ending any time soon.

Highlights of Martin Biron's amazing game via Comcast SportsNet:

Game 4 Flyers vs. Canadiens Live Game Blog tonight!

Check back right here tonight at 6:45 pm for the Flyers vs. Canadiens Game Four Live Blog. Discuss the game action with fellow Flyer fans as it happens. Let's see if the Flyers can protect their home ice and push the Canadiens to the brink of elimination.

Young outduels old as Phillies down Padres

(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

Greg Maddux, the 42 year old future Hall of Famer, was denied his 350th career victory by a pitcher who was two years old when Maddux started his major league career in 1986. Cole Hamels, now 24 years old, proved to be, at least on this night, a better pitcher than Maddux in leading the Phillies to a 7-4 win over the Padres.

Hamels went 7 1/3 innings on the night, scattering five hits, striking out six, and giving up only two runs. He coasted throughout most of the game, mixing his pitches well forcing the Padres into a number of 0-2 counts that they couldn't get themselves out of. Hamels gave up a home run, just like he always does, but he maintained his composure in a good bounce back effort after looking subpar in his last two starts.

Maddux, who has been stuck on 349 wins for three starts now, fared only slightly worse than Hamels, going 6 1/3 innings, giving up 8 hits and 3 earned runs. His most frustrating moment on the mound occurred when he nearly slammed his glove to the ground after giving up a hit to Hamels in the 7th inning.

Offensively for the Phillies, their big inning came in the bottom of the 8th as they clung to a 3-2 lead. Pedro Feliz, Carlos Ruiz and Greg Dobbs all drove in insurance runs to give the Phils a big 5 run cushion for the ninth inning. The Phillies needed that cushion after Ryan Madson gave up a two run home run to Scott Hairston in the ninth inning, but the Padres ultimately came up short in their comeback attempt.

The Phillies look to finish off one of their best April's in recent memory tomorrow night when they face off with the Padres again. The Phillies will definitely finish April with a record above .500 and will certainly be at or near the top of the NL East when May begins. That's the best start the Phils could have hoped for given their injury issues and a penchant for starting slow.

Highlights of Cole Hamels' great start via Comcast SportsNet:

Sixers face elimination after Pistons cruise to 3-2 series lead

The Sixers may look back to Game Four and ask what could have been. The Sixers held a 10 point halftime lead over the Pistons only to watch Detroit come back and dominate them in the second half to pull out the win. Game Five was more of the same as the Pistons controlled the play, winning 98-81, and showed why they are the championship contender and the Sixers are merely first round fodder.

The Pistons got out to a big early lead and never looked back, leading the game by double digits for most of the way. The Sixers couldn't slow down their four pronged attack of Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton. Wallace, who actually looked focused on playing basketball, finished with 19 points. Prince, who continues to cause match-up problems for the Sixers, netted 17 points. Billups and Hamilton did an excellent job of limiting turnovers while creating plays for their teammates. Billups finished with 21 points and 12 assists while Hamilton notched 20 points.

The Sixers once again struggled to score against the Pistons' pressure defense. Only three players managed to score at least 10 points. On paper, Andre Iguodala played his best game of the series, shooting 8 of 13 from the field for 21 points and adding 6 assists and 5 rebounds. Look closer at how he played and you notice how many times he turned the ball over and how frustrated he was trying to make things happen all on his own. For the second game in a row, Andre Miller also came up small. He is the catalyst for this team and when he isn't playing at a high level, everyone struggles. If the Sixers are going to have any chance of coming back in this series, it will be on Miller to make it happen.

The series returns to Philadelphia on Thursday. The Sixers probably blew their best chance to win this series when they faded at the end of Game Four, but they are by no means done. The Pistons have them up against the ropes, but Detroit is not the kind of team who will go in for the kill. They have a tendency to lose focus and let a team hang around, so the Sixers are not finished yet. The Sixers have to find a way to steal Game Six and force the series back to Detroit for a Game Seven where anything can happen. They just have to hope that Rasheed Wallace and the rest of the group get distracted looking past the Sixers and at their second round opponent, the Orlando Magic, who finished off the Toronto Raptors last night.

No matter what happens in Game Six, the Sixers should be proud for how far them have come this season. Pushing a team like Detroit to play their best basketball in order to win is an accomplishment for this up and coming team. Let's just hope they find a way to prolong this season a little longer.

Victorino's back, Phillies claim infielder Oscar Robles

Some Phillies roster news to pass along:

*Victorino activated Shane Victorino returns to the Phillies today after spending 15 days on the disabled list. To make room, T.J. Bohn was sent back down to the minors. Considering how well Jayson Werth hit in his absence, Victorino will have to play well to earn his starting spot back. He is not in the starting line-up for tonight's game against the Padres.

*Robles added In what can only be described as a minor move, the Phillies have claimed infielder Oscar Robles off waivers from the San Diego Padres. Robles, a light hitter who spent several years playing professionally in Mexico, will play for the Phillies Triple A team in Lehigh Valley for the time being. The move was necessary considering how thin the Phils minor league system has gotten due to the recent injury to Jimmy Rollins and the subsequent call-up of Brad Harman.

Don't expect Robles to be in the majors any time soon. He was only brought in for insurance should Eric Bruntlett get hurt while Jimmy Rollins remains out. Robles can play any position in the infield, so he will be a useful player for the Iron Pigs.

Eagles Suing T.O.

The Eagles just can't seem to close the book on the headache known as Terrell Owens. They won an arbitration ruling against T.O. that forced him to re-pay bonus money he earned when playing for the Eagles back in 2004 and 2005, but T.O. has refused to pay up. The Eagles have now been forced to file suit against Owens to get him to pay the remaining money he owes, $769,117.

Owens is making 25 million from the Cowboys, so he can definitely afford to give the money back to the Eagles. Pay up, T.O.!

Knuble likely to return for Game 4, Gagne still on the horizon

(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

Things just keep getting better for the Flyers. Following last nights 3-2 win over the Canadiens, the Flyers also learned that one of the heroes of their first round win over the Washington Capitals is set to return. Mike Knuble, who hasn't played since Game 5 against Washington, believes he will be ready to play in Game 4 on Wednesday. Knuble, who suffered a partially torn hamstring when his skate got caught up in the ice, initially was expected to miss up to two weeks, and a return Wednesday would be slightly ahead of schedule.

Knuble would add a nice lift to a Flyers team that is gelling at just the right time. He would likely push Steve Downie out of the line-up, which is fine by me. Knuble's scoring touch and leadership will be nice to have back and Downie, while he brings plenty of energy, still has a penchant for taking too many penalties.

Knuble's return leaves just one Flyer out due to injury: Simon Gagne. Gagne said about a month ago that he could return if the Flyers make the Stanley Cup Finals. When he initially made that statement, I thought there was no way we would see him again this year, but with the way they are playing right now, the possibility is there. As much as I would cringe every time he was hit, getting a big time scorer like Gagne back would be huge. Could you imagine a top line of Gagne, Danny Briere and Vinny Prospal?

UPDATE: Knuble confirmed for Game 4.

Larry Brown coming back to coach the Bobcats

Larry Brown is back as an NBA coach. Again. According to the Associated Press, the Charlotte Bobcats, who are part-owned by longtime Larry Brown supporter and fellow former Tar Heel Michael Jordan, will hire Brown to be their next coach. Brown had been hinting for months that he wanted to return to coaching after how poorly his final stint with the New York Knicks ended. The Bobcats will be the 9th NBA team the 67 year old has coached. He replaces Sam Vincent who the Bobcats fired after a terrible season in which they won only 32 games.

Brown resigned from his position as executive vice president of the Philadelphia 76ers last week and all indications were that he was going to end up back on an NBA bench soon. I hope that this is Brown's final stop, and I hope it goes better than the train wreck that was his time with the Knicks. Brown will always hold a special place in the hearts of Sixer fans for his part in the magical run during the 2001 season.

Biron leads Flyers to 2-1 series advantage

(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

It's the oldest hockey adage there is: hot goaltending wins in the playoffs. The Flyers got another amazing game from goaltender Martin Biron to help them to a 3-2 win over the Canadiens in Game 3 of their playoff series. The win gives the Flyers a 2-1 edge in the series.

Biron was on all night, and he needed to be to bail the Flyers out. The Canadiens out-shot the Flyers 34-14 which meant Biron was kept busy all night. The Flyers goalie had to make numerous saves when the defense broke down, including his best stop on a breakaway by Saku Koivu in the first period. Biron nearly pulled out a shutout but the Canadiens managed to capitalize on a long power play in the third period. Biron is the hottest of any goalie in the playoffs right now, a good sign for the Flyers as they look to continue their run.

Carey Price, the Canadiens goalie, is the worst goaltender of any team in the playoffs right now. Price let in three goals on nine shots and never looked comfortable in the crease. Any time the puck was shot at him, he seemed to misplay it and allow the Flyers second and third chances. Price was later pulled in favor of Canadiens back-up Jaroslav Halak, something that could further lower Price's confidence level. As commenter Joe said in my Game Three Live Blog, "The price is wrong, bitch!". Those of you that have seen Happy Gilmore have to appreciate that one.

The Flyers built a 3-0 lead in tonight's game thanks to goals by Scottie Upshall, Mike Richards and R.J. Umberger in a second period they completely dominated. Upshall's goal was set up nicely by Joffrey Lupul, Richards' goal was shorthanded and Umberger managed to get one past Price that the goaltender should have been able to stop.

Philly looked to be on their way to an easy win when Derian Hatcher was given a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for boarding Francis Bouillon five minutes into the third period. The play was definitely a penalty, but the refs were a little extreme in tossing Hatcher from the game. The Canadiens scored twice on the ensuing power play and the game tightened up once again. Each team got one more power play opportunity, but the Flyers were content to sit back and let their goaltender do all the work. Thanks to Biron repeatedly making the big stops, the Flyers just managed to hold on to the win.

The Flyers take a big 2-1 series win with Game Four coming up on Wednesday in Philly. The Flyers will continue to soar if Biron can keep up his high level up play. A hot goaltender can carry a team far, and if the Flyers continue to get timely scoring and take advantage of their opponent's mistakes, there is no reason they won't be able to get past the Canadiens. It will be interesting to see how Carey Price handles himself in the next game. He could come back full of confidence or he could continue to play like the inexperienced 20 year old he is. With the way Biron is playing, if Price can't step his game up, this series is as good as over.

Highlights of Martin Biron's stellar game via Comcast SportsNet:

Game 3 Flyers vs. Canadiens Live Game Blog tonight!

Check back right here tonight at 6:45 pm for the Flyers vs. Canadiens Game Three Live Blog. Discuss the game action with fellow Flyer fans as it happens. Let's see if the Flyers can protect their home ice and take a lead in this series.

Eagles sign 7 Rookie Free Agents

The draft might be over, but the Eagles are continuing to add rookies to their roster through free agency. These are players that went undrafted that the Eagles are inviting to training camp, few of them have much of a chance of making the team, some will end up on the practice squad:

Kyle Arrington, CB, Hofstra
--Smallish corner, 2 interceptions in college career.

Jed Collins, FB, Washington State
--Good hands out of the backfield (80 catches in college), could be competition for Jason David and Dan Klecko for the starting fullback spot.

Franklin Dunbar, OT, Middle Tennessee State
--6 foot 4, 327 pounds, was a three-year starter.

Terrell Golden, WR, Penn State
--Fast receiver with decent hands, put up mediocre numbers at PSU.

Frantz Hardy, WR, Nebraska
--Had a few big games in college, but failed to produce consistently

Shaheer McBride, WR, Delaware State
--Four year starter at small school holds Delaware State records for receptions and yards.

Justin Roland, LB, Kansas State
--Decently sized LB recorded 70 tackles last year.

None of those names are instantly recognizable nor are they college stars but it looks like the Eagles are looking to possibly add some depth to their receiving corps with these signings. Of course, many of them will be amongst the first cuts at training camp this summer.

Experts weigh in on the Eagles Draft

Grading a draft the day after it happens is always a silly exercise. You never know what "sure thing" will turn into a bust, or what late round selection turns into the next Tom Brady. Usually you need to wait at least three years to really get a good gauge of how a team did. Regardless, here are a smattering of experts and their thoughts on the Eagles draft:

Mel Kiper, ESPN: C+
Trevor Laws had a very good 2007, and was arguably Notre Dame's best player. I like where the Eagles got DeSean Jackson because he's an exciting player (when healthy) who will help out in the return game. Bryan Smith is a combination DE/OLB, and Michael McGlynn had a nice season at right tackle opposite Jeff Otah. Cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu is a pick for the future; after declaring for the draft, he suffered a knee injury in January and isn't expected to play in 2008. Andrew Studebaker out of Wheaton has the potential to be a situational pass-rusher.

John Czarnecki, Fox Sports: C-
For the second straight year, the Eagles traded out of the first round. This time they picked up Carolina's first-round pick in 2009, one that the Panthers used on Pitt OT Jeff Otah. Notre Dame DT Trevor Laws is strong inside, but he can be blocked when he doesn't stay low. Coach Andy Reid went for Cal playmaker DeSean Jackson with his second pick, and he should be an excellent punt returner. Jackson has game-breaking speed, but will have trouble getting off the line against NFL cornerbacks. Pitt guard Mike McGlynn brings a roughhouse attitude, while Wisconsin CB Jack Ikegwuonu tore his ACL in January and may not be ready for training camp.

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: B
Best pick: Second-round pick DeSean Jackson will become a big-play return man immediately. He could also be a factor in the passing game as a rookie.

Questionable move: Trading out of the first round and not picking until No. 47 in the second round. But they did add Carolina's first-round pick in the 2009 draft to do so.

Second-day gem: Safety Quintin Demps has great speed and coverage skills. Some teams had him ranked third at the safety spot, so he's a bargain in the fourth round.

Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports: C+
The 10 picks touched on all the major needs, but the class doesn’t have the “wow” factor. It’s a little reminiscent of the 2004 draft that went 10 deep but didn’t produce much. However, Philadelphia’s fleecing of Carolina for the 19th pick will produce future dividends. Jackson is explosive and a potential steal in the second round. Ikegwuonu has a lot of talent and could move over to safety when he recovers from his knee injury. McGlynn could move to tackle and Dunlap could make the team because of his size.

Larry Weisman, USA Today: C+
Bailed out of first round rather than take a WR too high and then got the guy they liked, DeSean Jackson, in the second. Need that sort of playmaker. Picked up Carolina's No. 1 next year. Got o-line help in Mike McGlynn but reached a bit for him, added secondary help later and those were at least slight reaches too — though FS Quintin Demps shows some real ability. CB Jack Ikegwuono has knee problems and may be facing burglary charges.

Clifton Brown, Sporting News: C+
It paid off to trade down. DeSean Jackson gives them a much-needed deep target for Donovan McNabb, and a draft-day deal gives them the Panthers' first-rounder in '09.

And finally something positive:
Peter King, Sports Illustrated: No grade, but he includes the Eagles in "The five teams I like" section of his draft column.
The Eagles always ask for too much in trade. Always. They couldn't get rid of Lito Sheppard last weekend, but that was primarily because Sheppard, who gets hurt too much, wants a new contract even though he has four years left on his current one. But the Eagles were able to auction off the 19th pick in the draft for a mind-boggling sum, which they got from Carolina -- second- and fourth-round picks this year and the Panthers' first-round pick next year.

On the draft-trade chart, the 19th-overall pick is worth 875 points. If you assign Carolina an average 2008 season and give them the 16th pick in the first round next year, this trade will be worth 1,546 points on the trade chart -- almost double what the 19th pick is worth. In terms of real additions this year, DeSean Jackson as a receiver/returner with the 49th pick is excellent value.

My thoughts: Overall, the experts seem to feel that the Eagles draft is pretty average. In order to fully assess this year's draft, we are going to have to wait and see what the Eagles do with the first round pick they got from the Panthers for the 2009 draft. If that pick turns out to be in the top ten, then the Eagle draft grade should go way up. None of the players they drafted this year will have a huge impact in 2008, but the Eagles didn't have very many holes anyway. With two first rounders in next years draft, they have positioned themselves nicely for the future while sacrificing some talent for this year.

Sixers blow chance to take over series

(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

It was a tale of two halves. In the first half, the run and gun Sixers forced numerous Detroit turnovers en route to taking a ten point lead at halftime. In the second half, the Pistons defense took over and forced Philadelphia to take bad shots and dominated the Sixers to win the game 93-84 and tie the series at 2 games apiece.

The first half of the game looked just like the Sixers' Game Three blowout as Philly built a 14 point lead with a number of steals and fast break dunks. The Pistons looked lethargic on offense and didn't seem at all interested in playing defense. They flipped the switch at halftime and clamped down on defense, only allowing the Sixers to score 16 3rd quarter points. The Pistons beat the Sixers at their own game, forcing turnovers and finishing easy transition baskets at the other end.

The Sixers featured a balanced scoring attack with 6 players finishing in double figures. Thaddeus Young led the way with 15 points and Samuel Dalembert added 12 rebounds to go with his 12 points. Andre Iguodala played well in the first half but struggled down the stretch, finishing with 12 points on a 4 of 16 shooting night.

Philly had no answer for Tayshaun Prince, who shot 11 of 12 from the field to give him 23 points on the night. Prince couldn't be slowed down no matter who guarded him. Rasheed Wallace also played his best game of the series and finished with 20 points and 10 boards.

The Sixers missed a golden opportunity to take control of this series. They dominated in the first half and looked like they would easily build a 3-1 series lead but the Pistons had other ideas and completely shut them down when it mattered. Andre Iguodala, except for a massive dunk early in the first quarter of today's game, has looked completely flustered on the offensive end. He repeatedly settles for turnaround jumpers instead of trying to slash into the lane. He is the Sixers top scoring threat, so he feels the need to force things that just aren't there. It really highlights the Sixers need for another complementary scorer.

Game Five is back in Detroit. The Sixers will need to play the way they did in the first half of tonight's game if they want to stay in this series.

The big highlight of the night for the Sixers, Andre Iguodala's huge dunk over Rasheed Wallace. Notice Jimmy Rollins' reaction in the clip:

Philadelphia Eagles 2008 Draft Round-up

The 2008 NFL Draft is over and the Philadelphia Eagles have made a total of 10 selections. They went into the draft knowing they didn't have any glaring weaknesses on the team that needed to addressed in the draft, so they mostly took players that would help them down the road rather than guys that can step in right away. Many of the players selected are coming off injuries or they are still injured, so they aren't expected to contribute in 2008 at all. Overall I would say this was an average draft. The Eagles appeared to give their return game a boost by selecting DeSean Jackson and Quintin Demps looks like he could develop into Brian Dawkins' eventual replacement, but it's hard to see what roles the rest of these guys will play. Here is a complete rundown of each player selected by the Eagles:

Round 2, Pick 16(47): Trevor Laws, DT, Notre Dame
--The Eagles took Laws after trading out of the first round with the Carolina Panthers. They will get the Panthers 1st round selection in next years draft, a pick that could end up being pretty high considering the Panthers aren't that good. Laws is a bit of a reach as a second rounder, but he is a good fit for the 4-3 scheme and should find playing time in the Eagle defensive line rotation sometime down the road. Laws is good against the run and also did well on special teams, blocking 6 kicks in his college career.


Round 2, Pick 18(49): DeSean Jackson, WR, California
--Jackson is a small receiver with tremendous quickness who figures to help out the Eagles return team right away. He is generously listed as 6 feet tall and will be a home run threat when he lines up at wideout. Jackson has been working with Jerry Rice on what adjustments he needs to make in order to be an NFL wide receiver. He won't make the tough catches across the middle, but his speed should allow him to get plenty of separation on the outside. Donovan McNabb may have another offensive playmaker now.


Round 3, Pick 17 (80): Bryan Smith, DE, McNeese State
--An Andy Reid special: a small player from a small school. Smith was a defensive end in college, but he will likely have to make the transition to linebacker in the NFL. Smith is a great pass-rusher who dominated playing against weak competition. He was a two-time Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year.


Round 4, Pick 10 (109): Mike McGlynn, OT, Pittsburgh
--McGlynn, a teammate of first round pick Jeff Otah, is nimble, strong and versatile. He was a tackle in college but could play guard or center in the NFL. McGlynn is a physical player that NFL.com says got into altercations nearly every day in practice. He won't play in 2008 baring an injury, but he could be useful in any number of roles down the road.


Round 4, Pick 18 (117): Quintin Demps, S, UTEP
--Demps is a defensive playmaker who picked off 17 passes in his college career. He lacks hitting ability, so he isn't a complete safety, but the Eagles will likely try to groom him to be Brian Dawkins' replacement down the road. He has tremendous speed, but will need to adjust his game to fit into the Eagles' system.


Round 4, Pick 32 (131): Jack Ikegwuonu, CB, Wisconsin
--The first player taken with serious injury issues, Ikewuonu tore his ACL in January and won't play in 2008. He is described as having 1st round talent, but the injury and some off-field troubles with the law forced his draft status to fall. Down the road he could be a good #3 corner for the Eagles.

Round 6, Pick 18 (184): Mike Gibson, OT, California
--Gibson, a teammate of DeSean Jackson at Cal, was a tackle in college but will play guard in the NFL. He finished his college career with concussions that forced him to miss Cal's final game. He is very strong and agile.

Round 6, Pick 34 (200): Joe Mays, ILB, North Dakota State
--Mays comes from a small school and is small in stature. He dominated at North Dakota State and was named the Great West Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2007. He was known for making big hits and flying all over the field. His role in the NFL will likely be as a special teams player where he can get out into the open field to make explosive hits.


Round 6, Pick 37 (203): Andy Studebaker, OLB, Wheaton
--Another linebacker selected in the 6th round from another small school, Studebaker is fast and also strong. He played defensive end in college but will move to linebacker in the NFL. He was an elite pass rusher in his junior year, notching 17.5 sacks. He was injured for most of his senior year with a sprained right foot.


Round 7, Pick 23 (230): King Dunlap, OT, Auburn
--Dunlap is massive at 6 foot 9 and 310 pounds, but he is coming off injuries and off-field issues that dropped his draft status immensely. Dunlap had a great junior year and was thought of to have first day talent, but he was arrested for failing to pay a speeding ticket and injured his left elbow in his senior year. The chances are slim that Dunlap will make the team.

So those are the Eagles selections for the 2008 Draft. Experts will not call this a good draft, but the Eagles do have some intriguing prospects that could develop down the road. They took a lot of gambles on injured players that have the talent to be solid contributors in the NFL.

Add your comments on the Eagles draft below, and be sure to grade their draft in the poll to the right!

The Eagles have plenty of work left to do on second day of NFL Draft

The Eagles still have a lot of work to do. After trading down twice and selecting a defensive tackle who may have been a reach and a speedy but tiny wideout, the Eagles have nine more selections to make on the second day of the NFL Draft. Chances are, several of them will get traded, but expect the Birds to address needs at safety and offensive line at some point.

Here are their remaining picks updated as the day goes on:
Round 3, Pick 17 (80): Bryan Smith, DE, McNeese State
Round 4, Pick 10 (109): Mike McGlynn, OT, Pittsburgh
Round 4, Pick 18 (117): Quintin Demps, S, UTEP
Round 4, Pick 32 (131): Jack Ikegwuonu, CB, Wisconsin
Round 6, Pick 18 (184): Mike Gibson, OT, California
Round 6, Pick 25 (191): Traded to Cleveland
Round 6, Pick 34 (200): Joe Mays, ILB, North Dakota State
Round 6, Pick 37 (203): Andy Studebaker, OLB, Wheaton
Round 7, Pick 23 (230): King Dunlap, OT, Auburn

Check back later for a complete draft round-up!

Thanks to Martin Biron, Flyers even up series

(AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Paul Chiasson)

This time the Flyers made sure the referees couldn't affect the outcome of the game. The Flyers once again jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but this time they never let the Canadiens come back, winning the game by a score of 4-2.

Martin Biron was the story of this game, playing his best game of the playoffs. He made a number of spectacular saves that left the Canadiens forwards frustrated. Biron made 34 saves in all, none more exciting than the Tomas Plekanec breakaway chance that he snuffed out in the second period. Plekanec skated in all alone after a bad turnover by the Flyers, but Biron snatched his shot attempt right out of the air. Without Biron playing his best game, the Flyers could have easily blown another 2 goal lead.

The Flyers got a pair of goals by R.J. Umberger, including one in the final minutes of play that sealed the victory. Jeff Carter and Danny Briere also scored for the Flyers, with Carter's goal coming on the power play. The Canadiens got a powerplay goal from Saku Koivu in the first period and Andrei Markov later added a goal in the third period. They would have scored several more, especially on their potent power play, if Biron hadn't been so on his game.

Montreal goaltender Carey Price, a 20 year old rookie, failed to raise his level of play to match Martin Biron. He looked shaky in net all night, making several strange plays and showing a total lack of effort on the last goal of the game by Umberger. The Flyers clearly know how to get pucks past Price despite getting limited opportunities, scoring on 4 of their 23 shots.

The series now turns to Philadelphia all tied up at one win apiece. Regardless of what happened in Game One, the Flyers should feel good about splitting the games in Montreal, they have effectively taken away the home ice advantage. The Flyers have been the better team in this series, taking the best offensive punch the Canadiens have and repeatedly turning it aside. The number of shots they are giving up is somewhat alarming, but if you have followed the Flyers at all this season you know that they have a tendency to allow the other team to pepper shots on goal. Many of the shots are easy saves for Biron, but they still need to find a way to limit the Canadiens' chances if they hope to move on to the next round.

Highlights of Martin Biron's stellar game via Comcast SportsNet:

Howard awakens, helps Phillies to 3rd straight win

(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Between the NFL Draft and the Flyers game, I'll admit that I didn't plan on spending much time watching the Phillies game today. Luckily, thanks to Ryan Howard finally waking up from his slumber, the Phillies offense put the game away early, scoring 5 runs in the first inning to lead the Phillies to an 8-4 victory over the Pirates.

Howard had been mired in a deep funk, striking out numerous times and looking lost at the plate recently, but he bounced back today with a towering 2-run home run in the first inning. Of course, Howard also struck out 2 times later in the game, but we can all learn to live with the strikeouts if he keeps hitting bombs. Chase Utley continued his hot hitting, getting a pair of hits and scoring two runs.

Kyle Kendrick also put together a solid pitching performance tonight against a weak hitting Pirates team. Kendrick pitched 7 innings and gave up 4 runs, 3 of them earned. Ryan Madsen and Rudy Seanez threw two shutout innings to continue the bullpen's current hot streak.

The win was the Phillies 3rd in a row and the 6th in their last 7 games. They go for the sweep over the Pirates tomorrow afternoon with Brett Myers taking the mound.

Highlights of the game courtesy of Comcast SportsNet:

Eagles finally draft two in the Second Round

After sliding backwards out of the first round and then again moving back in the second, the Eagles finally selected two players in the second round with picks 47 and 49. The Eagles first drafted Trevor Laws, a DT from Notre Dame who figures be another player they can eventually slot into their defensive line rotation. Laws appeared to be a bit of a reach at this point in the draft, so the Eagles must see something in him that will fit perfectly into their system.

With the second pick, the Eagles took DeSean Jackson, pictured above, an electric wide receiver from Cal. Jackson is small but incredibly fast, so expect him to be a return specialist as well as an option for Donovan McNabb. If he makes the return game an actual threat, this pick could turn out to be a steal.

Here is some more info on these two picks:
Trevor Laws
DeSean Jackson

Eagles acquire RB Lorenzo Booker

The Eagles have acquired running back Lorenzo Booker from the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins will get the Eagles fourth round draft pick for the veteran running back. Booker was a third round pick by the Dolphins last year, and he rushed for 125 yards on 28 carries in 2007. He was mostly a third down back last season for Miami, catching 28 passes for 237 yards.

I have no idea how the Eagles plan on using Booker. They don't really need a running back with pass-catching ability, they already have the best in the business at that. He will likely be some help on special teams, and perhaps he could learn to return kicks or punts. For the price they paid the Eagles obviously feel that Booker has some real value. A fourth round pick is a pretty hefty price to pay for a guy that isn't at least a second string running back.

Eagles trade out of first round

Apparently Andy Reid didn't like anything that was available. The Eagles traded out of the 19th pick in the first round, giving it to the Carolina Panthers who used it to select offensive tackle Jeff Otah, a player that was rumored to be on the Eagles wish list. Here is the complete breakdown of the trade:

Eagles get:
Panthers 2nd round pick
Panthers 4th round pick
Panthers 2009 1st round pick

Panthers get:
Eagles 1st round pick (Jeff Otah)

This is a great deal, getting another first round pick for next years draft. The Panthers don't figure to be a great team this year, so it could be a top ten pick. The Eagles also have further loaded up with picks in this years draft (they have 12 total picks) which gives them plenty of room to maneuver should they choose to do so later.

Philadelphia Eagles Draft Day Coverage

The wait is finally over. All the speculation of what the Eagles are going to do on Draft Day can go out the window along with all the mock drafts. Hit refresh for the latest updates.

8:58 pm
*The Giants make the last pick of the second round, Terrell Thomas from USC. Day One is over, definitely shorter than in previous years, but still too long. Check back later tonight for more analysis of the Eagles picks!

8:31 pm
*Packers take Brian Brohm, they're QB of the future. Wait, I thought that was supposed to be Aaron Rodgers?

8:22 pm
*DeSean Jackson has been working with Jerry Rice on getting ready for the pro game. Sounds good to me!

8:18 pm
*Okay so that wasn't much of a break. The Redskins pick Malcolm Kelly, who they will now pair up with Devin Thomas in their passing game. Curious that they took two WR's already. Limas Sweed was also taken by Pittsburgh, he is a great value at this point in the draft. I wouldn't have minded Sweed going to the Eagles with their last pick.

8:10 pm
*I'll be taking a break for awhile, watching the Flyers!

8:09 pm
*For more on the Eagles picks, click here.

7:54 pm
*Eagles make their next selection! They finally get their receiver, DeSean Jackson from Cal. That's a great pick there. He will be a great punt/kick returner.

7:46 pm
*Eagles FINALLY make a pick! Trevor Laws, DT Notre Dame.

7:41 pm
*Bengals pick Jerome Simpson, WR. EAGLES ARE ON THE CLOCK (again). Let's see what they trade for now!

7:37 pm
*Apparently the Eagles got another 4th rounder from the Vikings. I guess that makes up for the one they gave up in the trade for Lorenzo Booker.

7:32 pm
*It looks like they moved down a few spots and they have the 47th and 49th picks coming up. They had to have gotten something else, too.

7:31 pm
*Still waiting for word on what the Eagles got from the Vikings

7:25 pm
*Seriously? The Eagles trade down again? Do they even want to draft this year?

7:22 pm
*I have no idea what the Eagles will do with this pick. If I had to guess, I would say they take one of the best available receivers, DeSean Jackson or Malcolm Kelly perhaps.

7:21 pm
*The Broncos pick WR Eddie Royal. THE EAGLES ARE ON THE CLOCK. Let's hope they actually use their pick this time!

6:56 pm
*Now we have a run on receivers. Jordy Nelson of Kansas State is the next to go. The Eagles may need to move up if they want to take one.

6:48 pm
*Redskins take Devin Thomas, the second receiver off the board. Thomas is going to be a good player, it would have been nice if he fell to the Eagles.

6:01 pm
*Can anyone follow all these trades? This has to be some kind of record. The Cowboys trade for another first round pick and get Mike Jenkins, someone many thought would be the first cornerback taken. Great value there, I hate the Cowboys.

5:53 pm
*Another running back off the board! Chris Johnnson from East Carolina goes to the Titans with the 24th pick. That's five running backs taken and ZERO wide receivers so far.

5:45 pm
*Running back run! Dallas takes Felix Jones and Rashard Mendenhall goes to the Steelers. Neither team really needs a running back, but they are both good value at this point.

5:33 pm
*Cowboys on the clock. BOOOOO!!! Love the boos coming from the crowd in New York. The Cowboys should take some secondary help because they can't count on Pacman.

5:22 pm
*The Bucs take Aqib Talib, someone else who the Eagles may have been interested in. Talib has some serious off-field issues, so I don't mind them passing on him.

5:21 pm
*Details of the Eagles trade just came through. The Eagles get the Panthers first round pick next year, which could be a high pick since Carolina doesn't figure to be that good.

5:11 pm
*The Panthers take Jeff Otah. Guess the Eagles didn't hold him in as high regard.

5:10 pm
*Eagles trade out of the first round with the Carolina Panthers. That would have been my next guess, if the Eagles didn't see anything they really liked, they would move down and grab someone later.

5:04 pm
*My prediction is that the Eagles take Pittsburgh's Jeff Otah. Even though none have been taken, it's still too early to take a wide receiver, they can take one in the second round. The receiver group is so deep that there won't be much of a drop-off.

5:03 pm
*Baltimore moves up to take Delaware's Joe Flacco, a QB. THE EAGLES ARE ON THE CLOCK!

4:53 pm
*Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie taken by the Cardinals. Another player many mock draft had the Eagles taking. Rodgers-Cromartie would have been a solid addition for the Eagles, but I think the Birds have bigger needs than cornerback, especially with no word yet on a Lito Sheppard trade.

4:44 pm
*Instead of the Eagles, the Chiefs trade with the Lions for the 15th pick. They select Brandon Albert. Great value with the 15th pick. You can bet Andy Reid is pissed!

4:40 pm
*ESPN is speculating that the Eagles might try to trade up here with the Lions for the 15th pick. The thought would be that the Eagles take Brandon Albert and keep him away from the Cheifs who could take him with the 17th pick. Sounds good to me!

4:37 pm
*The Bears take offensive lineman Chris Williams. The Eagles have to feel pretty good knowing linemen Brandon Albert and Jeff Otah are both still on the board. Knowing the Eagles penchant for taking lineman in the first round, expect one of the two to be the pick if they are still there at 19.

4:28 pm
*Second running back taken, Jonathan Stewart from Oregon. He's a bit of a stretch here, I thought Rashard Mendenhall of Illinois was going to be the second back taken.

4:24 pm
*Broncos take Ryan Clady, a lineman who I had seen go to the Eagles in some mock drafts. He's the first offensive player taken in 7 picks. This is not a big year for skill position players.

4:19 pm
*The first defensive back is off the board. Leodis McKelvin is taken by the Bills to help them actually try to cover the Patriots receivers.

4:13 pm
*The Patriots throw a bit of a curveball. Linebacker Jerod Mayo was considered a bit of a late first round pick. Of course, linebacker is a big need for the Pats, so the pick makes sense.

4:09 pm
*Patriots on the clock again. I could see them moving down again. Maybe the Eagles could swing a deal to move up here?

4:04 pm
*First two trades of the day. The Patriots trade down, as expected, and the Saints move up and take DT Sedrick Ellis. The Ravens, knowing that they can't take a QB now, also trade down and the Jaguars make the first reach of the day: Derrick Harvey, a DE from Florida. He was considered a late first rounder at best. The Jags gave up a TON to move up. They gave up their 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th to move up. Bad Deal.

3:43 pm
*Chiefs do the right thing and take Dorsey, the Jets take defensive end Vernon Gholston. Makes sense for both of them.

3:30 pm
*The draft should get interesting now. The Chiefs could take Glenn Dorsey, or they could trade down. The Chiefs are a terrible franchise, so expect them to do something head-scratching.

3:27 pm
*Raiders take McFadden. Knowing who the top four picks were going to be ahead of time has made this pretty boring. That being said, the Raiders did good to take the best player in the draft at the number 4 pick.

3:17 pm
*Falcons are taking Matt Ryan. No pressure, Matt, you are expected to resurrect an entire franchise and make everyone forget about Mike Vick. Good luck with that.

3:11 pm
*Rams pick Chris Long as expected. Have there ever been a more boring top two picks? I know these guys are going to be good, but they are both safe, vanilla picks.

3:03 pm
*Miami makes it official: Jake Long with the first pick. Good selection, he's the safest pick out of any of the top guys. What will the Rams do at number 2?

2:46 pm
*ProFootballtalk.com appears to have crashed. Not a good time for that to happen!

2:27 pm:
*Some interesting things happening 30 minutes before the draft even starts, according to Jay Glazer. The Ravens may be trying to move up to the number 2 spot to take Matt Ryan now that the Falcons made it apparent they will take him. The Chiefs also want to move down now that their top choices have been taken off the board. Do the Chiefs need secondary help? Lito + the number 19 pick for the number 5 pick?

1:45 pm:
*We apparently already know the first four picks in the draft according to ProFootballtalk.com:

Dolphins: Jake Long
Rams: Chris Long
Falcons: Matt Ryan
Raiders: Darren McFadden

Kinda takes a lot of the fun out of the draft when teams announce their intentions ahead of time. Of course, there could be a lot of teams trying to send out smokescreens and they'll go another direction completely.

Hit refresh for the latest updates!

Game 2 Flyers vs. Canadiens Live Game Blog tonight!

Check back right here tonight at 6:45 pm for the Flyers vs. Canadiens Game Two Live Blog. Discuss the game action with fellow Flyer fans as it happens. Let's see if the Flyers can bounce back and even this series up.

That's more like it: Sixers dominate Pistons to take series lead

(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Detroit Pistons are an elite team that won 59 games in the regular season and many experts considered them a strong candidate to make the NBA Finals. The Sixers finished the season below .500 and were considered lucky to even be participating in postseason play.

None of those things mattered tonight, as the two teams seemed to switch roles: the Sixers completely dominated the Pistons, who looked listless and lifeless as they struggled to keep up. The Pistons have an incredible amount of playoff experience, and the young Sixers are just getting their feet wet, yet it was the Sixers who showed playoff moxie and the ability to play sound defense and hit clutch shots in their 95-75 beatdown of the Pistons. The win gives the Sixers a surprising 2-1 series lead.

The Pistons seemed to have a good dame plan: shut down Andre Iguodala and make the Sixer supporting cast beat them. Perhaps they underestimated just how good the supporting cast is. While Iguodala was hounded all night and managed just 10 points on 2 of 9 shooting, six other Sixers managed to score at least 8 points, including Samuel Dalembert's team high 22. The Sixers put forth a total team effort: Andre Miller had 21 points and 6 assists, Thaddeus Young notched 10 points and energy-man Reggie Evans had 9 points and 5 rebounds. Dalembert also added 16 rebounds and 2 blocks on the night.

Detroit never really got going and only had three players finish in double figures. Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince, who finished with 23 and 18 points respectively, were the only two players who seemed to be focused on the game. Rasheed Wallace was once again more interested in arguing with the refs and mixing it up with Reggie Evans and he finished with a pitiful 2 points on 1 of 6 shooting.

There will probably be some argument as to whether the Sixers won this game by playing tenacious defense and out-hustling the Pistons or whether the Pistons simply didn't feel like playing. Detroit, known for their mental lapses, basically took the night off. They focused a lot of their energy on shadowing and frustrating Andre Iguodala but they neglected to actually play defense on anybody else. On the other end, the Sixers defense definitely played a part in keeping the Pistons under 80 points, but there was definitely a lack of effort on Detroit's part.

Even the most jaded Sixer fan has to believe now. The Sixers proved that game one was no fluke as they played their best game of the series tonight. They came right out of the gate with lots of energy, feeding off the home crowd and hustling for every loose ball and grabbing every rebound. They fastbreaked the Pistons into oblivion, scoring 29 fast break points created from forcing the Pistons into 23 turnovers, Detroit's season high. If the Sixers come out with the same intensity next game, regardless of whether the Pistons decide to show up, we could be looking at one of the biggest playoff upsets ever.

This scrappy Sixers team has quickly found a place in the Philadelphia sports fan's heart. They are the ultimate underdog that is taking it to the mighty behemoth. They are making basketball fun again in Philly, something that it hasn't been for several years. Let's see if the thrill ride continues Sunday in Game Four.

Video highlights courtesy of Comcast SportsNet:

Phillies B-Squad beats Pirates

You know the Pirates aren't very good when the Phillies are missing Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino due to injuries, bench Ryan Howard, start nobodies Brad Harman and Eric Bruntlett, and Chase Utley and Pat Burrell combine for one hit and they still lose to the Phillies 6-5.

The secondary players got it done for the Phillies in the early innings, as Chris Coste picked up three RBI's and Jayson Werth hit a home run to give the Phils an early 6-0 advantage. Then, despite Adam Eaton's best efforts to give away the game, the bullpen came in and held it down just like it has all season long. Chad Durbin had a bit of a rough outing giving up two runs, but Tom Gordon, J.C. Romero and Brad Lidge combined for three shutout innings, combining to give up only one hit. Lidge, who has been everything the Phillies hoped he would be when they traded for him in the offseason, picked up his sixth save, and continues to have an ERA of triple-zeros. The win was the Phillies 5th in their last 6 games.

The Phillies are starting to starting to do the things that legitimate contenders do. They are winning games when their starting pitcher has an off-night and when some of their best hitters are in slumps or are nursing injuries. They are finding ways to win ball games, something the good teams always do.

Even though this win was only against the Pirates, the Phillies should be content with knowing their best players can have an off night and they still have enough weapons to compete.

Highlights of the game via Comcast SportsNet:

With the 19th pick in the first round, the Philadelphia Eagles select.....

So who's it going to be? With the NFL Draft just a day away, we will soon know exactly what the Eagles plan to do with their first round selection. Will they take our advice (check the poll on the right) and take a wide receiver, or will they take an offensive lineman like they always do? Will they trade up using their glut of later picks, or will they trade down to further stockpile choices? Will they finally trade Lito Sheppard, possibly to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a second round pick?

Judging from the various mock drafts out there, even the experts don't really know what the Birds are going to do. I've seen the Eagles projected to take everyone from cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to lineman Jeff Otah to receiver Limas Sweed. So what do I think they will do? I have a feeling that Andy Reid wants an offensive lineman (big surprise) and he will do what it takes to get Brandon Albert of Virginia. If that means they have to package some of their later picks to move up to get him, I think they will. Albert is big and fast and would be perfect in the Eagles running game with the way they like to run the ball to the outside. He is just a perfect fit for the system, and Andy Reid will do everything to get his guy. I think they'll pass on taking a receiver in the first round and instead take the best available one in the second. This draft isn't top heavy with receivers, but it is plenty deep, so the Eagles could snag a James Hardy or Malcolm Kelly in the second round.

What do you think the Eagles will do? Weigh in with your opinions in the comments section! Check back in tomorrow for complete draft day coverage.

Sound Familiar? Flyers blow 2 goal lead

(Photo by Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images)

The Flyers just can't seem to hold on to 2 goal leads. For what only seems like the 8th time in the playoffs, the Flyers jumped out to a 2 goal lead in tonights opening game of the second round, only to see the Canadiens battle back, force overtime, and win 4-3. It happened several times in the Washington series, and it happened again tonight. Every time the Flyers pull ahead by 2, they seem to fall back and allow the other team to dictate play. It's a recipe for disaster, and something they can't do against a team with as much firepower as the Canadiens. Of course, the referees also played a part in allowing the Canadiens to come back as well, which we'll get to later.

Not that the Flyers did much to deserve the two goal lead. The Flyers first goal was of the fluky variety, with a pass by R.J. Umberger being deflected into the net by Canadiens defender Patrice Brisebois. Umberger was trying to make a cross-ice pass and Brisebois was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Flyers then added a second goal late in the first period when Jim Dowd got a feed from Steve Downie and fired it in. It was a pure hustle goal created by the hard-working fourth liners. The Flyers were fortunate to enter the first intermission with a 2-0 lead as the Canadiens played well and had several chances hit off the post.

The second period was subsequently dominated by the Canadiens, who fought back to tie up the game. Andrei Kostitsyn got the Habs on the board when his brother Sergei raced down the ice and fed Andrei to cut the Flyers lead down to one. Montreal would tie the game up later in the period on a controversial short-handed goal. The Flyers made a terrible play on the power play that set up a short-handed 3 on 1 for the Canadiens where Tomas Plekanec shot the puck on net and Alexei Kovalev batted the puck with his stick down into the back of the net. The referees reviewed the play for several minutes, looking to see if the stick was above the crossbar, but they allowed the goal. Several replays clearly showed Kovalev's stick above the crossbar, but the refs must have thought that there wasn't enough conclusive evidence to wave it off. Bad call number one.

The Flyers took the lead early in the third period on another fluky goal. This time, on the power play, Joffrey Lupul deflected a Braydon Coburn shot off his shin and into the net to give the Flyers a 3-2 lead. Lupul was in the right place at the right time for that goal much like he was in overtime in Game 7 against the Capitals. The Flyers then clamped down for the rest of the period, playing good shut-down hockey and keeping the Canadiens from getting clear looks on Martin Biron. Finally, in the final minute of play, Mike Richards tripped Alexei Kovalev with his knee, and the Canadiens went on the power play. The penalty was a legitimate one, though it was questionable as to why the refs would call it at that juncture in the game. Usually in the waning minutes of a close hockey game you can get away with just about anything and they let the minor infractions go. For whatever reason, they deemed Richards' play worthy of a penalty, and the Canadiens subsequently scored with 29 seconds left in the game to force overtime. That was absolutely not a call you make at the end of a playoff hockey game. Bad call number two.

The Canadiens then quickly finished off the Flyers on their first shift in overtime. 48 seconds in, Tom Kostopoulos grabbed a rebound that fired off Biron and pounded it home to give the Canadiens a 4-3 victory.

It was yet another disheartening loss for the Flyers. It was a game they should have won that they let slip right through their fingers with lots of help from the referees. It was remarkably similar to the first game against the Capitals when they made little mistakes that allowed the other team to get back in. Of course, one could argue that the Flyers were lucky to even be in the game, judging by the way they scored their goals. None of them were of the pretty variety, and their top scoring tandem of Danny Briere and Vinny Prospal was quiet all night.

This was certainly a game with a lot of ups and downs and mixed emotions. The Flyers were completely out-played by the Canadiens in the second period but looked like the better team for most of the third. The Flyers watched the clock melt all the way down into the final minute only to watch the Canadiens pull out a heart wrenching goal.

There are some positives to take away from this game for Philly. Despite not playing anywhere near their best hockey, they still had a great chance to steal a game on the road against a great team. The Flyers also did well to keep out of the penalty box for most of the night, not giving the Habs a chance to show off their potent power play. The Canadiens were also expected to be the much faster team but the Flyers were able to keep up with them for most of the game.

Game Two is Saturday in Montreal. The Flyers showed tonight that they won't be easily beaten, but they need to come out and play a full 60 minutes of hockey if they want to beat a team like the Canadiens who can score whenever they are given an inch of space. The Flyers managed to put out 59:31 of solid hockey tonight, but the Canadiens took what little was given to them and put the Flyers away. The Flyers will bounce back as they have shown time and time again, the question will be whether they have enough left in the tank to beat an elite team like Montreal

Video highlights of the game, complete with both controversial calls, from Comcast SportsNet:

Game 1 Flyers vs. Canadiens Live Game Blog Under Way!

Round Two kicks off tonight with the Flyers taking on the Canadiens. Check back right here at 6:45 pm for a Live Game Blog. Follow the action and discuss it with fellow Flyer fans!

Burrell leads Phillies past Brewers

(AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Pat Burrell looks like he wants to cash in this off-season. Burrell's contract runs out after this year, and while many Phils fans couldn't wait to see him go, he is silencing all the critics and putting up huge numbers this season. With the score tied 1-1 in the 8th inning of today's game with the Brewers, Burrell added to his league-leading RBI total by hitting a 2-run double that gave the Phillies a 3-1 win. Through 23 games this season, Burrell is hitting .355 with 8 homers and 25 RBI's. If he keeps up this current pace, he will shatter all of his career high numbers. How many people think Burrell, who is making just over 14 million this season, is overpaid now?

Burrell's hot start masks the further struggles of Ryan Howard, who didn't start today's game but entered in the 8th inning as a pinch hitter and got two at-bats, striking out both times to lower his batting average to .176. Every day I worry more and more about Howard and his ability to recognize pitches. While he goes into a funk every season that he eventually works his way out of, it's worrisome that the slumps seem to be getting longer every season.

In today's game, the Phils also got a solid pitching performance from Jamie Moyer, who went 6 innings and, despite giving up 8 hits and walking 3 batters, allowed only one run. The bullpen was lights out once again, with Tom Gordon, J.C. Romero, Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge combining for 3 shutout innings. Lidge was the only one of the relievers to give up a hit.

The Phillies, who are now back above .500, go to Pittsburgh next to take on the Pirates in a three game series. With the way Pat Burrell and Chase Utley (3 for 4 today) have been swinging the bat lately, if the Phillies don't take 2 out of 3 it would be disappointing.

Flyers vs. Canadiens: Second Round Breakdown

After a thrilling Game Seven victory, the Flyers got one day of rest and they are back to the ice tonight to begin their second round series with the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens got only one extra day of rest after they disposed of the Bruins on Monday, so fatigue could be a factor in this series. Most experts believe that the Canadiens should have no trouble dispatching the Flyers, but these are the same people that all predicted the Capitals would win. Can the Flyers beat the Canadiens? Let's take a closer look.

Offense: Both teams have balanced, deep scoring attacks. In their first round series alone, the Flyers got goals from 11 different players, while 12 players scored for the Canadiens. Neither team has one line you can key in on, both have three quality scoring lines. The Flyers have shown bursts of speed, but the Canadiens have a distinct speed advantage that will give the Flyers plodding D-men problems. Alexei Kovalev is the Canadiens most dynamic forward, but the Kostitsyn brothers aren't far behind. Kovalev has a tendency to go quiet for long periods of time, almost lulling opponents to sleep before he bursts through.

The Flyers depth takes a hit with the injury to Mike Knuble. While Knuble isn't the fastest or most skilled player, he brings leadership and toughness to the team. His loss also means that either Riley Cote or Steve Downie will suit up, two players that aren't the type of players you need in the playoffs. Danny Briere has been the Flyers best weapon, scoring 6 goals in the opening series, so expect him to continue his playoff dominance as he plays against the team he spurned playing for last offseason. EDGE: Canadiens, they're too fast and too skilled.

Defense: Neither team is known for having great defense. The Flyers look like they are two defensemen short, as fans cringe whenever Jaroslav Modry or Jason Smith are trying to make a play. Smith had a horrendous -7 against the Capitals, and Modry didn't fair much better at -4. Derian Hatcher quietly played some of his best hockey against the Capitals, slowing down Alexander Ovechkin and even scoring a goal. Kimmo Timonen is still the key to the Flyer defense corps, he makes things happen on both ends of the ice. This group will be challenged constantly to keep up with the Canadiens, look for them to use their size and toughness to try to shut down any rushes.

The Canadiens don't have any particularly intimidating defensemen, but Andrei Markov and Patrice Brisebois are great at helping out on the offensive end. They also have Roman Hamrlik, who only seems like he's been playing forever. The Canadiens have a few forwards who are great at getting back and helping out, like Saku Koivu, but they still had issues slowing down the weak Bruins attack. EDGE: Flyers, but not by much

Goaltending: The Canadiens traded away Cristobal Huet to give 20-year-old Carey Price the number on job, and he has taken on the role and flourished. Martin Biron is ten years older than Price, but they both have exactly seven games of playoff experience. Coming off a shut-out of the Bruins, Price is the hotter goalie, but Biron made some big stops to keep the Flyers in Game Seven. The hotter goaltender will win, and right now it looks like Price has been better, but he will be challenged more by the Flyers attack than he was by the Bruins. EDGE: Canadiens

The Canadiens aren't a good match-up for the Flyers. They are quick and skilled, and this series could look like the Sabres/Flyers series of a few years ago. The Flyers will try to use their toughness to slow down the Montreal attack, but it's tough to slow down three lines. They will also have to be careful not to take too many penalties because the Canadiens power play will make them pay. The Flyers will steal a game early, but the Canadiens have too much firepower and will win in six games. The season will still be a success for the Flyers, who went from the worst team in the league all the way to the final eight. They are still a few defenders short of having a championship team.

No upset this time: Pistons dominate Sixers in Game Two

Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by D. Lippitt/Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Looks like the real Pistons decided to show up for Game Two. After squandering a 15 point lead in Game One of the series, the Pistons got out to a big lead in Game Two and never allowed the Sixers to make a run, blowing them out 105-88. As I feared after the Sixers improbable win in Game One, the loss seemed to wake up the Pistons and force them to take the Sixers seriously.

Detroit featured a balanced attack with five players finishing at least 12 points. Rip Hamilton led them in scoring with 20 points, and also added 7 assists and 7 boards. Rasheed Wallace had another good game tonight, tallying 16 points, 7 boards and 3 blocked shots.

The Sixers had very few bright spots in the blowout. Louis Williams led the team in scoring with 17 points despite shooting 4 of 12 from the field. Reggie Evans built on his energetic performance in Game One, grabbing 11 rebounds and notching 13 points. Andre Iguodala didn't even show up tonight, shooting 1 for 9 from the field and looked frustrated all game with how poor he was playing.

While this was an ugly loss for the Sixers, they still leave Detroit with the series tied 1-1. By stealing a game on the road, they did all that can be asked of them, stealing home court from the Pistons. They need to basically forget about tonight's game and focus on going home and protecting their court. The crowd will give them all the energy they need to get them pumped up, so it's up to them to come out and play their game.

The real Pistons showed up tonight and showed the Sixers exactly why this team has made deep runs into the playoffs several times over the last few years. It's now up to the Sixers to respond and show the Piston's that this is still going to be a series and that they won't be shut down again. If they can't muster a better effort in Game Three, they will give the Pistons all the confidence they need to wipe the Sixers right out of the playoffs.

No comeback this time: Phillies fall to Brewers

(AP Photo/Morry Gash)

The National League leader in come-from-behind wins, the Phillies, failed to execute a ninth inning rally and fell to the Brewers 5-4. The Brewers were powered by recent vegetarian Prince Fielder's two home runs and 4 RBI's. Seems that a lack of meat hasn't taken anything away from his power.

The Phillies almost looked like they might pull out another late victory when So Taguchi walked, then stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error with only one out, but Jayson Werth and Pedro Feliz failed to get Taguchi home to tie the game.

Cole Hamels has always had a penchant for giving up the long ball, and it killed him again tonight. He pitched 7 innings and gave up eight hits, but did manage 11 strikeouts. Charlie Manuel made a questionable move in keeping Hamels in for the start of the 8th inning when he was already over 100 pitches. With the Phils up 4-3, Hamels gave up the lead when Ryan Braun led off the inning with a double and then Fielder tagged his second homer of the game. Hamels was then quickly removed from the game but the damage had already been done. Manuel, famous for his gut decisions, made a big mistake and left Hamels out there too long.

Offensively, the Phillies produced all their runs through homers. Chase Utley, who has to be the front-runner for NL MVP, hit his 7th home run in his last 7 games. Greg Dobbs and Pat Burrell also added home runs. The Phillies continue to live by the home run, which is a disturbing trend. What happens when Utley and Burrell cool off and the Phillies have to produce runs the old fashioned way? Perhaps by then Ryan Howard (0 for 4, 2 strikeouts) will snap out of his funk.

The Phillies wrap up their short series with the Brewers tomorrow afternoon. Brewers ace Ben Sheets will face Old Man Moyer as the up and down Phillies look to avoid getting swept in Milwaukee right after they swept Colorado earlier in the week.

Highlights from tonight's game, plus a look at tomorrow's pitching match-up, via Comcast SportsNet:

Stanley Cup Playoffs: Second Round Predictions

After going 7 for 8 on my first round predictions for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, here are my predictions for the second round:

Eastern Conference
(1) Montreal vs. (6) Philadelphia
Montreal in Six
While the national media continues to show the Flyers a lack of respect, I will concede that the Canadiens are a dangerous hockey team that is going to give the Flyers fits. They have three quality scoring lines that are fast and will make the Flyers slow defenders look like they are skating in mud. The Flyers will try to slow the Canadiens down the same way they slowed Alexander Ovechkin down, by hitting them repeatedly. The problem with that, though, is that the Canadiens have scoring depth and they don't have one line you can key in on. Philly has three lines that can do some damage offensively as well, but in the end I think they will fall just short. Look for a more in-depth look at this series tomorrow.

(2) Pittsburgh vs. (5) New York Rangers
Pittsburgh in Seven
The Rangers have a big advantage in goal with Henrik Lundqvist and he will be the key to the series. The Penguins can score early and often and the Rangers defense likely won't be able to do anything to contain Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin, so it will be up to Lundqvist to bail the Rangers out. If he can stand on his head, he will single-handedly send the Penguins home. The Penguins will also have trouble keeping the Rangers off the board, so expect a number of high scoring games. It's hard to get a good read on the Penguins because of the way they obliterated a broken-down Senators team, but I think they will have just enough to outlast the Rangers.

Western Conference
(1) Detroit vs. (6) Colorado
Detroit in Six
This won't be the bloodbath series like they used to have, but this is still an intriguing match-up between two veteran-laden teams. As much as I should know better than to pick the Red Wings, a team who repeatedly comes up short in the playoffs, I think the Avalanche are just too old and slow to keep up with the Wings balanced attack. Jose Theodore has been the hottest goaltender, but the Red Wings will find a way to march on.

(2) San Jose vs. (6) Dallas
San Jose in Six
Dallas was the one team I didn't expect to get out of the first round. The Stars showed remarkable toughness in sending the Ducks packing, and they will certainly give the Sharks trouble. The Sharks had serious problems with the Flames, a team that is considerably weaker than the Stars. But, San Jose was my pick to win the Stanley Cup, so I am going to stick with them. The first round series with Calgary will serve as a wake-up call and, led by Joe Thornton who is playing some great hockey right now, they will come out with more intensity and more urgency and take care of the Stars. Besides, Marty Turco seems due to choke away some playoff games.

So those are my predictions. We will see if my good luck continues with these picks. For the Flyers sake I hope it doesn't!

ESPN: Canadiens in Five

With the second round series between the Canadiens and Flyers set to begin tomorrow, experts are beginning to come out with their predictions for the series. Scott Burnside of ESPN, who incorrectly predicted the Capitals would beat the Flyers in the first round, has gone on record with his choice of the Canadiens winning the series in five games. He argues that the Canadiens will be too fast for the Flyers to handle, and that 20 year old Montreal goaltender Carey Price, who looked pretty average during some sequences against the Bruins, will rise to the challenge and stop the Flyers attack.

On paper, the Canadiens are certainly the better team, but I find it hard to justify them winning this series 4-1. There is no way the Flyers only manage one win against the Canadiens when an inferior team like the Boston Bruins was able to push the Habs to seven games. I think this is another example of the national media not giving the Flyers the respect they deserve. They have proven that they fight hard and won't get blown out.

I will post more predictions made by "experts" as they come out, and I will also make my own predictions for the second round later tonight.

Yet another reason to hate the Cowboys: Pacman Jones joins Dallas

Get ready Dallas-area strip clubs, Pacman is coming to town! It has been rumored for months, but the Dallas Cowboys finally acquired trouble-maker Pacman Jones from the Tennessee Titans for a fourth round draft pick. The Cowboys had been in negotiations with the Titans for months over the talented but disruptive defensive back. Jones is still suspended for his off-field behavior by the NFL and has yet to apply to be re-instated.

The Cowboys are getting an extremely gifted defensive back and a solid punt returner. Pacman is a defensive playmaker who hawks to the ball and makes things happen when he gets it. On the field he will help out one of the weakest parts of the Cowboys defense, their secondary. Off the field, Dallas is bringing in yet another volatile character into their locker room, so this whole situation could blow up in their faces. I can imagine T.O. and Pacman either being best friends or going at each others throats. Let's hope it's the latter and these two ruin the entire franchise.

On paper, getting Pacman Jones for a fourth round pick is a steal. It gives the Cowboys another weapon, and it will give the Eagles even more reason to boo when Dallas comes to Philly next season. At least Philadelphia strip clubs will see a boost in revenue once a year when Pacman comes to town.

Eagles can ask, but Cardinals won't trade Boldin

Trade rumors have been swirling around the Eagles, and one of the names that comes up frequently is Anquan Boldin. The star receiver for the Cardinals became the subject of rumors as soon as teammate Larry Fitzgerald signed a big contract, one that made Boldin's deal look minuscule. There has speculation since that time that the Cardinals would look to deal Boldin since he would likely ask for a new contract and they couldn't afford to keep both receivers.

Enter the Eagles, who have been desperately seeking a new weapon for Donovan McNabb. Apparently the Eagles and the Redskins have both made trade offers to the Cardinals, but Arizona has not even entertained the idea of dealing Boldin. The Cardinals aren't "interested in trading Anquan," according to their General Manager Rod Graves. The Eagles apparently offered Lito Sheppard and a high draft pick, but the Cardinals flatly refused that offer.

Of course, this is exactly what the Cardinals should say, regardless of whether or not they plan on trading Boldin. There is no reason for them to announce to the league that they are willing to trade him because that would only serve to drive down his price. You can't believe everything a GM says, especially at this time of year.

The Eagles are doing there due diligence and inquiring about every available receiver, hoping that there is a team out there willing to part with one. The have a great trading chip in Lito Sheppard that could net them what they want, but the problem is, another team has to actually want to make a trade. Just because the Eagles want an elite receiver doesn't mean they are going to get one, no matter how many times they try. We can't get mad at Andy Reid for failing to bring in a receiver because he has looked into nearly every possibility out there, even when teams have no interest in making a trade. If there was a chance a trade was going to happen, this is the likely time for it, with the draft coming up this weekend.

Flyers vs. Canadiens Round Two Schedule Released

Looks like the Flyers don't get much of a break after their thrilling seven game series win over the Capitals. The NHL released the schedule for the second round games, and the Flyers get one day off before they take the ice again on Thursday:

Game 1: Thursday, April 24, Philadelphia at Montreal, 7 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, April 26, Philadelphia at Montreal, 7 p.m.
Game 3: Monday, April 28, Montreal at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Game 4: Wednesday, April 30, Montreal at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Game 5: Saturday, May 3, Philadelphia at Montreal, 7 p.m.
Game 6: Sunday, May 4, Montreal at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Game 7: Tuesday, May 6, Philadelphia at Montreal, 7 p.m.

Both teams are coming off a seven game series, and yet this series starts before the Penguins/Rangers series, two teams that have been sitting around for days now? That doesn't make much sense, but at least neither team in this series will be rested. Check back later for a full series breakdown.

Lupul's overtime goal lifts Flyers into Second Round

Bring on the Canadiens! With the series tied 3-3, the Flyers and Capitals, in a thrilling Game Seven, needed more than three periods to decide who would move on to the next round. The Flyers won 3-2 on a Joffrey Lupul rebound goal, moving them into the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens.

The Flyers didn't play their best game tonight, but they once again did just enough to keep it close. Martin Biron made several key stops, and the defense stepped up at opportune times to keep the Caps from generating too many clean looks. Derian Hatcher has to be commended for several goal-saving plays he made to slow down Alexander Ovechkin. Hatcher is playing his best hockey of the season at just the right time.

The Capitals got the first goal of the game when Nicklas Backstrom had an open look after the puck took a weird carom off the backboards. After starting slow in the series, Backstrom looked like the player who is deserving of Rookie of the Year status, netting goals in the last four games.

Scottie Upshall tied the game up at 1-1 on a Power Play goal later in the first period. He took a shot from the point that appeared to tip off a skate and then trickle past Cristobal Huet. It wasn't a pretty goal, but the Flyers were on the board. The Capitals then took two penalties in the span of 20 seconds, one of them a double minor, to set up a lengthy 5 on 3 for the Flyers. The Flyers generated several chances, but were unable to get one past Huet, and it appeared that the Caps had grabbed the momentum back.

No one scored again until midway through the second period, when the Flyers took a 2-1 lead on a controversial goal. Patrick Thoreson pushed a Capital defender into Cristobal Huet, who fell over and left a wide-open net for Sami Kapanen to fire the puck into. The goal counted and no penalty was called. After several replays, it is still difficult for me to tell if Thoreson deserved a penalty on the play. I've seen players get called for goalie interference for doing less, but the refs swallowed the whistle.

As they have done in nearly every game, the Flyers gave up their lead several minutes later when Alexander Ovechkin took the puck and fired a laser shot past Martin Biron. Biron was completely unscreened and got a good look at the shot, but Ovechkin fired it faster than Biron could react.

The game remained 2-2 for the entire third period. The Capitals dominated the play, out-working and out-shooting the Flyers but failing to score. The Flyers did just enough and Biron made a bunch of big saves to keep the Caps off the board. The Flyers failed to get anything going offensively, refusing to take any chances that could lead to game-ending turnovers.

The overtime period saw both teams come out with high energy, with chances coming at both ends of the ice. The refs, who had put away their whistles and let several penalties go, finally called Tom Poti of the Capitals for tripping R.J. Umberger to the ice. The Flyers then got their best sustained pressure of the entire game, and just as the power play was ending, Joffrey Lupul found a rebound created by a Kimmo Timonen shot and fired it home. Huet was looking the wrong direction after the shot, allowing Lupul to have an open net to shoot at. The goal was Lupul's first of the playoffs. He had been getting closer and closer to scoring each game, it was only fitting that he finally bury one at the biggest moment.

The Flyers just barely were able to put away the Capitals and avoid an embarrassing collapse in a series they led 3-1. They were fortunate to be on the right side of a few questionable calls by the refs, but all of their goals were the result of hard work and hustle. They didn't get any pretty tic-tac-toe goals, they fought hard to tip shots and get rebound goals. They forced the Capitals to play a rougher style that took them out of their smooth skating game they like to play.

The Canadiens are up next for the Flyers. The Canadiens beat the Flyers every time they played this season, and they are the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens are also coming off a seven game series, so both teams will be exhausted. The Bruins were able to push Montreal to the limit, so the Flyers should be able to do some damage. The Canadiens are an excellent team, however, so it will be a big challenge for the Flyers.

But, we'll worry about the Canadiens later. For now, let's all enjoy the Flyers and their ability to come through in a clutch situation. For a team that was the worst in hockey last year, they have moved into the final group of eight. They have come so far, and while they still are missing a few pieces that would make them a bona fide Stanley Cup contender, let's enjoy the ride and see how far they can take things this year.

Footage of the game winner by Joffrey Lupul:

Phillies over .500 after sweep of Rockies

The Phillies overcame a poor start by Brett Myers to pull out their second come-from-behind win over the Rockies in as many days, winning 8-6. Myers gave up 6 runs in 7 innings and left the game with the Phillies trailing 6-4. The offense then pulled out the win, with Pat Burrell being the hero following a bases loaded double in the top of the 9th inning that put the Phillies ahead for good. Brad Lidge came in and pitched a perfect bottom of the ninth to earn his 4th save and keep his ERA at 0.00.

The Phillies have won three games in a row and are over .500 for the first time all season. They continue to get good bullpen work, as even Ryan Madson chipped in a scoreless inning tonight. Although his home run streak ended, Chase Utley continued his hot hitting, getting a pair of hits, including a two-run double. Burrell also continues to be on a tear, getting 3 RBI's to jump to the NL leader in that category.

Despite sweeping the defending National League Champions, not everything is going perfectly for the Phillies. Ryan Howard continues to struggle, going 0 for 4 with two strikeouts, lowering his batting average to .190. The big guy just can't get going and just continues to look clueless as to what to expect from pitch to pitch. He is making the Phillies look smart for not jumping at the chance to sign him to a long term deal.

The Phillies are having a great April by their standards, and they will look to continue it in another two game series with the Milwaukee Brewers. Cole Hamels takes the mound tonight looking to stretch the Phils winning streak to four.

Game Seven Flyers vs. Capitals Live Game Blog Under Way!

Big game tonight! Check back in at 6:45 tonight for the Flyers vs. Capitals Live Game Blog. Join in a discussion with fellow Flyers fans (and some Capitals fans) as the game happens. Let's see if the Flyers can bounce back after a disappointing Game Six.

Next Eagle Rumor: Lito for Jared Allen

As the draft approaches, the rumors continue to fly in regards to moves the Eagles might make. This next one involves Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen, who led the NFL in sacks last year. According to an article at DelcoTimes.com, the Eagles have offered up Lito Sheppard and draft picks for Allen, but the Chiefs aren't interested. The Chiefs are more inclined to take draft picks than a player in return. Allen has a ton of talent, but he wants a new contract, so that is why the Chiefs are shopping him. He would make a great addition to the Eagles defensive line rotation, although I would doubt the Eagles would fork over the type of cash that Allen is looking for. The Vikings and Buccaneers are also interested in Allen.

At this point it is safe to assume that the Eagles are offering up Lito Sheppard for any available player, trying to drum up interest for him. These types of rumors always intensify as the draft approaches and teams are looking to make moves. The chances of any of them happening are slim.

UPDATE: Another rumor shot down, Jared Allen is now a Viking. With the price Minnesota had to pay to get him, both in draft picks and in salary, they can have him!

Phillies finally beat Rockies

The Phillies finally proved they could be the Rockies. Unfortunately this was just a meaningless game in April, but the Phils still pulled out a nice come-from-behind victory over the team that smoked them in the playoffs last year.

Thanks to another shaky outing by Kyle Kendrick, the Phillies trailed early, but their offense came alive to dig themselves out of the 3-run deficit that Kendrick created. Trailing 5-2 in the 6th inning, the Phillies offense exploded for 7 unanswered runs, led by homers by Chase Utley and Jayson Werth. Utley's homer was his sixth in his last five games, and Werth's was of the inside-the-park variety. Carlos Ruiz also hit a double with the bases loaded in the 8th inning to drive in the game winning run.

The bullpen proved to be effective once again tonight. Following Kendrick's mediocre five innings of work, the 'pen pitched four scoreless innings where they gave up only one hit and struck out five. Clay Condrey, Rudy Seanez, Tom Gordon and Brad Lidge all looked unhittable in shutting down the Rockies. By the way, Seanez still sports an ERA of 0.00 after 7 innings of work and new closer Lidge also has yet to give up an earned run in 8 innings this season.

The Phillies wrap up their short two game series with the Rockies tomorrow looking for their first three game winning streak of the season.

Footage of Jayson Werth's inside-the-park home run:

Flyers blow 2 goal lead, chance to end series

You knew he would make his mark eventually. After basically being shut down for 5 games, Alexander Ovechkin proved why he is the NHL MVP as he scored two goals in the third period to lead the Capitals past the Flyers, 4-2. The win forces the series back to Washington for a Game 7, something the Flyers desperately wanted to avoid.

The Flyers dominated the game through most of the first 30 minutes of play, building a 2-0 lead from two power play goals scored by Mike Richards and Danny Briere. From there, the Caps took over, scoring 4 unanswered goals and completely dominating the play. Nicklas Backstrom scored his third goal in as many games to start the scoring for the Caps, and Ovechkin added the game winner in the beginning of the third period when he came in all alone and shot the puck past Martin Biron. Ovechkin later added a one-time goal on the power play to seal the victory for the Caps.

It was only a matter of time before Ovechkin got going, and the Flyers made several costly mistakes to facilitate his breakout game. Washington "capitalized" on nearly every Flyer mistake, and there were plenty of sloppy passes and dumb penalties for them to take advantage of. The Flyers lacked a killer instinct all night, like they were unaware they had a great opportunity to finish off the series. As soon as Philly got a two goal lead, they seemed satisfied and played back on their heels, allowing the Capitals to dictate the play. The only thing that kept this game from being a bigger blowout was the play of Martin Biron, who made 36 saves, several of them big stops that kept the Flyers within striking distance.

The Flyers are now forced to try to finish out the Capitals in Washington, a place they haven't played great hockey. The Flyers need to come out with way more energy than they have shown in the last two games or the Capitals will score early and the game could be over quickly. They blew their chance tonight, and now the Caps carry all the momentum and confidence into the final game of the series. Alexander Ovechkin also appears to have woken up from his playoff slumber, and that could spell the end for the Flyers' season.

GCobb.com: Eagles Closing in on Roy Williams

Here we go again. Just when we thought all the talk of the Eagles getting a top flight receiver was dead, GCobb.com has started things up again. Cobb is reporting that Mike Quick, an analyst for Eagles games, believes that there will be news on a new team for Lions receiver Roy Williams by the end of this week. Three NFC East teams are believed to be bidding on the former Pro Bowler: the Eagles, Redskins and Cowboys. Cobb believes this move will happen soon as the Lions are lowering their asking price.

So, what do we make of this latest rumor from GCobb? He has actually been right more times than not this off-season as he correctly called the Eagles signing Asante Samuel and he was one of the first to report on the Eagles interest in Randy Moss. This current story may have some validity since it was reported about a month ago that the Lions might be looking to get rid of Roy Williams.

Cobb doesn't speculate as to what it would take to acquire Williams, but you can guarantee it would include some combination of draft picks and maybe one defensive roster player. Perhaps the Eagles will look to deal one of their defensive linemen as it is highly unlikely Lito Sheppard would be involved in this deal.

Williams would look great in an Eagles uniform, immediately filling their need for a top receiver, but don't hold your breath waiting for this rumor to come true. As with every Eagle rumor this off-season, I'll believe it when it happens.

UPDATE: This rumor appears to be dead. Mike Quick has backed off his claims that the Eagles will make a move for Williams by this weekend, claiming he was just speculating that something could happen. Looks like GCobb is just making stuff up again.

Game Six Flyers vs. Capitals Live Game Blog Tonight!

Check back in today at 6:45 pm for the Flyers vs. Capitals Game Six Live Game Blog. Join in the discussion with other Flyers fans (and a few Caps fans) as the game happens!

Utley powers Phillies past Mets; Rollins DL'd

A couple of Phils notes after a busy weekend in Philly sports:

*Phils avoid sweep Thanks to Chase Utley's bat and some timely fielding by Eric Bruntlett, the Phillies manged to beat the Mets 5-4 yesterday to avoid getting swept. Utley hit two homers, driving in four runs with two swings of the bat. He now has 8 home runs on the season, tops in the major leagues. Pedro Feliz also homered for the Phillies in the 7th inning to break a 4-4 tie, and Brad Lidge overcame a shaky ninth inning performance to notch his third save of the season. Lidge had to be saved by a terrific diving stop by Eric Bruntlett for the final out of the game.

I am getting increasingly worried with the Phillies reliance on hitting home runs to generate offense. All five runs yesterday came from homers, and while they can hit homers at a staggering rate when they play at home, they will need to figure out other ways to score, especially when playing in less hitter-friendly parks on the road.

*Rollins put on DL The injury woes at the top of the line-up continue to linger. Jimmy Rollins was originally hurt way back on April 8th, and he has been pinch hitting sporadically since that time as his ankle heals. Things just haven't gotten better, so Rollins was finally placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday. If the Phillies had simply put Rollins on the DL right when he got hurt, he would have been able to come back this week. Unfortunately, the Phillies made a poor decision and that will cost them two more weeks without the reigning NL MVP.

*Bohn, Harman Called Up Chris Snelling was also placed on the 15-day disabled list, so the Phillies had two roster spots to fill. Up come outfielder T.J. Bohn and infielder Brad Harman. If you don't know who they are, join the club. Neither one is a real prospect, and both were hitting well below .250 for their respective minor league teams. Perhaps GM Pat Gillick is preparing to make a move for another roster player, because these two have no business playing on a team that has playoff aspirations.

*Back to Colorado The Phillies are going to Colorado today for a two game series with the Rockies. You will remember the last time the Phils played the Rockies was in the playoffs last season and the Rockies crushed them in three straight games. Colorado is a .500 club this season, so the Phils won't be running into a buzz saw again.

Sixers come from behind to shock Pistons

The never-say-die Sixers, who have routinely made double digit comebacks this season, pulled off the biggest upset so far of the NBA Playoffs, knocking off the Detroit Pistons 90-86 despite trailing by 15 points as late as the halfway point of the third quarter.

Most experts didn't give the Sixers a chance in this series, and through the first two and a half quarters of the game, everything went according to plan for Detroit. The Sixers never gave up, and went on a 10-0 run in the third quarter to claw their way back in the game. The Sixers continued to fight back until Reggie Evans hit two free throws with 5 minutes left in the game that gave them a lead that they never relinquished. The Pistons had their chances to salvage a win, but Chauncey Billups, normally known as Mr. Clutch, struggled to make free throws down the stretch and the Sixers defense clamped down to make the necessary stops.

The Sixers, as they have been all season, were led by Andre Miller who scored 20 points and picked up 6 assists. Willie Green made several big baskets that sparked the Sixer comeback and finished with 17 points. Andre Iguodala shot poorly (4 of 15) but filled up his score sheet with a great all-around game, notching 16 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. He also made two huge free throws with seven seconds left to secure the victory for Philly. Samuel Dalembert played good defense and tallied 4 blocked shots and 10 rebounds. Reggie Evans also grabbed 14 rebounds to go with his 11 points.

The Pistons looked like they were on auto-pilot for most of the game. They didn't have much intensity, and their lackluster play allowed the Sixers to surge back into the game. The Sixers should feel good about knocking them off, but this loss could just be a wake-up call for the Pistons to pick their game up. You can bet Rasheed Wallace will have them pumped up and they won't take the Sixers lightly from here on out.

The Sixers have already succeeded in getting the attention of the Pistons, and while I expect them to get drubbed by Detroit in Game Two, they still have a shot to pull off an upset in this series if they can take care of their home court. This series is far from over, but the Sixers have already proven to the NBA that you have to take them seriously. Teams that don't play their "A" game for 48 minutes will pay the price against this young, upstart Sixers team.

Click below for highlights of the exciting Sixers victory, plus interviews with Andre Miller, Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace, who blames himself for the loss. Courtesy of ESPN

Sixers vs. Pistons: Series Breakdown

After making my NBA playoff predictions yesterday, it's time to take a closer look at the Sixers series with the Pistons, which gets under way today. The Sixers have a tough road ahead if they want to get past Detroit, a veteran team who has been through the wars together and know what it takes to win in the playoffs. Philly will make the Pistons work for everything, never letting up until each game is over, but the Pistons are simply too good to be taken down by the Sixers. Here is my breakdown of the series, broken down by position. For an even closer look at the series, ESPN.com has some great insights on their Pistons/Sixers series page.

Backcourt: The Pistons back court, while it's getting old, is still one of the best in the league. Chauncy Billups and Richard Hamilton can score, play defense and be floor leaders. Billups runs the show for Detroit, and he always tries to get everyone going offensively. For the Sixers, Andre Miller is the catalyst to everything they do, from running the fast break to creating turnovers. Miller is the steadying presence on a team filled with youth. Unfortunately for Miller, he will be matching up with Billups, a guard who is too smart to be taken advantage of. Miller thrives when playing against less experienced point guards who don't play fundamentally sound. Willie Green is the Sixers starting shooting guard, and while he can take the ball to the hoop pretty consistently, he's no match for Rip Hamilton. Bill Simmons of ESPN calls Green the worst starter of any team in the NBA, and while that's a little extreme, Green will be exposed in this series. EDGE: PISTONS

Frontcourt: The Sixers are still deciding whether they will be starting Reggie Evans or Thaddeus Young at power forward, but whichever one they choose will be at a disadvantage against Rasheed Wallace. Evans has the size and energy to match-up with Evans, but having the smaller Young in the game would allow the Sixers to out-run the Pistons. It's an interesting dilemma for Mo Cheeks, but I bet he plays it safe and goes with Evans. The best frontcourt match-up is at small forward, where Tayshaun Prince will be paired with Andre Iguodala. Iguodala has proven that he can slow Prince down in the past, but the question will be if Prince can still keep up with Iguodala, whose game has greatly improved this season. Prince and Hamilton both figure to be matched up on Iguodala at different points as the Pistons try to slow down the Sixers leading scorer. At center, Samuel Dalembert is much improved this season, and I see no reason why he can't keep up with Antonio McDyess or Wallace when he's playing center. Dalembert's rebounding and defense starts many a fast break, so if he can build on his regular season performance, that would be big for Philly. EDGE: PISTONS

Bench: Assuming they start Reggie Evans, the Sixers get a ton of energy from their bench when Thaddeus Young, Louis Williams and Rodney Carney come into the game. All three provide a big spark and help the Sixers push the ball down the throat of the other team. The only other player that figures to be in the Sixer rotation will be Jason Smith, who can spot Dalembert or Evans for a few minutes.

The Pistons have a few contributors from their bench, starting with Jason Maxiell, but they aren't known for their depth. The Pistons might have the best starting five in the league, but their bench consists mostly of role players like former Sixer Theo Ratliff and ancient veteran Lindsey Hunter. Jarvis Hayes can also come in to shoot the three, but they really don't have anyone that can match all the energy the Sixer bench provides. EDGE: SIXERS

Prediction: There is a definite contrast in styles between these teams, with the Pistons playing a more methodical game and the Sixers looking to run the fast break every chance they get. Unfortunately for the Sixers, while the Pistons prefer to slow it down, they are versatile enough to run with Philly if they have to. Andre Iguodala can't guard both Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince, so one of them will have a mis-match against Willie Green, something the Pistons will exploit every chance they get. The Pistons are simply too experienced to let an upstart team knock them off in the first round, so while the Sixers have been a great feel-good story this season, it looks like its all about to end after the Pistons win in 6 games. Philly will steal one of the first two games, and then get a split at home to keep the series close, but the Pistons will close it out by winning games 5 and 6. Then the Sixers will go into the off-season happy that they got some playoff experience under their belt, and looking for that missing frontcourt piece that can take them over the top down the road.

Mets continue recent dominance over Phillies

Last season, the Phillies owned the Mets, beating them eight straight times en route to an NL East title. This season, the Mets seem to have reversed the trend, as they beat the Phillies for the fourth straight time Saturday, 4-2. The Phillie bats fell silent again, this time at the hands of Mets starting pitcher Oliver Perez. The Phillies eventually rallied in the late innings against the Mets bullpen, but they fell just short of pulling out a come-from-behind victory.

It's ironic that the team with supposedly no pitching and a potent line-up can continually lose games when they get quality starts from their pitchers. Jamie Moyer did well to hold the Mets to 2 runs in 6 innings, but he was saddled with the loss when the line-up came up small. Ryan Howard led the ineptitude with an 0 for 5 and three strikeouts, dropping his average to .182 on the season. Chase Utley continued his torrid hitting, smashing his second homer in as many games.

The Phillies will look to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Mets on national television tomorrow night. The game will be ESPN's Sunday Night baseball game, so hopefully the Phils won't embarrass themselves. Adam Eaton, the Mets killer, will take the mound, and hopefully the offense can come alive to give him the support he needs.

Flyers lose Knuble for rest of First Round

If the Flyers are going to get past the Washington Capitals and into the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they are going to have to do it without the hero of Game Four's double overtime victory, Mike Knuble. Knuble injured his hamstring during the second period of Game Five when his skate got caught on the ice and did not return for the rest of the game. Flyers GM Paul Holmgren relayed the news that Knuble will be out, saying that the injury was worse than the similar hamstring injury that Mike Richards suffered earlier in the season that kept him out for two weeks, meaning Knuble will be out for at least the rest of this series and possibly another one if they Flyers make the second round.

Losing Knuble is a big blow to the Flyers attack. His line with Jeff Carter and Scottie Upshall was the best line in Game Four, and generated plenty of chances in today's game as well. Knuble's injury will allow either Riley Cote or Steve Downie to suit up for the foreseeable future. While Cote is the more logical choice, the Flyers might go with Downie because he would bring some of that offensive punch that the Flyers will miss without Knuble.

While this injury might hurt the Flyers in the short term, I still think they should still be able to beat the Capitals in Game Six. Losing Knuble's leadership, toughness and scoring touch is big, but the Flyers have more than enough depth to make up for the loss of one player.

Capitals win, send series back to Philly

The Capitals played their most complete game at just the right time, staving off elimination by beating the Flyers 3-2 in Game Five. The win pushes the series to a Game Six that will be played back in Philadelphia on Monday.

Washington played with a boatload of energy in the first period, getting a ton of scoring chances and keeping the Flyers on their heels. They scored an early goal on a 5 on 3 power play, but then failed to score again for the rest of the period despite dominating the play. The Flyers were held without a shot for about 15 minutes and looked lifeless. Every time they got the puck, they looked to dump it in and set it up, but the Capitals got to every loose puck and turned it right back up ice.

The Capitals stretched their lead to 2-0 when Sergei Fedorov scored a goal early in the second period. The Flyers finally showed some life and tried to fight back, earning a 5 on 3 power play that finally allowed them to get on the board. Vaclav Prospal scored a goal to make it 2-1 when Danny Briere gave him a great feed on the power play.

The Flyers then proceeded to dominate the play from that point on, out-shooting, out-hitting and out-chancing the Capitals. Despite getting numerous chances, they were unable to capitalize, and then had three costly penalties late in the third period that led to Washington upping their lead to 3-1. The Flyers managed to score about 45 seconds later to make the score 3-2 when Derian Hatcher took a pass from Prospal and fired it past Cristobal Huet, but they were unable to tie the game after that despite controlling the puck almost the whole rest of the game.

Huet, who finished with 30 saves, made all the necessary stops down the stretch, never allowing the Flyers to even the score. The Capitals played some of the best defensive hockey in the third period, not allowing the Flyers too many good shots despite the fact they dominated the play.

Biron was no slouch either, he could have easily given up more goals in the Capitals first period onslaught. The Flyers didn't appear ready to play in the first, and they were lucky the Caps didn't bury them then. They should look at the fact that they could have stole this one as a positive, although it is disturbing that as the series has gone on, the Flyers have looked worse as the Capitals have looked better.

One other thing to worry about: Game Four hero Mike Knuble was injured in the second period of the game and failed to return to the ice. The early indication is that he has a hamstring injury, and I would bet he is day-to-day.

The Flyers need to finish this series off at home on Monday. This Capitals team has proven that if you give them a small opening, they will storm right through it. Allowing the Caps to win Game Six and then letting them go home to Washington again would be killer for the Flyers. Expect the Flyers to come out with a ton of energy on Monday, and it will be the Capitals turn to weather the storm.

I still stand by my original prediction that the Flyers will win in six.

Game 5 Flyers vs. Capitals Live Game Blog Under Way!

Check back in today at 12:45 pm for the Flyers vs. Capitals Game Five Live Game Blog. Join in the discussion with other Flyers fans (and a few Caps fans) as the game happens!

NBA Playoff Predictions: Round One

The NBA playoffs look like they might be the be the most wide-open we have seen in a long time, with at least 7 teams with a legitimate shot of winning it all. In the Western Conference, you have one of the best first round match-ups ever, with the Spurs taking on the Suns. Of course, that is balanced out by possibly the worst playoff team ever: the Atlanta Hawks and their 37-45 record are going to get destroyed by the Celtics. The Warriors, who had 11 more wins than the Hawks, would love the chance to take on Boston in the first round.

Here are my predictions for the first round of the NBA playoffs:

Western Conference
Lakers (1) vs. Nuggets (8)
Lakers in 5
The Nuggets squeaked into the playoffs with a hot finish to the season, and their reward is facing a deep Lakers team led by the best player in the game. The Nuggets are potent offensively, but at the expense of playing anything that resembles defense. Expect scores in the 120's, and for Kobe to drop 50 at least once in these games. The Lakers will have no trouble disposing of the Nuggets, a team that doesn't have a ton of character and will likely just give up when the chips are down.

Hornets (2) vs. Mavericks (7)
Mavericks in 7
The Mavs were a number 1 seed last year, but their first round match-up this season appears to be easier for them than their series with the Warriors last year. The Mavericks have all kinds of playoff experience that the Hornets just can't match. Chris Paul will have his way with Jason Kidd all series long, but one player can't win every game. It's easy to gameplan to slow down one player, and the Hornets don't have anyone else who can make things happen

Spurs (3) vs. Suns (6)
Suns in 7
The great Shaq experiment will be put to the test right away in this epic first round match-up. Every time these teams meet in the playoffs, it's a beautiful clash in styles that results in bloody faces and multiple suspensions. This might be the year that the Suns finally do it, and it's only partially because of Shaq. During the stretch run, the Suns have proven they don't have to run you to death to beat you, they can play a half court set. Their defense is still awful, and you can bet Tony Parker will make Steve Nash look silly, but Amare will lead the Suns past the Spurs.

Jazz (4) vs. Rockets (5)
Jazz in 6
Tracy McGrady's 0 for the playoffs will continue. The Jazz will win every home game in the series, then steal one in Houston to take move on. The Rockets are a good team, but with no Yao Ming there is no way they do any damage.

Eastern Conference
Celtics (1) vs. Hawks (8)
Celtics in 4
Congratulations to the Hawks for making the playoffs after a long playoff drought. Now meet your opponent, the Celtics, who are going to dominate you in every way. Thanks for playing!

Pistons (2) vs. Sixers (7)
Pistons in 6
I will have a full in-depth preview of this series up later today. As much as I would love to pick the upset here, the Pistons are just too good and too experienced to lose to this upstart Sixers team. Philly will make it interesting and steal one of the first two games, but that will just prove to be a wake-up call for the Pistons. It's a contrast in styles, but the Pistons can play the running game better than people think.

Magic (3) vs. Raptors (6)
Magic in 7
All eyes will be on the two superstars in this match-up as the fates of their respective teams rest on Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh. This will be a good series with two relatively evenly matched teams, but the Magic will pull it out in the end.

Cavaliers (4) vs. Wizards (5)
Cavaliers in 6
These teams meet again in the first round, and once again the Cavs will come away the winner. LeBron is too good, and he will get all the calls. Gilbert Arenas is coming off the bench for the Wizards and will give the Cavs bench fits, but he's still not 100% and Caron Butler can't do it all. This might be the most chippy of all the series, as these two teams genuinely hate each other, but the Cavs will prevail.

So there are my predictions. Got any predictions of your own or comments on my analysis? Put them in the comment section!

Eagles may acquire veteran defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson

The Eagles are rumored to acquire another player, and for once its not a receiver. The New York Jets are frantically looking for a team to take defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson off their hands before they have to dole out a 3 million dollar signing bonus, and it appears that the Eagles might be the team that the Jets ending up dealing with. The Eagles would likely have to offer up a few mid-round draft picks, something they have plenty of, but as an article on ProFootballTalk.com speculates, there is still an issue with Robertson's contract. It's not likely that the Birds would want to take on a contract of that size, and Robertson isn't likely to want to re-structure his contract. Other teams that were once interested in Robertson include the Bengals and Broncos.

Robertson, who recently visited with the Eagles, is a five year veteran who put up a career-high 4 sacks last season. He is especially good at stopping the run, something the Eagles were better at last season but are always looking to improve. The price of a few mid-round picks seems reasonable enough for a guy that would add a lot to the Eagles defensive line rotation (a combination of Robertson, Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson would be lethal), we'll just have to see if they feel he will be worth it contractually. Robertson does have some health issues, but he would be a great high risk/high reward pick-up for the Eagles.

Santana outdeuls Hamels, Mets win 6-4

For seven innings, the Johan Santana/Cole Hamels showdown was the duel that everyone expected it to be. Heading into the top of the 8th, the Mets held a 2-1 lead over the Phils, but from there Hamels failed to keep up his end of the duel. He loaded the bases on a pair of hits and a walk, forcing the Phillies to turn to their bullpen, which was unable to hold down the Mets who scored 3 runs to stretch their lead to 5-1. Fortunately, the Phillies battled back as they finally got to Santana, getting a pair of hits in the bottom of the 8th that drove him out of the game. Greg Dobbs then stepped in and smashed a 3-run home run, but the Phils rally ended there. They ended up losing the game 6-4.

Santana was as good as advertised in this game, rapidly mowing down Phillie batters. He finished with 10 strikeouts in his 7 innings of work and only gave up 4 hits. Hamels looked good but not great most of the night, giving up 8 hits and striking out only 4 batters. David Wright had his number all night, picking up three hits against Hamels even though he had previously gone 1 for 11 in his career against the lefty.

The win moves the Mets into first place, and it also makes three wins in a row for the Mets against the Phillies. Santana proved tonight why the Mets doled out the big contract for him, dominating the Phillies usually potent line-up. This was about the best start he could have possibly asked for against the Mets biggest rival.

Jimmy Rollins may make his return tomorrow when the Phillies look to find some of the magic they had last season against the Mets. It's still early in the season, and the Phillies look better in April this year than they did last year, but they need to find some consistency. Having Rollins back would go a long way to gaining that stability.

Hamels vs. Santana at Citizen's Bank Today

The Mets took the first series between the two at Shea, but round two will begin today in the battle between the Phillies and the Mets. Today's game features the two lefty aces: Cole Hamels takes the mound for the Phils while Johan Santana will get the ball for the Mets. This will be the first match-up between Santana and the Phillies, so it should be a fun one. Expect the Phillies to load up their line-up with righties, so we should see So Taguchi leading off again, with Jayson Werth hitting second. Hamels has been dealing for the Phillies, so we'll see if the Mets can get anything going off him.

Here are the pitching match-ups for the series:
Friday: Mets (Santana, 1-2) vs. Phillies (Hamels, 2-1), 7:05 pm
Saturday: Mets (Perez, 1-0) vs. Phillies (Moyer, 1-0), 3:55 pm
Sunday: Mets (Pelfrey, 2-0) vs. Phillies (Eaton, 0-0), 8:05 pm

The Sunday night game will be nationally televised on ESPN.

Jimmy Rollins is expected to return to the team for Saturday's game, but it's not known yet whether he will be healthy enough to play. In retrospect, the Phillies would have been smart to put Rollins on the 15 day D.L. and let him heal up, but since he has been pinch hitting, they can't put him on retroactively.

Knuble scores goal in second overtime to give Flyers 3-1 series lead

The Flyers played easily their worst two periods of the series against the Capitals tonight, and yet they still did just enough to eke out a victory. It was a game that saw the Flyers make a ton of mistakes in the first and second periods, but the Capitals were unable to take advantage of those mistakes and allowed the Flyers to hang around long enough to win the game 4-3 in an exciting double overtime contest.

The Flyers scored the first goal of the game 42 seconds in when Jeff Carter popped one home, but the Capitals quickly countered with a goal of their own on a power play. The Flyers then had 5 straight minutes of power play time where they generated very few chances and the Caps easily killed it off. The Caps then countered with another power play goal after the Flyers took two penalties within 30 seconds. Then Washington completely outplayed the Flyers for the rest of the first period until Jeff Carter was able to notch his second goal of the game with little over a minute left to tie the score at 2 all.

The Capitals then got several more chances in the second period until Steve Eminger scored to make the game 3-2. For the rest of the second, the Capitals dominated the play, and Marty Biron had to stand on his head to keep the Flyers in the game. The Flyers picked up the hitting at the end of the period, which gave them some momentum heading into the third period.

In the third, the Flyers found new life and were all over the ice, getting to loose pucks and creating a ton of chances. It was Cristobal Huet's turn to stand on his head, and he made a number of impressive saves until Danny Briere tied the game on a feed from Mike Richards on the power play. Richards did all the hustle work to set up the play and make a beautiful pass across the crease, and Briere nailed it into a wide open net.

The game went into overtime, where the intensity picked up and there were chances left and right. Huet and Biron matched each other save for save, and the game eventually became the longest of any playoff game this postseason as it went into a second overtime.

Mike Knuble was finally the hero in the second overtime, getting a feed from Jeff Carter that he shot into the pads of Huet, and then he grabbed the rebound and pounded it home to give the Flyers a 4-3 win. The goal also gives the Flyers a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Capitals as the series returns to Washington this weekend.

The Capitals appeared to finally make the adjustments necessary at the beginning of this game, as they played their best game of the series yet. They simply allowed the Flyers to hang around too long, and the Flyers were opportune on the few chances they were given. Alexander Ovechkin continues to come up small for the Caps. He did finish with two assists, but he has only scored one goal in four playoff games, a pace that pales in comparison to his 65 regular season goals.

The Flyers are in the driver's seat in this series, they appear to have taken the Capitals best shot and still managed to pull out a victory. The Caps are on the ropes and they are going to need some lucky bounces if they are going to get back into this series. The Flyers have all of the momentum, and if they can jump on them quickly in the next game, they should be able to discourage Washington and send them to an early playoff exit.

Footage of Knuble's game winner:

Game 4 Flyers vs. Capitals Live Game Blog Under Way!

Check back in tonight at 6:45 pm for the Flyers vs. Capitals Game Four Live Game Blog. Join in the discussion with other Flyers fans (and a few Caps fans) as the game happens!

Phillie bats come alive in support of Myers

First the pitching was the issue, then more recently the bats weren't holding up their end. Today, it all came together for the Phillies, who rode 16 hits and great pitching by Brett Myers to a 10-2 victory over the Houston Astros.

Myers went 7 strong innings, giving up 5 hits and striking out 8 batters. After a rocky start to the season for Myers, he appears to have settled back into the rotation with his last two quality starts. Tom Gordon got some work in the 8th inning and managed to get through the inning unscathed, lowering his ERA to 9.45.

The Phillies featured a new combination at the top of their line-up: So Taguchi leading off and Greg Dobbs batting second. This combo proved to be the best yet for Charlie Manuel, as the Phillies got 3 runs in the first and never looked back. They got home runs from their 3-4-5 hitters, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell. Chris Coste also got four hits, one of them 2-run bomb in the 8th inning. It was a total team effort, with every Phillie starter getting at least 2 hits except for Crappy Eric Bruntlett, who went 0 for 5.

The Phillies picked up a solid series win over the Astros. It is especially important that they didn't look past the Astros and ahead to this weekend's big series with the Mets. The Mets series begins with a huge pitching match-up between Johan Santana and Cole Hamels.

Jimmy Rollins out until Saturday

Jimmy Rollins has been the missing cog to the Phillies offense. Without him, the offense seems listless, failing to put up runs at a consistent rate. He's been out for over a week nursing an injured ankle, and now he will miss a few more days as he attends the funeral of his uncle. Hopefully taking a few more days off will allow that ankle to heal, and he can return to the starting line-up and give the Phils the boost they desperately need.

Sixers vs. Pistons: Series Begins Sunday

The Sixers limped into the playoffs, finishing on a four game losing streak and a record below .500. That's not the kind of momentum they are going to need to knock off an elite NBA team like the Pistons. Here is the schedule of games for the first round series between the Pistons and Sixers:

Gm. 1: Sun., April 20: at Detroit, 6 pm

Gm. 2: Wed., April 23: at Detroit, 7:30 pm

Gm. 3: Fri., April 25: at Philadelphia, 7 pm

Gm. 4: Sun., April 27: at Philadelphia, 7 pm

Gm. 5: Tue., April 29: at Detroit, TBD

Gm. 6: Thu., May 1: at Philadelphia, TBD

Gm. 7: Sat., May 3: at Detroit, TBD

I will have more analysis on this series later, but a lot of things are going to have to go right for the Sixers for them to do some damage. My initial prediction is Pistons in 6. There is a contrast in styles here, with the Sixers liking to push the ball and the Pistons liking to slow it down, so it should make for an interesting series.

Philadelphia sports gets the Colbert Bump

Stephen Colbert is spending the week in Philadelphia, and in an attempt to pander to Philly sports fans, he has created an interesting, four-in-one Phillies/Flyers/Eagles/Sixers jersey. Check it out in the clip below:


For those of you unfamiliar with the show, Colbert brags about how guests who have been on his show who have gone on to be successful have gotten their success through the "Colbert Bump". Hopefully the Flyers and Sixers will carry this bump to successful playoff runs, the Eagles dominate the NFL draft and the Phillies win the NL East.

Phils waste Kendrick's quality start

The Phillies pitching was continually mentioned as the thing that would hold back the Phillies this season, but in the last few games, the offense has failed while the pitching has come through. Kyle Kendrick, who has been nothing short of terrible this season, pitched a gem by his standards, going 7 innings, striking out 5 batters, and giving up only 2 runs on 4 hits. Unfortunately, the Phillies were unable to muster any offense off Astros ace Roy Oswalt, and they ended up losing the game 2-1.

Kendrick started shaky, giving up a run in the first inning, before settling in and pitching easily his best game of the season. Besides a homer by former Phillie Michael Bourn of all people, Kendrick was lights out from the second inning on.

The Phillies desperately need Jimmy Rollins back. Without the sparkplug at the top of the line-up, the whole offensive engine is barely firing. Ryan Howard drove in the only Phils run in the first inning, and the bats were silent for the rest of the game. The Phillies managed only six hits in the game, and the only one that went for more than a single was a Chase Utley double in the 3rd inning. Rollins is still expected to miss a few more days, so we will have to watch guys like Pedro Feliz, with his sparkling .226 average, near the top of the order a little while longer.

The Phillies look to win the series against the Astros tomorrow afternoon, as they will send out Brett Myers against Brandon Backe. Hopefully the Phillies take care of business and don't look ahead to this weekend's matchup with the Mets.

Timonen day-to-day, X-rays negative

Flyers fans feared the worst after top defenseman Kimmo Timonen was forced to leave yesterday's game after being checked into the Capitals goal, but it appears that he could be ready to play again as soon as Thursday. Timonen left the game in the second period to get X-rayed, but, according to Flyers GM Paul Holmgren, the results were negative. Timonen is listed as day-to-day with an upper body injury. While those injury details are vague, it appears that Timonen has avoided a major injury.

Losing Timonen would be a huge blow for the Flyers, as he has been key in making Alexander Ovechkin look human. He is the only Flyers' d-man who has the speed to keep up with Ovechkin and also has the toughness to knock him around. Without Timonen, the Flyers would be forced to have Braydon Coburn and Derian Hatcher try to shut down Ovechkin, and while both players would be able to rough him up, neither has the speed to keep up with the Capitals' star.

Timonen has been the best Flyers d-man this season. He contributes on the power play, penalty kill and he commonly matches up with the opponents best player. Missing him for any stretch of games would cripple the Flyers defense. Luckily, it appears that he won't miss any significant time, but I would still expect him miss at least the next game.

Richards, Briere lead Flyers to 6-3 win

The Flyers rode the momentum of Game Two's decisive victory and beat the Capitals at every facet of the game en route to a 6-3 victory. The first home playoff game in Philadelphia in two years, the fans pumped the building full of energy from the opening face-off to the final buzzer. There was plenty for them to cheer about, including several sensational goals set up by crisp passing and shifty skating. The win gives the Flyers a 2-1 series lead over the Capitals, with Game Four coming Thursday.

The Flyers were led offensively by Danny Briere, who scored 2 goals and added an assist. He scored the first goal of the game late in the first period, a goal that was followed by three more in a span of 2 1/2 minutes. The Flyers maintained a two goal lead for most of the game, until Brooks Laich scored a controversial goal late in the third period. Laich appeared to touch the puck with a high stick that deflected it into the net, but the referees reviewed the play and still allowed it. The Flyers then clung to a 4-3 lead until Mike Richards broke in on net all alone, only to be tripped up by the Capitals, giving him the most exciting play in hockey: a penalty shot. Richards buried the shot, which then buried the Capitals. Mike Knuble later added an empty net goal to further solidify the win.

Philly now has all the momentum in this series. If it wasn't for the third period in Game One, the Flyers would be completely dominating the Capitals. The Flyers have had a two goal lead in every game, come up with more big hits, and have had better goaltending. Briere is completely outplaying Alexander Ovechkin, who has only notched one goal and two assists. He has been shut down for most of the series, and rarely flashes the ability that will likely earn him the MVP.

There was also some bad news to come out of the win for the Flyers. Kimmo Timonen was knocked into the Capitals net head first, and he had to leave the game, missing the entire third period. He has what the team is calling an upper body injury, but the early speculation was that he hurt his shoulder. Losing Timonen for any period of time would be a huge blow for the Flyers. He's easily their best d-man, and he has done an amazing job in slowing down Ovechkin. Losing him would also mean more ice time for guys like Jaroslav Modry and Lasse Kukkonen, both players that have come up small so far.

Hopefully the Flyers can ride the momentum of this big win into Thursday, where they will look to take a commanding lead in the series. If they can continue to get big shifts out of Danny Briere and Mike Richards, and Alexander Ovechkin can continue to look human, the Flyers will have a great chance of getting out of the first round.

Here's a replay of Richard's penalty shot goal:

Phillies score 4 in the 9th to shock Astros

Adam Eaton put together a pretty good start, but it looked like it was going to go to waste until the Phillies bats came alive in the 9th inning. Down 3-0 heading into the bottom of the 9th, the Phillies, led by homers by Chris Snelling and Mr. Clutch Pat Burrell, forged out 4 runs off of Astros closer Jose Valverde to secure a 4-3 victory. Snelling led off the inning with a homer, and then Burrell knocked in Chase Utley with a 2-run blast. Pedro Feliz then won the game on a double to left, driving in Geoff Jenkins who was on base after reaching on a dropped third strike.

Eaton pitched about as well as we can expect from him, going 6 innings and giving up 3 runs. Normally, with an offense like the Phils, that would be enough, but the bats were silent for most of the night. The Phillies managed 7 hits, with 3 of them coming in the 9th inning rally.

The bullpen locked things down again tonight, with Chad Durbin and Rudy Seanez shutting out the Astros in 3 innings of work. The bullpen has been a pleasant surprise this season, although Seanez looked shaky in walking two batters in his one inning of work.

It was a big night for Philadelphia sports, which has been down lately due to bad officiating. The Flyers won an exciting contest to grab a lead in their playoff series, and the Phillies charged back to get a thrilling come-from-behind win. Hopefully the good times continue tomorrow for the Phils, who send out shaky Kyle Kendrick against Astros ace Roy Oswalt. They are going to need all the help they can get to win that match-up.

Highlights of the Phillies win via Comcast SportsNet:

Game Three Flyers vs. Capitals Live Blog Under Way!

Check back in later today at 6:45 for the Flyers vs. Capitals Live Game Blog.
GO FLYERS!

Eagles 2008 Schedule Released

We already knew which teams they were going to face, but today we learned the exact order:

Week 1: 9/7 Rams @ Eagles, 1 pm
Week 2: 9/15 Eagles @ Cowboys, 8:30 pm (Monday Night)
Week 3: 9/21 Steelers @ Eagles, 4:15 pm
Week 4: 9/28 Eagles @ Bears, 8:15 pm (Sunday Night)
Week 5: 10/5 Redskins @ Eagles, 1 pm
Week 6: 10/12 Eagles @ 49ers, 4:15 pm
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: 10/26 Falcons @ Eagles, 1 pm
Week 9: 11/2 Eagles @ Seahawks, 4:15 pm
Week 10: 11/9 Giants @ Eagles, 8:15 pm (Sunday Night)
Week 11: 11/16 Eagles @ Bengals, 1 pm
Week 12: 11/23 Eagles @ Ravens, 1 pm
Week 13: 11/27 Cardinals @ Eagles, 8 pm (Thanksgiving)
Week 14: 12/7 Eagles @ Giants, 1 pm
Week 15: 12/15 Browns @ Eagles, 8:30 pm (Monday Night)
Week 16: 12/21 Eagles @ Redskins, 1 pm
Week 17: 12/28 Cowboys @ Eagles, 1 pm

Note the Sunday Night games in Weeks 4 and 10 and the Monday Night games in Weeks 2 and 15 and the Thanksgiving Game in Week 13

At first glance, the most difficult parts of the schedule are the Divisional games. The NFC East figures to be one of the toughest divisions in football, with the Giants, Redskins and Cowboys all coming off playoff appearances and the Eagles loaded up for a return to glory. The Eagles will need to take care of business against their non-division opponents, who appear to be weak on paper. The Eagles will play the entire NFC West and AFC North, two divisions that didn't have a team with more than 10 wins in 2007. They also will play the Bears, who finished 7-9 last season, and the Falcons, who won only 4 games.

The Eagles will also have a tough final four weeks, as they will meet their three division rivals and face the Browns.

The path is now set for the Eagles to return to the playoffs. If they can simply split their divisional games, and not trip up against the weaker non-division opponents, a return to the postseason is likely. What they are able to do once they get there in a wide-open NFC is another story.

Sixers locked into 7th seed after Cavaliers steal win

The Sixers made a valiant effort to overcome a double-digit fourth quarter deficit, but the Cavaliers and the referees proved to be too much to overcome. Louis Williams made a jumper with 5 seconds left that gave the Sixers a 90-89 lead, but that still left plenty of time for LeBron James and the Cavaliers to make a shot to win the game. However, when James missed a lay-up where it clearly looked like he traveled, and then Devin Brown grabbed a rebound and tried a weak shot that barely hit rim the game was over, right? The Sixers thought so, as they celebrated the win and headed off to the locker room. The refs thought otherwise. The refs conferenced for at least 5 minutes after the game was over and decided that Samuel Dalembert fouled Devin Brown on his putback attempt with 0.2 seconds left and awarded Brown two free throw attempts, which he subsequently made to win the game for the Cavaliers, 91-90.

So, not only did the refs miss LeBron's blatant travel, they also blew the call on the follow-up by Brown. One could make the argument that LeBron was fouled harder on his lay-up attempt than Brown was by Dalembert. Of course, if Andre Miller doesn't fall asleep on the play and let Devin Brown grab the board, the game would have been over and the refs would never have had a chance to screw the Sixers.

The loss, coupled with a Raptors win over the crappy Heat, locks the Sixers into the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference and sets up a first-round match-up with the Detroit Pistons. The season series between the two is tied 2-2, with the Pistons winning the two early season contests and the Sixers winning the most recent two. Every game has been closely contested, so that bodes well for the Sixers to do some damage.

Here is video of the entire ending sequence to the game. Watch the refs screw the Sixers, then watch Andre Miller punt the ball after the game:

Eagles 2008 Schedule to be released tomorrow

The day many football fans have been waiting for is coming tomorrow. The NFL will announce its full schedule of games Tuesday during a two hour special on the NFL Network. This day is highly anticipated as fans want to know when their team will be playing its big games.

Of course, we already know who the Eagles will be playing, we just don't know when. The NFL released the list of teams the Eagles will play back in January:

Division Games:
Cowboys (2x)
Giants (2x)
Redskins (2x)

Home games:
Browns
Cardinals
Falcons
Rams
Steelers

Away Games:
Bears
Bengals
49ers
Ravens
Seahawks

As you can tell, the Eagles will play the entire NFC West and AFC North, and then the Falcons and Bears are thrown in. Besides the tough divisional games, it doesn't appear to be that difficult of a schedule, although you can never tell how good these teams will be until the season starts.

Sliding Sixers have two games left to move up

The Sixers have come back down to earth. After tearing up the NBA for the last two months, the Sixers appear to have finally slowed down, losing 3 of their last 4, to drag their record back down to .500. Since flirting with the 4th seed in the East not too long ago, the Sixers have fallen down and settled into a tie for the 6th seed with Toronto, but since the Raptors hold the tie-breaker, the Sixers are currently the 7th seed.

With two games to play, there is still room for the Sixers to move past the Raptors and earn the 6th seed, but anything higher than that is unlikely. The Raptors have an incredibly easy last two games against the dregs of the Eastern Conference, so chances are the Sixers are stuck at 7. The Wizards also sit two games ahead of them in the 5th seed, but once they beat the Sixers on Saturday, they solidified their spot. Here are the remaining schedules for the Raptors and Sixers:

Raptors: vs. Heat (Mon), @ Bulls (Wed)
Sixers: vs. Cavaliers (Mon), @ Bobcats (Wed)

Regardless of whether the Sixers finish 6th or 7th, they will have a difficult first round match-up. Finish 7th, and the experienced Pistons await. Finish 6th, and Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic are the opponent. Both teams present major match-up problems for the Sixers, so getting out of the first round seems like a remote possibility.

The Sixers have come much farther than anyone expected this year, so no matter what happens in the playoffs, we have to look at this season as a success. The development of the youth has been fun to watch, and Andre Iguodala has evolved into the type of player we knew he could be. In the off-season, the Sixers will then look to add another piece with the cap room they created in the Kyle Korver trade, and hopefully they can build this team into a serious contender in the next few seasons.

Utley's error gives Cubs tainted win

The Cubs needed a blown call by an umpire to narrowly avoid getting swept by the Phillies. The Cubs had a runners on first and second in a game that was tied in the 10th inning when Carlos Zambrano, who was pinch hitting because the Cubs ran out of hitters, hit a grounder that looked like a sure double play to shortstop Eric Bruntlett. Bruntlett flipped the ball to Chase Utley at second base for one out, and Utley promptly threw the ball away when attempting to get it to first baseman Ryan Howard. The error allowed the lead runner to score the game winning run for the Cubs, who won by a score of 6-5.

Of course, it should have never come down to that play, except Cubs second baseman Mark DeRosa hit a phantom home run in the 6th inning. DeRosa hit the ball down the line, and the umpires called it a fair ball while replays clearly showed it going foul. Pat Burrell came in from the outfield to argue the play, and Charlie Manuel fumed his way into getting ejected from the game.

The Phillies, who were playing without Shane Victorino and Jimmy Rollins, rallied from a 2-run defecit in the 6th inning to take the lead only to watch Tom Gordon allow the Cubs to get runners on base and tie it up in the 8th. With the exception of Gordon, the bullpen was once again lights out for the Phils, with Chad Durbin, J.C. Romero, Brad Lidge and Rudy Seanez all not allowing an earned run in a combined 4 2/3 innings. Romero gave up the hit that allowed the Cubs to score in the 8th, but the runner was let on base by Gordon.

Offensively, the Phillies got a great performance from Jayson Werth. Werth went 2 for 4, with a homer, 2 RBI's, 2 runs scored, a walk and 2 stolen bases. Early season goat Eric Bruntlett also hit his first homer of the season.

The Phillies have an off day tomorrow, and then Ed Wade and the Houston Astros come to town for a three game series that begins Tuesday. As long as the umps don't screw them again, they should have no problem taking the series against the Astros.

Here are highlights from the game, including footage of the "home run" by DeRosa, with the subsequent reaction of Charlie Manuel and the Phillies:

Biron shuts door, Flyers tie series

Washington Capitals' fans should file a missing persons report for Alexander Ovechkin, because he was nowhere to be found in today's 2-0 win by the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers defense shut down the usually potent Ovechkin, who managed 5 shots on goal, but generated very few chances in his nearly 27 minutes of ice time.

Martin Biron played a great game in goal, turning aside 24 shots en route to his first career playoff shutout. He needed to make several big stops in the second period when the Capitals were firing a number of shots on goal, but he also had long stretched of time where he could relax, including six minutes in the third period when the Capitals didn't tally a shot on goal.

Biron had to be sharp in the first two periods because the Flyers couldn't keep out of the penalty box. The Flyers had 4 penalties in the first period alone that led to numerous power play chances by the Caps, but luckily they were able to stop the usually potent Washington attack.

Offensively, the Flyers scored both of their goals in the first period. The first goal of the game came on a long pass from Braydon Coburn to R.J. Umberger which led to Umberger putting it past Cristobal Huet. The second goal was created when Mike Green of the Capitals turned the puck over to Mike Knuble, who fired a shot on goal, and the rebound went directly to Jeff Carter who buried it for a 2-0 lead in the first period. From the second goal on, the Flyers generated only very few good chances, instead focusing on shutting down Washington's attack.

This is a big win for the Flyers, who now get to go home after stealing one in Washington. I said before the series started that Philly needed to take one of the first two games to have a chance, and after blowing a great opportunity in the first game, they were resilient in fighting back today. They have to be happy that they seem to have found a way to slow down Alexander Ovechkin, who has been invisible except for his game winning goal in Game One. The Flyers are also happy to take this win knowing their top offensive combo, Danny Briere and Vaclav Prospal, didn't have to score at all. Getting the other lines going is critical if the Flyers want to have success in the playoffs, they can't rely solely on Briere and Prospal to carry them.

Game Three is Tuesday in Philly. The Capitals looked extremely frustrated at the end of Game Two, so if the Flyers can get an early goal or two, they might be able to run away with the series.

Expect Alexander Ovechkin to "find himself" in Game Three. It will be up to the Flyers to respond.

Flyers vs. Capitals: Game Two Live Blog Under Way!

Check back in at 1:45 Eastern for the Flyers/Capitals Game Two Live Blog. Let's see if the Flyers can bounce back!

Victorino placed on DL, Snelling called up

At least for today, the Phillies are going to be without their two table setters at the top of the line up. Jimmy Rollins has been out for the last five games but is expected to return Tuesday when the Phillies play the Astros. Shane Victorino was injured in yesterday's game, and his strained right calf earned him a trip to the 15 day disabled list. Taking his place on the roster will be outfielder Chris Snelling, who was called up from the Iron Pigs.

The loss of Victorino effects the Phillies in a few ways. Expect Jayson Werth, So Taguchi and Chris Snelling to share time in centerfield while Victorino is out. As for who the lead-off hitter will be until Rollins returns, Charlie Manuel has been forced to get creative. My initial guess was that Jayson Werth would take over the top spot, but word is that Geoff Jenkins will be masquerading as a lead-off hitter in today's game.

On the positive side, Snelling gets an opportunity to show that he belongs on the big club. He's an upgrade over anyone the Phillies would have called up last year, like Chris Roberson. If Snelling plays well, he could either stick with the Phils or give them another trading chip since he would probably have to clear waivers again if he went down.

With Victorino out, the defense in the outfield suffers a bit, and the Phillies line-up looks to be filled with all power hitters and very little speed. Hopefully Victorino can prove that he can stay healthy, something that he has yet to do in his career, so he can provide that missing element.

Hamels pitches Phillies to victory, Victorino hurt

Cole Hamels for Cy Young! Hamels pitched his third straight dominant game, throwing 7 shutout innings to lead the Phillies over the Cubs 7-1. The Cubs managed only one hit off Hamels, who lowered his ERA to 0.83. Hamels struck out five batters, and while the Cubs did get a few hard hits off him, they were all right at the defense. With all the questions the Phillies have with their pitching, it's nice to have an ace like Hamels out there every fifth day.

Offensively, the Phillies were powered by 2-run homers by Ryan Howard and Pedro Feliz. Chase Utley also added a double and a triple, although he did strand 5 runners in the early innings. Last night's hero, Pat Burrell, went 0 for 2, but walked twice and scored a run.

Jimmy Rollins did not play again for the fourth straight game, and he might have some company on the bench for tomorrow's game. Shane Victorino had to be taken out of the game after straining his calf running out a ground out in the sixth inning. There is no word yet on the severity of the injury. I would bet he avoids the disabled list, but he misses the next few games. The question now is, if Rollins and Victorino are both on the shelf, who leads off? Look for Charlie Manuel to have Jayson Werth play center and be an unconventional lead-off hitter tomorrow.

Despite the injury, it was another solid win for the Phillies, who have shown quite a streaky pattern to this point. So far this season, the Phillies have alternated two game losing and two game winning streaks. They started the season dropping two to the Nationals, before taking the next two, then losing two more to the Reds, and so on until their current two game winning streak. The Phillies finish out their series with the Cubs tomorrow as a couple of soft-tossers take the mound: Jamie Moyer for the Phils against Jason Marquis of the Cubs. Look for the Phillies to lose if their current streak holds true.

Thoreson gets to keep 'em both

Phew. Patrick Thoreson, who blocked a shot with his groin in yesterday's game, learned today that he won't need surgery to remove one of his testicles. Flyers GM Paul Holmgren reported yesterday that there was a chance that Thoreson would need one removed, but after being taken to the hospital and going through tests, Thoreson's groin is sore and swollen, but not severely damaged. Thoreson considers himself lucky, saying that the "puck could have hit me worse in that midsection area or hit me in the face." I think I would much rather take a puck to the face than down there.

There is still a chance Thoreson suits up for Game 2 against the Capitals. As long as the swelling goes down and he can skate without pain, he feels like he will be able to play. Hopefully Thoreson doesn't rush back to the ice, considering the Capitals will likely target that area with their sticks any time he's on the ice.

Hockey players are insanely tough. In any other sport, if a player got this type of injury, they would be out for weeks. Just the fact that Thoreson is considering playing tomorrow tells you just how resilient he is. Let's just hope he wears a cup.

Flyers forward Patrick Thoreson may require surgery in a very sensitive area

On a controversial play in Game One yesterday, the Capitals were on the power play and Flyers' forward Patrick Thoreson was injured after a puck hit him in the groin area after he went down to block a shot. Thoreson laid in pain on the ice as the referees allowed play to continue, and the Capitals subsequently took advantage of the 5 on 3 opportunity to score a crucial goal that tied the game. While many Flyers fans are furious that the refs allowed play to continue, it's uncommon for them to stop play when a team has the puck in the offensive zone and a defender is hurt on the ice. If they stopped the game every time that happened, defenders would be constantly falling down and faking injuries. The entire play didn't bother me because I have seen it many times before, but the news about Thoreson's injury is very disturbing indeed.

Apparently the shot hit Thoreson directly in the testicles. According to general manager Paul Holmgren, Thoreson is being evaluated for surgery, and he may require the removal of one of his testicles. Yikes. Let's hope it doesn't come to that, but any time someone speculates needing surgery in that area, it can't be a good thing. Thoreson would likely miss at least the next game, but I would expect him back before the end of the series. You can only imagine how badly his opponents will trash talk and taunt him. Hopefully Thoreson doesn't take his ball and go home.

Here is a video replay of the shot to the, um, testicles and the subsequent goal:

Ovechkin, Capitals erase 2 goal deficit to down Flyers in Game One

It almost seemed inevitable. The game was tied 4-4 late in the third period, and Alexander Ovechkin had yet to score a goal. Somehow, everyone knew that he was going to make his mark in this game, his first ever in the NHL playoffs. Sure enough, Ovechkin netted the game winning goal in the final five minutes of play. He created the whole play on his own, striking with an unassisted goal after he took the puck away from Lasse Kukkonen in the Flyers' zone and punched it past Martin Biron to win the game for the Captials 5-4.

The momentum shifted constantly in the game, with each team grabbing it and subsequently giving it up. Donald Brashear of all people scored the first goal of the game 3 minutes in, but the Flyers responded five minutes later with a goal by Vinny Prospal. The Caps then scored again early in the second, but after that the Flyers took the game over, scoring three unanswered goals to take the lead 4-2. Prospal and Danny Briere led the offensive explosion, as each got 2 goals and an assist. The second period was a demonstration of how good the Flyers can be when the top line is clicking.

Unfortunately, as good as the second period was, the third was a major letdown. The Capitals scored early in the period (a common theme on the night) and then tied the game shortly thereafter. The game was up and down from there, with both teams getting plenty of 3 on 2 opportunities but neither one capitalizing. Ovechkin eventually scored his goal and the Flyers were unable to respond in the final minutes.

The Flyers should look at this game as the one that got away. They will likely need to win one of these first two games in Washington, and they let a great opportunity tonight slip away. Philly was able to contain Ovechkin for most of the night, but he broke through right when his team needed him. I guess that's why he's the MVP.

Briere and Prospal were awesome offensively, but the Flyers got no contributions from anyone else. Scottie Upshall was all over the ice and made a number of hustle plays, but he was unable to generate any great scoring chances. Jeff Carter had a number of chances that he either missed the net completely on or shot right at Capitals goalie Cristobal Huet.

The Flyers should recognize the things they did well in the second period and use them in their game plan for game 2 on Sunday. This series is in no way over, but the Flyers will need to capitalize on what Washington gives them if they are going to advance.

Go to the previous post to read my Game Blog for Game one. I will be doing another Game Blog for Game two, so check back on Sunday for that.

Here is Ovechkin's game winner. Notice the terrible play first by Jaroslav Modry and then by Kukkonen that leads to the scoring chance. I bet Kukkonen is benched next game because of this.

Pat the Bat leads the Phillies over the Cubs

I'll admit that I spent most of my evening watching the Flyers fall to the Capitals, but I also spent a fair amount of time checking in on the Phillies. After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, the Phils battled back to earn a much needed win over the Cubs 5-3.

With Jimmy Rollins sitting out yet another game, the Phillies needed someone else to step up, and Pat Burrell was the man today, collecting two hits and knocking in three runs. Burrell started the scoring for the Phillies with a two-run bomb in the 4th inning, and he also finished the scoring by notching the game winning RBI on a double in the 6th. Burrell has been a real bright spot for the Phillies this season, collecting 4 home runs and a batting average of .400.

On the pitching side, after a rocky start, Brett Myers settled down to give the Phils 8 solid innings. He gave up three solo homers but very little else. Brad Lidge came in and pitched well to lock down his second save of the season. The Phillies were able to do their damage offensively off of Carlos Zambrano, widely considered one of the top pitchers in the game.

Highlights courtesy of Comcast SportsNet:

Flyers/Capitals Game One Live Blog!

Live Blog is under way! Go Flyers!

You make the call: Reyes out at home?

Watch the replay below of the supposed game-winning run scored by Jose Reyes. Did Chris Coste tag him before he touched the plate? Looking at the slow motion replay in the clip, I think it's close, but I really don't see Reyes touching the plate at all.

Flyers vs. Capitals: First Round Breakdown

On the eve of the opening game of the Flyers series against the Capitals, its time to take a closer look at this series. Most hockey analysts feel this series will be the best of any in the first round, with lots of hitting and scoring expected. So far, the resounding majority of hockey experts feel that the Capitals will take the series, although they all agree that the Flyers will not go down without a fight.

Offense: It's one flashy Capitals line against the deep scoring attack of the Flyers. The Capitals feature three players with 20 or more goals, and the Flyers have seven. Granted, Alexander Ovechkin's 65 goals dwarfs anything an individual Flyer put up this year, but the Flyers have a much more balanced approach. Ovechkin is special, and there is nothing the Flyers will be able to do to completely shut him down, but they hope to have Mike Richards and Jeff Carter blanketing him all over the ice every chance they can. If there is any way the Flyers can limit Ovechkin to a point per game player, the Flyers easily win this series. The Capitals do have other scoring threats, including possible rookie of the year Nicklas Backstrom and the suddenly rejuvenated Sergei Fedorov, but Ovechkin is the key to their attack.

The Flyers have three legitimate scoring lines, and it will be up to the Capitals to figure out how to stop all of them. The chemistry between Vaclav Prospal and Danny Briere has been special lately, so expect the Caps to send their shut-down line out to slow them down. That could open things up for scorers like Carter and Richards who will have a big advantage over the Capitals lesser players. Edge: Capitals, but not by as much as you think

Defense: These two teams are very similar along the blue line. Neither team is known for having shut-down defenders, but both have big, intimidating players on the back line. Both teams also feature high scoring puck-movers in Mike Green for Washington and Kimmo Timonen for Philly. There are also some injury factors, and both teams expect to be missing players at the beginning of the series. Basically, both teams are average defensively, but they do have forwards that help with the back check that helps eliminate some of the mistakes. Slight Edge: Flyers, their defense is slightly deeper and more experienced

Goaltending: Neither goaltender carries any significant playoff experience, with Cristobal Huet playing in only 6 playoff games and Martin Biron making his playoff debut. Huet is the hot goaltender right now as he nearly single-handedly carried the Capitals to the postseason. He was by far the best mid-season acquisition, and his impact on the team can't be understated. Huet has a 11-2 record with the Caps, and a minuscule goals against average of 1.63.

Biron has not been as consistent for the Flyers, although he was hot down the stretch, getting shut outs in the final two games of the season. Biron's lack of playoff experience is a downside, but he has at least been on several Buffalo teams that have made deep runs. The Flyers have the better back-up in Antero Niitymaki, but back-ups are useless in the playoffs. Edge: Capitals because hot goaltending wins in the playoffs

This series figures to be evenly matched, and could very likely go seven games. I am not buying all the talk that this series will be a "bloodbath", only people who are stuck in the mindset that all the Flyers do is beat people up would think that. The Flyers will be physical with the Capitals, but they won't go over the edge and take a bunch of stupid penalties because they know that would feed right into one of the big strengths of the Capitals, their power play. I still think the Flyers win in six games, winning games 5 and 6 after splitting the first four games. I think their depth will simply be too much for the Capitals to handle, and Alexander Ovechkin will get a rude welcome to the playoffs.

Mets outlast Phillies

Despite a valiant effort to fight their way back into the game, the Phillies fell to the Mets 4-3 in 12 innings. The Mets took the rubber game of the series after Angel Pagan singled in Jose Reyes for the winning run, although it was questionable as to whether Reyes actually touched the plate. The Phillies were behind most of the game until the offense came alive in the 7th and 8th innings. Ryan Howard and Pedro Feliz both homered, and Feliz later drove in the run that forced extra innings.

Jimmy Rollins sat out again, causing yesterday's goat Eric Bruntlett to get another start at shortstop. Bruntlett was brought over from Houston in the Brad Lidge trade, and he was billed as a reliable defender and someone who does the little things that win games. Well, yesterday Bruntlett made two errors, and today he was anemic at the plate, stranding 7 runners on base. He even failed to execute a sacrifice bunt in the later innings that would have likely led to the Phillies taking the lead. Bruntlett hasn't won many fans in Philadelphia, and I fear for his life when the Phils return home tomorrow to face the Cubs.

The bullpen continues to be a bright spot for the Phillies. After Adam Eaton put in a respectable start, the bullpen took over and pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up only 1 run on 4 hits. Take Tom Gordon out of the equation, and the 'pen was basically lights out. J.C. Romero, Brad Lidge and Rudy Seanez have all yet to give up an earned run this season, and with Steve Kline coming on the horizon, the bullpen appears to have turned from weakness to strength. If only Flash would get his act together, this would be a dominant group.

The Phillies come home for a three game series against the Cubs starting tomorrow. They leave New York knowing the Mets have the upper hand for now, but they should hardly hang their heads. If Jimmy Rollins plays in those two games, I guarantee the Phillies find a way to win another one. The difference between Rollins and Bruntlett is that significant. Let's hope J-Roll suits up soon.

Phillies Sign Lefty Reliever Steve Kline

Looks like the Phillies have found their second lefty reliever: they signed veteran left-hander Steve Kline to a minor league contract today. Kline, who was released by the San Francisco Giants in early April, is an 11 year veteran who has played with five different teams. He is coming off a mediocre season where he saw his strikeout rates take a dive and his ERA rise up to 4.70. He is a LOOGY, (Lefty One Out GuY) even though he wasn't particularly good against lefties last year.

Kline represents a great low-risk signing. It's the perfect kind of deal for Phils GM Pat "Small Splashes" Gillick. Kline will start out in the minors, and if he can get the job done, he will quickly move up to the big club. If he struggles, then he stays in the minors or the Phillies simply cut bait. These are the types of small moves that don't win championships, but they do build depth and fill holes. Hopefully Kline gets to the majors quickly and Clay Condrey can go back to AAA were he belongs.

Eagles Eyeing Wideouts with Top Pick

The Eagles appear to be addressing their need for a top receiver through the draft. After hosting Cal wideout DeSean Jackson last week, a source close to the Eagles confirmed that the Birds also have had meetings with receivers Devin Thomas of Michigan State and James Hardy of Indiana. All three are considered at the top of the class of for receivers at the upcoming draft, and all three have very different skill sets.

Jackson is a speed guy who would also be an asset in the return game. Thomas, despite his limited playing time in college, has displayed an ability to rack up the yards after the catch. Thomas has the size to go across the middle, and is strong enough to break tackles. Hardy is raw, but he is huge and can make the tough catches in the red zone.

The Eagles appear ready to take the best available receiver with the #19 pick in the first round. It's a break from the mold for a team that traditionally takes linemen with their top picks, but it appears that Andy Reid understands what the fans understand: this team can get a playmaker in the draft. Those of you that have voted in the poll to the right agree, with 64% thinking the Eagles should take a wideout with their first round pick.

Mets stomp error-prone Phillies

So much for the Phillies owning the Mets. The Mets took advantage of 4 errors and a poor start by Kyle Kendrick to win 8-2 and snap the Phillies' nine game winning streak over New York. The Phils played without Jimmy Rollins, who sat out with a minor ankle injury, and his replacement Eric Bruntlett made two costly errors in the 3rd inning that led to a 6-run outburst by the Mets. Kendrick finished the game with only one earned run, but looked shaky and lasted only 2 1/3 innings.

Offensively, the Phillies out-hit the Mets 8-5, but they stranded 9 runners throughout the game. They had bases loaded situations in the 2nd and 8th innings and they failed to capitalize both times. Pedro Feliz popped out with the bases loaded in the 8th inning, and he continues to look mediocre. Besides his great glove-work, which we haven't really seen yet, how is this guy an upgrade over Wes Helms?

On the positive side for the Phillies, they got great work from Chad Durbin, who continues to impress regardless of the situation he is put in. Durbin had one bad outing last week, but he has been solid all season as a 7th inning set-up guy and as a long-relief pitcher. He pitched 3 2/3 innings tonight and gave no hits and struck out 4, lowering his ERA to 1.13 on the season. Perhaps he should get a look for a spot in the starting rotation?

The rubber match against the Mets comes tomorrow, with unlikely Mets killer Adam Eaton taking the mound against John Maine. Eaton had a solid outing in his first start of the season, and the Phillies will look to him again to help earn a series victory over the Mets.

Sixers hold on, beat Pistons

In a match-up that could be a preview of the first round of the NBA playoffs, the Sixers continued to show why they are going to be a dangerous opponent for whoever they end up facing in a seven game series. The Sixers knocked off the 2nd seeded team in the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons, 101-94. The Sixers built an early lead and never allowed the Pistons to catch up. In fact, once the Sixers took the lead 18 seconds into the game on a Samuel Dalembert basket, they never gave it up. The Pistons were playing without their leading scorer, Richard Hamilton, and, with their playoff spot wrapped up, they gave plenty of minutes to their second string, but the victory was impressive nonetheless.

Leading the way for the Sixers offensively was Andre Iguodala, who scored 16 points in the second half to finish with 25 points. Iguodala made four three pointers on the night, and also filled up his score sheet with 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals. Dalembert also had a great game, netting 20 points and 13 rebounds. Andre Miller added 9 assists.

The dream season continues for the Sixers, who have won 14 of their last 19. The amazing thing is looking at all the top teams they have beaten this year: Boston, Detroit, Orlando, San Antonio, Houston, Phoenix, Dallas and Denver have all lost at the hands of the Sixers. It's a testament to how far the team has come this season that they not only can beat the teams they are supposed to, but they are hanging with, and even knocking off, the NBA's elite.

Highlights courtesy of Comcast SportsNet:

John Buccigross: Flyers in Seven

Finally, a human member of the national media manned up and picked the Flyers to beat the Capitals. After ESPN's Scott Burnside and the entire crew of TSN (besides the monkey) picked the Capitals, it looked like the Flyers weren't going to get any love.

John Buccigross of ESPN likes the Flyers to win in seven games, but only if they can stay out of the penalty box. The Capitals have a dangerous power play, so it's imperative that the Flyers play hard but stay away from cheap penalties.

Stanley Cup Playoffs: First Round Predictions

Thought I might as well share my predictions for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I will have a more in-depth preview of the Flyers series tomorrow.

Eastern Conference:
(1) Montreal vs. (8) Boston
Montreal in 5
Boston is easily the weakest team that made the playoffs. They've had a successful season considering all of their injury problems, but the Canadiens are too strong offensively to be denied.

(2)Pittsburgh vs. (7) Ottawa
Pittsburgh in 6
The Penguins got their wish and avoided the Flyers in the first round and instead they will play an Ottawa team that has been reeling. Let's not forget that the Senators made the Stanley Cup final last year, so they should do some damage, but they aren't going to get past the Penguins potent attack.

(3) Washington vs. (6) Philadelphia
Philadelphia in 6
You can call me a homer if you want, but the Flyers are so much deeper than the Capitals. It's much easier to stop one player, no matter how good he is, than it is to stop three legitimate scoring lines. This series will come down to goaltending, and I have faith that Martin Biron will get the job done.

(4) New Jersey vs. (5) New York Rangers
New York in 7
This is going to be a hard-fought series, with the Devils trying to slow down the Rangers and their deep scoring attack. Expect a lot of low scoring games with two great goaltenders, but the Rangers are too good to lose in the first round.

Western Conference:
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Nashville
Detroit in 5
The Predators are no pushovers, and the Red Wings tend to fold in the playoffs, but there is no way Detroit has any trouble with Nashville. The Red Wings are better in every facet of the game.

(2) San Jose vs. (7) Calgary
San Jose in 5
The Sharks are my pick to win the Cup, so they will definitely have no problems getting past the Flames. The Sharks are the hottest team in the league heading into the playoffs. They can play any style of hockey, and they have great goaltending and a deep scoring attack.

(3) Minnesota vs. (6) Colorado
Colorado in 7
The Avalanche have fought through so many injuries and they appear to finally be getting healthy, so I expect this deep and experienced team to do what it takes to shut down Marian Gaborik and the Wild.

(4) Anaheim vs. (5) Dallas
Anaheim in 6
The defending champs will not go down in the first round, but they are going to have some troubles later on. They are getting old and the injuries are going to catch up to them. The Stars are a good team, but they just don't have enough to knock off the Ducks. Plus, do you really trust Marty Turco in the playoffs?

Mike Patterson dodges serious charges

Eagles DT Mike Patterson was busted for possession of marijuana back in February, but today we learned that Patterson was only charged with "careless driving", completely avoiding any possession charges. While Patterson could still be penalized by the NFL, this likely means he won't miss any games and will instead get some type of monetary penalty.

This is definitely good news for the Eagles, although Patterson was never likely to get a serious penalty because it was his first offense. The NFL seems to only really crack down on repeat offenders, like Pacman Jones. Hopefully Patterson learns his lesson from this incident and stays out of further trouble.

Did Pittsburgh Bench Crosby to avoid Flyers? Penguins Coach Calls it "Ridiculous"

The Penguins, citing injury issues, benched their young star Sidney Crosby for their last game of the season against the Flyers. It was a peculiar move, considering the Penguins were playing for first overall in the Eastern Conference. There has been much speculation that the Penguins benched Crosby for another reason: they wanted to avoid playing the Flyers in the first round. A win against Philly in their last game would have kept the Flyers in the 8th seed as the Pens moved up into first overall, setting up a series against the cross-state rivals in the opening round. Instead, the Penguins lost the game and will play the Ottawa Senators.

Senators coach Bryan Murray certainly thinks the Penguins are intentionally ducking the Flyers. Murray said that "from the drop of the puck" it was clear the Penguins wanted to face Ottawa instead of Philly. He thinks the Penguins wanted to avoid a "rough and tumble" team like the Flyers, and they would rather play a team like the Senators, who favor a more finesse style of hockey.

While Murray is using this as motivation for his team, Penguins coach Michel Therrien and his players think that the whole situation is "ridiculous". Listen to the Penguins response here, as they try to explain the situation. Team captain Sidney Crosby says the team has "tried to win every game it has played" this year. If that was the case, then why would you sit out your best player in a meaningful game at the end of the season? Crosby had played the previous four games, so his injury is not a very good excuse.

So, did the Penguins intentionally duck the Flyers? I think it's very possible. It's actually a smart move, because the Flyers would have worn the Penguins down in a seven game series. The Flyers might not have beaten the Penguins, but they would have definitely beat them up. That would have hurt them in the long run as they try to make a run to the Stanley Cup Finals. Playing the Senators will allow the Penguins to play their game, and possibly allow them to go deeper into the playoffs.

The Philly Flu seems to have made a return appearance, except this team it was an entire team that faked an injury and wanted to avoid the Flyers in the playoffs. We will have to wait and see if these teams meet up again in the later rounds because if they do, you can guarantee the Flyers will give the Penguins the beating they badly wanted to avoid.

Phillies rally late to beat Mets; Rollins Injured

The Phillies continued their recent dominance of the Mets by overcoming a 2-0 deficit in the late innings to win 5-2. The Phillies nearly wasted a good pitching performance by Jamie Moyer, who pitched six innings and gave up only two runs. Oliver Perez started for the Mets and pitched great, allowing no runs to score, but lasted only 5 2/3 innings. As soon as the Phillies got to the Mets bullpen, their offense came alive. They scored 3 runs in the 7th inning off Scott Schoeneweis, and tagged Aaron Heilman for two more in the 8th. The game winning RBI single came off the bat of Jayson Werth in the 7th inning.

It wasn't all good news for the Phillies, as Jimmy Rollins sprained his left ankle while sliding back into second on a pickoff attempt in the 8th inning. Phillies fans can breathe a sigh of relief, because although Rollins had to leave the game today, he believes the injury is minor and he will be ready to play tomorrow. Rollins has made 230 consecutive starts, so he has played through minor nicks and injuries like this before, so expect him to be ready for tomorrow's nationally televised game. If he isn't available, Eric Bruntlett will start at shortstop.

One game down in the battle with the Mets, and the Phillies still seem to have their number. While the Phillies were down for most of the game, there was a sense of inevitability that they would make a comeback at some point. By the way, I know it's early, but the loss puts the Mets in last place in the National League East. It means nothing right now, but it still looks good.

Maggie the Monkey likes the Flyers

TSN, the ESPN of Canada, made their first round predictions and their entire panel of experts selected the Washington Capitals to beat the Flyers in their first round series. Fortunately, the one individual who actually matters, Maggie the Monkey, has gone against the grain and selected the Flyers to defeat the Capitals.

If you are unfamiliar with Maggie the Monkey, she's a monkey that TSN has spin a wheel to make her "picks". The monkey often selects with more accuracy than the so-called "experts". Watch video of her spinning the wheel and making all of her first round selections here.

Danny Briere will play in Game 1

The Flyers will nearly be back to full strength when the playoffs begin on Friday. Danny Briere, who has been sidelined since April 2nd, will play in the playoff opener against the Capitals. Briere has been sidelined with a sprained knee, but will return after missing only two games. Other Flyers that are expected to return for the playoffs include Jason Smith and Sami Kapanen. Smith missed the season finale against Pittsburgh with a shoulder problem while Kapanen missed the last two games with head injuries.

That leaves only two Flyers on the bench due to injuries: Derian Hatcher and Simon Gagne. Gagne will only return if they Flyers make the Stanley Cup Finals, but Hatcher could be ready to come back sometime next week.

The Capitals have a few players returning to the ice, including defensemen Jeff Schultz and Shaone Morrison. They also have three players with major injuries who aren't likely to play against the Flyers: Michael Nylander, Chris Clark and Brian Pothier.

The playoffs are a war of attrition, so it's nice to see the Flyers expect to have almost everyone back for game 1. Derian Hatcher is a big, physical presence who will be missed, but Ryan Parent and/or Lasse Kukkonen will fill in just fine until he returns.