Unless you were in mourning over the euthanizing of Eight Belles after the Derby Saturday (‘mercy’ killed to put her out of her misery after she broke both front legs, not ‘cuz she lost finished second), you prolly caught the Flyers advancing to the Eastern Conference finals of the National Hockey League playoffs by defeating Montreal 6-4.

 

   The Flyers will face the Pittsburgh Penguins, who advanced by beating the Rangers in OT Sunday afternoon. The series begins Friday in Pittsburgh with the first home game May 13 at the Wachovia Center. The winner advances to the Stanley Cup Finals to play either Dallas or Detroit.

 

   The Penguins, and their fans, are ready ...

 

 

 ...“Darth Briere”? WTF?

 

     Even the organIzations’ minor league teams are playing each other in the American Hockey League divisional finals (they can win Calder Cup!). The best-of-seven series between the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins and the Philadelphia Phantoms is tied at one game apiece. Game Three is at the Wachovia Center tonight. (Times Leader)

 

    What does this all mean?

 

1-     The Toronto Marlies (named after this, and not thisor this) are the only Canada-based team left playing at the two highest levels of pro hockey.

 

2-     That means it will be 15 years (and 14 cup winners) since a team from Canada won the Stanley Cup (1993 Canadiens).

 

3-     Canadians now feel like Americans do when Cuba (and others) drub our fat steroid-laden asses in baseball.

 

4-     Fwiw- Wilkes-Barre / Scranton is more like Pittsburgh than Philly AND Pennsylvania could easily pass for Canada.

 

5-     It’s not too early to start pushing for a Flyers- Pens out-of-doors Christmas Day game at the Linc / Heinz Field / Beaver Stadium.