The Flyers Are Your New 2015 NHL Winter Classic Champions Of The World

Flyers 3, Capitals 2 (OT)

The Washington Capitals celebrated their Winter Classic win over the Hawks like it was Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The fans put a banner up at the practice facility and I’m baffled they didn’t plan a parade down Pennsylvania Ave. So if they’re going to treat it as the Heavyweight Title of the World, then I guess that title officially belongs to the Flyers now. Midway through the season, the Flyers are doing what they always seem to do and just hang on long enough to get a shit pick in the upcoming Entry Draft. But through 41 games, Jake Voracek still leads the league in points and assists so it’s not like the Flyers even need to get better through the draft anyway.

The Misfit Line

I joked around last night asking if you had to start an NHL franchise from scratch, who would you pick up first; Ovechkin or Umberger? But if we’re being completely honest with each other, Umberger hasn’t been playing that bad at all lately. That whole line of him, Coots and Read have found a way to get things going and came up huge with 2 goals last night. Also, somehow Matt Read AND Nick Schultz ended the night with 2 assists each. As baffling as that sounds, it can only be explained by one thing.

The Rick Ross effect.

Flyers Super Fun Defensive Carousel of Healthy Scratches

Listen, you never want to see a guy get hurt. Unless it’s Steve Downie, you always have to show a little respect for players that go down even if you hate them. You wouldn’t want people cheering if you got a paper cut in your cube and couldn’t work for the rest of the day (or maybe you would but still). Anyway, last night Nick Grossman went down and it didn’t look great. I’m sure there will be an update on the injury later today, but for now it appears that the Flyers will finally have to resort to sticking with the same 6 defensemen. And real talk for a minute, the Del Zotto – L. Schenn pairing might be their best. Hi Haterz, Bye Haterz. Also, Grossman wasn’t the only bald-headed uggo to get hurt last night.

That’s slightly intimidating.

The Other Guys

– Again, Stone Cold Steve Mason was huge for the Flyers despite having some sort of nagging injury he’s been dealing with. Couldn’t be happier that Mase has finally found a groove. I’m sure it won’t last forever, but for the time being it’s been sexy as fuck to watch.

– Pork Chops with the dagger.

Night night, Washington. Now give me the music.