i went to last night's flyers game against the islanders. the flyers haven't been playing well at all lately, winning only 5 of their last 15 and 2 of their last 7 going into this game. injuries have been hurting the team: the flyers lead the league in man-games lost, and the flyers have more of their payroll injured than they have out on the ice. as a result, the flyers have not had consistent lines for the most part throughout the season, and the chemistry that the lines usually have isn't there right now.

a lot of players were out for this game for various injuries and illnesses: forsberg, gagne, preems, kim johnsson, rathje, and others were out (one player i was glad to see out for the game was chris therien). desjardins was back for this game afer missing the last 29 games, however, and he did a lot on defense.

i got these tickets from one of the kids that i coach in swimming. the seats were great; my friend and i sat in the 6th row, with a perfect view of the net. the islanders' ice was on our side of the arena for the 1st and 3rd periods, so we got to see wuite a few flyers' goals.

the flyers ended up winning the game, 5-2. mike richards had his first career hat trick during the game, and the flyers played well on defense except when they were killing penalties (again). here are the photos:

warm-up photos

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/5282/dscf32026nm.jpg

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/188/dscf32039wm.jpg

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/3189/dscf32044tp.jpg

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/473/dscf32058xa.jpg

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/647/dscf32060ot.jpg

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/9747/dscf32074ie.jpg

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/5063/dscf32081hm.jpg

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/4912/dscf32096ow.jpg

announcing the flyers' starting lineup.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/8922/dscf32109eh.jpg

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/5808/dscf32116vy.jpg

opening face off.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/9308/dscf32123rk.jpg

first period action.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/1828/dscf32132qx.jpg

robert esche roughs up the ice before the second period.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/1314/dscf32147vx.jpg

second period action.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/367/dscf32151hu.jpg

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/1695/dscf32162bu.jpg

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/4168/dscf32171cz.jpg

second period goal by jeff carter, assisted by rj umberger and robert esche.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/1906/dscf32188jf.jpg

during the second intermission, my friend and i walked around the concourse and we passed by the eastern conference championship trophy that the sixers won in 2000-2001.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/7269/dscf32198qw.jpg

empty net goal by mike richards to get the hat trick in the last minute of play.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/784/dscf32201sd.jpg

mike celebrates the goal with his teammates.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/4518/dscf32210iz.jpg

the hats start coming down.

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bring out the wheelbarrow.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/310/dscf32245oh.jpg

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/4554/dscf32257wd.jpg

the hats are still raining down.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/2966/dscf32263uv.jpg

the flyers win!

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/4985/dscf32273xn.jpg

mike richards is named the first star.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/2890/dscf32281er.jpg

i closed off the night with a picture of all the banners hanging in the rafters. unfortunately, the only two banners hidden from view from our seats were the "73-74 stanley cup champions" and "74-75 stanley cup champions" banners.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/1224/dscf32290vy.jpg