The Fifth Liners

Making your NHL debut is always a special moments in any person careers, but tomorrow night when Philadelphia Flyers take on the Winnipeg Jets tomorrow, for 33 year old goalie Rob Zepp - this debut has been 13 years in the making! Originally drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in 1999, Zepp never signed for the team and instead was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2001. After that this followed a spells in both the AHL and ECHL from 2001 to 2005. Zepp then tried his fortunes in Europe, firstly in Finland with SaiPa in SM-liga. A seven year stint with Berlin in the German Hockey League would follow this. Zepp's post season performances in Europe however, impressed the Flyer's organization, who prompt signed him for their affiliate Leigh Valley Phantoms. Zepp played back up to Ray Emery in last nights 7-4 win over the Maple Leafs, but with Steve Mason injured, his long awaited debut has finally come forward. All the best Rob, no one can say that you haven't worked h...

The Washington Capitals should no signs of fading in the absence of star player Alexander Ovechkin last night as they hammered the Philadelphia Flyers 7-0 at the Wells Fargo Center! Things almost got off the wrong start for the visiting capitals when Steve Downie, who was making his debut after arriving from the Colorado Avalanche in mid week, almost beat Capitals goalie Braden Holtby in the opening seconds! But Niklas Backstrom got the party started when after he rifled a shot past Steve Mason after 17.28 to put the away side in front! But it was in the second period that the Capitals should their offensive capabilities and a five goal flurry would soon follow- Joel Ward pushed the advantage to 2-0 after less than 1.24 of the second before Jim Chimera made it three on a breakaway! After Steve Mason's poor display, he was pulled from net shortly after the third goal and replaced by back up Ray Emery. Sadly Emery would fare just as worse when Backstrom grabbed his second off...

Mike's question this week focuses on our friends in the city of brotherly love, as it was asked "The Flyers glory days seem to be long gone. What can they do to be a serious cup threat again?" Well the answer to this one will be require some serious thought- right let's go to work! The Philadelphia Flyers are a team with a famous history with the 'Broad Street Bullies' team including Bobby Clarke, Dave Schultz, Joe Kelly and Bernie Parent which brought them back to back Stanley Cups in 1975 & 1976, to the Eric Lindros years from 92 to 98 where he continually led the league in scoring. Their last cup final appearence came back in 2010 where they were narrowly beaten in six games by the Chicago Blackhawks. But last season was one to forget for the men in orange as they finished fourth in the Atlantic Division and 10 in the Eastern Conference, missing the playoffs for only the ninth time in their history! Also things werent helped by the poor net minding ...

1.        Ron Hextall vs. Chris Chelios (1989 Eastern Conference Final- Game 6): Goalie Ron Hextall was never far from controversy during his career and his 699 penalty minutes are the kind of stats usual seen by season enforcers rather than a man in net! At times he could be brilliant but at times he was purely insane and it was never demonstrated better than when decided to get revenge on Montreal’s Chris Chelios 2. Patrick Roy vs. Mike Vernon (Red Wings vs. Avalanche 1997): After Claude Lemieux illegal hit on Red Wing’s Kris Draper the season prior, winger Darren McCarthy decided to get brutal revenge on Lemieux. Never one to back away from a fight, goalie Patrick Roy chose to join in and protect his team mate. Then veteran Red Wing’s goalie Mike Vernon tried to intervene which prompted Roy to challenge him to a scrap- here things became interesting!   3.        Matthew Barnaby vs. Garth Snow (Sabres v...