Flyers Gameday: Toronto Maple Burkes

Between snowflakes, the Flyers are hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs down at the Wach tonight. The First place
Flyers take on the Leafs in what should be an excellent Saturday night bout. For some reason, the Flyers don't play well againt the Leafs. Recently, we've let Toronto walk all over us. Last time these two teams met, Brian Burke just popped his Toronto cherry and the Flyers fell to an upstart Leafs team up at the Air Canada Centre 4-2. This is Toronto's first trip to Philly this year, and we're hoping that they hate thier weekend.

Toronto is the poor man's Canadiens. Where the Habs have actual talent, the Leafs just have names. I'm sorry, but Jason Blake, Nik Antropov and Jeff Finger don't scare me. Vesa Toskala can steal some games for them, but the Leafs are in rebuilding mode. Brian Burke is up in the stands like Dr. Evil, stroking his cat while deciding which players are staying, and which(Tomas Kaberle, Blake, Curtis Joseph) are going. Burke has added some grit as of late, bringing Brad May with him from Anaheim. The Leafs are trying to figure out who the hell they are, and I guess they'll figure it out through punching men's faces. (Sweet!) Toronto got worked by the Habs this week, so they're going to come out determined. As Papa Stevens says, "There are no easy games left in this league" If the Leafs want to dance tonight, the Flyers have plenty or worthy dates. It might look like an 8th grade dance out there, with May, Hollweg and Deveaux all looking across the ice, patiently waiting for Cote, Asham, and Richards to violate their little bodies over an Ace of Base soundtrack. (The refs are the chaperones!)

For the Flyers, it's simple. Grind, battle, fight and defend well. Get some PP opportunities and get Mike Knuble or Scott Hartnell in their offices. Knuble and Hartnell have been great at home on the PP, and if we get more than once chance tonight, you'll be sure to find these two mucking and grinding right in front of Toskala.

Hartnell has been one of the best forwards of the year so far. Certainly not the prettiest, or best skater, or best finisher, or most patient, but he's been so productive, it's one half surprising and one half amazing. Can you imagine where this team would be without Richards, Carter and Hartnell? It's impressive that I can group the Birddog in with Richie and Carts, but he deserves it. His point total is up and he has made his play reflective of the Flyers as a whole. When he is on, winning battles and gettings shots, the Flyers are doing the same. Maybe he's needed to step up more than usual because of the injuries, but you can't help but cheer for the dude that looks like he's having so much fun out there. Especially since he'll probably buy you a Bud Light Lime at McFaddens after the game.

Lupul is back on the Center City line tonight. And I'm still pissed about Tucker's hit on Kapanen in the 2004 playoffs. The Leafs always bring a great battle, and playing any of the Original 6 is good times. Biron is heating up, and the Flyers owe the leafs a beat down. Thank Jeabus we didn't trade Carter for Kaberle. Let's Go Flyers.