Into All-Star Weekend on the upswing

Thursday was a FANNNN-tastic day for Philadelphia Flyers fans. 1) Team wins its final game before the All-Star break, which is always satisfying. 2) Team beats the rival Penguins, which is always satisfying. 3) Devils lose, which is always satisfying. Just a great day all around for the Flyguys.

Didn't get to see the game of course, but it looks like it was similar to the Devils game in terms of pace - we would get the lead, let them tie it up, get the lead again, give it up, and so on. But thanks to a couple power play goals (they just keep on a-comin') in the third period, they pulled it out against a Crosby-less Pittsburgh team, 4-3.

Marty Biron did a pretty good job it seems. I'm glad he got to start the last game before the break, because I think he needs to rebuild his confidence as the team's #1 goalie. Like I've said before, a goalie controversy is not a bad thing in the NHL, but I think Biron needs to step up and start playing the way the organization envisioned he would when it acquired him last year - a #1 goalie who can lead a team deep into the playoffs. If he gets to that point with Nittymaki behind him, that's definitely a reality this year.

- I would like to see Georges Laraque suspended for his hit on Downie (which I did see a clip of). I guess it would be poetic justice or something like that.
- R.J. Umberger doing his thing (a goal and two assists). It's always somebody different each night on this team. Always a good sign.
- 27-16-5, 59 points, TIED FOR FIRST in the Atlantic with the Devils.

So the Flyers are back in first place going into All-Star Weekend. That's awesome, considering they have more points than they did all of last season. Couldn't have asked for anything more to this point really. Going into the break, I think we're starting to see the makings of what could really be a championship caliber team (great offense, plenty of weapons, solid goaltending). And they seem to be getting better as the season goes on. Never mind the fact that we for some reason cannot beat New Jersey. We have the third best record in the conference and hopefully we'll be able to pull away a little from the Penguins while they play without Sid the Kid. After the break, it's Kings-Rangers-Ducks all at home. I don't think two out of three is very unreasonable, especially since one of the teams is the worst in the NHL. Let's hope for a strong second half to what has been one of the best Flyers seasons in recent memory thus far.