Wishes for my Gonewhiletime

by Ben Rothenberg on Dec 28, 2011 12:00 PM EST in Philadelphia Flyers Commentary

According to our photo cache, this is what Australia looks like. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)

I'm leaving for Australia in a few hours, and won't be back until February or so. And while I have heard speculation that they have internet down under, I'm probably not going to have much time to keep up with my beloved Flyboys or BSH.

So with that in mind, I've come up with some things I would like for the Flyers to do during my gonewhiletime.

1. Win the Winter Classic...or get shut out. I'd like for the Flyers to win the Winter Classic, obviously. I want no part of the Rangers winning in Philadelphia ever, but especially not in this hugely hyped spectacle. Ideally, the Flyers would win by a score like 9-1. But if for some reason the Flyers don't win, I'd like for them to get shut out, so as to keep a certain player's NHL record for "most goals scored in a ballpark while wearing orange" intact. Or, you know, they could just trade for Danny Syvret and have him score for him in this edition of the WC, too. Either way, really.

2. Beat the Blackhawks, ideally in overtime via the five-hole. Again, not much explanation required. The Blackhawks return to the Well for the first time since the 2010 Finals on Thursday. They best not win.

3. Pick on scrubs for a while. Anything less than six points in a stretch of the schedule that goes Senators-Senators-Hurricanes-Islanders would not be okay.

4. Beat the Bruins on NBC, FFS. In a lot of ways, the Bruins are the team that bothers me most right now. Out of nowhere, they're suddenly really good right now. If the Canadiens hadn't choked in the first round last year, the Bruins would have stayed as innocuous at ever, but now they're the smuggest franchise in history with only one conference finals appearance over the previous 20 years. Just make them go away. Or at least beat them.

5. Do the All-Star Game proud. And by All-Star Game, of course, I mean the AHL All-Star Game in Atlantic City on January 30th. This is a huge hockey event fairly near a lot of you, and going out there to support whatever Phantoms or former Flyers make the cut would be super awesome. The NHL All-Star Game is in Ottawa, a place that's considerably less exciting.

See you in February, folks. Here's hoping Punxsutawney Phil doesn't see his shadow, or whatever.

(If you're already missing me and want to follow me in Australia, you can either here or here).

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Comments

hrmph, had no idea you wrote for the NYT Ben

I don't normally read stats, but when I do, the names Detweiller, Eric or Don are involved.

Stay educated, my friends

by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Dec 28, 2011 12:20 PM EST reply actions

Have a good trip and enjoy your stay.I hope the Flyers do all of that and add a good defensmen before the trade deadline.It would be nice to see Bryz back home too,someone needs to rescue him from the woods

Clockwork Orange 10/11

by Giroux is God on Dec 28, 2011 12:26 PM EST reply actions

Another guy out of the lineup? It never ends with this team.

Enjoy your (somewhat) walkabout.

/s, more often than not

by flyersfaninchicago on Dec 28, 2011 1:37 PM EST reply actions

Safe trip, Ben. If you have the opportunity, pet a koala for me!

If Brzy doesn't do right by Bob I'll kick his $51 million ass across the WFC.
And yes, I'm a female redhead.

by BHMB on Dec 28, 2011 2:03 PM EST reply actions

Watch out for drop bears, though.

@BSH_EricT
Writer at Broad Street Hockey

by Eric T. on Dec 28, 2011 2:04 PM EST up reply actions

And don’t let any dingoes eat your baby.

Matt Read for Calder!

Jeff Skinner, at 6 years old, is the youngest player in the NHL.

Ian Laperriere (EE-an luh-PAIR-ee-YAIR), proper noun
Definition: Bad-assery on skates

by Chemistry66 on Dec 28, 2011 3:32 PM EST up reply actions

Classic quote!

#2 Flyers fan in England behind Orange and Black Forever (Damn him and his Americanness)

Long Live The KING!!!

by UKFlyer on Dec 28, 2011 5:27 PM EST up reply actions

Random koala related story. When I was three I was in Australia and my family and I went to a zoo and they let me and my cousins pet a few of the koalas. As I went to reach up and pet the koala, I put my foot in the koala’s water bucket. I think the reason that I remember that event was because having one wet shoe ruined the rest of my day haha.

So, all that to say, watch out when petting koalas. You’ll end up with a wet foot!

Opposing Ilya Bryzgalov as Philadelphia Flyers' goalie since June 23, 2011.
@Mitchman88 on Twitter

by Mitchell Green on Dec 29, 2011 1:18 PM EST up reply actions

Have an amazing trip!!

www.southpawcurve.blogspot.com - check out my baseball blog!!

by JLS89 on Dec 28, 2011 3:19 PM EST reply actions

No way in hell I would ever go to Australia. Sure, it looks beautiful and I’m not doubting it is quite lovely. But, there are so many things there that can kill you it’s absurd.

Not to scare you Ben, have fun!

"Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?"

by PraiseMartyMoose on Dec 28, 2011 3:40 PM EST reply actions

Not to mention the Australians.

Tracking the Flyers scoring chances at Broad Street Hockey

by ToddtheFox on Dec 28, 2011 3:45 PM EST up reply actions

Touche!

"I wouldn’t run if there was a fire. I wouldn’t run anywhere. I hate running." - O. Munn

by doubleh on Dec 28, 2011 4:04 PM EST up reply actions

they can kill with a word

Crikey…or my other “favorite”, ripper or “rippah”. ugh. New Zealanders don’t use those words, do they? (please say no)

by j reed on Dec 29, 2011 1:45 AM EST up reply actions

aussie children's book

by j reed on Dec 29, 2011 1:52 AM EST up reply actions

Have a good trip Ben, you’re one lucky son of gun! I’m hoping to go there soon myself.

#2 Flyers fan in England behind Orange and Black Forever (Damn him and his Americanness)

Long Live The KING!!!

by UKFlyer on Dec 28, 2011 5:27 PM EST reply actions

There’s actually some absolutely riveting cricket going on in Australia at the moment. Enjoy :-)

Simon Gagne AND Mike Richards may move between towns, wear new jerseys and call different arenas home but, at the end of the day, they will both always be Philadelphia Flyers.

One day Sean Couturier will win the Conn Smythe. You heard it here first.

by PursuitOfLappyness on Dec 28, 2011 6:16 PM EST reply actions

Speaking of which, did you see the result of the last NZ-Aus test?

Tracking the Flyers scoring chances at Broad Street Hockey

by ToddtheFox on Dec 28, 2011 6:32 PM EST up reply actions

Yep. Way too many cracks in this Australian lineup at the moment compared to the dominance of this time a few years ago.

Simon Gagne AND Mike Richards may move between towns, wear new jerseys and call different arenas home but, at the end of the day, they will both always be Philadelphia Flyers.

One day Sean Couturier will win the Conn Smythe. You heard it here first.

by PursuitOfLappyness on Dec 28, 2011 8:06 PM EST up reply actions

Seriously, its absolutely brutal. They are pathetically poor. I’ve been watching the test with my dad and he just keeps face palming.

Opposing Ilya Bryzgalov as Philadelphia Flyers' goalie since June 23, 2011.
@Mitchman88 on Twitter

by Mitchell Green on Dec 29, 2011 1:13 PM EST up reply actions

The bruins

You couldn’t of said it better. I feel the same way. I just want to punch Brian Burke and brad Marchand in the face over and over again.

-bob

by Rrainone on Dec 28, 2011 8:08 PM EST via mobile reply actions

unless i'm killing the joke

I thought the Bruins were pretty damn good before the season started. That rough start out of the gate didn’t change the way that I felt in the least. I don’t see how the Bruins came out of nowhere.

by j reed on Dec 29, 2011 2:02 AM EST reply actions