Things to think about on a Thursday

Sorry for the lack of new postings yesterday but a 100 degree fever makes it hard to type.  No worries though – it seems to have been a one day thing.  My thoughts for today:

• FLYERS 6, MAPLE LEAFS 2 – Great start to finish victory for the boys last night.  They came out and jumped all over the Leafs (which is as it should be considering the Leafs are the worst team in the Eastern Conference right now).  The game was highlighted by more solid goaltending from Michael Leighton (Brian Boucher you are officially a backup again), Danny Briere getting his 500th NHL point, Danny Syvret scoring his 2nd NHL goal (& first one indoors) and Dan Carcillo’s beautiful solo effort on his 2nd period goal.  Considering the Flyers play most of their January games at home, last night’s win will be crucial if they’re to continue to climb the Eastern Conference standings.  They’ve only been a .500 hockey team at the Wachovia Center so far this season so wins like last night should also go a long way to restoring their confidence hopefully increasing their home ice advantage.
• FLYERS V. PENGUINS ROUND 4 – Last night’s win against the Leafs should also be a great way to head into tonight’s game against Cindy Crosby and the hated cross-state rival Pittsburgh Penguins.  The Penguins have won all 3 games so far this season including a 6-1 blowout last month in Pittsburgh.  Though tonight’s game is the 2nd one of a back-to-back (which traditionally doesn’t favor the Flyers), the team might be catching the Penguins at the right time.  The Flyers of course are 5-1-1 in their last 7 whereas the Penguins have actually hit a bump in the road having only one once in their last 6 games.  The Penguins are rested and ready but the Flyers are probably playing their best hockey of the year and certainly haven’t forgotten the beatdown they received last month.  Expect lots of fireworks and a playoff type atmosphere at the Igloo tonight!!
• MANGINI SURVIVES – Earlier today Cleveland Browns Head of Football Operations Mike Holmgren released a statement saying that Head Coach Eric Mangini will retain his job for the upcoming 2010-2011 season.  After weeks of speculation that Holmgren would not retain him, Mangini appears to have saved his job based on the fact that the team won 4 straight games to finish the season and looked pretty good in doing it.  Now that Mangini is no longer involved in making personnel decisions, he’ll be able to focus solely on coaching.   Their defense played very well down the stretch and Jerome Harrison is a STUD.  He looks to be a phenomenal running back to build around.  I expect Holmgren to be VERY involved when it comes to choosing the quarterback to lead the franchise and wouldn’t be surprised if he gets rid of Brady Quinn AND Derek Anderson and starts from scratch.  The future suddenly looks promising for the Browns…(*****Of course as soon as I started writing this post I read online that Josh Cribbs, the Browns’ all-everything kick returner/wide receiver/sometimes quarterback has told friends & Browns employees that due to his contract situation [he is WOEFULLY underpaid] he thinks he’s played his last game in a Browns uniform.  So maybe we should withold judgement for a bit…******)

I would post more but I’m sure I’ll have a lot to cover tomorrow, so that’s all for now folks!