Flyers crush opposition, but they are not bullies

Sporting News, The, Feb 12, 1996 by Larry Wigge

Philadelphia is home of the original Orange Crush. Before the NFL's Denver Broncos brought that theme into national prominence in the late 1970s, Philadelphia's Broad Street Bullies had run roughshod over every team that got in their way, winning Stagley Cups in 1974 and '75.

Today's Flyers are bigger and stronger, but they haven't enjoyed the success of their predecessors -- yet. The newest version of the Big Orange is becoming a force to be reckoned with. The 1994-9 Flyer won the Atlantic Division title and two rounds in the playoffs before being eaten by the eventual-champion Devils last spring.

"It used to be like we were some sort of sideshow, going from town to town and gooning it up," says Flyers General Manager Bobby Clarke, who was the captain and leading instigator for the old Bullies. "The game has changed, the rules have changed. Except for maybe Shawn Antoski, we don't even have a fighter on this team. But we're big and strong and fast. That's how I've tried to build this team. And I think you're just beginning to see how good our team can be."

Blues goaltender Grant Fuhr looked like he was still bobbing and weaving after a 7-3 loss to the Flyers last Saturday. "I felt like I was playing hide and seek out there," Fuhr says. "With the reach most of their players have, they get you coming ... and going.

"It's tough to guess along with an Eric Lindros or John Le Clair when you face them one-on-one. It can get scary, believe me."

Crush! The Blues fought valiantly and tried to play physically against the Flyers -- but lost the three-round decision by a large margin.

The Flyers came into St. Louis with a 4-5-7 record in their last 16 games, but don't be misled. This team is better than the one that was worn down by the Devils' four-line system in the playoffs. That strategy doomed the Legion of Doom as Lindros, LeClair and Mikael Renberg received no offensive help from the team's second and third lines.

In the offseason, Clarke spent wisely in the free-agent market, adding center Joel Otto and defenseman Kjell Samuelsson. Otto has always been outstanding at winning faceoffs and shadowing the opponent's best player -- and he also has chipped in some offense. Samuelsson adds size and strength against the other team's best forwards. Clarke says no one has worked harder than that pair.

That explains the success of the Flyers, who opened the season 21-8-4.

"It all comes down to hard work every time you play the Flyers," says 5-foot-9, 190-pound Rangers right wing Pat Verbeek. "It doesn't matter how big you are or how small you are."

The Flyers are not intimidated by any team. The second and third-line reconstruction has continued during the season with the addition of center Dan Quinn from the Senators and right wing Pat Falloon from the Sharks. "Even though we still look to Eric and his line for the offense on most nights, there are signs that our defense is beginning to get involved in the offense as it did when we were so successful in the playoffs last year," Flyers Coach Terry Murray says.

Don't be misled by Philadelphia's 5-9-5 record against Atlantic Division rivals. The division's grinding style can neutralize the Flyers' size. But most of the losses came before Murray began encouraging his defensemen to get more involved in the offense. Defense still comes first, but the Flyers' playoff success was triggered by the play of Eric Desjardins, Kevin Haller, Karl Dykhuis, Petr Svoboda and Chris Therien.

After scoring 13 goals in the first 40 games, the Flyers' defensemen have contributed seven in the last 11,

"You'd be surprised at bow much room is opened up in front of the net when a defenseman makes a good offensive play,' Lindros says. "We caught a lot of teams flat-footed when our defensemen joined the play in the playoffs. They scored some really big goals for us -- and they're beginning to take charge like that again."

Desjardins scored the winning goal last week in a 3-2 overtime victory over Montreal. Dykhuis scored a goal against the Penguins, Svoboda scored against the Rangers and Samuelsson netted his first goal against the Avalanche and his second against the Penguins.

"It's tough enough to try to handle those big forwards without having a defenseman appear out of a crowd of legs and arms and fire a 90-mph shot at you," Fuhr says.

Fuhr was still bobbing and weaving, even after explaining the problems he had faced earlier. It's a problem other teams will have to solve when they play the Flyers down the stretch and in the playoffs.

Eastern block

After the Red Wings blanked the Penguins 3-0 last Saturday, captain Steve Yzerman talked about the perception that the NHL's Western Conference is like the NFL's AFC, which has lost every Super Bowl for the last 12 years.

The Red Wings' 36-9-4 record is the best in the league, but they were swept in the Stanley Cup finals last spring by the Devils -- and no Western Conference team has won a Cup since Edmonton in 1990. So, right or wrong, the perception is there -- and Yzerman wants to eliminate it.