.flyersbandwagonsuddenlyappears a bitlighter

by Jim Martin sports editor

Can you believe that our Stanley Cup champions-to-be, the Philadelphia Flyers, lost to the New York Rangers on Saturday?

Well, you and I might believe it, but some so-called fans cannot.

Although the Flyers thoroughly outplayed the Rangers, they were beaten, thanks to the spectacular goaltending of Mike Richter and some great individual plays by players such as center Mark

Messier.

However, judging from the reaction of some of the fans I heard on the radio that night. you would have thought the Flyers were in last place instead of first place.

During the Flyers 17-game unbeaten streak, all you heard was that the Flyers were one of the best teams ever and how they were going to win the Stanley Cup.

Suddenly, the Flyers began to play good hockey instead of great hockey after their streak ended.

After the Flyers took a 2-1 lead over the Rangers, it looked like they would skate to victory. However, the Rangers fought back to take a 4-2 victory over the Flyers.

I, like many other Flyer fans, was disappointed that the Flyers lost.

However, I also realized the Flyers and every other team in the Nlil., have games where they ·outshot a team 41-17 and still lose. While listening to the radio, I heard fans calling for goalie Ron Hextall's head and complaining about the Flyers lack of leadership, among many other things.Ron Hextall had a bad game. He knows that as much as everyone else. However, I wonder if these fans remember that Hextall is among the league leaders in wins and goals against average.

The fan who complained about the Flyers lack of leadership placed the blame solely on the shoulders of center Eric Lindros.

Do you think Lindros would have scored a second goal if only he had showed more leadership? I doubt it.

The Flyers bandwagon, which was full a few weeks ago, has probably lost a couple of people because of their loss to the Rangers.

Some fans have to lighten up and look at the big picture.

The Flyers are currently in first place in their division and the only team with a better record are the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Colorado Avalanche.

Although the score did not indicate it, the Flyers are bigger, stronger, younger, and most importantly, better than the Rangers.

The Flyers were able to outplay the Rangers despite the fact they were missing key players such as Dale Hawerchuck, Petr Svoboda, and Karl Dykhius.

The Flyers are one of the top four teams in the Nlil., and they will be major Stanley Cup contenders come playoff time.

However, some fans have to realize the Flyers will lose games like they did against the Rangers and they might even hit a skid where they lose four or five games in a row.

If that happens, you can be sure the Flyers bandwagon will lose a few more members.

+=Cow Pie Bingol

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