Jason Smith Will Thud You

Some would say Jason Smith is one of the most underrated players in the NHL. The reason is mostly because he doesn’t show up on the score sheet too often, but the guy they call “Gator” makes up for this lack of scoring in other various ways.

He is a proven leader as he has shown over the years. In the AHL he led the Albany River Rats as their captain to a Calder Cup. He then went to Toronto after his stint with New Jersey where he wore an “A”. Smith then went to Edmonton where he wore the “C” longer than any other player in Edmonton history. He now graces the “C” for Philadelphia and is leading them out of the worst season in Flyers history.

He has also always been known for blocking shots, and this year is no different as he is third in the league with 70 blocks. Smith is a hardworking and physical defenseman that will stand up and fight for his teammates even in preseason, as he showed when he fought Brendan Shanahan.

His first goal as a Flyer could not have been more appropriate as he dropped to block a shot and then dove from his knees to swat the puck into the opposing team’s empty net. There’s nothing like watching the grizzly Gator stand forwards up as they cross the blue line, and as captain Jason Smith continues his blue collar style of play he will continue to be a fan favorite.

A Good Whine Goes with Crosby Cheese

Oh, before I forget... what's up with Sid the Little Kid's antics after Jason Smith's love tap the other day?

I mean, watching Sidney throw a temper tantrum in the corner of Wachovia Center ice, was like seeing a 7-year old ball his eyes out because there's no lime green popsicles left in the box.

After embarrassing himself with the flagrant embellishment, Crosby was almost given something to cry about when he got up in Mike Richards' grill to debate the non-liberties.

The Little Kid has more talent than Michael Jackson before the Liz Taylor makeover, but if he wants to be taken seriously on all fronts, he needs to stop the unnecessary whining.

Methinks Sid should subscribe to Kimberly L. Keith's "How to Stop Whining in 4 Easy Steps" and start molding his own Hall of Fame career after recent Hall inductees Mark Messier and Ron Francis as opposed to Alexei Kovalev.

In the meantime, have fun [WATCHING THE INFAMOUS SLASH VIDEO] and rate Sidney's dramatic improv...

-- TGOJ

Flyers Start The Season Swinging

The Philadelphia Flyers may have been the laughing stock of the NHL in 2006-07, but after an offseason of retooling, the Broad Street Bullies have come out swinging early on. In the preseason, the Flyers looked as impressive on the fight card as they did on the score sheet. The new and improved Fly Boys did damage, scorers and pugilists alike, putting pucks in the net and opponents on stretchers. A pair of lengthy, 20-plus game suspensions to yahoos Jesse Boulerice and Steve Downie may have stole the ink at first, but excellent goaltending from Marty Biron and a more balanced offensive attack early in the regular season are the reasons the Flyers make headlines with each passing game.

Biron, or "Gaston" as he is referred to these days, looks like the solid goalie the Flyers have coveted for years between the pipes. Not since the crazed Mr. Bean (Roman Cechmanek) have the Flyers had a spectacular netminder capable of stealing games. This season Biron reminds me of Cechmanek-depressive during his good year(s), minus the Riddalin and uni-brow of course.

On offense, youngsters Mike Richards and Jeff Carter look legit, and offseason prize Daniel Briere has gelled nicely with Simon Gagne on the top scoring line. In fact, there hasn't been such an impressive French-Canadian duo in Philly since the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers tangled with Barry Horowitz and Steve Lombardi at the Spectrum in February of 1988.

On the blue line, heart-and-soul leader Jason Smith has been a rock and the rest of the defense has played poised and controlled hockey. So far the Flyers are playing some damn good hockey and look like a force to be reckoned with this season.

-- TGOJ

Toothless Tenacity

There are a few fashion statements that are synonymous with hockey players: the grizzly lumberjack look of Bryan Marchment and Jason Smith; the grey playoff beards of Scott Niedermayer and Ray Bourque; and the long hair blowing in the wind of Guy Lafleur and Gil Perreault.

These looks have been copied by many players, but it seems that more players in the NHL should take a page out of the books of the toothless Paul Stastny and Dany Heatley.

With both players missing teeth and their early season success, you have to ask yourself if there is a connection. They are threatening to set a trend that has dentists and oral surgeons sulking like Alex Cherepanov on draft day.

The toothless look makes players look mean and nasty. Lifelong instigator Tie Domi intentionally knocked his own pearly whites out as a child on the handle bars of his huffy in order to look like his idol and famous toothless warrior, Bobby Clarke.

The missing chiclet look appears to give these players superhuman ability. The 21 year old Stastny as of 10/18/07 is tied for the lead in points with 13 including 5 goals in 6 games. Dany Heatley already has 7 goals and 11 points in 7 games. These two toothless young guns will be putting on show all season long.