PHILADELPHIA -- Only 16 months ago, Mike Richards hoisted the Eastern Conference championship trophy to a roaring Flyers crowd. Cheap MLB Jerseys . His chance at winning a Stanley Cup in Philadelphia is over. Same with Jeff Carter. And Brian Boucher. Throw in Ville Leino and Dan Carcillo. All of them gone. Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren stripped the roster of so many key cogs in that unforgettable run to the finals in 2010. When they grossly underachieved and failed to match that feat a year later, Holmgren decided it was time to start over. He shocked the NHL with a stunning summer that saw Ilya Bryzgalov, Jaromir Jagr, Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn, Max Talbot, and Jakub Voracek all wearing the orange-and-black when training camp opened. Its a whole new look -- and outlook -- in Philadelphia. Winning the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1976 always remains the goal for one of the signature franchises of the NHL. But even the most optimistic members of the organization are curious about how all this new talent will mesh with returning future stars like Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk. One immediate plus is a lighter locker-room. Richards and Carter had a strong distaste for the media, but Bryzgalov is as much a class clown as he is one of the top goalies in the league. Can the locker-room that laughs together dominate together? "I think the guys are enjoying themselves and you can kind of see the pieces coming together," new captain Chris Pronger said. "I think guys are enjoying themselves and having some fun." There was no fun at the end of last season when the Flyers fell into a miserable stretch after the all-star break. A year after losing to Chicago in the Stanley Cup finals, the Flyers positioned themselves as early contenders to play in June. Philadelphia spent a portion of the season atop the Eastern Conference standings, were 40-15-6 in late February. The season unravelled down the stretch and imploded in the post-season. They were swept in the second round by the Boston Bruins -- just the sixth time in franchise history they were swept in a seven-game series and the first time since the 1997 Stanley Cup finals vs. Detroit. Holmgren had seen enough. It was time for a change. There was no bigger move than the one in net. The Flyers were openly mocked for using a trio of goaltenders in the playoffs, none any better than the last. The Flyers did not have a shutout all season. The carousel stopped when Holmgren acquired the rights for Bryzgalov and signed him to fat contract. The departure of Richards and Carter may have weakened the offence, but theres no doubt they went from suspect to stout in the net. "He can be a difference maker," van Riemsdyk said. "Were not going to put it all on his shoulders. Itll take all of us. But we know we can go out there and have him keep us up on nights when maybe the offence isnt there." The Flyers lost a combined 314 goals and 692 points when the traded Richards to Los Angeles and Carter to Columbus. Holmgren made the moves because he firmly believed van Riemsdyk and Giroux are the future for the Atlantic Division champions. On the 76ers, Allen Iverson was known simply as A.I. On the Eagles, Terrell Owens was T.O. Meet perhaps the next great initials-only please Philadelphia star: JVR. The Flyers loved JVR so much that they signed him to a six-year extension in the off-season after he scored 21 goals and 40 points last year. He scored seven goals in 11 playoff games. Hes ready for the expectations that await this season. "Its going to be a big challenge. We lost some key guys," he said. "Its something you look forward to as a competitor is those opportunities to be in those key situations and make those key plays." JVR can pick up some big-game tips from Jagr, who made a surprising comeback to the league after a three-year stint in Russia. The 1999 league MVP has 646 NHL goals and is the leagues active scoring leader with 1,599 points. If Jagr can return anywhere close to the form when he was one of the best around, then the Flyers really will be a threat for the championship. The most immediate concern for the Flyers is the health of forward Scott Hartnell. He was diagnosed last week with an elevated heartbeat and will visit a cardiologist on Tuesday. "When it comes to your heart or your vital organs, youve got to be cautious about it," he said Monday. "Tomorrows a big day. I feel great." While hype has surrounded the Flyers, some tough situations have already stuck. Holmgren was hospitalized following a bike crash at the New Jersey shore. And the sports world was shocked when a banana was thrown from the stands at Simmonds, who is black, during a pre-season game in London, Ont.. All of it has made the Flyers ready for one thing: To find out how it all play out this season. "We cant wait," van Riemsdyk said. cheap jerseys from china .S. -- Kelsey Rocque remains the only unbeaten womens skip at the Canadian junior curling championships. wholesale nfl jerseys . Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano, Detroit third baseman Miguel Cabrera and Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer each were selected for the fifth time.SEATTLE -- Jack Hannahan was 7 for 15 against Seattle ace Felix Hernandez going into Thursday nights game. Hannahan added a base hit in three at-bats against the 2010 AL Cy Young Award winner, but it was his fourth trip to the plate that made the difference. Hannahans two-run single in the ninth inning off closer Brandon League rallied the Cleveland Indians to a 2-1 victory over the Mariners that cost Hernandez a win after his dominant outing. "When you dodge a guy like Hernandez and youre able to win the ballgame, whether you beat him or not, you feel like you did something right," Cleveland manager Manny Acta said. Hernandez struck out 12 and walked one. He allowed five hits, three in the eighth inning, but ended up with a no-decision. Indians starter Josh Tomlin just about matched Hernandez. Tomlin tossed eight innings, yielding one run and five hits. He struck out seven, walked none and threw just 96 pitches. "It was a great a game, both sides," Hernandez said. "The other guy threw a pretty good game, too. It just gets exciting." Acta said before the game that the key against renowned pitchers like Hernandez is not the hitters, but the starting pitcher keeping it close. Tomlin (1-1) did just that with a cutter and effective changeup that left Seattle hitters leaning all night. "Obviously, everybody knows that Felix is a stud, and he showed that tonight again," Acta said. "But you know, I couldnt be prouder than I am of my little cowboy. He went toe-to-toe with Felix for eight innings and thats what we ask these guys when we face guys like Felix. "Keep us in the game and keep us close up until somebody makes a mistake." Carlos Santana walked and Travis Hafner singled to open the ninth against League. Casey Kotchmans sacrifice bunt advanced both runners. League (0-1) walked Shelley Duncan, loading the bases, before Hannahans first-pitch single scored Santana and pinch-runner Aaron Cunningham to give the Indians a 2-1 lead. "Its not the type of guy you want to go deep in the counts with, with that split-finger fastball and hes throwing 97 (mph)," Hannahan said. It was Leagues first blown save since Aug. 23, also against Cleveland. Hannahan figured his grounder to the left side was inches from becoming a double play. "I got my groundball, but obviously it didnt go my way," League said. Lucas Luetge replaced Leeague with two outs and intentionally walked Michael Brantley to load the bases again before getting Jason Kipnis on a groundout. cheap nfl jerseys. Chris Perez got three outs for his fourth save. The Indians tried to mount a rally in the eighth, too, but couldnt break through. They loaded the bases on three consecutive singles by Hannahan, Jason Donald and Brantley. Donalds hit was a possible double-play ball that glanced off Hernandezs leg. Brantleys grounder went off the tip of Dustin Ackleys glove at second and was kept in the infield. Hernandez was in trouble for the first time. Seattle manager Eric Wedge went to the mound and chatted with the right-hander, choosing to leave him in despite having Luetge ready in the bullpen. Hernandez responded by striking out Kipnis and Shin-Soo Choo. Hernandez hopped off the mound, yelled, and slapped his glove after his 126th pitch. Seattle gave Hernandez a slim lead in the fifth. Michael Saunders doubled and went to third on Miguel Olivos sacrifice. John Jaso hit a hard grounder at second baseman Kipnis, who was pulled in with the rest of the Cleveland infield, and he threw high to home plate. Saunders was safe and Jaso moved to second on the throwing error. Santana picked up the first hit for the Indians with two outs in the fourth when he hit a 2-1 pitch to left-centre for a double. Hernandez already had six strikeouts at that point, and only one prior batter hit the ball out of the infield. Olivo grounded into a double play with one out and runners on first and third in the second. Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager doubled and Saunders singled, but Olivos problems at the plate continued. Hes hitting just .143. Hernandez also allowed Hafners double in the seventh. He went to a 2-1 count on Kotchman before coming back to get an inning-ending strikeout. NOTES: Mariners OF Mike Carp was set to play the outfield for Triple-A Tacoma as he works his way back from a sprained shoulder. ... Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera will fly back to Cleveland on Sunday. Cabrera was placed on the bereavement list, retroactive to Monday, following the death of his grandfather. Relief pitcher Nick Hagadone is likely to be sent down when Cabrera returns, according to Acta. ... Six players who spent time in the Mariners organization -- Derek Lowe, Cabrera, Choo, Hannahan, Kotchman and Jose Lopez -- are currently on Clevelands roster. cheap jerseys ' ' '
