Screen Shot 2012-04-06 at 8.58.49 AMPhoto: Flyers

Ryan Miller sad. 

For the second year in a row, the Flyers sent Miller (and his nasally drone) to the golf course. The Sabres' loss, combined with the Captials' win, officially eliminated the hockey team from Buffalo.

Ryan Miller, post-game:

Q: Do you think anything from when you guys made the (inaudible)

“I can't really digest right now. It's just disappointing. It's embarrassing to miss the playoffs. We've got a lot of talented players, but we just couldn't get it going early enough. And then you run out of time and you run out of games, and it comes down to basically going to the bigger tear than any team in the league during the entire year just to make playoffs and that's not how you do it in this league. We got bit this year, and last year we got away with it.” 

 

Poor guy– what to do with all that spare time?

Meanwhile, the Flyers clinched the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, making it official that they will play the Shittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the playoffs. It also means that Saturday’s much-ballyhooed game will most likely be a watered down affair, perhaps with very few stars in the lineup. 

Bites: 

– Claude Giroux is totally going to win the NHL 13 cover vote. He leads all vote getters right now, and his matchup with Scott Hartnell is the most voted on in the entire league. Flyers fans are just… different. Not only is Philadelphia a great sports town (this you know), but take it from me when I say that our online community is unlike anything, anywhere. Giroux is going to win in a landslide. 

– Here is Sergei Bobrovsky’s new mask, which presumably we’ll never see this season (…): [via here]

  Screen Shot 2012-04-06 at 9.01.38 AM

– Reader Chris sends us this jersey from Tuesday night’s game. I hate to steal a line from the fine folks at Barstool Philly… but does this jersey get this guy laid? 

Screen Shot 2012-04-06 at 9.04.12 AM 

I says it might, but any chance he has quickly gets nullified by whatever is going on up top with that mullet fusion thing. 

Finally, the Flyers handed out their end-of-season awards last night. View the full list of winners and highlights from the game after the jump.

 

 

From the release:

 

Bobby Clarke Trophy (Most Valuable Player) – Claude Giroux

 

Claude Giroux was selected by a panel of sportswriters and sportscasters as the Flyers team MVP for the second consecutive year.  Giroux will wrap up the season with some of the best offensive numbers for a Flyers player in a dozen years.  Heading into tonight’s game, Giroux had 28 goals and 64 assists for 92 points on the season.  Not only is it a career high for Giroux in all three categories, but the 92 points are the most by a Flyer since Eric Lindros had 93 points in the 1998-99 season.  The 64 assists are the most by a Flyer since Lindros posted 68 in the 1995-96 season, and it’s currently the ninth-highest regular season total in Flyers history.  Giroux is just the fourth Flyer ever to record 50 or more assists in consecutive seasons, joining Bobby Clarke (8 seasons, 1972-1980), Brian Propp (3 seasons, 1983-86) and Mark Recchi (2 seasons twice).  Giroux currently ranks third in the NHL in scoring and leads the league in power play points.  He has had 10 games of three or more points this season. Giroux becomes the sixth player to win the award in consecutive years since its establishment in 1984-85, and becomes the eighth player to win the award multiple times. 

 

 

Barry Ashbee Trophy (Outstanding Defenseman) – Kimmo Timonen

 

Kimmo Timonen earned his third Barry Ashbee Trophy as voted by a panel of sportswriters and sportscasters.  Timonen previously won the award in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons.  Timonen entered tonight’s game with four goals (all on the power play) and 39 assists for 43 points, which leads Flyers defensemen in scoring, and has appeared in 74 of the team’s 80 games so far.  Timonen’s 43 points and 39 assists are each short of his personal best in the category as a Flyer – he had 44 points in 2007-08 and 40 assists in 2008-09.  Timonen becomes the third Flyer to win the award three or more times since its inception in 1974-75, joining Eric Desjardins (7) and Mark Howe (4). 

 

 

Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy (Most Improved Player) – Scott Hartnell

 

Scott Hartnell was named the Flyers’ most improved player from the previous season, as voted by his teammates.  Hartnell has enjoyed a career year, having set new personal highs in goals (37) and points (67) while coming into tonight’s game tied with his career high in assists (30). Heading into tonight’s action, Hartnell has seen an increase of 18 points (13 goals, five assists) from last year’s final statistics.   Hartnell has been one of the most dangerous power play threats in the NHL this season with 16 power play goals, which ranks second in the league heading into tonight’s games. 

 

 

Yanick Dupre Class Guy Memorial Award – Jaromir Jagr

 

The Philadelphia chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association (PHWA) selected Jaromir Jagr as this year’s recipient of the Yanick Dupre Class Guy Memorial Award.  This award is presented annually to the Flyer who best illustrates character, dignity and respect for the sport both on and off the ice.  Jagr returned to the NHL this season after a three-year absence, signing with the Flyers as a free agent on July 1, 2011.  He enters tonight’s game ranked third on the Flyers in scoring with 18 goals and 35 assists for 53 points in 71 games.

 

The award honors the memory of Yanick Dupre, who died on August 16, 1997 at the age of 24 after a 16-month battle with leukemia. Dupre played parts of three seasons with the Flyers (1991-92, 1994-95 and 1995-96), recording two goals and 16 penalty minutes in 35 games. He was originally drafted by the Flyers in the third round (50th overall) of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft.

 

 

Gene Hart Memorial Award – Wayne Simmonds

 

The Philadelphia Flyers Fan Club selected Wayne Simmonds as the winner of the Gene Hart Memorial Award. This award is given to the player who demonstrated the most “Heart” during the season as voted on by members of the Fan Club at their monthly meetings.

 

The award honors the memory of longtime Flyers broadcaster Gene Hart. For 28 years, Flyers broadcaster Gene Hart called the organization’s most thrilling moments, and in the process, helped spawn generations of devoted fans. Hart’s contributions to the sport were recognized with his induction into the Flyers Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997.

 

Presenting the award to Simmonds was Flyers Fan Club president Joe Fisher and Fan Club member Josh Ash, along with Sarah and Lauren Hart.  The Flyers Fan Club will also donate $2,000 to the charity of Simmonds’s choice. 

 

 

Toyota Cup – Claude Giroux

 

Claude Giroux has won this season’s Toyota Cup as the Flyer who accumulated the most points associated with being selected as a “Star of the Game.” Entering tonight’s game, Giroux has been named First Star 11 times, Second Star seven times and Third Star four times for a total of 80 points.  Five points were awarded for being selected First Star, three points were awarded for a Second Star performance and one point was awarded for a Third Star selection.

 

Presenting Giroux with the award was Paul Muller, representing the Tri-State Toyota Dealers. Giroux has chosen the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as the recipient of a $5,000 donation from the Tri-State Toyota Dealers on his behalf. 

 

"The Tri-State Toyota Dealers are so proud to once again support the Philadelphia Flyers through the Toyota Cup,” Muller said.  “This is such a special award really because it symbolizes what the Philadelphia Flyers are all about; a team that while being successful on the ice, has never forgotten the good of the community. We are happy to have Claude Giroux, one of the bright young talents of the game, carry on this tradition and to make a $5000 donation on his behalf to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia from the Tri-State Toyota Dealers."

 

In addition to the Flyers team awards, goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov received a Tiffany crystal from the National Hockey League during the ceremony to commemorate his 25th career shutout, recorded on Feb. 7 vs. the New York Islanders.  Presenting the award was Jim Gregory, SVP of Hockey Operations for the NHL.