So what does a 1-7 hockey team do when looking to break out of the doldrums from a poor start and have a little fun?
They all show up at Lincoln Financial Field to watch a now 3-4 football team.
That’s what the Flyers did Sunday as a group -- they watched the Cowboys beat the Eagles in South Philly.
Even coach Craig Berube was there.
“I went down just for a bit with those guys,” Berube said. “They had a workout [at Wells Fargo Center] as a team, and we just got some food after, but I didn’t go to the game.
“Anytime they can get together as a team and do things, it’s good. This team’s got good chemistry with each other. They’ve just got to do it on the ice.”
Captain Claude Giroux liked the idea of going to a game as a team.
NHL
“Get the mind off [things], get the boys together and watch the Eagles play,” Giroux said. “Obviously, it wasn’t the result we were hoping for, but it’s good to be around and a chance to meet fans.”
Virtually the entire Flyers team was at the game. And while fans’ discontent and vitriol may be all over the Internet, players said they didn’t get any of that from fans at the Linc.
No one was berating them.
“Our fans are frustrated and disappointed,” Giroux said. “Let’s be honest. We’re disappointed in ourselves too with this start. We have to go game-by-game and get a win Thursday against the Rangers and move on.”
Braydon Coburn said fans treated the Flyers very well and had positive thoughts to share.
“I enjoyed being there,” Coburn said. “When you are out in Philadelphia, people are always so nice. Everybody was, honestly. Everyone knows we had a tough start. They had kind words, told us to get it going and it’s a long season.
“I like watching those guys. Those guys are athletes. They are really athletic. That’s one of the things I really enjoy watching in person -- seeing the kind of athletes they are, the big guys who can run, then guys like DeSean Jackson in a snap from zero to 10. It’s really cool to see.”
Loose pucks
Kimmo Timonen (undisclosed injury) returned to practice and is fit to play against the Rangers, Berube said. ... Vinny Lecavalier (suspected groin/abdomen) and Scott Hartnell (suspected rib cage) practiced on their own. Though Lecavalier said Sunday he felt he might play on Thursday, Berube said his sense is that neither player is ready and he wants to be sure both are 100 percent healthy before putting them back in the lineup. ... Lecavalier did not participate in any of the speed skating drills that the team went through Monday. This week is all about skating and up-tempo, and Lecavalier might not be in game shape by Thursday. ... Hal Gill did extra laps. Punishment? “He’s dedicated,” Berube said. “He wanted to do extra.” So he wasn’t laps behind? “That’s not nice,” Berube laughed.