Yes, folks the game that we have been waiting for all year is finally here! The one where the Flyers faithful will once again be able to walk through the doors of The Wells Fargo Center on South Broad Street.
It has been almost a year now since the Flyers were able to play in front of their fans thanks to the spread of the global pandemic known as the COVID-19 virus. 362 days to be exact. Since that game against the Boston Bruins on March 10th, 2020 where no one knew while exiting the arena that night that it would be their last for quite some time.
Where, since the much-anticipated return to play last season for the playoffs up in the bubble in Toronto, Canada things have not been the same. With not even the bars open Philadelphia fans were then forced into quarantine destined to sit on their couch and cheer for the team they loved instead of standing shoulder to shoulder at a game next to someone that they may not know but have a common bond and mutual respect for because they wear the same jersey as they do while screaming in perfect unison for the Flyers to “SHOOT THE PUCK” while on the power play.
What about the game day food? It just hasn’t been the same at home. If your anything like me you’ve been missing that GIANT slice of Lorenzo’s & Son’s Pizza that your significant other is always tries to steal from you. Those Chickie’s & Pete’s famous Crabfries and the welcomed shrieking of “Ice Cold Beer Who Wants An Ice Cold Beer?” coming from your favorite beer man who is making his way down your row at the exact moment the old bay from the fries is tickling the back of your throat.
For all these reasons and more this writer is more than willing to give up his nice lower-level view of the games and ascend once again to the rafters where he belongs. In order to make space for the hard-working fans of the Flyers that have not so patiently been waiting for this day to come.
Now, the NHL and state officials may have not yet allowed the stands to be packed once again but a small percentage of fans screaming obscenities at the refs after a blown call or just cheering after the Flyers lay a bit hit will be better than the (politically correct) previously recorded crowd noise the powers at be have been pumping through the loudspeakers to simulate fan noise.
Who knows this may just the thing to get the struggling Carter Hart back on track. Who last season won 20 of his 25 games played at home while managing a 1.63 goals against average and .943 save percentage during those games.
Regardless of the fact if the Flyers win or lose tonight this is a step in the right direction for sure. A much-needed sense of some kind of new normalcy if you will.
Hope to see you tonight at the game! GO FLYERS!!!!!
