Welcome to Philadelphia

Good Fish Sticks

New York Islanders v Philadelphia Flyers, April 20, 1995


The Spectrum, Sec 64 Row 3

One of the best things about seeing the Islanders play live in 1995 from the Crows Nest of the Spectrum is you are too far up to see those new god-awful Gorton's Fisherman logo.

I had an out of town friend in for a few days.  We started the day by golfing in Medford, NJ.  After a round we headed to the Spectrum for his first Flyers game.  He was a fan going back to the old AHL Richmond Robins so he was stoked to finally see the place up close and personal.  To add to the drama, brothers Eric and Brett Lindros were squaring off against each other.  Anytime both were on the ice it was expected they would start dukeing it out. 

The unfortunate thing for him was the Islanders got on the board first which tends to silence the crowd.  Kirk Muller scored an short handed goal at the 15:46 mark of the first.

New York's Scott Lachance went into the box in the first minute of the 2nd period.  Less than 20 seconds later, at the 0:50 mark, Eric Lindros scored with Eric Dejardins and Petr Svoda.  Nothing like a Lindros goal to energize the old Spectrum.  A fine christening to Philadelphia hockey for the out of town guest.

Somehow either while getting beers downstairs during the intermission or in the stands we made a bet who would score the game winning goal.  Not just the team, but the player.  I picked Mikael Renberg.  He picked John LeClair.

Welcome to Philadelphia

In the 3rd with a rare Ron Hextall assist and a pass from Rod Brind'Amour, Mikael Renberg scored the game winner at the 11:25 mark of regulation.  It was his 25 goals of the season.  The place was electric.  Not a better ending for someone who was seeing his first live Flyers game at home.