Better than expected

Seeing that the Philadelphia Flyers would be playing in Tampa following their embarrassing 9-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night, I wondered how the outcome would affect the team's mood.

After scoring 19 autographs, including eight pucks, I'm happy to say that most of the team, other than Mike Richards, were happy to oblige one of the biggest crowds of the year.

Even goalie Robert Esche, who surrendered all nine goals to the Sabres, stopped to sign, including two cards for me. He was asked about the game, but offered no response. I asked Joni Pitkanen, who signed four cards, about it, too. "I don't know what was going on," he told me.

Richards, a second-year pro, signed a few, and then left many dealers and hounds, myself included, behind. If you ask me, he looks like he has a perpetual case of hemorrhoids.

As usual, Mike Knuble was pleasant, signing for the house, including a bunch of Swedish items from his year overseas because of the lockout. Knuble, who also signed four cards, was always gracious in Boston, too.

The pucks, show above, are:

Top row -- Flyers: Kyle Calder; Blackhawks: Kyle Calder; Philadelphia Phantoms vs. Providence Bruins: Jeff Carter.
Bottom row -- Flyers: Simon Gagne; Flyers: Sami Kapanen; Whalers: Sami Kapanen.