Ilya Bryzgalov was reciting lines of dialogue from Scarface.
Naturally, The Bryz was playing the lead role of Tony Montana.
Say hello to my little friend, Bryzgalov whined in his best accent, complete with X-rated gestures.
This is it. The Flyers are pumped for their home opener against the speedy Vancouver Canucks, who thoroughly embarrassed them a year ago in British Columbia.
A new Flyers team with eight new players. A new goalie in Bryzgalov. And a new-old-foe-turned-friend in Jaromir Jagr.
I hope we dont disappoint them, Bryzgalov said. I walk in here and I cant get enough air.
Thats because there were so many reporters in the Flyers dressing room at Skate Zone Tuesday.
NHL
Bryzgalov was reminded about the expectations this season. Nothing less than a Stanley Cup will suffice.
Its a long season and you guys, fans, everybody gotta be patient, Bryzgalov said when reminded of the enormous expectations in the city surrounding this team to win a Stanley Cup, especially given the shocking ouster of the Phillies, plus the demise of Andy Reids Eagles.
Its 82 games and obviously, theres going to be some bumps, too.
And how is he feeling right now?
Excited, Bryzgalov said.
There were more Tony Montana lines in the hallway outside the showers. While he was doing his thing, Jagr was milling about.
Jagr was smiling. He always smiles.
Its always different, the first game of the season, the first game on home ice, the first game after three years away, a lot of special days for me this year and this is going to be one of them, Jagr said.
Jagr, who will turn 40 in February, still has that youthful enthusiasm he carried around two decades earlier as a Penguin.
It doesnt matter how old you are or how many years you play, Jagr said. The first game is different than the rest of them, at least the first 10 minutes. You might be a little nervous, you dont want to makes mistakes.
The easiest thing to do is score the first goal in the first shift, but thats not happening very often. That would be good.
You can feel the electricity around these Flyers. Jagr is the most celebrated European to come here since Peter Forsberg in 2005.
Thats why we have to keep winning, Jagr said. Im pretty happy the way we played the first two games. A lot of speed. We play an aggressive style. Its kind of a surprise to me because I never played that kind of style. Its new to me.
He must have forgotten those run n gun years in Pittsburgh all through the 1990s when goalie Tom Barrasso was the last line of defense.
Its difficult to skate all the time and be aggressive all the time, Jagr said. You are very tired after the game, no questions about it. But its working.
Coach Peter Laviolette used the same wordexcitementto describe what he is feeling, as well. He, too, is eager to show his team off to fans at the Wells Fargo Center.
Were all looking forward to it, he said. We had a couple games on the road and I dont think that was such a bad thing, to start on the road. But certainly, its fun to play in front of your fans and in your building. We get our first crack at it in our home opener and guys are excited about it.
Laviolette calls this game an attention-getter for his club, and perhaps for the NHL, as well.
Theyve been a top team in the league now for a couple years, he said. Its be a good chance for us to skate against a good skating team and see where we go.
Regardless of the opponent, because it will change night to night, we have to do a good job making sure were ready to play. The home opener. The Vancouver Canucks. Theres lots of reason for excitement.
Max Talbot, another ex-Penguin, completes the trio of the Flyers major free agent acquisitions from the summer.
Preseason was nice, but you cant compare that to a regular-season game, Talbot said. Its really exciting. You feel you are a part of something and starting the season on the right foot with two wins. The atmosphere has been great. Its a new chapter for my career.
Talbot said he is aware that the citys attention has turned to hockey given the Lost Weekend and NBA lockout that has shelved the Sixers.
I know this city loves its sports and with the Phillies out and the Eagles not doing as expected, we kind of know and realize that the city had turned toward us and its a good thing. Were ready for a challenge and we want to win some games.
Talbot added that when he played in Pittsburgh, it was always us Penguins and the Steelers as the talk of town.
He admitted its going to take him a while to warm up to the Eagles given he was in Pittsburgh for two Super Bowls (one win).
Ive been cheering for the Steelers for six yearstheyre an easy team to root for, Talbot said.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net
