Dec 26 2008
“Disney on Ice” sends Flyers and Sixers out west
With “Disney on Ice” firmly entrenched in the Wachovia Center for the next 10 days, the Flyers and Sixers are both banished out west for extended road trips. In recent years, the Flyers have thrived when they’ve taken their holiday show on the road, while the Sixers have generally struggled. During the past three seasons, the Flyers are a stellar 16-8-1 when they are displaced by “Disney on Ice,” while the Sixers are a dismal 6-14. I think this season, Philly sports fans can expect more of the same in terms of performance by their winter teams during both upcoming road trips, which begin tonight.
Let’s start with the Flyers, who kick off their trip tonight in Chicago against the revitalized Blackhawks. After that, the Flyers visit former coach Ken Hitchcock’s Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, followed by their final game of 2008 against the Vancouver Canucks on December 30th. The Fly Guys kick off 2009 on January 2nd in Anaheim and remain in California on January 3rd to take on the LA Kings. The Flyers finally return to the East Coast on January 6th when they visit Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. My prediction is that the Flyers will go 3-2-1 on this road trip. Losses to Chicago and Washington. Shootout loss in Anaheim. Wins over Columbus, Vancouver, and Los Angeles. Hopefully, the do a little better than my picks, but they’re too good to have a bad trip, barring injury.
Let’s Go Flyers!
Now onto the Sixers, who aren’t playing particularly well heading into a very tough stretch. Philly tips off tonight in Denver, who has only lost to one team with a losing record all season (i.e. Golden State on November 5th, which was pre-Chauncey Billups joining the team). Next they travel to Utah, who handily won the previous match-up between the teams in November. Then it’s on to Los Angeles to take on the Clippers on New Year’s Eve. Finally, the Sixers wrap up their road trip with a Texas two-step when they travel to Dallas on January 2nd and San Antonio on January 3rd. I’m predicting 1-4 during this trip, but 0-5 is very possible. Their lone will be against the Clippers, while they will take it on the chin against the Nuggets, Jazz, Mavericks, and Spurs. Maybe they’ll get lucky and go 2-3, but that will likely be too much to ask.
Go Sixers.
