Here's a quirky little side note.....

Nine Flyers will get a chance to take batting practice with the Phillies today at Citizens' Bank Park.

In what will turn into a little competition between teammates, each of Scott Hartnell, Kimmo Timonen, Wayne Simmonds, Braden Schenn, Claude Giroux, James van Riemsdyk, Max Talbot, Jody Shelley and Matt Carle will each get their swings to try to hit one out of the park.

My money is on van Riemsdyk, who played baseball in New Jersey as well as hockey. But, he predicted Shelley would win because he's the biggest and strongest competitor.

The nine Flyers will then stay to watch the game.

We'll update you on the results later.

.......

Well, it's later, and not to be an I told you so, but JVR was the only Flyer to go yard.

"It was pretty cool," he said. "I got a little lucky. I think I caught it just right and it just carried. It was fun, this is something I wanted to do for awhile and I'm glad we were able to set it up."

Van Riemsdyk said he played baseball growing up but was never a power hitter and was more successful as a pitcher.

Hey, if the hockey thing doesn't work out, maybe he can get a summer job as a right-handed bat off the bench for the Phillies.