Windows 7 » Upon the WJHCs inception in 1977, Canada didn

PHILADELPHIA -- The Flyers turned the worst start in team history into a playoff berth. They forced Game 7 after a 3-2 series deficit. The Flyers simply ran out of comebacks. Just as it has in every season since winning it all in 1975, Philadelphia heads home without a Stanley Cup. The New York Rangers eliminated the Flyers with a 2-1 win in Game 7 in the first round on Wednesday, extending their championship drought to 38 seasons, the sixth-longest streak in the NHL. There was one sliver of consolation Thursday when team captain Claude Giroux was selected as a Hart Trophy finalist, the leagues MVP award. Giroux matched a career high with 28 goals and finished third in the NHL scoring race (86 points), helping the Flyers rally from a 3-9-0 start. Hes the fifth Flyer to be a finalist, joining Bobby Clarke, Eric Lindros (who both won), and goalies Pelle Lindbergh and Bernie Parent. Individual award nominations are nice, and this one was sweet for Giroux after Team Canada bypassed him for the Olympics. But they simply dont compare to the thrill of hoisting the Stanley Cup. "We do have to be proud of what we did," Giroux said. "Last place and being able to come back and get everybody back on the same page. We had a lot of fun doing it. But right now, it stings a lot we cant be in the second round." Giroux had his chance in 2010 when the Flyers reached Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals. But since that tantalizing run, theyve shown few signs of establishing themselves as a perennial contender. As they rallied from the bottom of the East all the way to the playoffs, the Flyers found two key cogs to their future are already in place: Coach Craig Berube and goalie Steve Mason. General manager Paul Holmgren made the right call when he fired Peter Laviolette after an 0-3 start and promoted the coach known as "Chief." After a small adjustment period, he had the Flyers playing as one of the top teams in the conference, leading to a 42-30-10 (94 points) finish. "We were stuck in a hole for a while and they battled out of it," Berube said. "They stuck together and went to a Game 7." Mason, the NHLs rookie of the year in 2008-09, pushed aside the doubts that lingered from Columbus that he could become a No. 1 goalie and blossomed into their goalie of the future. His mix of sensational saves and easygoing personality helped the Flyers start to erase the memories of Ilya Bryzgalov from their consciousness. "This teams a lot of fun to play with and Im looking forward to growing them in the future," Mason said. Giroux, Wayne Simmonds and Jakub Voracek form a nice offensive nucleus. Veteran defenceman Kimmo Timonen may decide to retire, though of the rest of the D was a sore point for the Flyers, especially in the post-season when Mason faced tough shot after tough shot with little break. The Flyers might not have made the playoffs without Mason. They might have beat the Rangers with even a solid defensive effort. "At no given time were we feeling we were out of the series, or out of it this season, for that matter," Mason said. This year, the Flyers celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Broad Street Bullies team that left a lasting mark on the league, but has done nothing to get them closer to holding that third championship parade down Philadelphia. The Flyers havent advanced past the second round since the surprising Stanley Cup finals run in 2010. But a year after missing the playoffs, the Flyers at least stabilized themselves and proved that an addition or two on the blue line can push them deeper into the post-season. "Game 7. Lose 2-1. Cant get closer than that," Giroux said. "For a young team, I think its great. Its only going to make us stronger." Harry Kane Jersey . Langer appeared to be in trouble when his second shot on the par-5 18th ended up in the rough short of the green. He hit a brilliant pitch to 5 feet and made the putt after Slumans birdie attempt rolled just wide. Christian Eriksen Jersey . Darren Collison and Blake Griffin scored 23 points apiece and the Clippers beat the Suns 112-108 Wednesday night, their fourth win in a row and 17th in the last 19 games. http://www.footballhotspurstore.com/Women-Juan-Foyth-Tottenham-Hotspur-Jersey/ . Or, for that matter, the aged. Victor Wanyama Hotspur Jersey . DeGrom outpitched Jake Peavy in a tantalizing hitless duel that carried into the seventh inning Saturday night before the New York Mets broke loose and beat the San Francisco Giants 4-2. Harry Winks Jersey . -- The Chicago Bears have agreed to a one-year contract with cornerback Kelvin Hayden.To put it bluntly, were spoiled. We really are. There have been 36 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships and Canada has won gold 15 times. No country has won more. We are used to greatness. We expect it as Canadian hockey fans. In the 10 years from 1988 to 1997, led by the likes of Eric Lindros, Scott Niedermayer and Jarome Iginla, Canada won eight gold medals, including five straight. Then, from 2005 to 2009, Canada won another five straight with teams featuring future NHL All-Stars in Dion Phaneuf, Carey Price and Sidney Crosby. But heres the rub: since that gold medal triumph in 2009 won by a team coached by the Pat Quinn and including PK Subban, John Tavares and Evander Kane, Canada has not won the tournament again. Sure, Canada has medaled in three of those four years (silvers in 2010 and 2011 and a bronze in 2012,) but for a country where hockey is king, you dont celebrate being anything but the best. Is it time to worry? Yes, there have beeen droughts before.dddddddddddd. Upon the WJHCs inception in 1977, Canada didnt win gold until its sixth year. Granted, in those days, Canada typically sent that years Memorial Cup champions to the tournament, rather than the teams filled with the nations best junior players that were used to seeing now. After Canadas five straight triumphs ending in 1997, the country went seven years without a gold. Even players the calibre of Vincent Lecavalier, Roberto Luongo and Rick Nash couldnt bring home the title. The nation fretted then and that unease is starting to return with this current dearth of titles. Is that fair, though? Every December, many assume these young men will bring home the gold. But if Brent Sutters team doesnt hear "O Canada" on January 5th of next year, it will be another six-year drought. As a Canadian hockey fan, how concerning is it that Canada hasnt won world junior gold recently? As always, its Your! Call. ' ' '