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PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Flyers are ready to celebrate the Big 5-0.Its a golden anniversary for the orange-and-black and the Flyers plan a yearlong celebration of their history.Former Flyers stars will play an alumni game against retired rivals from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Theres a new book packed with history and promotional nights sprinkled through the schedule honoring Phillys greatest captains, tough guys, goalies and playoff stars.The Flyers even underwent a cosmetic makeover, producing special 50th anniversary jerseys and hanging new banners commemorating division, conference and Stanley Cup championships in the rafters of the Wells Fargo Center.But will the Flyers add a new one in the 51st year in honor of this season?The Flyers made a surprising playoff run in coach Dave Hakstols first season, who seemed as smooth on the bench of an NHL franchise as he was as one of the great college coaches at North Dakota.Shayne Gostisbehere emerged as one of the top rookies and Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn handled the bulk of the goal scoring. Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth were steady in net. And the Flyers built on their one-and-done postreason run by ... doing nothing.Flyers general manager Ron Hextall had a quiet summer, a sign perhaps, that he expects the team to stay steady simply by having his core roster get better. The Flyers expect Jakub Voracek to bounce back after he tailed off following a breakthrough season; and theres a chance that 19-year-old prized prospects Ivan Provorov (defenseman) and Travis Konecny (forward) could make the opening night roster.Those guys have done a good job throughout camp, Hakstol said. Its not a single night evaluation but every evaluation and every game is important. They along with a lot of others in that room have are doing their job and making decisions difficult.Also difficult, the Flyers will play their first season without founder and owner Ed Snider. Snider died of cancer in April and his presence had been the one franchise fixture from the expansion years, the Broad Street Bullies era, the Legion of Doom and every run at the Stanley Cup.Neuvirth had the image of the respected owner painted on his goalie helmet .He is pretty special within our locker room and every player is going to pay tribute in their own way, Hakstol said.The Flyers should be playoff bound but are likely looking at another empty season without a Stanley Cup championship.Here are some other things to know about this seasons Philadelphia Flyers:THAT DROUGHT: The Stanley Cup drought is one of the longest in the league: The Flyers havent a championship since back-to-back Cups in 1974 and 1975.The Flyers were the hit of the NHL in the 1970s thanks to those hard-hitting Broad Street Bullies. Led by Hall of Famers Bobby Clarke and Bill Barber, the Flyers were Stanley Cup regulars and seemed poised to build a dynasty.The only thing the franchise has a built is a loyal, yet frustrated, fanbase wondering if the orange-and-black will ever celebrate with a championship parade again through the heart of Philadelphia.The Flyers have been close -- real close: Philadelphia lost in the Stanley Cup finals in 1976, 1980, 1985, 1987, 1997 and 2010.NEW KIDS IN TOWN: Provorov and Konecny hope to turn sensational preseasons into spots on the roster.Hextall is a patient GM and he wont put them on the roster with the idea of sending them back to the minors in a month. Provorov said hes felt comfortable in camp. Konecny has impressed his veteran teammates by playing like one in preseason games.Hes not a big guy but hes not afraid to go into the dirty areas, Flyers forward Sean Couturier said. He wasnt afraid to share his thoughts on the bench of what he could see out there and what he could tell us. He wants to learn and to get better and thats all you can ask from a young guy.WHOS NO. 1: Mason was the clear No. 1 entering last season and won 23 games to help the Flyers reach the playoffs.But he never recovered from the 101-foot goal allowed in a Game 2 playoff loss at Washington that was replayed on an endless loop in Philadelphia.Neuvirth stepped in and won two straight games, including a whopping a 44-save effort in a Game 5 shutout win. He stopped 103 of 105 shots in only three games.Both goalies can become unrestricted free agents in July.GHOST BUSTER OR BOON: Gostisbehere might have won rookie of the year had he played a full season. But 17 goals and 46 points in only 64 games made quite an impression on the Flyers and the rest of the league. He was the Flyers top defenseman and he set a team rookie record for goals scored by a defenseman. The Flyers were 5-8-3 when he was promoted, and with his Ghost nickname name and instant hot streak, he was an immediate fan favorite.I didnt think I was going to make such an impact the way I did, he said.Can he do it again? Cheap Nike Shoes For Sale . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Discount Nike Shoes . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. https://www.wholesalenikeshoesauthentic.com/ . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. Wholesale Nike Shoes . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Cheap Nike Shoes Free Shipping . Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan scored shootout goals, and backup goalie Cam Talbot earned his second win in two nights as the Rangers shook off a late tying tally and beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 Monday night. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Los Angeles leaders pitched their bid Tuesday for the 2024 Olympics as a risk-free project that requires little construction and could produce a financial surplus.Our Olympic infrastructure is already in the ground, not on the drawing boards, Mayor Eric Garcetti said at a news conference. We are virtually risk-free because we only have to build one venue to host the games. Instead of construction anxieties for the next seven years, we can focus on whats important.Los Angeles is seeking to host the Olympics for a third time and bring the Summer Games back to the United States for the first time since Atlanta hosted the event in 1996.Los Angeles is competing against Paris, Rome and Budapest, Hungary. All four bid cities have sent leaders to Brazil to observe the Rio de Janeiro Games and lobby IOC members, who will select the host city in September 2017.The buildup to the Rio Games was hit hard by Brazils political and economic crises and late scramble to complete the venues. The early days of South Americas first games have also faced serious logistical and organizational issues, including crime, empty seats and transportation problems.Separately, scared off by the $51 billion overall price tag associated with the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, several cities dropped out of the bidding for the 2020, 2022 and 2024 Olympics for financial or political reasons.Against that backdrop, Los Angeles sought to portray itself as a safe, trouble-free choice that can allow IOC members to rest easy.Garcetti cited a recent independent poll that put local support for the bid at 88 percent.Sunshine polls only 84 percent, he quipped.Bid leaders made it a point to note that the 1984 Los Angeles Games, run by Peter Ueberroth, produced a profit of $225 million.Were very confident that our plan reduces risks dramaatically and can produce a profit for the city, bid chairman Casey Wasserman said.dddddddddddd Our job is to deliver a fiscally responsible budget.New York failed in a bid for the 2012 Olympics, and Chicago was rejected for the 2016 Games. Both results reflected anti-American sentiment within the European-dominated IOC and tensions over revenue-sharing with the USOC.This is our third bid and best bid since 2005, and the 20th time America has stepped forward to offer to host the games, USOC chief Larry Probst said. We have learned many valuable lessons from our previous bids. Now America is ready to move forward.Probst said USOC leaders have traveled the world in recent years to improve ties with international Olympic officials.We have to be humble and hard-working and do our best to build relationships and friendships with IOC members, he said.The result of the U.S. presidential election in November could have a big impact on IOC members, who are unlikely to consider Donald Trumps comments on Mexicans, Muslims and other immigrants as offering a warm welcome to the world for the Olympics. Garcetti said in an interview Saturday with The Associated Press that if Trump wins, some IOC members would say, Wait a second. Can we go to a country like that, where weve heard things that we take offense to?Asked about the issue at Tuesdays news conference, the mayor said the bid does not depend on any election.I think IOC members might have said certain things, but as I mentioned, an America that turns inward, like any country that turns inward, isnt good for world peace, isnt good for progress, isnt good for all of us, Garcetti said.No matter what the outcome, he added, we will continue. ' ' '