(Kate Frese/Sports Talk Philly)
By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Flyers–Penguins. Tie game. Two minutes to play. Clarke, Barber and Leach make their way onto the ice. And Wells Fargo Center roared.
No, this was not a Game 7 between two bitter rivals. This was an exhibition alumni game, all for fun. But you wouldn't have known it as 19,727 fans cheered loud for the Orange and Black to pull out a win.
There was no winner in the 3-3 tie on Saturday night, but their were two things that are better than an exhibition win — a fanbase that showed why the Flyers have the longevity they do as a franchise and players from all eras that represent that longevity so well.
For Bobby Clarke and Bill Barber, this was the last time they ever take the ice for the Flyers, a bittersweet moment for Flyers fans. The best part of that may have been Clarke's contagious smile from start to finish. He loved every minute of it. And the legendary LCB line was even on the ice for a goal by Eric Desjardins, getting to skate to the bench for celebratory high-fives one more time as well.
Brian Propp, Dave Poulin and Tim Kerr also reunited as a line and while they didn't produce any points, again it was a way to dip back into history, to think about all the clutch goals that the trio scored for the Flyers of the 1980s and remember.
Nothing against Poulin, but it was best to see Kerr and Propp. Kerr was making his first ever appearance in a Flyers alumni game. Propp had suffered a severe stroke just 16 months ago, but to watch him skate, you wouldn't even know it. His recovery is nothing short of remarkable.
Those were the Flyers of yesteryear, from the earliest days and years of the franchise. And then their were the more recent players.
The Legion of Doom also didn't have any points in the game, but they certainly could have. This line looked like no time had passed at all. John LeClair nearly set up Mikael Renberg for a goal with a no-look pass. Eric Lindros and Renberg were stoned on a give-and-go by Jean-Sebastian Aubin. Lindros, LeClair and Renberg each got great scoring chances in the closing seconds, looking for the game-winner.
They still can play. So can Eric Desjardins. So can Mark Howe.
Danny Briere and Simon Gagne, more recently retired Flyers alums, look like they could still play in the NHL today. Obviously the speed of the game and the skill level of newcomers will help a player realize when it's time to quit playing at the NHL level, but Briere and Gagne still possess the smooth skating, shooting ability and finesse to play today.
But what this was really all about was the 50 year history of the Flyers and celebrating that. It can't be said enough, the Flyers know how to put on a show. The introductions of all the players allowed each player from each era to get their moment in the spotlight, and everyone was warmly welcomed. The Flyers made the night about history, but also the precursor for the rivalry meeting the Flyers and Penguins will have outdoors in Pittsburgh in February.
Then there was the memorial tribute to Flyers who had passed away, capped by founder Ed Snider. Such is life that it can cause a damper on a generally exciting and happy occasion, because you know Mr. Snider and many of the players who are no longer with us would be fully interesting in participating too. In that sense, Mr. Snider was watching on Saturday night too and the thought of a sellout crowd, the loyalty of Flyers fans just to watch an alumni game, made him smile.
As they have done with critical playoff games, Lauren Hart and Kate Smith sang together in a duet of "God Bless America."
Chills.
The Flyers are more than just Orange and Black uniforms, a logo and a franchise. They are a family. And it's a family that includes the fans, the loyal Flyers faithful. It's been that way for 50 years, a true testament to the longevity of the Flyers.
