2009–10 Penn State Nittany Lions basketball team
As the 11 seed they lost in the first round of the 2010 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament to 6 seed Minnesota to end their season 11–20


2009–10 Pentangular One Day Cup
The 2009–10 RBS Pentangular One Day Cup was the second edition of the Pentangular One Day Cup, a List A (limited overs) cricket tournament held in Karachi, Pakistan. Five teams participated in the competition; four Pakistan provincial teams and one representing the capital.


2009–10 Pentangular One Day Cup
Sindh Dolphins won the tournament by defeating Baluchistan Bears in the final.


2009–10 Persepolis F.C. season
The 2009–10 season will be Persepolis's 9th season in the Pro League, and their 27th consecutive season in the top division of Iranian football. They will also be competing in the Hazfi Cup. They've had many problems in summer such as their chairman not being certain about his position or not having a head coach till two weeks before the league started and their last problem was about Ali Karimi's contract who was their best player the year before who later joined Steel Azin.


2009–10 Persepolis F.C. season, Squad, Iran Pro League
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2009–10 Persepolis F.C. season, Friendly matches
Persepolis 3-0 Fajr Moghavemat Karim Bagheri  30(P)' Akbar Saghiri  40' Mohammad Parvin  80'


2009–10 Persepolis F.C. season, Friendly matches
Persepolis 3-0  Al-Ahli Maysam Baou  16' Saeid Hallafi  55' Mehdi Shiri  90'


2009–10 Persepolis F.C. season, Friendly matches
Persepolis 5-2 Dehdari Mashhad Hawar Mulla (2) Hamidreza Aliasgari  Saman Aghazamani  Ebrahim Shakouri


2009–10 Persepolis F.C. season, Friendly matches
Persepolis 3-3 Shensa Save Hawar Mulla  9' Akbar Saghiri  35' Mohammad Parvin  40'


2009–10 Persepolis F.C. season, Friendly matches
Persepolis 6-1 Ehsan Ray Mohammad Mansouri  Mohsen Khalili  Shpejtim Arifi (3)  Mohammad Parvin


2009–10 Persepolis F.C. season, Friendly matches
Persepolis 5-1  Al-Nasr Mohsen Khalili (P)Karim Bagheri Mohammad Mansouri Hamidreza Aliasgari Mohammad Mehdi Elhaei (P)Alireza Mohammad


2009–10 Persepolis F.C. season, Friendly matches, Al-Nasr International Tournament
Persepolis 1(7)-1(6)   Al Karamah S.C. Hassan Abbas  84' (o.g.) Mehdi Shiri


2009–10 Persepolis F.C. season, Club, Captains
1. Karim Bagheri 2. Sheys Rezaei 3. Alireza Haghighi 4. Mojtaba Shiri 5. Hossein Badamaki


2009–10 Persian Gulf Cup
The 2009–10 Persian Gulf Cup (also known as Iran Pro League) was the 27th season of Iran's Football League and ninth as Iran Pro League since its establishment in 2001. Esteghlal were the defending champions. The season featured 15 teams from the 2008–09 Persian Gulf Cup and three new teams promoted from the 2008–09 Azadegan League: Steel Azin and Tractor Sazi both as champions and Shahin Bushehr. The league started on 6 August 2009 and ended on 19 May 2010. Sepahan won the Pro League title for the second time in their history (total second Iranian title).


2009–10 Persian Gulf Cup, Attendances, Average home attendances
Updated to games played on 19 May 2010Source: Notes:Matches with spectator bans are not included in average attendancesShahin Bushehr, Steel Azin and Tractor Sazi played last season in Azadegan League


2009–10 Perth Glory FC season
The 2009–10 Perth Glory FC season was the club's 13th season since its establishment in 1996. The club competed in the A-League for the 5th time. Perth Glory changed their logo and for the first time in their A-League history chose to include vertical purple and white stripes on their home kit this season.


2009–10 Perth Glory FC season
Season expectations were very high with Perth Glory's owner Tony Sage allowing manager David Mitchell to sign High calibre players like former Bolton defender Andy Todd and former Ajax midfielder Viktor Sikora who was on loan to Perth from FC Dallas the previous season. The club also managed to secure Socceroos Jacob Burns, Mile Sterjovski and Chris Coyne. Both Sage and Mitchell's intentions were to restore Perth's footballing past and challenge for an A-League finals spot. At one stage of the campaign the Glory were pushing to claim top spot and the league but a run of poor form and injuries cost the team and only managed to hold on to their final league position of 5th which equalled their best A-League finish in 2005–2006.


2009–10 Perth Glory FC season
Perth Glory were knocked out of the A-League finals when they took part in a 1–1 draw against the Wellington Phoenix in Wellington which they lost to penalties and thus ended Perth's best season of the A-League so far.


2009–10 Perth Glory FC season, Current squad for 2009–10 season, A-League squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2009–10 Perth Glory FC season, Friendlies, Home and away season
The 2009–10 A-League season will be played over 27 rounds, followed by a finals series.


2009–10 Peterborough United F.C. season
During the 2009–10 Peterborough United F.C. season saw the club play in the Football League Championship after promotion from Football League One in 2008–09.


2009–10 Peterborough United F.C. season, Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2009–10 Philadelphia 76ers season
The 2009–10 Philadelphia 76ers season was the 71st season of the franchise, 61st in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The season was memorable on December 2 when Allen Iverson returned to the team for his second stint with the Sixers. However, it was short lived as he left the team in February to attend to his then 4-year-old daughter Messiah's health issues. Although Iverson was selected to play in what could have been his 11th consecutive All-Star Game, he backed out due to personal reasons.


2009–10 Philadelphia 76ers season
In March, it was announced that Iverson would not return to the 76ers for the rest of the season. The Sixers season ended with a disappointing 27-55 record. After the season, Eddie Jordan was fired, replacing him with former Sixer Doug Collins for the next season. Iverson would later on play overseas following the season.


2009–10 Philadelphia 76ers season, Off-season, 2009 NBA draft
On June 25, the Sixers selected guard Jrue Holiday from UCLA with the 17th overall pick. On July 21 it was announced that Holiday put pen to paper on his rookie deal with the 76ers.


2009–10 Philadelphia 76ers season, Off-season, Free agency
The Sixers headed into the off-season with free agents Royal Ivey, Donyell Marshall, Andre Miller, Theo Ratliff and Kareem Rush.


2009–10 Philadelphia 76ers season, Off-season, Free agency
On June 15 Royal Ivey declined his player option with the team and Ivey became an unrestricted free agent.


2009–10 Philadelphia 76ers season, Off-season, Free agency
After almost a month of contract negotiations with Andre Miller, the Sixers withdrew their contract offer and Miller then went on to sign with the Portland Trail Blazers on July 24. Veteran center Theo Ratliff signed with the San Antonio Spurs on the same day.


2009–10 Philadelphia 76ers season, Off-season, Free agency
It was confirmed on August 6 that the Sixers would not re-sign Donyell Marshall by Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski and the player's agent.


2009–10 Philadelphia 76ers season, Off-season, Free agency
On August 4 it was announced that the Sixers had come to terms on a one-year contract with Yugoslavian born center Primož Brezec. Brezec last played in the NBA during the 2007–08 season with the Toronto Raptors.


2009–10 Philadelphia 76ers season, Off-season, Free agency
After Royal Ivey had declined his player option on June 15, it was announced on August 10 by the Sixers that they had come to terms with free agent guard Royal Ivey.


2009–10 Philadelphia 76ers season, Off-season, Free agency
On September 15 the Sixers signed free agent swingman Rodney Carney to a contract. Carney previously played with the Sixers from 2006 to 2008, but was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves before the start of the 2008–09 season.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season
The 2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Flyers' 43rd season in the National Hockey League (NHL).


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season
The Flyers began the 2009–10 season with some major changes, allowing goaltenders Martin Biron and Antero Niittymaki to depart via free agency, replacing them with former Ottawa Senators netminder Ray Emery and former Flyer Brian Boucher, and significantly upgrading the defense with the addition of Chris Pronger from the Anaheim Ducks. Pronger came at a price, costing the Flyers Joffrey Lupul, Luca Sbisa, and the Flyers' first round draft picks in 2009 and 2010. The season began in earnest but soon began to unravel with mediocre play that cost John Stevens his job in December.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season
Peter Laviolette was hired as head coach in order to re-institute accountability and restore success to the Flyers but the results were not immediate, as the Flyers suffered a 2–7–1 stretch after his arrival. This was corrected with an 18–7–1 stretch in the middle of the season. Injuries took a major toll on the Flyers, with Blair Betts, Danny Brière, Jeff Carter, Simon Gagné and Kimmo Timonen missing significant numbers of games, but no position was nearly affected as much with injuries as goaltending with Emery suffering a career-threatening injury.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season
Mediocre play down the stretch forced the Flyers into a do-or-die shootout with the New York Rangers in the last game of the regular season for a playoff berth. Boucher stopped final shooter Olli Jokinen to clinch the seventh seed in the East and a first round match-up with the New Jersey Devils.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season
In the first round of the playoffs, Boucher and the Flyers consistently outplayed Martin Brodeur and New Jersey and pulled off the upset in five games. However, the victory was costly as Carter suffered a broken foot, Gagne a broken toe in Game 4 and Ian Laperrière suffered a fractured orbital bone by blocking a shot in Game 5. The Flyers faced the sixth-seeded Boston Bruins in the second round, and despite playing at an even level with Boston, the Flyers found themselves in a 3–0 series deficit.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season
Gagne returned from injury in game 4, scoring the game-winning goal in overtime. The Flyers shut out the Bruins 4-0 in game 5, despite losing goaltender Boucher to injury. A 2–1 Flyers win in Game 6 forced a Game 7 in Boston. Falling behind 3–0 in Game 7, the Flyers pulled off the biggest comeback in franchise history, winning 4–3 on a late goal by Gagne to join the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, 1975 New York Islanders and the 2004 Boston Red Sox as the only sports teams to win a playoff series after trailing 3–0.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Flyers had home-ice advantage as they faced the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadiens. Michael Leighton became the first Flyers netminder to record three shutouts in a series, and Jeff Carter and Ian Laperriere returned to the lineup as the Flyers won the Eastern Conference Championship in five games and advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1997; the Chicago Blackhawks were their opponents. Patrick Kane scored just over four minutes into overtime in Game 6 to eliminate the Flyers and give Chicago their first Stanley Cup since 1961. Ville Leino, acquired in a mid-season trade from the Detroit Red Wings, set the Flyers rookie playoff scoring record and tied the NHL record with 21 points.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Off-season
The Flyers began preparing for the season by signing controversial goalie Ray Emery prior to the official start of free agency. Emery, who had spent the previous season in the Russian Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), signed a one-year contract worth US$1.5 million. Former Flyer Brian Boucher was signed to a two-year contract on the first day of free agency to serve as Emery's backup. As a result, the team's goaltending tandem of the past two seasons, starter Martin Biron and backup Antero Niittymaki, signed with the New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning, respectively, as unrestricted free agents. The Flyers also signed right winger Ian Laperriere to a three-year contract and lost Mike Knuble as a free agent to the Washington Capitals.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Off-season
Longtime defenseman Derian Hatcher also retired at the beginning of the off-season (after missing all of last season due to knee surgery), replacing Eric Desjardins as the team's player development coach. Desjardins stepped down due to personal business interests. Other staff changes included the Flyers hiring Jeff Reese as their new goalie coach to replace Reggie Lemelin and promoting former Phantoms coach John Paddock to assistant general manager.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Off-season
At the Entry Draft, the Flyers made a blockbuster trade for Anaheim Ducks' defenseman Chris Pronger, a former Hart Trophy winner as league MVP and Norris Trophy winner as the league's best defenseman. Along with Pronger, the Flyers also received minor league forward Ryan Dingle in exchange for winger Joffrey Lupul, defenseman Luca Sbisa, first round picks in 2009 and 2010 and a conditional third round pick. They quickly signed Pronger to a seven-year contract extension worth approximately $34 million.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Off-season
Nearly a month after signing, the NHL announced they had launched an investigation on Pronger's deal to determine whether it was a circumvention of the salary cap under the collective bargaining agreement. Because the contract is front-loaded, with annual salaries of just $525,000 in the final two years, and expires by the time Pronger is 42, the investigation was launched with the focus on the potential of negotiations between Pronger and the Flyers to retire before contract expiration.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Off-season
However, as Pronger's contract took effect after his 35th birthday, under the terms of the current collective bargaining agreement, his over-35 contract cannot be deleted from the Flyers' cap space unless he is placed on long-term injured reserve, and even then it would come back on the team's cap space during the offseason.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Off-season
On July 15, the NHL announced that the Flyers would visit Fenway Park to play in the 2010 Winter Classic against the Boston Bruins. The game will be played on New Year's Day.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Off-season
To prepare for the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics, Chris Pronger, Mike Richards, Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne were invited by Hockey Canada to compete for a spot on Canada's national hockey team.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Regular season
The 2009–10 season started for the Flyers with the successful return of Ray Emery to the NHL, shutting out the Carolina Hurricanes. However, what followed was inconsistent play of the entire team throughout October though a successful record could be maintained. The last game in October started a five-game winning streak. However, this effort would be largely in vain as a road trip to the west coast and ensuing games at the end of the month saw the Flyers lose six of seven games. After being shut out by the Atlanta Thrashers and Vancouver Canucks in consecutive games, general manager Paul Holmgren relieved Head Coach John Stevens from his duties and hired Peter Laviolette in his stead.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Regular season
The change behind the bench however only showed little immediate impact. The very first game for Laviolette saw his team being dominated by the Washington Capitals and Daniel Carcillo punching out Matt Bradley, for which Carcillo would be suspended for four games. Up until Christmas break the team showed little improvement with a 2–7–1 stretch from Laviolettes installation on December 4 to December 21.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Regular season
The team was also marred with injuries up until that point. Simon Gagne had to have hernia surgery and was sidelined for two months. Blair Betts suffered a separated shoulder in early October and reinjured the shoulder a few games after his return in mid-November. Danny Briere suffered a tweaked groin and also missed time due to a suspension and the flu. The team also played hurt a lot. James van Riemsdyk suffered an injury to his pinky finger after being hit with a puck but did not miss any games for it. Ian Laperriere, on the other hand, was hit in the mouth with the puck on November 27 and would lose seven teeth but only miss one period of play. Defenseman Kimmo Timonen also suffered a broken toe.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Regular season
The worst injury, however, was to goaltender Ray Emery, who suffered an abdominal tear and went out of the line-up in early December. A short return came in late January but Emery reinjured and had to undergo hip-surgery ending his season in early March. After continuing the slump with Boucher in net, the Flyers picked up Michael Leighton from waivers, who had fallen out of favor with the Carolina Hurricanes with a goals against average (GAA) above 4.00 and a save percentage below .850. However, Leighton would turn his season around with the Flyers with an 8–0–1 record in ten consecutive starts after he had been picked up. His season too would end early with a 16–5–2 record after suffering a high ankle sprain in a game against Nashville on March 16.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Regular season
An early season highlight was November 16, when Dave Schultz was inducted in the Flyers Hall of Fame. Another honor was given to James van Riemsdyk, who was awarded Rookie of the Month for November 2009 by the NHL. Throughout December, five Flyers were selected for the roster of their home country in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Mike Richards and Chris Pronger were picked for Canada and Kimmo Timonen was selected for Finland, while Oskars Bartulis and Ole-Kristian Tollefsen were chosen by Latvia and Norway, respectively, though Tollefsen would be traded before the Olympics began. Jeff Carter was later considered by Team Canada to join the squad in the event that Ryan Getzlaf is unable to play. However, Getzlaf did participate in the tournament and Carter did not. Richards and Pronger would earn gold medals with Canada while Timonen gained a bronze medal with Finland.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Regular season
The Flyers also played in the 2010 Winter Classic in Fenway Park against the Boston Bruins. Though they held the lead up until the last three minutes of the game, they would ultimately lose in overtime to a goal that had been contested by the Flyers as it appeared that the Bruins had too many men on the ice.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Regular season
Another controversy struck over a shorthanded goal by Simon Gagne in a 7–4 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 7. The goal had not been given and, after video review, was not awarded, though video evidence shows the puck in the net. However, this angle had not been sent to the video review in Toronto by the FSN Pittsburgh broadcasting team and the call could no longer be overturned after the puck had been dropped. An internal investigation by FSN Pittsburgh as well as an investigation by the NHL followed and a producer was suspended.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Regular season
For the first time since 1993, the Flyers stayed put during the 2010 NHL trade deadline period with no trades. With only minor changes throughout the season, the team finished almost entirely unchanged from the way it started the season in terms of players. Only the waiver acquisition of Michael Leighton, the season-ending injury to Emery and the trade of Ole-Kristian Tollefsen for Ville Leino showed significant impact to the roster, besides usual promotions and demotions to or from the Flyers' AHL affiliate, the Adirondack Phantoms.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Regular season
Another key injury knocked Jeff Carter out for five games as a fracture in his left foot halted his streak of consecutive games played at 286. He returned for the last two games of the season.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Regular season
The Flyers season ended in a dramatic fashion. Wins over the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs kept the playoff hopes alive, it came down to a home-and-home series with the New York Rangers to end the season. The Rangers were trying to clinch a playoff spot themselves and needed to win both games to do so. The Flyers lost the first game of that series at Madison Square Garden 4–3, though it was a hard fought battle for both teams.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Regular season
This set up a "Win and you're in" situation for the second game at the Wachovia Center, with the winner advancing to the playoffs and the loser being eliminated. Jody Shelley scored early for the Rangers but New York could not extend that lead. The Flyers put continuous pressure on the Rangers with Henrik Lundqvist playing a stellar game to keep the Flyers off the board until Matt Carle put a rebound behind him halfway through the third period tying the game 1–1. Neither team scored again until the shootout, in which a goal by Claude Giroux forced Olli Jokinen to score to keep the Rangers playoff hopes alive. However, Brian Boucher made the crucial save and with that clinching the playoff spot for the Flyers and ending the Rangers' season.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Regular season, Conference standings
bold – Qualified for playoffs; y – Won division; p – Won Presidents' Trophy (and division)


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Regular season, Conference standings
AT – Atlantic Division, NE – Northeast Division, SE – Southeast Division


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Playoffs, Eastern Conference Quarter Finals
The Flyers drew their division rival New Jersey Devils for the opening round of the playoffs as the Devils clinched second place in the conference by defeating the Buffalo Sabres in their final game of the season. Buffalo would have been the Flyers' opponents had the Sabres managed to keep the Devils without a point from that game. The Flyers won five of six games against the Devils during the regular season. The Devils managed to secure the second seed going into the playoffs, thus guaranteeing them the home ice advantage in the first round against the Flyers.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Playoffs, Eastern Conference Quarter Finals
As the season series promised, the Flyers matched up well with the Devils and took Game 1 in a 2–1 decision at Prudential Center. The Flyers had shut out the Devils until there were only three minutes remained in the game but could hold on to the lead to finish out the game. An equally hard-fought game was the second in the series which the Devils took in a 5–3 victory. With a split in New Jersey, the series turned to Philadelphia.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Playoffs, Eastern Conference Quarter Finals
Game 3 saw an unlikely hero in Daniel Carcillo, who scored the 3–2 game winner 3:35 into overtime giving him his second point of the night in 7:11 of ice-time. He assisted on a goal by Mike Richards in the second period. Game 4 at Wachovia Center saw the Flyers win the game 4–1 on a three-point night by Jeff Carter, who played with a screw inserted in his broken foot. However, that win would prove costly, as Carter broke his other foot on the play for his second goal and Simon Gagne suffered a broken big toe in his right foot.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Playoffs, Eastern Conference Quarter Finals
This would set up situation similar to the 2000 Eastern Conference Finals, in which the Flyers, on the strong play of Brian Boucher, took a 3–1 series lead over the Devils, only to see it melt away and lose in seven games. However, history would not repeat itself. Boucher would earn his first playoff shutout in 10 years in a 3–0 decision in Game 5, eliminating the Devils. This was the third consecutive time the Devils would exit the playoffs in the first round.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Playoffs, Eastern Conference Quarter Finals
Claude Giroux contributed to all three goals, assisting Danny Briere on a goal in the first period and scoring twice himself in the second. That win saw another injury though, as Ian Laperriere was hit in the face by a slapshot in a situation reminiscent of an incident earlier in the season, which cost him seven teeth. Laperriere was hit above the right eye and suffered a large gash across his eyebrow which reportedly required 50–70 stitches.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Playoffs, Eastern Conference Quarter Finals
The series was influenced strongly by the play of Mike Richards, who had four multi-point games in the series that lasted five games. However, the series was also marred with a large number of obstruction penalties called. In five games, there were 72 minor penalties and three game misconducts handed out for a total of 174 penalty minutes between both teams.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Playoffs, Eastern Conference Semi-finals
The Flyers would meet the Boston Bruins in the next round, who had dispatched the Buffalo Sabres in six games. The Bruins were noted in that series for being perfect on the penalty kill, negating all 19 chances the Sabres had in that series. However, due to the Flyers having started on the first day of the playoffs and their beating of the Devils in quick fashion, the Flyers had more than a week off.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Playoffs, Eastern Conference Semi-finals
While this would provide some opportunity for their injured players to heal, the Flyers were notorious for not responding well to long rests during the regular season. This would show during Game 1 in the series, as the Flyers gave up the first goal less than three minutes into the game and leave the first period down 2–0. However, the Flyers would rally and tie the game at 4–4 in the second half of the third period on goals by Mike Richards and Danny Briere. This, however, would only set up the heroics of Marc Savard, who had returned from missing several weeks with a concussion.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Playoffs, Eastern Conference Semi-finals
Game 2 was a similar story. The Bruins caught the early lead 5:12 into the game and while the Flyers were able to catch up twice, they could not take the lead and a goal by Milan Lucic with less than three minutes to go in the game would spell victory for the Bruins. In the third game, the Flyers were finally able to take a lead with Arron Asham scoring only 2:32 into the game.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Playoffs, Eastern Conference Semi-finals
The lead would not last long though, as Blake Wheeler and Miroslav Satan would answer in quick succession, 1:34 apart and less than two minutes after Asham's goal, to take the lead. The Flyers were unable to score again and with a lackluster third period by Philadelphia, the game ended in a 4–1 Bruins victory. During the game Mike Richards broke the arm of bruins center David Krejci in a large open ice hit, knocking Krejci out for the rest of the series.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Playoffs, Eastern Conference Semi-finals
The Flyers were now on the brink of elimination down three games to none. However, on the upside, Simon Gagne returned for Game 4, which turned into a bizarre mirror version of the first game of the series. While the Flyers were able to take a big 3–1 lead, they saw it melt away on a few strange goals. The Flyers would retake the lead again, but Mark Recchi would tie it with 20 seconds left in the game.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Playoffs, Eastern Conference Semi-finals
However, Gagne would put an end to it scoring at 14:40 in overtime to keep the Flyers alive and send the series back to Boston. There the Flyers would dominate, shutting out the Bruins for a 4–0 victory to climb back into the series. However, the shutout was not held by a single goalie, as Brian Boucher would go down with injuries in both of his knees after Flyers defenseman Ryan Parent and Bruins forward Miroslav Satan fell on top of him. This would call Michael Leighton back into action, who had only just returned at that very game from a high-ankle sprain that had sidelined him since mid-March.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Playoffs, Eastern Conference Semi-finals
Leighton's heroics would continue in Game 6 after making 14 saves in Game 5 to preserve the shutout Boucher had started. He would keep the Bruins off the scoreboard for 59 minutes until Milan Lucic scored and make 30 saves total. However, at that point, the Flyers would hold on to a 2–1 lead to send the series to a deciding Game 7 at TD Garden.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Playoffs, Eastern Conference Semi-finals
Game 7 would play out very much like the series itself. The Bruins would jump to a 3–0 lead in the first period. Two of the goals came on the power play due to infractions for high-sticking on Scott Hartnell and Danny Briere, respectively. This would prompt head coach Peter Laviolette to use up his timeout to rally the team. Shortly after, James van Riemsdyk, who had not registered a goal in the playoffs until that point, scored to make it 3–1.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Playoffs, Eastern Conference Semi-finals
The second period was all Flyers, as Hartnell and Briere would redeem themselves by scoring a goal each to tie the game up at 3–3. Overall, the game was relatively low on penalties, with only six minors being called total, but the last one of those, a bench penalty for Too Many Men, would come to haunt Boston, as Simon Gagne put the puck in the net for a 4–3 Flyers lead. The Flyers would be able to hold on to it and become only the third team in NHL history, the fourth team in the big four American professional sports leagues, to return from an 0–3 deficit of games to win that playoff series.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Playoffs, Eastern Conference Finals
The Flyers were matched up with the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Finals. This would be the first time the seventh and eighth seed would meet in a conference final. The Canadiens previously defeated the Presidents' Trophy winner Washington Capitals and the reigning Stanley Cup champions Pittsburgh Penguins, each in seven-game series, largely on the strong play of goaltender Jaroslav Halak. The Flyers and Canadiens split their season series 2–2.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Playoffs, Eastern Conference Finals
However, despite being evenly matched during the season, the Flyers took advantage of their momentum and opened the series completely dominating the Canadiens in a 6–0 shutout despite being outshot 28–25. Six different Flyers scored goals in that game. While the Canadiens improved in Game 2, the story only repeated itself, as the Habs were shut-out again in a 3–0 decision.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Playoffs, Eastern Conference Finals
With this, the series would go to Montreal, where the tables would quickly turn. The Flyers had an overall poor effort in a 5–1 loss, especially by their top defense pairing of Chris Pronger and Matt Carle, who were both -3. The game also ended somewhat controversially, as the last goal was scored by Montreal on a 5-on-3 power play and Montreal decided to put their top powerplay unit on the ice, despite less than a minute to play.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Playoffs, Eastern Conference Finals
The Flyers reflected on their bad play and improved it. At the same time, Jeff Carter and Ian Laperriere, both missing at least ten games since the conference quarter finals, would return to the line-up, providing reinforcements. Pronger and Carle bounced back and Claude Giroux had an outstanding night as the Flyers shut-out the Canadiens once again 3–0 in Game 4. This would make Michael Leighton the first Flyer goaltender to post three shutouts in one playoff series, tying an NHL record. The Flyers held the Canadiens to a single shot during the second period.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Playoffs, Eastern Conference Finals
With their backs against the wall, the Canadiens found themselves in a situation which they had already played in five times that post-season, winning all of their elimination games. The team showed their desperation as they scored less than a minute into Game 5. However, Flyers captain Mike Richards would answer the bell with a shorthanded goal four minutes later. In the second period, the Flyers would take the lead on goals by Arron Asham and Jeff Carter, which they carried into the third. There, however, Scott Gomez would profit off a misplay and cut the lead to one.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Playoffs, Eastern Conference Finals
This would set up a dangerous situation which would worsen, as Chris Pronger was called on a double-minor for high sticking halfway through the period. The Flyers would, however, kill the penalty off and Jeff Carter, with the help of Mike Richards, scored into the empty net to seal the deal at 4–2 after the Canadiens had pulled their goalie.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Playoffs, Eastern Conference Finals
This clinched the Flyers' first Stanley Cup Final berth since 1997 and the eighth in franchise history. It would also mark another run for the Cup for Chris Pronger, who returned to the finals for the third time since the NHL lockout, each time pushing a team that traded for him the previous off-season into the Finals.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Playoffs, Stanley Cup Finals
The Flyers met the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals. Chicago swept their Western Conference Finals opponent San Jose Sharks 4–0 after dispatching the Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks in six games each. The only regular season meeting between the two teams ended dramatically, as Chris Pronger scored the deciding goal for the 3–2 victory of the Flyers with less than three seconds left in regulation.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Schedule and results, Regular season
Win (2 points)  Loss (0 points)  Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Transactions
The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from June 13, 2009, the day after the deciding game of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals, through June 9, 2010, the day of the deciding game of the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Transactions, Signings, Free agency
The following players were signed by the Flyers via free agency. Two-way contracts are marked with an asterisk (*).


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Transactions, Signings, Internal
The following players were either re-signed by the Flyers or, in the case of the team's selections in the NHL Entry Draft, signed to entry level contracts. Two-way contracts are marked with an asterisk (*).


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Transactions, Waivers
The Flyers were involved in the following waivers transactions. Players claimed on recall waivers are marked with an asterisk (*).


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Transactions, Departures
The following players left the team via free agency, release, or retirement. Players who were under contract and left the team during the season are marked with an asterisk (*).


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Draft picks
Philadelphia's picks at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, which was held at Bell Centre in Montreal on June 26–27, 2009. The Flyers traded their 2009, 21st overall, and 2010 first-round picks, Joffrey Lupul, Luca Sbisa and a conditional 2010 or 2011 third-round pick to the Anaheim Ducks for Ryan Dingle and Chris Pronger on June 26, 2009. They also traded their originally allotted second, third, fourth, and seventh-round picks in four separate trades.


2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers season, Farm teams
The Flyers' AHL affiliate team is now the Adirondack Phantoms in Glens Falls, New York for the 2009–10 season. The Phantoms relocated from Philadelphia due to the demolition of the Wachovia Spectrum.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season
The 2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season was the franchise's 38th overall season, its 31st in the National Hockey League (NHL) and its 14th season as the Phoenix Coyotes. After numerous seasons of losing money, the team was placed into bankruptcy and taken over by the NHL. A plan to move the team to Hamilton, Ontario, was rejected by the bankruptcy court.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Bankruptcy
Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes put the team into Chapter 11 bankruptcy during the off-season, and proposed to the court that an offer by Canadian Jim Balsillie for over $200 million be accepted and the team moved to Hamilton, Ontario. The NHL challenged the plan in court and court hearings were held over the summer in Arizona Court. Two other prospective buyers were recruited by the NHL to submit bids to purchase the team but neither made any formal offers to the bankruptcy court. The NHL was the only other group that made a formal offer in court.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Bankruptcy
At first, neither offer had been accepted by the court; Balsillie's bid was rejected outright by the court, stating that it recognized the right of the league to control ownership and relocation, and not allow bankruptcy to be used as a back door. The NHL's bid was rejected because it did not propose to pay Moyes or Wayne Gretzky any money owed. The NHL and Moyes later came to an agreement and the transfer to the NHL was accepted by the court.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Bankruptcy
After the sale of the team to the NHL, the team fell under the supervision of the NHL. The team arranged a budget under the NHL ownership while allowing general manager Don Maloney to run the club. At the trade deadline, Maloney was the most active trader, making seven trades to improve his club for the playoffs. This was reported to have caused complaints to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman from other general managers.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Bankruptcy
Fan attendance was a disappointment for the club, however, and figures supplied to the bankruptcy court showed that the club lost $5 million for the month of October alone. The club finished with the league's worst attendance, and in a lawsuit filed by the NHL against Moyes, the NHL estimated that the team would lose $20 million for the season.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Off-season
In the Entry Draft, the Coyotes picked Oliver Ekman-Larsson with their first-round pick, sixth overall. Otherwise, it was a quiet off-season.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Off-season
The team signed numerous NHL veteran free agents in the off-season, including Vernon Fiddler, Jason LaBarbera, Adrian Aucoin, Taylor Pyatt, Ryan Hollweg and Robert Lang. This represented a change in direction from previous seasons, which emphasized the development of young prospects.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Preseason
Head coach Gretzky resigned during the training camp period. Neither Balsillie nor the NHL proposed to retain Gretzky on his $8 million contract. On September 24, the Coyotes hired Dave Tippett as their new head coach after Gretzky had resigned earlier the same day.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Regular season
Despite all the uncertainty surrounding the team, the Coyotes started well, compiling a 9–4–0 record in October.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Regular season
The regular season was, statistically speaking, the best in the franchise's 38-year history. The team finished with 107 points, the most the team has ever earned in any season, NHL or WHA.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Regular season
On March 13, the Coyotes won their 41st regular season game over the Carolina Hurricanes, breaking the Coyotes previous one-season record for wins (40 in 2001–02). On March 18, the Coyotes beat the Vancouver Canucks 4–3 in a shootout to record the 44th win of the season, setting a new franchise record for wins as an NHL team with 44. The franchise's previous NHL record was 43 wins, by the Winnipeg Jets.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Regular season
On March 27, the Coyotes defeated the Dallas Stars 3–2 in a shootout to notch their 97th point for the season, passing the 1984–85 Jets for the highest point total in the NHL portion of franchise history. On March 27, the Coyotes defeated the Colorado Avalanche 6–2 to surpass the 100-point mark for the first time ever as an NHL team, and for the first time since 1977–78 in the WHA.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Regular season, Conference standings
bold – Qualified for playoffs; y – Won division; z – Won conference (and division)


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Regular season, Game log
Legend:  Win (2 points)  Loss (0 points)  Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Playoffs
On March 27, 2010, the Coyotes clinched a playoff spot, their first playoff spot since the 2001–02 season, and in the process, reached the 100-point mark for the first time in franchise history. Their first-round opponent in the Stanley Cup playoffs was the Detroit Red Wings. As the fourth seed in the West, the Coyotes had home ice advantage in a playoff series for the first time since 1998-1999, when they lost to the St. Louis Blues in seven games.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Playoffs, Coyotes vs. Red Wings
The teams split their season series this year, with both Coyote victories coming in overtime, including a 5–4 road victory on January 26 in Detroit. The Coyotes were down 4–2 with less than two minutes to play in regulation and scored two goals with an extra attacker, one by defenseman Keith Yandle via a one-timer from the point which he didn't get much wood on and the second by defenseman Ed Jovanovski, who took a pass from captain Shane Doan from behind the net and going five-hole on Jimmy Howard. In overtime, Doan eventually scored the winning goal after taking a kick-pass from center Matthew Lombardi and taking his time to put the puck past Howard and giving the Coyotes an improbable 5–4 come-from-behind victory and setting the tone for the rest of Phoenix's season.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Playoffs, Coyotes vs. Red Wings
The Coyotes organization has planned their playoff tradition of a WhiteOut, which dates back to the franchise's days in Winnipeg. The last WhiteOut that the organization attempted was early in the season, a 2–0 loss to the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets on October 10.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Playoffs, Coyotes vs. Red Wings
On April 12, an article on Yahoo! Sports surfaced revealing that the Coyotes must counter the Red Wings tradition of throwing octopus onto the ice by having Phoenix fans throw rubber or plastic snakes onto the surface. The article's source was a Coyotes blog entitled "Five For Howling," authored by longtime fan Travis Hair. The movement gained wide popularity by way of Twitter with the hashtag of #throwthesnake. However, when Hair informed the organization of the idea, the front office rejected the plan, citing league rules of delay of game penalties and arena rules of nothing entering the playing area.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Playoffs, Coyotes vs. Red Wings
Many experts picked the Red Wings to win the series because of their torrid pace of play since the Olympic break and the play of rookie goaltender and Calder Memorial Trophy candidate Jimmy Howard. However, there are members of the media who favored the Coyotes in the series, citing their home-ice advantage and regular season home record, Tippett's coaching, the play of Vezina Trophy and Hart Memorial Trophy candidate Ilya Bryzgalov, and the additions of wingers Wojtek Wolski and Lee Stempniak, who have provided an offensive punch to a team built on defense.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Playoffs, Coyotes vs. Red Wings
The series has also been selected by many analysts to be the most intriguing out of all the first-round series due to the contrast in styles of Detroit's high-octane offense and Phoenix's suffocating defense. The experience of Detroit's squad matched up with the veteran, but playoff-inexperienced Phoenix club also plays a factor.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Playoffs, Coyotes vs. Red Wings
On April 14, the Coyotes won the first game of the best-of-seven series by a score of 3–2. Tomas Holmstrom and Nicklas Lidstrom scored for the Red Wings while Phoenix's three goals came via the power play, which was a rare occurrence for a team that had been struggling with the man-advantage all season. Defenseman Keith Yandle scored the first goal, trade deadline acquisition Wojtek Wolski tallied one early in the second, and defenseman Derek Morris fired home the eventual game winner in the third.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Playoffs, Coyotes vs. Red Wings
Two days later, on April 16, the Red Wings evened up the series at 1–1 behind a strong game from Henrik Zetterberg who recorded a hat trick to propel Detroit to a 7–4 win. The Coyotes struck first off a tip-in from Keith Yandle but the Wings got back into it. The second period was an eventful one, with the teams combining for five goals in a span of 3:58. However, Detroit added four goals in the third period, including the eventual game winner by Zetterberg, to take home the win.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Playoffs, Coyotes vs. Red Wings
In Detroit for the third game, the Coyotes responded from their disappointing second game by scoring first. With just 29 seconds elapsed in the first period, defenseman Sami Lepisto followed up a rebound given up by Jimmy Howard off a shot Petr Prucha and fired it into the net. Early in the second period, the Phoenix captain and on ice inspiration, Shane Doan was injured after tripping over Jimmy Howard in the goal crease and crashing heavily into the boards.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Playoffs, Coyotes vs. Red Wings
It would later be revealed that Doan suffered a grade 3 shoulder separation, and he would not play the rest of the series. The Red Wings would tie the game up at 1 off a shot by Valtteri Filppula that snuck past Ilya Bryzgalov on the short side and crossed the goal line just enough. Later, with less than a minute in the second period, Wojtek Wolski broke the tie, punching a rebound in off a shot by Matthew Lombardi to give the Coyotes a 2–1 lead heading into the third.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Playoffs, Coyotes vs. Red Wings
In the third period, Prucha scored for Phoenix off a pass from Radim Vrbata. Vrbata took a pass from Prucha off the boards and then fed a pass to Prucha between two defenders, and then tucked it past Howard. The Wings would get back into it however off of a goal by Johan Franzen that also snuck past Bryzgalov's short side, making the game 3–2. Later in the third, Vrbata would propel the puck past Howard from the left faceoff circle, giving the Coyotes a 4–2 lead, which would be the final score.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Playoffs, Coyotes vs. Red Wings
In the fourth game, on April 20, the game was scoreless until Henrik Zetterberg scored on the power play by deflecting a shot from Niklas Kronwall, upwards into the net. Pavel Datsyuk scored 15:53 minutes in on a one-timer from Johan Franzen (with captain Nicklas Lidstrom getting an assist as well). Henrik Zetterberg had the final goal of the game at 16:18 minutes played in the third, with assists from Todd Bertuzzi and Brad Stuart. Jimmy Howard was the first star of the game, producing 29 saves and a shutout.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Playoffs, Coyotes vs. Red Wings
Headed back to Phoenix for the fifth game on April 23, the coyotes were 0 for 14 on the power play after going 3 for 3 in game one. The Phoenix power play would be held scoreless once again, going 0 for 5. The scoring started for Detroit when Drew Miller scored a wrap around goal on Ilya Bryzgalov at 17:04 of the first period.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Playoffs, Coyotes vs. Red Wings
Ed Jovanovski would tie the score 1–1 at 9:45 in the second period when an Adrian Aucoin shot from the point bounced off of Jimmy Howard's right pad and lay just outside the crease when Jovanowski spun around and slipped the puck in short side.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Playoffs, Coyotes vs. Red Wings
The game remained tied until 11:09 of the third when a Nicklas Lidstrom shot from the point hit Tomas Holmstrom in front of the net while he was skating through the crease behind Bryzgalov, the puck got tangled up in Holmstrom's equipment until he stopped in the crease, behind Bryzgalov and the puck fell to the ice. Holmstrom shot the puck into the empty net as no one but Holmstrom could locate the puck. 70 seconds later, Pavel Datsyuk scored another goal on the backhand at 12:19 and Henrik Zetterberg added an empty net goal at 19:04.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Playoffs, Coyotes vs. Red Wings
On April 25, in game six in Detroit, Phoenix's power play had gone 0 for 19 after an amazing start in game one. The game didn't start out well for Phoenix when they took three penalties in the first 5 minutes of the game, but Bryzgalov came up huge on the penalty kill, blanking the Red Wings on three chances including a short 5 on 3 power play and then Lauri Korpikoski scored a shorthanded goal at 4:10 of the first period and momentum in hand, Phoenix never looked back. Phoenix took over in the second period when Mathieu Schneider scored a power play goal, Radim Vrbata added another power play goal and Wojtek Wolski tipped in an even strength goal. Taylor Pyatt added another power play goal in the third Brad Stuart and Darren Helm scored for Detroit.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Playoffs, Coyotes vs. Red Wings
After an impressive 5–2 game 6 win where Phoenix excelled on the penalty kill and the power play and controlled much of the play, people were expecting more of the same from Phoenix in game seven at home. However it was just the opposite. Detroit came out and controlled the play from the puck drop, outshooting Phoenix 17–6 in the first  period and 50–33 in the game. Thanks to an impressive display by Ilya Bryzgalov the score remained tied 0–0 at the end of the first.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Playoffs, Coyotes vs. Red Wings
But Detroit would not let up, they continued dominating in the second and finally perforated Bryzgalov at 2:01 of the second on the power play when a scramble in front of the net let loose a puck in the slot that Pavel Datsyuk shot in between Bryzgalov's legs. 1:41 seconds later, Datsyuk would score again on a breakaway that Henrik Zetterberg helped set up with a precise pass through the neutral zone during a four-on-four sequence.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Playoffs, Coyotes vs. Red Wings
Vernon Fiddler would cut the Detroit lead in half when he shot a puck instantly off the face off that caught Jimmy Howard by surprise, but Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom restored the two-goal lead when he scored a power play goal with a slap shot. The back-breaking point for the Coyotes came at the end of the second period when Phoenix was rewarded with a 1:12 5 on 3 power play with the score 3–1.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Playoffs, Coyotes vs. Red Wings
Detroit killed off the disadvantage masterfully with defenseman Nicklas Kronwall blocking multiple shots and Jimmy Howard making timely saves, at the end of the disadvantage they Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle missed a Lee Stempniak pass back to the point which bounced off the boards into the neutral zone just as Detroit player, Brad Stuart was coming out of the penalty box, Stuart picked up the puck and scored on the break away, roofing the puck over Bryzgalov's right shoulder.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Playoffs, Coyotes vs. Red Wings
Yandle clearly showed signs of frustration and a general lack of class when he intentionally tripped Henrik Zetterberg as he was skating behind the net to celebrate the goal with Stuart, sending Zetterberg crashing heavily into the end boards, Zetterberg was not injured on the play and Yandle escaped punishment. Todd Bertuzzi would add another goal in the third, scoring on the rebound of a Valtteri Filppula shot and Lidstrom added another power play goal when he scored on a wrist shot from the circle. At the end of the game, after the handshake line the Phoenix fans gave the team a standing ovation and the players saluted the fans by raising their sticks at center ice, a tradition that almost all NHL teams participate in.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Player statistics, Goaltenders
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Coyotes. Stats reflect time with the Coyotes only. ‡Traded mid-season. Bold/italics denotes franchise record.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Transactions
The Coyotes have been involved in the following transactions during the 2009–10 season.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Draft picks
Phoenix's picks at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft in Montreal, Quebec.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Farm teams
The San Antonio Rampage are the Coyotes American Hockey League affiliate in 2009–10.


2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes season, Farm teams
The Arizona Sundogs were the Coyotes affiliate in the CHL but are no longer affiliated.


2009–10 Phoenix Suns season
The 2009–10 Phoenix Suns season was the 42nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Head coach Alvin Gentry—who coached the Suns the final 31 games of the previous season—was looking to reinstill in the Suns their offensive tendencies of seasons past: using the strengths of Steve Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire. A season-and-a-half experiment with Shaquille O'Neal ended in the summer before the season. With this subtraction and the retention of Jason Richardson, the Suns were primed for a return to the playoffs after a one-season absence.


2009–10 Phoenix Suns season
Phoenix would be the only team in the league to post a three-point field goal percentage of 40% or more while leading the NBA in scoring at 110 points per contest. They would return to the playoffs, defeating the Portland Trail Blazers in six games in the First Round and sweeping the rivaled San Antonio Spurs in four games in the Semifinals. Returning to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in four seasons, the Suns met the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers, but lost the series in six games to the defending and eventual NBA champions. The Suns had the best team offensive rating in the NBA.


2009–10 Phoenix Suns season
Following the season, Stoudemire signed as a free agent with the New York Knicks, and General Manager Steve Kerr left to return as a commentator for TNT.


2009–10 Phoenix Suns season
This would be the last time the Suns reached the playoffs until their 2020-21 season, ending the second-longest active NBA post-season appearance drought at that time.


2009–10 Phoenix Suns season, Playoffs
The Suns defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in six games in the first round. They swept the San Antonio Spurs in four games in the Western Conference Semifinals, defeating them for the second time in 10 years, after having been eliminated by them in recent seasons four times in five playoff series. The Suns would face the Pacific division-winners Los Angeles Lakers, also the West's top seed, in the Western Conference Finals, but lose the series in six games.


2009–10 Phoenix Suns season, Player statistics, Season
* – Stats with the Suns. † – Minimum 300 field goals made. + – Minimum 70 games played or 100 blocks.


2009–10 Phoenix Suns season, Player statistics, Playoffs
† – Minimum 20 field goals made. ^ – Minimum 10 free throws made.


2009–10 Phoenix Suns season, Transactions, Free agents, Additions
On July 11, the Suns re-signed Grant Hill and Louis Amundson. On July 13, the Suns signed a two-year contract with former University of Arizona center Channing Frye.


2009–10 Pirveli Liga
2009–10 Pirveli Liga was the 21st season of the Georgian Pirveli Liga.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team
The 2009–10 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Their Head Coach was Jamie Dixon, who was in his 7th year as head coach at Pittsburgh and 11th overall at the University. The team played its home games in the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and were members of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 25–9, 13–5 in Big East play and lost in the quarterfinals of the 2010 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament. They received an at–large bid to the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, earning a 3 seed in the West Region. They defeated 14 seed Oakland in the first round before losing to 6 seed and AP No. 25 Xavier in the second round.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team, Outlook
The  Pittsburgh Panthers advanced to last season's NCAA Elite Eight. The team lost four starters, including NBA draft selections Sam Young and DeJuan Blair, along with point guard Levance Fields and forward/center Tyrell Biggs. Guard Jermaine Dixon was the only returning starter from last season's squad while projected starter Gilbert Brown was suspended for the fall semester for academic reasons, although he reenrolled and returned to the team in December. Four freshman joined the Panthers, including McDonald's High School All-American Dante Taylor. Also new to the team was senior guard Chase Adams, a transfer from Centenary College of Louisiana. The Panthers' roster was the most inexperienced in the Big East, with six freshmen, two sophomores and only two seniors, and when Dixon went down with a foot injury in the offseason, ruling him out until well into December, the remaining roster had a total of one career start.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team, Outlook
The Panthers were selected to finish 9th in the Big East by the Big East coaches during their conference media day.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team, Roster
*Suspended for the fall semester for academic reasons, but re-enrolled and returned to the team in December.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball team
The 2009–10 Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball team will represent the University of Pittsburgh in the 2009–10 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Panthers will be coached by Agnus Berenato. The Panthers are a member of the Big East Conference and play their home games at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball team, Previous season
The 2008-09 Pitt women's basketball went 25–8, a program record number of wins, en route to Pitt's second consecutive NCAA Sweet 16 appearance and a final #15 national ranking in both the AP and Coaches' polls. Point guard junior Jania Sims was injured during the first game of the season and redshirted. Pitt graduated all-time leading scorer Shavonte Zellous who was a first round draft pick by the WNBA's Detroit Shock. Pitt also graduated second team all-Big East guard Xenia Stewart.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season
The 2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the 43rd season of the franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Penguins entered the season as defending Stanley Cup champions. It was scheduled to be the last season in which the Penguins' home venue will be Mellon Arena, before they move into their new arena, the Consol Energy Center, which is being constructed adjacent to the Mellon Arena across Centre Avenue.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season
The regular season began with a home game against the New York Rangers in which the Penguins held a banner-raising ceremony beforehand.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season
The Penguins qualified for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. They did not become champions of the Atlantic Division, but nonetheless finished in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 101 points. They began the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs on April 14 against the Ottawa Senators. They beat the Senators, but were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals against the Montreal Canadiens.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Regular season, First half: October to December
The Penguins began the 2009–10 season on Friday, October 2. Prior to the game the team raised the Stanley Cup banner at Mellon Arena. The ceremonial banner raising was shown on a video board outside Mellon Arena, which displayed highlights from the previous season during the days leading up the game. The Penguins won their opening night game over the New York Rangers and defeated the New York Islanders the following night.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Regular season, First half: October to December
After their first loss of the season to the Phoenix Coyotes, the Penguins embarked on a four-game road trip to complete a series of five games in eight days. The Penguins swept the four game road trip, setting a new franchise record for consecutive road wins to start a season. The Penguins extended their overall win-streak to seven games by winning the first three games of their ensuing homestand; the win-streak ended with a loss to the New Jersey Devils on October 24.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Regular season, First half: October to December
The Penguins began November with a three-game road trip in California. After defeating the Anaheim Ducks, the Penguins lost their first back-to-back games of the season to the Los Angeles Kings and the San Jose Sharks. The team then lost to the Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils. During the four-game losing streak, the Penguins were outscored 17–3. Against the Bruins, Sidney Crosby did not score a point for the fifth-consecutive game, the longest point-drought of his career. The Penguins ended their skid with a 6–5 overtime victory against Boston on November 14. Bill Guerin tied the game with .04 second left, and Pascal Dupuis scored in overtime.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Regular season, First half: October to December
Extended injuries hindered the team throughout much of the early season. On November 16, the Penguins played without four of the six defenceman that had started with the team. Additionally, they were without forwards Tyler Kennedy, Maxime Talbot and Chris Kunitz. Evgeni Malkin had also missed significant time. Later in the week, it was announced that defenceman Jay McKee would miss two to four weeks, but that Sergei Gonchar and Maxime Talbot, who had surgery during the off-season, would both likely return on November 19.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Regular season, First half: October to December
In late December through January 1, rosters for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver were announced, and five Penguins were selected. Malkin and Gonchar were selected to play for Russia, Sidney Crosby and Marc-Andre Fleury for Canada and Brooks Orpik for the United States.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Regular season, First half: October to December
The Penguins concluded the first half of their season with their 41st game on December 30 against the New Jersey Devils. Through the first 41 games, the Penguins earned a 26–14–1 record. While the Penguins won five straight in the middle of the month, they ending losing three in a row, and four of their last five, including shutouts of 0–2 and 0–4 to the Devils. The 0–4 shutout earned Devils' goalie Martin Brodeur his 104th career shutout and the NHL record.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Regular season, Second half: January to April
The Penguins began the second half of their season with their 42nd game on January 2 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Penguins went on to lose both of their first two games of the second half of the season with the second coming against the Florida Panthers. The Penguins then returned home for a two-game home stand in which they split by first defeating the Atlanta Thrashers and then losing in a high scoring 7–4 contest to the Philadelphia Flyers.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Regular season, Second half: January to April
After the home stand, the Penguins embarked on a five-game road trip of Canada and Minnesota, in which they finished the trip with a decent 3–2 record with wins coming against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers. They battled with a struggling New Jersey Devils team for the Atlantic Division title, but ultimately fell short due in large part to having lost all six divisional games against the Devils. The Penguins had a 21–14–6 record in the second half of the season, placing them in fourth place in the Eastern Conference (despite having the third-best points total). It would be the third time in four years that the Penguins had over 100 points in a season (having missed out by a single point the previous year) and the fourth-straight year with 45 wins or more.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Regular season, Standings
bold – Qualified for playoffs; y – Won division; p – Won Presidents' Trophy (and division)


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Regular season, Standings
AT – Atlantic Division, NE – Northeast Division, SE – Southeast Division


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Stanley Cup playoffs
The Penguins advanced to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. They earned the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference and home-ice advantage in the opening round match-up with the Ottawa Senators. The Penguins defeated the Senators 4–2 and advanced to face the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadiens.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Stanley Cup playoffs, Eastern Conference Quarter-finals
The Penguins lost Game 1 of the series 5–4. The Penguins took an early 1–0 lead when Evgeni Malkin scored at 3:03 into the first period on the power play, but finished the first period trailing the Senators 2–1 after Peter Regin and Chris Neil both scored on rebounds. The Senators extended their lead to 3–1 early in the second period on the power play when Marc-Andre Fleury was caught out of the net on an odd bounce off of the end board in which Chris Kelly put into the open net.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Stanley Cup playoffs, Eastern Conference Quarter-finals
Malkin managed to decrease the deficit to 3–2 with his second power play goal of the night near the midway point of the second period. The Senators' lead was then re-extended the lead 3 minutes later when Erik Karlsson scored on the power play. Five minutes into the third period, Craig Adams scored on a backhand shot to decrease the Senators' lead back to one goal, but almost five minutes later, ex-Penguin Jarkko Ruutu scored what would be the game-winning goal. Alex Goligoski scored to make the score 5–4 with about a minute and a half off of a no-look feed from Sidney Crosby behind the net.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Stanley Cup playoffs, Eastern Conference Quarter-finals
Looking to tie the series at 1–1 in Game 2, things did not get off on the right foot, with the Senators' Peter Regin scoring 18 seconds into the game to take an early 1–0 lead. Sidney Crosby leveled the game 8 minutes later, knocking in a rebound off of a Chris Kunitz shot. After a scoreless second period, Kris Letang scored the game-winner at 16:48 in the third period on a slap shot with the assist from Crosby, who passed to Letang after falling to his knees. The Penguins were able to fend off the Senators for the remainder of the game and leveled the series at 1–1.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Stanley Cup playoffs, Eastern Conference Quarter-finals
The series then turned to Scotiabank Place, the home of the Senators, for Game 3. The Penguins started the scoring 1:17 into the first when Alexei Ponikarovsky beat Senators goalie Brian Elliott to give the Penguins a 1–0 lead. Peter Regin then scored late in the first period, but the goal was eventually disallowed due to the fact that the puck was scored by a clear kicking motion. Early in the second period, Mike Fisher scored on a power play to knot things up at 1–1.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Stanley Cup playoffs, Eastern Conference Quarter-finals
Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby both went on to score goals in the second, with Crosby's coming on a power play to give the Penguins a 3–1 advantage after 2 periods. Bill Guerin extended the lead to 4–1 when he slotted home a shot on a breakaway. The Senators put on the pressure late and managed to put another behind Marc-Andre Fleury, where Matt Cullen, on the power play, lifted a shot over Fleury's glove from a wide angle. The Senators pulled their goalie on a late power play to extend their man advantage to two, but failed to convert any shots to goals. The final score was 4–2 to give the Penguins a 2–1 series lead.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Stanley Cup playoffs, Eastern Conference Quarter-finals
Two days later, the two clubs met again in Ottawa for Game 4. The first goal of the game came 11:50 into the first period when Evgeni Malkin scored on a power play slap shot to take a 1–0 lead into the first intermission. In the second period, Ottawa turned the puck over near their blue line and Sergei Gonchar fed Chris Kunitz who then tapped the puck into the offensive zone where Sidney Crosby uncovered gathered the puck and slotted it home past Elliott to take a 2–0 lead.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Stanley Cup playoffs, Eastern Conference Quarter-finals
12 seconds later, Maxime Talbot fed Matt Cooke from the corner boards to the front of the goal to increase the scoreline to 3–0. Things got ugly for Ottawa 13 seconds later, when Crosby came into the offensive zone virtually untouched and put a wrist shot top far corner to extend the lead to 4. Senators goaltender Brian Elliott was then pulled and replaced by Pascal Leclaire. After the change, Ottawa managed to score two goals from Chris Neil and Daniel Alfredsson to decrease the Penguin lead to 4–2.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Stanley Cup playoffs, Eastern Conference Quarter-finals
The goal scoring then continued in the period when Maxime Talbot scored a short handed goal. Matt Cullen for Ottawa then scored on a 5-on-3 power play and finally Chris Kunitz scored for Pittsburgh with around two minutes left in the period to go into the intermission with a 6–3 lead. In the final period, the Senators scored on another 5-on-3 power play, with Jordan Staal scoring the last goal of the game on a backhand shot to end any hopes of a Senators comeback. The final score was 7–4 and Pittsburgh took a 3–1 series lead back to Pittsburgh.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Stanley Cup playoffs, Eastern Conference Quarter-finals
In game five the Penguins looked to wrap up the series on home ice. In the first period, the Senators took an early 2–0 lead with Mike Fisher scoring at 10:25 on a power play and Jarkko Ruutu put another one past Marc-Andre Fleury a little over a minute later. Kris Letang scored on a slap shot during a power play at 18:05 in the period to decrease the Senators lead to 2–1 going into the first intermission.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Stanley Cup playoffs, Eastern Conference Quarter-finals
In the second period, neither sides could manage to score until Chris Kunitz put a wrist shot past Pascal Leclaire to knot things up a 2–2 with about a minute and a half left in the second period. In the third period, Sidney Crosby scored at 9:01 on a beautiful wrist shot goal sitting on his backside in front of goal that looked like it could be the series clincher. The Senators quickly responded though at 10:24 when Peter Regin put a slap shot past Fleury to tie the game back up at 3–3. The game then went into overtime and a winner wasn't found until 7:06 into the third overtime when Matt Carkner's slap shot hit Fleury and trickled past the goal line to give the Senators a 4–3 win and decrease the Penguins advantage in the series to 3–2.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Stanley Cup playoffs, Eastern Conference Semi-finals
In the second round of the playoffs, the Penguins faced the Montreal Canadiens. Games 1 & 2 began in Pittsburgh. In game 1, the Penguins won 6-3. However, in game 2, Montreal stormed back victorious by a score of 3-1. Games 3 & 4 shifted to Montreal. Game 3 was in the Penguins' favor 2-0. The 2-1 series lead for the Penguins would be short lived as Montreal won game 4 3-2. Game 5 went back to Pittsburgh where the Penguins won 2-1. Unfortunately, in game 6, Montreal would win at home 4-3. Back in Pittsburgh, Montreal won game 7 5-2 and won the series 4-3.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Player statistics
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Team. Stats reflect time with the Team only. ‡Traded mid-seasonBold/italics denotes franchise record


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Transactions
The Penguins have been involved in the following transactions during the 2009–10 season.


2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins season, Draft picks
The 2009 NHL Entry Draft was the 47th NHL Entry Draft. It was held June 26–27 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, the first NHL draft to be held in Montreal since 1992. At the Entry Draft, the Penguins made two trades to increase their number of overall picks, as several of their picks had been traded previously. With their first-round pick, the Penguins chose Simon Despres, 30th overall.


2009–10 Plunket Shield season
The 2009–10 Plunket Shield season is the 84th season of official first-class domestic cricket in New Zealand. The season began on 10 November 2009.


2009–10 Plunket Shield season, Table
The Plunket Shield will be decided on points at the end of the 10 rounds.


2009–10 PlusLiga
2009–10 PlusLiga was the 74th season of Polish Championship (10th season as professional league - PlusLiga) organized by Professional Volleyball League SA (Polish: Profesjonalna Liga Piłki Siatkowej S.A.) under the supervision of Polish Volleyball Federation (Polish: Polski Związek Piłki Siatkowej).


2009–10 PlusLiga
Pamapol Siatkarz Wieluń was promoted to PlusLiga in this season.


2009–10 PlusLiga
In season 2009/2010 PGE Skra Bełchatów, Asseco Resovia Rzeszów and Jastrzębski Węgiel played in CEV Champions League, ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle and Domex Tytan AZS Częstochowa played in CEV Cup.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season
The 2009–10 season was the 115th season in the history of Plymouth Argyle Football Club, their 85th in the Football League, and 41st in the second tier of the English football league system. Their 21st-place finish in the 2008–09 season meant it was their sixth successive season playing in the Championship. Their campaign ended disappointingly as they were relegated to League One with 11 wins, 8 draws, and 27 losses from 46 matches.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season
The club exited both domestic cup competitions at the first stage, being eliminated by Newcastle United in the third round of the FA Cup and by Gillingham in the first round of the League Cup. The club changed managers in December due to a string of poor results as Paul Sturrock was replaced by Paul Mariner.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season
The club began their league campaign with two draws, but defeat by Cardiff City marked the beginning of a seven-game losing streak. Results improved in October and November before three more successive defeats saw Sturrock replaced by Mariner. Performances gradually improved and the club won both of their fixtures during the Christmas period, including a 4–1 win against Reading; their best of the season. The club signed Damien Johnson in the winter transfer window from Birmingham City and made a number of signings on loan, including Kenny Cooper and David Stockdale, in order to try to improve their league position. A succession of draws and narrow defeats followed in February, which prompted Mariner to make more signings.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season
Argyle lost three of their next nine matches to give themselves a chance of avoiding relegation, but their win at Doncaster Rovers proved to be the last game that they would collect any points in. Defeats at home to Middlesbrough and away to Watford left the club on the brink of a return to England's third tier, and that was confirmed in their next game. Newcastle United won 2–0 at Home Park to secure the Championship title, and relegated the home side at the same time.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season
The club finished 23rd in the league table after defeat by bottom club Peterborough United on the final day of the season, eight points adrift of safety. Jamie Mackie finished as the club's top scorer with eight goals in all competitions, and captain Carl Fletcher was voted Player of the Year.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Background
The 2008–09 season was Paul Sturrock's first full campaign in his second spell as the club's manager. The club secured their status in the second tier of English football for a sixth season after finishing 21st in the league table, five points above Norwich City. A number of players returned to their parent clubs at the end of the season after successful loan spells, including Craig Cathcart, David Gray, Alan Judge and Paul Gallagher.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Background
Sturrock wanted to bring Gallagher back to the club on a permanent basis, but was eventually unsuccessful after admitting before the season finished that the transfer fee and wages were an issue. Three apprentices of the club's youth system were offered professional contracts in May, including Irish youth international Joe Mason. The club's first signing of the summer was Carl Fletcher, who returned to Home Park permanently after signing on loan in February. Fletcher replaced Karl Duguid as the team captain, and Romain Larrieu was named club captain.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Background
Sir Roy Gardner was confirmed as the club's new chairman in July, replacing Paul Stapleton who remained on the new board as vice-chairman. The club added to their squad that month with the permanent signings of Bradley Wright-Phillips, Kári Árnason and Réda Johnson, while Jermaine Easter and long-serving Frenchman Mathias Kouo-Doumbé were among the players who left. Doumbe was released from his contract by mutual consent in August after five years with the club.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, August–October
Plymouth Argyle began their campaign at Selhurst Park on 8 August against Crystal Palace, with Carl Fletcher captaining his new side against his former club. An early goal from Hungarian international centre-back Krisztián Timár put Argyle ahead but the home side responded in the second half to give both teams a share of the points. Argyle faced Queens Park Rangers in their first home game of the season and an injury-time own goal from Kaspars Gorkšs salvaged a point after the visitors had taken the lead in the first-half.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, August–October
Alan Gow's first goal for the club in their next match against Cardiff City was merely a consolation, as a hat-trick from Michael Chopra consigned Argyle to their first league defeat of the season. A stoppage time goal from Derby County's Miles Addison denied Argyle their third draw of the season after they had taken a first-half lead through Alan Judge, and a second 3–1 home defeat followed a week later, this time against Sheffield Wednesday. A first-half goal from Jamie Mackie gave Argyle hope of their first victory of new the season at The Hawthorns against West Bromwich Albion, but the home side responded with three goals either side of half-time to claim a comfortable win.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, August–October
The club's poor run of form continued in their next home match against Watford, as they suffered their fifth straight defeat and slipped to the bottom of the league table. Another 3–1 defeat, against Newcastle United, was followed by a second successive 1–0 home defeat against Nottingham Forest, to leave Argyle with just two points from their first seven matches. Paul Sturrock kept faith with the young defensive pairing of James Chester and Shane Lowry for their next game against Peterborough United, and two second-half goals Mackie and Rory Fallon secured Argyle's first three points of the new season.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, August–October
"It's nice to get three points, but now we have to build on it," said Sturrock. "There's no point in us getting this result and then kicking ourselves in the teeth again." Argyle earned their first home win of the season four days later against Scunthorpe United. A penalty from Judge gave the hosts a 2–1 win after Fallon's opening goal was cancelled out by Scunthorpe striker Gary Hooper. Their upturn in results was halted by Blackpool, who won 2–0 at Bloomfield Road. The hosts opening goal was scored by Marcel Seip, a player on loan from Argyle.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, August–October
He took part in the match following a request from former manager Ian Holloway, a decision which was criticised by supporters but defended by senior Argyle officials. "I suppose it was bound to happen that Marcel would score the goal, but I don't think we should look on it as anything other than probably the cover should have been better," said executive director Keith Todd. "We understood exactly what we are doing."


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, August–October
An Argyle Hall of Famer returned to Home Park on 18 October 2009, when former England international Paul Mariner was appointed as the club's new head coach. "In football, there is not much sentiment. But, if sentiment is involved in this scenario, then they gave me my very first chance as a player so I grabbed it with both hands," said Mariner on the New England Revolution website, the club he left to rejoin Argyle. "Plymouth Argyle are in my blood.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, August–October
Obviously the teams you're associated with are the ones you look for every week, and when they came knocking on my door asking me to be employed there, I was delighted." His first match in the dugout alongside Sturrock ended in disappointment as Argyle lost 3–1 to Bristol City at Ashton Gate.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, August–October
They faced Ipswich Town, another side struggling for form, at home in their next match and a first-half goal from Fletcher put Argyle ahead, but their hopes of claiming three points were dented when the visitors equalised through striker Jon Stead, who capitalised on a poor back pass from Gary Sawyer. Welshman Darcy Blake, on loan from Cardiff City, was shown a straight red card late in the game as it ended all square. Their final game of October took place on Halloween against Middlesbrough, in Gordon Strachan's first game as their new manager. Argyle came away from the Riverside Stadium with all three points, in a game that saw Adam Johnson miss from the penalty spot, thanks to a second-half goal from Mackie to lift them to 22nd in the league table, within three points of Doncaster Rovers.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, November–February
The club began November in the same fashion they ended the previous month – with a win. Judge and Fallon scored again to secure a 2–1 home victory against Doncaster Rovers, and pull Argyle clear of the relegation zone. They looked like earning a valuable point when they travelled to play Leicester City but were denied by a 94th-minute goal from midfielder Andy King.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, November–February
Another home defeat, this time to Sheffield United followed, which left Sturrock desperate to improve morale among his squad, but a third consecutive 1–0 defeat at Swansea City, during which Lowry was sent off, signalled the end of Paul Sturrock's second spell as manager. Paul Mariner was placed in charge until further notice. "It's a sad day, but obviously a happy day for me because I'm getting my chance to be a manager in the league," said the former striker. "He's a great friend of mine. The bond that we have together is quite remarkable and we have a mutual respect for each other." His first match was a 2–0 defeat at Preston North End, but he took positives from the performance.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, November–February
John Carver, right-hand man to former Barcelona manager Sir Bobby Robson at Newcastle United, arrived as the club's new assistant manager on 17 December 2009, but the club suffered another 1–0 defeat at home, against Coventry City, two days later. Argyle travelled to Cardiff on Boxing Day to play Cardiff City at their new stadium, and came away with an important three points thanks to a late goal from Sawyer. They recorded their biggest win of the season two days later against Reading.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, November–February
A brace from Judge, and first goals of the season for Kári Árnason and Ashley Barnes secured a 4–1 win at Home Park and six points from their two games over the Christmas period. Argyle returned to league action after their FA Cup ties on 16 January, looking for another three points against Crystal Palace but an early goal from young striker Victor Moses won the game for the visitors. Another must-win home game followed against Derby County and a fifth goal of the season from Jamie Mackie boosted their survival bid.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, November–February
A defeat by fellow struggler's Sheffield Wednesday, coupled with other results going against them, left Argyle five points from safety, with a tough match to come against West Bromwich Albion a week later. A single goal from striker Simon Cox kept Albion in touch at the top of the table and left Argyle deep in relegation trouble again, six points from safety.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, November–February
A stoppage time penalty from Shane Long earned a crucial 2–1 win for Reading in Argyle's next match, but they came from a goal behind to claim a 3–1 victory at Barnsley four days later, which included a 35-yard effort from former Barnsley player Fallon. Paul Mariner was full of praise for his team and singled out youngster Yannick Bolasie, who made his debut for the club. "We played with intellect. We got the ball down, rather than panicking a little bit; we stroked it around; we retained position at vital times," he said.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, November–February
"The introduction of Bolasie was a breath of fresh air. I think even the Barnsley fans would probably say they liked to see what he was doing. He brought a lot to the table for us." A double-header of home matches were next on the agenda for Argyle, against Swansea City and Leicester City, and they both ended in 1–1 draws. New signing Damien Johnson scored late on against Swansea, and Craig Noone scored his first goal of the season to earn a point against Leicester.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, November–February
An end-to-end game at Bramall Lane against Sheffield United ended in a 4–3 defeat, which included a number of defensive mistakes. Argyle went 3–0 before finally sparking into life, scoring twice thanks to Bolasie and a first for young Irish striker Joe Mason. A lapse in concentration from David Stockdale, on loan from Fulham, gifted the hosts a fourth goal before a 20-yard volley from Mackie set up a frantic finale. In the aftermath, Paul Mariner heaped praise on Mason, describing him as "an incredible talent."


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, March–May
Argyle salvaged a late point against Preston North End at the start of March, but remained in serious trouble at the bottom end of the table, seven points adrift of safety with 13 matches remaining. A 2–0 defeat followed at Queens Park Rangers, with Adel Taarabt playing a part in both of the home side's goals. Draws at Home Park were proving to be an Achilles' heel for Argyle, but they secured a creditable 1–1 draw at play-off chasing Coventry City, having taken the lead through a glancing header from Árnason.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, March–May
Three days later, a 20-yard strike from captain Fletcher earned Argyle their fifth home win of the season in a 3–2 thriller against Bristol City. They had taken a 2–0 lead through Chris Clark and an overhead kick from Bradley Wright-Phillips, his first for the club. However, the visitors responded in the second-half with two goals from Nicky Maynard before former Welsh international Fletcher scored with seconds to spare. Argyle travelled to play Scunthorpe United looking to keep up the momentum, but threw away a lead to be defeated by a deflected effort from Martyn Woolford.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, March–May
They were on the road again three days later when they faced Ipswich Town at Portman Road. Argyle came away with all three points courtesy of goals from Wright-Phillips and Mason on what was a special night for Paul Mariner. "It was pretty special and I was a little choked up," he said. "It was a special night. When I moved to the States 20 years ago, I didn't think it would come to fruition but it was a tremendous reception from the fans, and I can't thank them enough.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, March–May
Bringing Plymouth Argyle here in my present role was a special occasion." Former manager Ian Holloway returned to Home Park for the first time since his departure in November 2007 in the club's next game, and he left happy as Blackpool side claimed all three points after a 2–0 victory, with Charlie Adam at the heart of their attacking threat. Argyle played out an entertaining 0–0 draw at home with Barnsley three days later, but it did little to help in their battle against relegation, still five points away from safety.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, March–May
They produced another rousing away performance against Doncaster Rovers to earn a 2–1 win, coming from behind with second-half goals from Mason, and an injury time header from Wright-Phillips. In order to stay up, Argyle knew that they had to make the most of their remaining home games, but they went down 2–0 on 5 April to an efficient Middlesbrough side, which left them four points adrift with four games left. A solitary goal from Watford's Heidar Helguson dealt Argyle's survival hopes an almost fatal blow at Vicarage Road, but vice-captain Karl Duguid remained upbeat about their chances of defeating the league leaders in their next game. "We'll be upbeat, and we'll go for the win against Newcastle next Monday."


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, March–May
It was a night of contrasting emotions at Home Park. A 2–0 win for the visitors confirmed Argyle's relegation to League One and Newcastle's promotion back to the Premier League as champions at the first attempt. Hours after the match, the club's board declared that it remained determined to steer it to the top flight of English football. Paul Mariner reaffirmed his commitment to the club, vowing to put things right. "I feel the pain of the supporters because this is the club that gave me my first start," he said.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, March–May
"The reason I came here was because of the vision that the club can get into the Premiership. Now we've got another couple of hurdles before we do that but I firmly believe that we can do it." Argyle's penultimate game of the season took place at the City Ground against Nottingham Forest, who had already qualified for the play-off's, and they secured a comfortable 3–0 victory against the relegated side. The club signed off their campaign with another home defeat against Peterborough United on 2 May.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, March–May
Argyle took the lead in the first-half from a fine individual goal from Wright-Phillips but conceded two goals after the break to Craig Mackail-Smith. Four days later, the club announced that they would be searching for a new manager, with Paul Mariner reverting to his original role as head coach. He said: "I am disappointed that we could not produce the results we wanted last season. I am a realist and understand why and how the board came to the conclusion they have done. I am committed to this club and want only to help it regain Championship status as soon as possible and build on that." Work on a new state-of-the-art Fibrelastic pitch at Home Park began the following week.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, Results
Colours: Green = Plymouth Argyle win; Yellow = draw; Red = opponents win.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, Statistics, Standings
Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Championship, Statistics, Results summary
Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, FA Cup, Summary
The third round draw for the FA Cup paired Argyle with Newcastle United, which left assistant manager John Carver with mixed emotions. Neither side could break the deadlock in a competitive contest at Home Park. Argyle striker Rory Fallon forced a good save from Tim Krul before the visitors had chances of their own, the majority of which went to Fabrice Pancrate. Newcastle looked likely to win the game late on but were denied by goalkeeper Romain Larrieu, who tipped a looping volley from Nicky Butt over the crossbar.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, FA Cup, Summary
The match saw the return of Chris Barker to the Argyle defence after a lengthy spell on the sidelines because of injury, and manager Paul Mariner was full of praise for his performance. "For him to come and do what he did against such a high powered, attacking team as Newcastle and playing 90 plus minutes was pretty remarkable. He's a very strong character and very experienced." The replay at St James' Park was Argyle's next match due to the wintry weather, and they were on the wrong end of a 3–0 scoreline.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, FA Cup, Summary
Newcastle striker Peter Løvenkrands gave the home side a two-goal lead at half-time and completed his hat-trick after 72 minutes. "His timing of his runs is pretty special and for the first goal, his finish was fantastic," said Mariner. The match on Tyneside was to be the last in an Argyle shirt for Cillian Sheridan who returned to Celtic in Scotland the next day when his loan spell with the club finished, having made 13 appearances, scoring no goals.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, FA Cup, Results
Colours: Green = Plymouth Argyle win; Yellow = draw; Red = opponents win.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, League Cup, Summary
Having been drawn to face Gillingham in the first round of the League Cup, the club's manager, Paul Sturrock, planned to make a couple of changes to the team that faced Crystal Palace on the opening day of the new season, with youngster Joe Mason included in the squad. Two first-half goals were enough to take the hosts into the second round. Simeon Jackson put Gillingham ahead after 42 minutes and Andy Barcham scored a second just before the half-time break.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, League Cup, Summary
Argyle reduced the deficit four minutes into the second-half when Luke Summerfield from a direct free kick, but they couldn't find an equaliser. The visitors should have forced extra time but Jamie Mackie spurned a chance when he pulled his shot wide with only the goalkeeper to beat. The defeat extended Sturrock's unfortunate run in the League Cup as a manager, having won just once in nine attempts. "I must have the worst record of all managers in cup competitions, it's unbelievable," he said. "One or two of my defenders didn't defend properly tonight. It's not proper to name people but there were some glaring attempts to clear the ball and that's where we had problems."


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, League Cup, Results
Colours: Green = Plymouth Argyle win; Yellow = draw; Red = opponents win.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Pre-season, Summary
Pre -season for Plymouth Argyle began on 1 July 2009 when the first team squad returned to Harpers Park. A week of intense training followed, before the club's first match of the new season took place on 13 July 2009 against Cornish side Truro City. In a match which featured trialist Kári Árnason, Argyle scored a goal in each half to earn a comfortable win. A youthful Argyle team headed across the city of Plymouth the next day to take on Plymouth Parkway.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Pre-season, Summary
The visitors fell behind to an early goal but responded with three of their own in an entertaining friendly, including a brace from Republic of Ireland youth international Joe Mason. The first team were in action again the next day, against Torquay United. The visitors went behind twice but looked like leaving Plainmoor with a win until Torquay converted a penalty in the 90th minute. The squad then departed for a tour of Scotland, and stopped off in the north of England on the way in order to play a friendly against Skelmersdale United on 18 July 2009. Argyle came away with a 2–0 win after scoring a goal in each half. A picturesque setting greeted the squad as they took to the field against Livingston on 20 July 2009. An 81st-minute penalty from Luke Summerfield wasn't enough to save Argyle from their first defeat of the season.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Pre-season, Summary
Hungarian international Zoltán Szélesi joined the squad in training ahead of their next match against Romanian champions Unirea Urziceni. They came from behind to record a 2–1 win in a feisty encounter, with Steve MacLean scoring the decisive goal. Argyle returned to England to play against Morecambe on 25 July 2009, and included a triallist called Réda Johnson in their defence, who appeared in the match under a pseudonym. Two second half goals ensured that they left Christie Park with a win.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Pre-season, Summary
The club's only pre-season friendly to take place at Home Park was against Scottish club Heart of Midlothian on 29 July 2009. Neither side could break the deadlock in a dour 0–0 draw. Swindon Town were the opposition for Argyle's penultimate friendly. A goal from Marcel Seip after 57 minutes set the visitors on their way to a 2–0 victory at manager Paul Sturrock's old club. Argyle's final pre-season match took place on 3 August 2009 against Tiverton Town. A young team containing only two senior professionals, Yoann Folly and Simon Walton, secured a 1–0 win at Ladysmead.


2009–10 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season, Pre-season, Results
Colours: Green = Plymouth Argyle win; Yellow = draw; Red = opponents win.