Gameday: Flyers look for Ranger sweep

by Travis Hughes on Mar 15, 2009 12:12 PM EDT in Philadelphia Flyers Game Threads - 08-09

#4 Philadelphia Flyers (37-20-10, 84 pts) at #8 New York Rangers (35-26-8, 79 pts)
Madison Square Garden - 12:30 PM EST - Manhattan, NY
TV: NBC HD, TSN
Radio: 610 WIP, XM 205
This is the open game thread.
Behind Enemy Lines: Rangerland, NY Rangers Blog

Let's make it two, shall we?

A Flyers win today would be really big for a couple of reasons. First off, a regulation loss for New York would push them back out of playoff position, so that's always nice. But most importantly, a Philly win means that they're six points ahead of fifth-place Montreal and potentialy six points ahead of sixth-place Pittsburgh, who play Boston at home today.

Today is not only the second leg of a crucial home-and-home, but it is also the first of a four game road trip. They'll visit Detroit on Tuesday, Buffalo on Friday, and Pittsburgh on Sunday. It doesn't get easy, so a win in the first game of the trip can go a long way to helping out.

We know about these Rangers from yesterday, which makes writing a game preview a little difficult. But stats are always fun. Claude Giroux has five points in two games against the Rangers. Today will be Jeff Carter's 200th NHL game. Simon Gagne is riding a six game point streak. So is Mike Richards. The Flyers are 10-3-1 in the first game of a back-to-back and 7-3-3 in the second game. The Rangers won the Stanley Cup in 1994 and still dig up excuses to celebrate it this season.

Between the Pipes: Henrik Lundqvist will go again for the Rangers today. Biron started four straight, so the nod will go to Antero Niittymaki for the Flyers today.

New York Rangers Injuries

Probable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Henrik Lundqvist	stomach	03/12/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Erik Reitz	foot	02/26/2009

No questions today. F*** New York. Go Flyers.

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Comments

Wow, no Valiquette.

Swing by The Flyer Frequent. You have nothing better to do.

by Ben Rothenberg on Mar 15, 2009 12:48 PM EDT reply actions

So few shots in this game on both sides.

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by Ben Rothenberg on Mar 15, 2009 12:52 PM EDT reply actions

Nothing like having a captain who's not afraid to drop the gloves fromt ime to time.

Not excessively, but can/will when he feels it’s necessary.

"I'm a man, and I can change, if I have to, I guess..."

by IcersGuy on Mar 15, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions

Fair warning

If my responses are delayed, I apologize – I’ve got the live feed from the ACHA national tournament (college club level hockey – gotta follow my Penn State Icers), and the video is making my internet super laggy…

"I'm a man, and I can change, if I have to, I guess..."

by IcersGuy on Mar 15, 2009 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions

How are the Icers doing?

by Rambo89 on Mar 15, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions

excellent hit by richards…

by pintium02 on Mar 15, 2009 12:57 PM EDT reply actions

STFU Avery.

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by Ben Rothenberg on Mar 15, 2009 1:10 PM EDT reply actions

It’s always tough to take when Avery scores.

by Have a Seat on Mar 15, 2009 1:10 PM EDT reply actions

Very nice forecheck to start the period. Keep it up.

by Have a Seat on Mar 15, 2009 1:32 PM EDT reply actions

Wow, that was a nice shot.

by pintium02 on Mar 15, 2009 1:38 PM EDT reply actions

Nice PP goal right there

Gagne starts it nicely, and finishes even better.

"I'm a man, and I can change, if I have to, I guess..."

by IcersGuy on Mar 15, 2009 1:38 PM EDT reply actions

Deflection goals are a beautiful thing

by Have a Seat on Mar 15, 2009 1:38 PM EDT reply actions

How was that not an interference call? Took down Knuble before the pass got there…

"I'm a man, and I can change, if I have to, I guess..."

by IcersGuy on Mar 15, 2009 1:40 PM EDT reply actions

Four horrible non calls then a horrible call. Boo.

Swing by The Flyer Frequent. You have nothing better to do.

by Ben Rothenberg on Mar 15, 2009 1:42 PM EDT reply actions

especially the high stick against Coburn that cut him.

by jello44 on Mar 15, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Randy Jones seriously sucks. What was that weak ass hit attempt? And who’s the penalty on? If it’s on Richards, if Jones had actually checked his man, no penalty call.

by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 15, 2009 1:43 PM EDT reply actions

These penalties have got to stop. Why are they flat today?

by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 15, 2009 1:49 PM EDT reply actions

This is ridiculous. Too many penalties.

by Have a Seat on Mar 15, 2009 1:49 PM EDT reply actions

Can these announcers take Avery’s dick out of their mouth to announce the game? Christ.

by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 15, 2009 1:52 PM EDT reply actions

It’s going to be a whole lot worse next week when the play the Penguins. shudders

by jello44 on Mar 15, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s as if the only teams America is allowed to like are the Penguins, Red Wings, and Rangers.

by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 15, 2009 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Wait...there are other teams in the NHL?

who knew… I thought we were just lucky to be graced with the chance of playing these elite teams…

"I'm a man, and I can change, if I have to, I guess..."

by IcersGuy on Mar 15, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I live in California. “everybody” is a sharks fan once they realize that there actually is hockey in america.

by pintium02 on Mar 15, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Two years ago, I’m sure they were Ducks fans

by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 15, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh yeah, people love to jump on the bandwagon.

by pintium02 on Mar 15, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t know if anyone else has played the Flyers Pick and Win game, but one of the things you could predict for today was the Flyers getting less than 12 penalty minutes. How dumb do they think we are…

Swing by The Flyer Frequent. You have nothing better to do.

by Ben Rothenberg on Mar 15, 2009 2:02 PM EDT reply actions

the most penalized team in the league against the Rangers. I’m gonna say less than twelve minutes. Yeah, definitely less.

by pintium02 on Mar 15, 2009 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Briere has been no good on the power play.

Swing by The Flyer Frequent. You have nothing better to do.

by Ben Rothenberg on Mar 15, 2009 2:05 PM EDT reply actions

Wow, This is what bad officiating gets you. But that’s just inexcusable. Braydon knows better.

by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 15, 2009 2:07 PM EDT reply actions

A five minute penalty kill without Coburn. This game just keeps getting better.

Swing by The Flyer Frequent. You have nothing better to do.

by Ben Rothenberg on Mar 15, 2009 2:08 PM EDT reply actions

I can’t stand NBC.

by pintium02 on Mar 15, 2009 2:14 PM EDT reply actions

They should bring Al Michaels in

I can’t think he’s doing much right now, and at least I can stand listening to him announce.

Hell, complete the duo and bring John Madden along as well. He might not know anything about hockey, but at least he won’t pretend like he’s an expert and he’ll be entertaining to boot.

"I'm a man, and I can change, if I have to, I guess..."

by IcersGuy on Mar 15, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, bring in Al Michaels and John Madden and about 12 gallons of alcohol and we’d have a real good time.

by pintium02 on Mar 15, 2009 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Is the alcohol for them or us?

"I'm a man, and I can change, if I have to, I guess..."

by IcersGuy on Mar 15, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Them. But we might need it to understand them.

by pintium02 on Mar 15, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

shit

by Have a Seat on Mar 15, 2009 2:28 PM EDT reply actions

Wow, that couldn’t have been any easier for Avery

Swing by The Flyer Frequent. You have nothing better to do.

by Ben Rothenberg on Mar 15, 2009 2:29 PM EDT reply actions

This game is not looking pretty.

by pintium02 on Mar 15, 2009 2:29 PM EDT reply actions

Does anyone know our penalty minutes so far?

by pintium02 on Mar 15, 2009 2:31 PM EDT reply actions

I'm seeing 34 PIMs

Includes Coburn’s 10 minute misconduct.

"I'm a man, and I can change, if I have to, I guess..."

by IcersGuy on Mar 15, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Bah… Digging our own graves in this one. Sure the Rangers have gotten a few calls go their way, but we’ve done enough to earn the penalties to kill us today.

"I'm a man, and I can change, if I have to, I guess..."

by IcersGuy on Mar 15, 2009 2:32 PM EDT reply actions

WTF? Why do we have Powe, Lupul, Richards, and Gagne on the PK?

by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 15, 2009 2:33 PM EDT reply actions

To send a mesage?

Giving up 3 PPGs to the 28th PP in the league is horrendous.

Swing by The Flyer Frequent. You have nothing better to do.

by Ben Rothenberg on Mar 15, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Without Niittymaki’s huge save right there, it would have been 4. Message not received

by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 15, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Just too many PIMs. It’s completely out of hand.

by Have a Seat on Mar 15, 2009 2:35 PM EDT reply actions

7:30 into the period, shots are 10-0.

Swing by The Flyer Frequent. You have nothing better to do.

by Ben Rothenberg on Mar 15, 2009 2:37 PM EDT reply actions

Well at least we've gone more than 30 seconds without a penalty

"I'm a man, and I can change, if I have to, I guess..."

by IcersGuy on Mar 15, 2009 2:39 PM EDT reply actions

SHIT WOW

by pintium02 on Mar 15, 2009 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

I can’t believe we’re only down by 2. Against a decent team we’d be down by at least 4.

Swing by The Flyer Frequent. You have nothing better to do.

by Ben Rothenberg on Mar 15, 2009 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

make that three

by pintium02 on Mar 15, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, well, you spoke too soon

by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 15, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

No trip????

by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 15, 2009 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

Wow...

weak goal after a missed hooking call…

"I'm a man, and I can change, if I have to, I guess..."

by IcersGuy on Mar 15, 2009 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

Niity just isn’t carrying the team the way Marty did thru two periods yesterday. That’s two weak goals, but he’s not the problem today.

by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 15, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

How was that not a penalty.

This officiating has been absolute shit.

Swing by The Flyer Frequent. You have nothing better to do.

by Ben Rothenberg on Mar 15, 2009 2:41 PM EDT reply actions

I agree, but we can’t blame this whole thing on that.

by pintium02 on Mar 15, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions

It has to have at least killed a lot of morale.

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by Ben Rothenberg on Mar 15, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

It has, but it doesn’t help that the Flyers are taking dumb penalties as well.

by jello44 on Mar 15, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

And almost an own goal. Great.

Swing by The Flyer Frequent. You have nothing better to do.

by Ben Rothenberg on Mar 15, 2009 2:49 PM EDT reply actions

You know the PP is awful when they put Alberts on it.

by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 15, 2009 2:50 PM EDT reply actions

Not a fan?

I personally enjoy a PP with Alberts and Asham.

Oh futility…

"I'm a man, and I can change, if I have to, I guess..."

by IcersGuy on Mar 15, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m growing frustrated with Briere. I don’t know if he’s still sore or just rusty, but he’s not his normal patient self. He needs to step it up fast.

by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 15, 2009 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions

He’s been absolutely terrible. Nearing healthy scratch territory.

Though is he really healthy when he’s that damned slow?

Swing by The Flyer Frequent. You have nothing better to do.

by Ben Rothenberg on Mar 15, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Telling Stats

At first glance, the penalties were even. The Flyers had 9 for 29 minutes while the Rangers had 8 for 27 minutes. But the teams played at even strength for 27:42. Less than half of the game was even strength, and only 23:30 was played at 5 on 5. Of the 32:18 played on special teams, the Flyers spent 25:35 shorthanded. Even with Briere useless and Niitty not playing well, when you spend 25 minutes shorthanded, there’s no way you win that game. No way.

by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 15, 2009 3:37 PM EDT reply actions