Gameday: Battle of Pennsylvania, Part VI
by Travis Hughes on Mar 22, 2009 12:24 PM EDT
in Philadelphia Flyers Game Threads - 08-09
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#4 Philadelphia Flyers (38-22-10, 86 pts) at #5 Pittsburgh Penguins (39-26-8, 86 pts)
Mellon Arena - 12:30 PM ET - Pittsburgh, PA
TV: CSN HD, FSN Pittsburgh
Radio: 610 WIP, XM 206
This is the open game thread.
Behind Enemy Lines: Pensburgh
Last time the Flyers played the Penguins, they came into the game red hot. Pittsburgh was reeling, having just fired their head coach and sitting outside of the playoff picture. This time, it's the complete opposite, except the game means a hell of a lot more this time around.
Pittsburgh has lost once in regulation since that meeting in Philadelphia back on February 21. They have climbed from tenth place to fifth place, and a win today over the Flyers would push them in front of Philly and into fourth place. The Flyers cannot allow that to happen.
But it's going to be really, really tough. Pittsburgh has owned the Flyers all season, even when they were playing subpar, non-playoff caliber hockey. They are also unbeaten in eight straight at Mellon Arena against the Flyers. But when the Flyers play they're best hockey, they can certainly beat Pittsburgh.
How do you do it? It's quite simple: shut down Crosby and Malkin. When the Flyers do that, they win. When they don't, they lose. It's very simple. Marc-Andre Fleury can be beaten by our offense. The Penguins defense is good but not great. Our top defenders simply have to shut down their best offensive players. Do that, and the Flyers win.
Between the Pipes: Martin Biron has been great lately and he goes again today. Marc-Andre Fleury is in for Pittsburgh. No surprises here.
Randy Jones returns to the Flyers lineup today.
Questions To Answer
- Briere came back with a vengence on Friday night in Buffalo. Can he keep it up?
- Do the Flyers (primarily Kimmo Timonen) keep Crosby and Malkin off the board?
- Do the Flyers play 60 minutes of hockey?
- A Flyers win at Mellon Arena? Maybe?
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Penguins wearing those manly blue jerseys today..
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
Apparently, they wore similar jerseys in the 70s, and are returning to “their roots.”
by chillicothe20 on Mar 22, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Weak goal for Fleury, but that’s fine.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
Hm, not so sure about that penalty…. of course there was no replay.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
Playing without a stick is so friggin awkward.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
Shots: Pitt 10 Phi 4, what else is new? And yet it feels as though the Flyers have had the better period.
The Flyers definitely have played the better period.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Mar 22, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions
malkin trys to punch lupol in the face…lupol sticks his hands up to defend himself…penalty on lupol….makes perfect sense….how dare he defend himself against an NHL golden boy like Malkin, the rules clearly state Malkin is allowed to do whatever he wants
It was for Lupul’s stick hitting Malkin, apparently.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Mar 22, 2009 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Seriously, that was absolute bullshit. His stick didn’t even hit him. There has to be a memo somewhere from Campbell or Bettman saying if anybody hits Ovie, Malkin, or Crosby at all, it’s a penalty.
by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 22, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow!
The refs got an entire series of calls correct!
No boarding call for the hit by Richards, and then the tripping call on Gill at the other end. Didn’t think that happened in these Pens-Flyers games..
"...You know, Reemer, someday I'm gonna own a big sports bar."
HEEEEY! 2-0!
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
Wooo!
The shaggy haired one gets a goal on the power play!
"...You know, Reemer, someday I'm gonna own a big sports bar."
Briere made a great pass on that play to get the puck to Carter through two defenders. Maybe Briere’s starting t hit his stride?
Let’s hope so.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Mar 22, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions
No way in hell that was a dive.
And it wasn’t a goal either.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
The Crosby one… not the Harts one.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Mar 22, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed on both
And really – Carcillo can find his own way to the penalty box. He doesn’t need any extra help from the refs…
"...You know, Reemer, someday I'm gonna own a big sports bar."
BWAHAHAHAHAH!!!
How much do these announcers want to see the Pens win…
"...You know, Reemer, someday I'm gonna own a big sports bar."
Seriously, how is that a dive? and lets remember that one of the announcers (olczyk) used to play for the Penguins before coaching them and getting fired.
by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 22, 2009 1:39 PM EDT reply actions
Biron’s been great today.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
ridiculous save by Biron. also, not sure who it was but someone dumped Malkin behind the goal line and it was nice.
Believe it or not, it was Randy Jones. And the crowd wanted a penalty because the rule book says if he gets hit, it’s a penalty
by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 22, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Well I mean, if those are the rules…
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Mar 22, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Holy shit another PP.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
I never thought I’d say this, but I do kind of miss Derian Hatcher. It’s not like we don’t have a wannabe Hatcher (Alberts), but Derian is better than him. Plus, it was fun watchin him wreck Ryan Malone and the rest of the Penguins last year.
by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 22, 2009 1:46 PM EDT reply actions
Was it Carle? I didn’t see any penalty… unless they’re seriously calling him for touching Sid.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Mar 22, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Actually, on second look, Coburn picked up Crosby’s stick. Probably a hooking call…
by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 22, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s what it was. NBC didn’t even put it on the screen though.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Mar 22, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions
I love that the crowd erupts every time Sid touches the puck even if it’s in nowhere near the offensive zone.
not only that but the announcers raise their voices as if hes about to shoot and score everytime he touches the puck, regardless of where he is on the ice
is there any possibility that ESPN gets the NHL back again? I know eklund is worthless, but I seriously can’t stand nbc and vs.
by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 22, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions
If I were ESPN, I’d want it back.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Mar 22, 2009 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree—there is money to be made. Hockey may not have the largest fanbase, but it’s the most fiercely loyal, if you ask me. And the fans spend quite a bit of money.
The only problem is that they just got Nascar back to fill the void left by the AFL. The NHL wants weekend afternoon coverage, and ESPN would have to go to Saturdays, but even then, they might have the Nationwide Series (AAA of Nascar, for those that don’t know) then. But I agree, now that the strike hangover is gone, they could make money on it again.
by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 22, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions
just like how the other 29 teams erupt in boos whenever he touches the puck
by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 22, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I hope not. It would only help the Penguins. Especially if Cote gets his standard beatdown
by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 22, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions
They are fellating Crosby and the Pens big time.
by chillicothe20 on Mar 22, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Why does Crosby get so much love? I mean, he’s very very good, but is he really that much better than Carter or Richards? Sid doesn’t play much D and he certainly can’t fight…so what’s the big deal?
Why do they feel they must annoint players before they’ve earned anything?
He’s flashy and loves attention, so they give it to him. Carter and Richards are modest, professional, and dull to everybody else
by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 22, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Of course Pittsburgh is just as lame as the Mets: “Everybody clap your hands…”
by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 22, 2009 2:50 PM EDT reply actions
Malkin got away with two holds on the last shift (on Knuble and Coburn), no mention by the announcers, but “another long shift by Malkin”…
by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 22, 2009 2:54 PM EDT reply actions
27 seconds left
and now the NBC announcers can give the Flyers credit today? Yeah, thanks. Bastards.
"...You know, Reemer, someday I'm gonna own a big sports bar."
Well they don’t want to look biased.
by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 22, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions
I bet you that if you’re Malkin and Crosby, about the last team you want to play in the playoffs is the Flyers. At this juncture the Flyers match up really well. Sure the Pens took the regular season series, but the Flyers have so much depth that they can rotate a series of top notch players to rotate the assignment to lay a pounding on Malkin, Crosby, Green and Gonchar without having to give up offense and go pure checking.
No wonder Malkin was clutching at the end of the game — the guy was exhausted. The plan worked so well, that Gonchar blew a gasket and pulled a double minor at the end of the 2nd cause he got a poke from Lupul.
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