Gameday: Flyers chances at first place on the line tonight versus Devils
by Travis Hughes on Mar 23, 2009 5:01 PM EDT
in Philadelphia Flyers Game Threads - 08-09
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#2 New Jersey Devils (47-22-3, 97 pts) at #4 Philadelphia Flyers (39-22-10, 88 pts)
Wachovia Center - 7:00 PM EST - Philadelphia, PA
TV: Versus HD, TSN
Radio: 610 WIP, XM 205
This is the open game thread.
Behind Enemy Lines: In Lou We Trust
Beating two of your biggest rivals in two consecutive days is not an easy task. If the Flyers want any hopes of passing New Jersey for first place in the conference, it's a task they're going to have to complete.
Currently, the Flyers sit nine points back of first place New Jersey with one game in hand. A win tonight would put them seven points back, and winning that game in hand would put them five back. In the remaning nine games on the schedule, the Flyers would have to make up those five points. Impossible? No. Very, very tough? Yes.
But a win tonight keeps hope alive, and better yet, it keeps our confidence in this team up. They've been plagued by inconsistency seemingly since, well, December, and two wins on back to back days against Pittsburgh and New Jersey would really help to boost that confidence.
Perhaps it's reassuring that the Devils lost yesterday in Boston (4-1, in fact). But at the same time, it's not common that NJ loses two straight. They haven't done it since early January. But if the Flyers play like they did yesterday in Pittsburgh, they can beat the Devils.
Between the Pipes: Martin Biron will go again today for the Flyers. It's officially his job to lose. Personally, I don't think he'll be giving it up. He's been fantastic.
Brodeur is likely for the Devils, but not definite considering it's the second game of a back to back. The Devils have three days off after today, so it's definitely a possibilty he will go. At practice today, though, only three players skated. Kevin Weekes was one. We'll see at game time.
Questions To Answer
- The Flyers sucked last time out against the Devils. Is it a "versus NJ" thing?
- Can the offense break Brodeur?
- Can the PP step it up at home?
- Regardless of the outcome, is there a disappointing feeling after this game or a encouraging one?
7:00 PM. Go Flyers.
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The Briere factor and Stevens for coach of the year.
Sorry but had to repost this, as it literally popped up a minute after my post in the prior thread:
Stevens is really looking like the coach of the year the last few games.
After the incredible downer of the Upshall debacle, Stevens holds Briere off after the ruptured scar tissue scare, and eases him back into the lineup.
When things are going slowly, Stevens gambles and shakes up the lines. After looking listless and out of step, suddenly Briere is getting a jump again, and starting to work some of his magic. The Flyers start playing some of their best hockey, at the perfect time, against the premiere teams of the league.
And this is all anchored by Marty Biron, who was looking like he might be getting a ticket out of philly. Again, Stevens intervenes, has a quiet heart to heart with Biron, suggesting he change his prep, put in some extra reps, and add pre-game time to focus. Biron responds and backstops the team to its most consistent stretch since the all star break.
Right now I’m really liking what I’m seeing. There’s a gritty commitment I’m seeing every shift and every game. Stevens is trying out different combinations which makes it hard for other teams to key in on Flyers tendencies, and with their incredible offensive versatility, are dangerous every shift.
The defense is playing better in front of Biron, probably because they believe he can bail them out, which is leading to a faster transition game. There’s less backpedaling and cough ups, and the Flyers D are pinching and containing more.
NJ will be a huge test tonight. I honestly can not wait, but for the first time in a while, I really like the Flyers chances, as the Devils come off a lackluster effort in Boston. While its far from playoff time, and this game doesn’t have incredible import to either team in my opinion, it’s a chance for the Flyers to get a monkey off their back and plant that little seed of doubt in the minds of the Devils that can be important should they meet up later in the playoffs. I think the Flyers will probably be a little more amped up, and at times they get tight in these situations. I think this is a great litmus test, to see just where the team really is. Based on the last 2 weeks, I think the Flyers can grab a huge win here, and really set themselves up for the playoffs.
Look who was supposed to cover Shanahan… Randy Jones.
by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 23, 2009 7:31 PM EDT reply actions
oh and Jones looked completely lost on that play. he let shanahan stand there untouched and then he his head was spinning while shanahan put the puck in the back of the net
I’d rather have Keith Jones come out of retirement to play alongside Andrew Alberts than watch Randy Jones one more night.
by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 23, 2009 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions
wait-
freakin versus still hasn’t shown a repeat of the harnell boarding call. was it? can it be boarding if the player doesn’t touch the board?
also, is it a kicking motion before or after the puck is touched by the skate. shannahan turned his foot and deflected the puck, but then it appears he is kicking.
doesn’t matter now, i guess.
World F#$king Champions
Kicking motion into the puck, I believe...
You can redirect the puck off your skate…I’m guessing kicking after the puck is gone is fine.
World Ph*cking Champs! That was fun - let's do it again...
by Jordan Ellel on Mar 23, 2009 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Randy Jones. Weak-ass shot blocked. Turnover 1
by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 23, 2009 7:37 PM EDT reply actions
Randy Jones owned on the boards, turnover 2
by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 23, 2009 7:38 PM EDT reply actions
you'd better start
cut and pasting, ’’cause you are about to get carpel tunnel.
rest of the team is playing fine, tho.
World F#$king Champions
GOOOOAAALLL!
Looks like the pp is clicking again…
World Ph*cking Champs! That was fun - let's do it again...
should say sounds like...
listening to the game at work…
World Ph*cking Champs! That was fun - let's do it again...
by Jordan Ellel on Mar 23, 2009 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Indeed he did...
Therien is not a fan by any stretch of the imagination…if I had time I would photoshop Holik’s face ona koopa-troopa, but I have a feeling I should keep working instead…
World Ph*cking Champs! That was fun - let's do it again...
by Jordan Ellel on Mar 23, 2009 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t know if he’s in top form, but he sure isn’t hurting us. Look out for the Flyers in the playoffs.
I think the PP being in the dumps as long as it was could somewhat be attributed to missing Briere for so long this year.
But they were clicking most of the season without Briere…they got away from what works effectively, good puck movement, men in front of the net, putting shots on net from the point. They have stopped trying to set up the perfect tip in recently and that’s a good thing.
World Ph*cking Champs! That was fun - let's do it again...
by Jordan Ellel on Mar 23, 2009 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Not sure which one you’re referring to. I must have missed it… Should I say Turnover 3 anyway?
by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 23, 2009 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions
I gotta go do some work and will watch the game on dvr, so I’m appointing you to man the Randy Jones Fuck-up Counter.
by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 23, 2009 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions
So far so good
Really intense emotion, and no less from our end
wow
giroux is an absolute madman with that puck
carcillo had some nice backchecking there
World F#$king Champions
What happened...
radio went to commercial before giving any explanation…probably the same as Vs.
World Ph*cking Champs! That was fun - let's do it again...
by Jordan Ellel on Mar 23, 2009 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions
sounds like dueling slashing penalties…
World Ph*cking Champs! That was fun - let's do it again...
by Jordan Ellel on Mar 23, 2009 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Another penalty?
Give me a break guys…I know they score a lot of SH goals, but c’mon…let’s have some even strength time
World Ph*cking Champs! That was fun - let's do it again...
the penalty box is our second primary* bench
*fixed
World Ph*cking Champs! That was fun - let's do it again...
by Jordan Ellel on Mar 23, 2009 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions
hartnell
makes the save of the game, and the hard work down the other end yields a flyers PP.
could be the pivot moment of the game
World F#$king Champions
And one not on the pp!
Go Flyers – blow this one out of the water! Hell’s yes!
World Ph*cking Champs! That was fun - let's do it again...
Is the game over?
My online feed has at least 3 minutes to go…
World Ph*cking Champs! That was fun - let's do it again...
by Jordan Ellel on Mar 23, 2009 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Good game...from what I heard...
Looking forward to watching the telecast in fast forward when I get home…eventually.
World Ph*cking Champs! That was fun - let's do it again...
So after watching it on DVR, Jones entered the 2nd with 3 turnovers. By my count he ended with 5 turnovers, one of which was a lame-ass failed clear (The reason he is never on the PK?) which led to a scoring opportunity, one shot that went wide of the target by about 3 feet, and one missed check. What’s really sad is that’s a solid game from Randy Jones…
by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 23, 2009 11:05 PM EDT reply actions
Classic moment of the game: vs goes to on-bench interview with Richards, and during interview Hartnell tickles Richards face with his stick blade and shoots spray from the water bottle. Richards barely made it through the interview without busting up.
Talk about loose — and this was while the game was tied and the Flyers were killing a penalty I think. Every single team in the East should be scared shitless.
Also, wtf is wrong with Mike Emrick?
Second game in a row that he calls play by play of a phantom goal against the Flyers.
Also on Versus at 5 PM, I believe.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Mar 24, 2009 1:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Was the Flyers in-arena announcer different tonight? It wasn’t the same PEECOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Power Play at all…
Swing by The Flyer Frequent. You have nothing better to do.
Yeah he was. It wasn’t Lou Nolan and it wasn’t the Phantoms guy either… the voice did sound familiar 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 24, 2009 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions
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