Gameday: Upset-ready Isles host Flyers
by Travis Hughes on Mar 28, 2009 7:02 PM EDT
in Philadelphia Flyers Game Threads - 08-09
Email
Print 
#4 Philadelphia Flyers (40-23-10, 90 pts) at #15 New York Islanders (25-41-8, 58 pts)
Nassau Coliseum - 7:00 PM EST - Uniondale, NY
TV: CSN HD, MSG Plus 2
Radio: 610 WIP, XM 207
This is the open game thread.
Behind Enemy Lines: Lighthouse Hockey
The New York Islanders are the worst team in the National Hockey League, but if you look at their recent schedule, you might not know it. They''ve gone a modest 6-5-1 in the month of March, but in that stretch they've beaten Detroit (a shutout), New Jersey, Chicago, and Montreal -- all playoff teams. The Flyers don't want to be included on that list.
The Isles were very impressive last night against the Wings, in particular goalie Joey MacDonald, who posted 42 saves in that shutout. But one Islanders blogger thinks tonight's game against the Flyers will be a larger test than playing the best team in the league.
Perhaps an even tougher test arrives tonight, when the Islanders host the Flyers after getting home late last night. The Red Wings did not need the two points last night. Philadelphia does tonight.
> Chris Botta, Islanders Point Blank
Color me crazy, but I don't believe that. The story here to me is "how the hell did the Islanders beat Detroit, but we couldn't?" And when I look for an answer to that question, I look at a hot goalie in net for an Islanders team with nothing to lose.
Luckily for the Flyers tonight, that hot goalie won't be playing. Yann Denis is in net for the Islanders, and he's been crushed by the Flyers this season. He's gone 0-2 and allowed nine goals with a 4.84 GAA in those two games. The Islanders also are a tired team, as Botta mentioned they returned to Long Island late last night.
The Flyers will be playing in front of Martin Biron again tonight, and he should be ready for another dazzling performance. He's won 11 straight against NYI, and he's played in 11 of the Flyers last 12 games.
I mentioned prior to Thursday's game that it probably wasn't as important a game as it was to the Panthers. Well, with Carolina looming just a point back and New York having nothing to play for, it's the opposite tonight. The Flyers need a win to keep pace, and the Islanders are a good team to do that against. But as they've taught numerous playoff teams this month, you can't over look the league's worst team. Let's hope the Flyers got the memo.
Questions To Answer
- Do the Islanders have an extra momentum jump after beating Detroit last night? Or did they expend too much energy in that performance?
- Can the Flyers capitalize on a chance to beat a lowly team?
- Does Marty get his 12 straight against NYI, lifting him to Niitty versus Atlanta style ownership?
Go Flyers. Go Villanova.
76 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Doug Weight in a fight, huh?
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
I’m watching the game on “MSG plus 2” in New York… and they just announced that the game is available in Mandarin Chinese. Seemed odd to me.
I wonder what the number of people utilizing that is.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Mar 28, 2009 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, is there some kind of huge Chinese speaking hockey fan base on long island?
All Richard Park fans?
Maybe Charles Wang being the owner has something to do with it. He was born in Shanghai.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Mar 28, 2009 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions
And there you go… the answer from Dominik at Lighthouse Hockey.
Charles Wang has been big on promoting hockey in China — creating youth tournaments, bringing Chinese youth teams over here. One of the things he’s done is create a Chinese play-by-play for a lot of home games, to help make people aware of the game there
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Mar 28, 2009 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s a lot of Flyers fans. I guess it’s easy for Flyers fans to get the cheaper tickets in bulk when the home team is in last place in the league.
I thought about going up there for this one, too.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Mar 28, 2009 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions
That building gets so loud. It’s such a dumb, but it’s like a crappier version of the Spectrum with the way it handles noise.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Mar 28, 2009 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions
dump***
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Mar 28, 2009 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m having serious troubles deciding which game to watch right now. I’ve got both on different screens but it’s hard to focus. ’Nova is all over Pitt early, though.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
I’ve been flipping back and forth a bit… But since I never went to Villanova, I’m not really a fan. I root for them because they’re a Philly team… but I’m not a fan like I am of the Flyers or Eagles or Phils..
I’ve always followed the Big 5 schools like I follow the pro teams, so I’ve got a pretty big stake in it I guess.
It would be no question if it weren’t the Elite Eight, 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 28, 2009 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Damnit.
I don’t have a good feeling about how this game has gone so far.
I hate when the fourth line is sent out after a goal. I understand the reasoning behind it, but I wanna see the best offensive players on the ice trying to make something happen, not the bruisers.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Mar 28, 2009 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Isles score. 1-0
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
Certainly seems that way.
Terrible break… double minor. Need this kill.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
I’d really like to see Carolina beat the Devils, for so many reasons…
Swing by The Flyer Frequent. You have nothing better to do.
As long as we win, sure.
I still believe that we can catch NJ, for some insane reason.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Mar 28, 2009 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions
I would gladly drop to 5th if we got to play Carolina in the first round.
Swing by The Flyer Frequent. You have nothing better to do.
by Ben Rothenberg on Mar 28, 2009 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d rather just play them as the four, haha.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Mar 28, 2009 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Ugh.
Now we have to deal with a controversy.
Damn close, as close as it gets, really. But that’s not a goal.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Mar 28, 2009 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Caught a break with that no goal, but either way… that’s a big PK right there.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
Wow.
2-0
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
let’s hope so. they look dead right now.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Mar 28, 2009 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Riley should realize that taking attention away from Carcillo isn’t going to save his spot in the NHL.
Amen to that. I’d feel threatened by a guy who does what you do better, and also brings a slight (albeit very slight) scoring touch to the table.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Mar 28, 2009 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions
I feel compelled to point out that the two have been equally useless this year when it comes to netting goals for the Flyers.
Swing by The Flyer Frequent. You have nothing better to do.
by Ben Rothenberg on Mar 28, 2009 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Right… that was my point. Cote only fights and sucks at it. Carcillo fights, is better than Cote at it, and has a glimmer of hope offensively.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
by Travis Hughes on Mar 28, 2009 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Asham just tattooed Jackman.
… and boom goes the dynamite.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
WHAT?!?!
HOW THE HELL IS THAT A PENALTY?!
Guy makes a brilliant defensive play and it’s called a penalty. Absolute BS.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
I hate the NHL. You’ve gotta wonder if there’s a page in the ref handbook that says “if it’s a Flyer they probably did something wrong.”
Biron is having some trouble tonight. A bunch of pucks have hit him and trickled just wide or something.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
That’s a shot for the ages… Briere and Gagne flanking Arron Asham on the penalty bench.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.
A great team finds a way to win this in the third…
Swing by The Flyer Frequent. You have nothing better to do.
I have Nova losing to L'ville in championship.
by chillicothe20 on Mar 28, 2009 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions
How terrible was that inbound play that let Pitt tie it though?
Glad Nova won, but that’s how I am with these things. After the Flyers beat the Caps in Game 7 last year I was still furious at them for blowing Game 6…
Swing by The Flyer Frequent. You have nothing better to do.
by Ben Rothenberg on Mar 28, 2009 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions
As a Pitt alum, the only thing that makes the Cunningham/Reynolds play (straight outta Boise State Fiesta Bowl lore, by the way) not make me cry is that Nova should have sealed that game 5 seconds earlier. When you’re 22 of 23 from the line, up two, why not just inbound? Pitt HAS to foul, go to the line, you’re guaranteed at least a 3 point lead.
Anyway, I second the “one of the best tourney games ever.” Well played on both ends.
by Geoff Detweiler on Mar 29, 2009 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
SBNation.com Recent Stories
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Watch John Tortorella’s Game 2 press conference, as he’ll ‘keep it in the room’ (VIDEO)
- Devils Coach Pete DeBoer’s adjustments make difference in Game 2 win vs. Rangers
- Marty Brodeur’s ‘own goal’ in Game 2 vs. Rangers (VIDEO)
- Coyotes’ Martin Hanzal suspended 1 game for boarding Dustin Brown
- Devils vs. Rangers in Game 2; top NHL free agents; top 10 playoff saves (Playoff Puck Previews)
