Gameday: So about that playoff spot...
by Travis Hughes on Apr 7, 2009 4:50 PM EDT
in 08-09 Game Threads
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#9 Florida Panthers (39-29-11, 89 pts) at #4 Philadelphia Flyers (42-25-11, 95 pts)
Wachovia Center - 7:00 PM EST - Philadelphia, PA
TV: CSN HD
Radio: 94.1 WYSP, XM 206
This is the open game thread.
Behind Enemy Lines: Litter Box Cats
On Saturday night, the Flyers let one get away from them in Ottawa. They had a chance to clinch a playoff spot but couldn't get it done. By virtue of taking that game to a shootout, however, they only need one point this evening against Florida to guarantee playing past Sunday.
Let's not let it get that close.
Tonight's game is going to be a tough one for the Flyers. Florida is a team with just three games left on its schedule, beginning tonight in Philly. They do not control their own destiny, currently sitting in ninth place in the East. They are tied with the New York Rangers in points but trail them due to the tiebreaker -- NYR has more wins.
Ironically though, it is in Florida's interest that the Flyers have a strong conclusion to their season. Two Flyer wins against the Rangers on Thursday and Sunday would go a long way toward helping the Panthers secure their first playoff berth since the 1999/2000 season.
But of course, they can help themselves with a win tonight. They're coming off of a big win Sunday at home over the Penguins, a 4-2 win that saw Sidney Crosby get in another fight. They were slow starters in that game though, outshot 18-3 in the first period. If they start half as slow tonight as they did on Sunday, the Flyers better damn well capitalize.
It's all about 60-minute efforts for the Flyers these days. They've been few-and-far-between lately, and it's shown in the results column. A solid, complete effort is necessary tonight, if for no other reason than the teams' psyche. If they compete for the entire game, they can beat any team in this league. Period.
Playoff hockey starts tonight. With four games left and a possible eight points available, the Flyers hold their own destiny in their hands. Taking seven of those points guarantees home ice in the playoffs. Get it done, team.
Between the Pipes: The last meeting between these two came less than two weeks ago. It was a frustrating loss for the Flyers, who despite putting 42 shots on net, were thwarted by a stellar Florida goalie, Craig Anderson. Don't expect that to happen tonight for two reasons: A) it's tough to play like that two games in a row against a great offensive team like the Flyers, and B) Anderson isn't even playing tonight.
Tomas Vokoun, who W4E over at The Litter Box believes is the better of the two Florida netminders, gets the call tonight for the Panthers. He made 41 saves in the win over Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Martin Biron will go again for the Flyers. He'll probably start tonight and both games against the Rangers, which means Antero Niittymaki will go Saturday on Long Island.
Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell missed practice yesterday, but they are in the lineup tonight. No word on if Andreas Nodl or Riley Cote will suit up tonight on the fourth line.
Questions To Answer
- Does Florida get off to a weak start, and do the Flyers jump on it?
- 60 minute effort?
- We're back to this again: does Biron give up a softy?
- Jeff Carter wins the Bobby Clarke Trophy?
Flyers team awards being handed out prior to the game. There's the Barry Ashbee Trophy for top defenseman (won last year by Kimmo Timonen), the Bobby Clarke Trophy for team MVP (won last year by Mike Richards), Gene Hart Memorial Award for best rapport with fans (won last year by Richards), Pelle Lindbergh Memorial for most improved (won last year by Braydon Coburn), the Toyota Cup for most three stars points (won last year by Martin Biron), and the Yanick Dupre Memorial for best rapport with the media (won by Biron).
Go Flyers!
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Awards:
My guesses:
Ashbee – Timonen
Clarke – Carter
Hart – Richards, although Hartnell could pull it out
Lindbergh – Giroux, although Parent has a strong case too
Toyota – Dunno, Carter I guess
Dupre – Biron again
You’re right about the “Florida start”. It’s been sink or swim all year, though recently what appeared to be “poor” efforts in the first (witness the 18-3 shot margin in favor of Pittsburgh on Sunday) wound up becoming advantages later on (the Pens were out of gas by the third).
Well-timed Keith Ballard appearances help too…
I put my predictions for the awards here…
http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com/2009/04/and-flyer-goes-to.html
Can Giroux be most improved if he didn’t really play last year? I don’t think so, but at the same time I wouldn’t be surprised if he won it.
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How about this...
… the Flyers win tonight, but so does Montreal. This way, Florida does not lose any ground on the Rangers and still has a chance to knock them out of the top 8.
Due to prior commitments, I’m going to miss the first 2 periods of the game tonight. I hope we’re still in it when I get back.
Most improved player? Probably Ryan Parent, who only saw spot duty as needed last year but has justifiably become a regular this time around.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
Most improved player is probably Scott Hartnell. He had his first ever 30 goal season. While I’m impressed with Parent, I saw this from him last year too. (It also doesn’t hurt he’s with Timonen) He just didn’t play because of numbers.
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 7, 2009 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Let’s get this done. I have to wonder if the reason we’ve struggled against the Panthers the entire season is because we don’t take them seriously enough…? Maybe I’m alone in feeling that, but that’s just the vibe I’ve gotten in the previous 3 games against them.
Stream here http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hockey-live
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hey why does it jump between games? Is it just bc the Flyers game is at intermission?
by Mitchell Green on Apr 7, 2009 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Riley's gone.
So I guess Nodl’s in for the playoffs.
I’d like to see Kalinski. Hell, even Sbisa on forward.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Apr 7, 2009 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions
LOL, Riley Cote conveniently out for the season.
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Penalty on Coburn. He takes a lot of those.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Apr 7, 2009 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions
2-0 Carolina. I’m getting less and less psyched about facing them…
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Toronto up 2-0 on the Devils. If only the Flyers hadn’t slumped at the same time, they coulda caught em for the Atlantic.
We haven’t hung a banner since 2004…
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Caps up 2-1 on Atlanta in relatively irrelevant game.
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I really like that behind the net camera.
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Rangers get the lead. NO idea why Carey Price is allowed to play this sport anymore.
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I loved his reaction to the goal. “In the butterfly, there’s room above my shoulder???”
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 7, 2009 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions
His go-to save move in the playoff last year whenever anything went glove side was to shrug.
And he started in the all-star game.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Apr 7, 2009 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s NYI losing to Carolina, actually.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Apr 7, 2009 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions
And yet I was still screaming at my TV the whole time (not at anyone individually, but at plays like the one where Carter had the wide-open net).
That’s true, there were a couple blown chances
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by Ben Rothenberg on Apr 7, 2009 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Here’s a head scratcher: Toronto is on the verge of sweeping the season series with the Devils.
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Btw, Versus, props for having the SUPER relevant Dallas-Minnesota…
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Carter held onto that broken stick for a while
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Makes me miss Ossi Vaananen. And the $1.75 million less he costed
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 7, 2009 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions
God I wanna play Carey Price again in the playoffs.
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You know, they should just let people kick in pucks. Dumb rule.
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Penguins winning.
If PIT wins, CAR wins, and Flyers lose in regulation, the Flyers will be in SIXTH. Eek.
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No excuse for that, but maybe getting matched up with the Devils would be a good thing so we can avoid the two hottest teams in the league, letting them beat the shit out of each other.
by Mitchell Green on Apr 7, 2009 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Come on CSN, you know nobody wants to see Crosby’s goal…
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How did Carter score that one!?
Unbelievable.
Got away with a crosscheck and a goal! God loves him some Flyers.
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Comcast Center Ice preview! All the games free on Comcast.
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I feel you, I had been on a feed til I saw.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Apr 7, 2009 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions
If you have Comcast, go up to the Center Ice channels (for me in the 700s), and all the NHL games are there and unlocked.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Apr 7, 2009 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Why does CSN keep showing us the Penguins highlights, or lowlights I should say?
I am out here already. If I wanted to see the Penguins game I would be watching it. Urgh.
Go Tampa. I’d love to see the Penguins face the Caps in the first round
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by Ben Rothenberg on Apr 7, 2009 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions
And just like that Pens score. Should be disallowed.
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by Ben Rothenberg on Apr 7, 2009 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Shock! Its good to see the Penguins give up a lead to Tampa even if they do win though. I just hope they are coming of their cloud in time for the playoffs.
by Mitchell Green on Apr 7, 2009 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey, we are rooting for you guys too to knock off the Rangers of Montreal. Good luck with the end of the season!
by Mitchell Green on Apr 7, 2009 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions
And we are on you’re side too. Nothing I’d (and I’m sure the majority here) like more than the Rangers to miss the playoffs
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 7, 2009 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks!
Sorry that Montreal did not hold up their end of the bargain tonight. But you still have hope! Here’s the deal:
1. Beat Atlanta. It’s payback time.
2. Beat Washington. It might seem hard, but the Caps could have the 2nd seed locked up by the time they come to town. If they beat Tampa OR if they lose in OT, they’ll clinch the 2nd. Then, they’d likely rest some of their top guys for the last game of the season, while you guys will be bringing your all.
3. Hope that the Flyers beat the Rangers for two straight games.
Take care of your business, and we’ll take care of ours. Good luck!
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
I’d like to avoid the bias that is ever present in playing the Penguins. Not to mention they are playing well and we aren’t.
I am still very confident that the Flyers can beat the Penguins but it will be a tough, hard fought series leaving the Flyers potentially drained for the next series. Although, playing the Canes might be a lot harder considering how they are playing. 9-0! That is incredible!
by Mitchell Green on Apr 7, 2009 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions
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