Philadelphia Flyers
Someone Let The NHL Schedule Out….
It is now out of the bag……
It will be an interesting season this year with everyone playing each other at least once. I will enjoy the Pittsburgh-Washington battles..and the two Avery Vs. Brodeur matchups. Naturally, the Rangers Vs. Stars meeting will also have extra meeting as the super pest faces his former team. There are so many storylines with the new err back to the future schedule.
Sometime around Thanksgiving or a little after, Martin Brodeur (barring injury) will surely approach and break Patrick Roy’s goaltending victories mark (551). Brodeur has 538 right now…and well 14 wins should be about as automatic as Tiger Woods on Sundays. I was hoping the Devils would have a West Coast trip at that time but no…they will have a trip in early January…right around my wife’s birthday (Jan. 8th).
Finally, all I want to see this year is some more physical hockey. With all the changing addresses, maybe my hope will be fulfilled. Now maybe it won’t but I am hoping for a very interesting season, I look forward to The Winter Classic in Chicago, and of course the start of the season in Europe with Ottawa, Pittsburgh, NY Rangers, and Tampa playing two games each. Enjoy!
Flying High In MoTown!!!
The Red Wings took game 2 on Monday night 3-0. The Pens looked aware, but a sleep at trying to score goals.
Detroit had a very busy couple of days hosting the Stanley Cup Finals and the Eastern Confrence Finals between the Celtics and the Pistons. between the fights and the penalties that were in game 2, I have to say what a game it was on Monday.
There were so many fights and so much talkin I was wondering that maybe this was WWF smack down in hockey style.
Now I know their playing for the biggest trophy in hockey, but I guess you can’t blame them when it comes to Lords Stanley’s Cup you just sometimes have to drop the gloves and fight it out, to see who wants it more.
Although the Pens did seem like they might have been starting to make a comeback in the third, I doubted it after one of the players on the Penguins was called for goalie interference.
Malkin and Crosby seemed to be alert on trying to score goals, but the defense of the Red Wings kust were to much to handle.
I really think that the Red Wings will sweep the Penguins if the Pens don’t start shuting them down and start slowing it down a bit.
The Pens need to stop talking trash with the Wings and start performing as if in fact they are Eastern Confrence Champs.
Because honestly if they keep on talking trash with their mouths, they will see their hopes and dreams of becoming the NHL Champs sweeped away by the the MoTown Wings.
GO PENS!!!
Full Moon Coming….
Most NHL fans were sickened by the following image today.
Thank you Yahoo and Getty Images…..
Crosby with The Wales Conference Trophy
So well…now what? Pittsburgh has earned the right to represent the East no question though I will still think up and down if the Devils had gotten out of the first round..they could have made more noise against the Penguins than the Flyers but hey…that is just me. Pittsburgh deserves a major pat on the back as they have made their first Stanley Cup Final since 1992. Now that is an accomplishment. Somewhere up there I am sure Badger Bob is smiling from ear to ear and downing a Scotch.
Then In Quebec CIty at Le Colisee…..the Russians surprised Canada early in Overtime for a 5-4 victory. Ilya Kovalchuk just barely stayed onside from a cross ice pass, skated in and fired a screamer right past Cam Ward who knew it was in before it actually went in. What ensued after was a celebration that resembled more party than World Championship or Olympic Gold Medal. In the end, Canada blew a 4-2 lead they should have held but give Russia tons of credit for remembering what got them to the Gold Medal Game in the first place. They just kept coming in waves and Canada was put on their heels. By the time Canada tried to mount attacks of their own, they just looked too tired. It was like the 3-1 first period lead took the strength out of the home team. Well this was a nice picture of Captain Alexei Morozov…smile Russia!!!
Russia Wins World Championship (Photo: DAVID BOILY/Getty Images)
Well hell I have dropped to 4-6 for the Conference Finals yet I was 6-1 in the World’s when it counted…go figure!!!! Don’t forget Stars-Wings tonight…and I am thinking the Wings surprise the Stars 4-2..I don’t know why at this point honestly but I picked Wings in 6…and maybe they are listening…hopefully.
The Worlds And Playoffs Meet…Sorta!
Now this is going to be fun folks! Two hockey games both meaning something on the same day and both can have a very definite finality.
First up will be the Canada-Russia tilt at 1pm EDT (10am for those West Coast brunch eaters). This shapes up to be a whale of a game and Russia wants to win this so bad that Evgeni Nabokov wants to be the one that stops Canada. Many do think that Canada is indeed vulnerable. They looked rather shaky in their 5-4 victory over Sweden in the Semis on Friday. If it wasn’t for Mike Greene, Canada may be playing for bronze right now but the bottom line is…they are not.
The key for Russia is to duplicate their effort against Finland. They were disciplined, played physical, and executed all facets of the game. Now a perfect like game against Canada is not likely but that is the type of intensity they need. Obviously Sushinskiy, Ovechkin, Fedorov, and crew have to get off to a quick start but defensively they know Canada can come in waves especially with the NaGeHe (Nash-Getzlaf-Heatley) line. That line is like a big wrecking ball at what feels much more than the close to 700 pounds combined that they actually are. This will be Russia’s toughest challenge…slowing down that Canada forecheck.
In the end I think the Russians are the one team that could pull this off. Really before the tournament if you had Canada-Russia….I would not have been surprised. Russia is going to set the tone with an early goal then the two teams will play back and forth before Ovechkin nets the game winner in a 4-3 Russia triumph.
The other game begins shortly after 3pm EDT (Noon for those lunch timers on the Left Coast). Philadelphia tries to extend their season against Pittsburgh with two key additions likely to be back in the lineup. Those changes will be Mr. Timonen and Coburn, basically their two best defensemen….PERIOD! Philadelphia has a world of confidence and this will only help against Pittsburgh where Marc Andre Fleury suddenly looks a bit vulnerable. The Flyers will have to counterpunch considerably in the first half of the game as the Penguins will push the pace to its breaking point. Martin Biron will have to stand on his head much like he did in the Montreal series (especially games 2-4).
Daniel Briere and Joffrey Lupul will have to continue to be major presences in front of Fleury. Briere has too much speed and skating ability to be contained by the Penguins D and he needs to exploit that especially in man advantage situations. If Lupul and Briere can click early, this game could easily tilt in the Flyers favor. If not, the Penguins are going to head to their first Stanley Cup Finals since 1992.
In the end, the Flyers have an extended leash on life and will not let this opportunity go….in a surprising 4-3 victory…expect RJ Umberger to net the winner and Biron to make at least 30-35 saves.
So this expects to be a great day for some hockey…thank you Badger Bob!!
Fumbling Towards Meltdown!
All you needed to know about this game…just with this little get together at the end. I can definitely say without a doubt this sends more than a message…this sends an exclamation point that Sunday in Pittsburgh will be entertaining via offense, physicality, and much much more. Last night, the Flyers scored three times on the Penguins in the first period and never looked back in a 4-2 win that will be more memorable for the late game fisticuffs than anything else honestly. But you gotta love it…that is playoff hockey!!!
Tonight’s three stars thanks to Yahoo…and I have to agree with them without a doubt here.
Three Stars
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So now what for this series? Well I am expecting Pittsburgh to come out Sunday much like the Flyers did tonight but you never know….stranger things have happened. What I liked tonight is both teams came out intense and for once, the Flyers and particularly guys like Daniel Briere and Joffrey Lupul stepped up huge. Briere scored once and was a presence and Lupul scored twice plus was a manchild on the offensive end. Then the Penguins countered with an effort from Jordan Staal that was reminiscent of last season’s breakout rookie campaign.
The Penguins were also initiating contact everywhere and that has to bode well for then in Game 5. Even Sidney Crosby got into a bit of a scrum with Mike RIchards. Jason Smith and Ryan Malone went at it…then Derian Hatcher went at it…..Scottie Upshall was hitting everything in sight for Philly and amazingly what was forgotten in all of this was the goaltending of Martin Biron.
Biron was simply amazing tonight…stopping 36 of 38 shots in a tour de force effort. Biron played with a conviction tonight that I hadn’t seen since the Montreal series. Even when Pittsburgh scored twice in the third, he did not get rattled. Whatever I have said about Biron in previous years does not apply now….he is becoming a complete goalie and just what the Flyers have always needed. Win or lose in this series…Biron has made a name for himself in a town where it is sometimes hard to make headway.
You da man Mr. Biron!
So all in all, yes my prediction rate is back to .500 but these things happen…the law of averages was bound to catch up and today we get a break as the world’s take over center stage….just in time for Saturday brunch time hockey…Game 5….Wings-Stars….ooh yeah. But tonight the story was the Flyers and their unwillingness to go meekly into that cold, dark night…at least without a huge bombastic fight.
The Late Late Update From The Left Coast….
Let’s see what happened tonight…and basically what didn’t go wrong….well as far as predictions go.
For one…the USA lost to Finland 3-2 in Overtime despite a valiant comeback.
Then Dallas finally got the upper hand thanks to some fine goaltending by Marty Turco (33 saves and first star) in a 3-1 victory over Detroit last night.
Pittsburgh has a chance to sweep the Flyers tonight…I never thought that would happen at all…ever!
What a strange week it has been really. From the success of several hockey related ventures to the bizarre events on the NHL and International Stage. One thing for sure….life and hockey are never dull. I can’t wait for the World Semis on Friday and next week when the Stanley Cup Finals start. Hopefully, the joy of friends and hockey can put a smile on my face unlike the picture that has been painted in the last week.
Pens Lead Series 3-0 Against Flyers
We all new after the Pens won game one what we would be seeing. The Pens have been a dominant force in these playoffs. The Flyers just seem like they have lost all confidence and hope in beating the Pens in this series. Look for the Pens to close this one out in Phily and look for the Pens to be this years Stanley Cup Champions.
Stanley Cup Prediction
Red Wings & Pens
Ron Wilson Canned And An Apology…
Well I figured after the San Jose Sharks were eliminated, I figured Ron Wilson had to take the fall, fairly or unfairly. Sure enough a week to the day……Wilson was relieved of his duties and GM Doug Wilson said a search has begun immediately for a new coach. My question is what really went wrong here? This team has clearly underachieved the last three seasons. Many had this team going to the finals this season and quite a few had them winning the whole damn thing. So how did it end in the second round yet again?
There are so many reasons. You can trace it to the overplaying of Evgeni Nabokov, the lack of depth scoring, the injury to Michalek. There were too many things to mention here but really it all comes down to playoff game planning and this team has not or still has not found a plan that consistently works. This is more than the coach’s fault….this is on the players, staff, execs, and owner PERIOD! So who is the immediate scapegoat? Ron Wilson…that’s who. He will land a job and in very short order…there are a number of teams who are looking for the services of a coach like him. Expect him to be with a new team before the draft or shortly thereafter. You heard it here first!
Now onward to an apology of sorts if you will. I said this in January:
There is no denying this team has great team chemistry…they have for almost two decades really. Yet for whatever myriad of reasons, they have not won a cup since 2002. I really do believe the Wings play so good during the season that they may be playing too well when they head into the playoffs. Teams often come gunning for them and when that intensity ramps up, they can’t answer the bell for whatever reason. Now I am not saying the Red Wings should tank it a bit…but one has to admit, it is strange to see a team with such killer instinct in the regular season….lose it in the playoffs the way they do.
May I now simply just admit I was wrong here…though with one caveat. The Wings did indeed slow down a bit albeit because of some injuries and maybe that was a good thing. Because now in the playoffs they are even more unbeatable than in the early part of the regular season. Detroit has won 9 straight games..two shy of the record from the 1993 Montreal Canadiens. Unlike the Habs, the Wings have not needed overtime at all. Chris Osgood is playing consistent and that is all Detroit really needs right now. Let the defensive machine combine with timely scoring and you have the makings of a Stanley Cup Champ. They still have 5 games to win before they can claim the Cup but this is a year they definitely have what it takes…something that couldn’t be said even in January.
In an oh by the way…Canada beat Finland 6-3 today and the USA throttled Norway 9-1 which means simply we get to see Finland and the US play for keeps in the quarters. If it is anything like the game Sunday, it will be one whale of a game. The US and their Power Play will come out firing…hopefully they let them play and no one decides this one but the players….then that way there can’t be any doubt.
Well a tough one tonight…as Dallas lost bad but I am hoping Philly can do what Dallas couldn’t and that is come out with the fire and intensity then sustain it. They will enough to win this one.
Philly 4Â Pittsburgh 3
Viva l’hockey!!!!!
The Anger And The Ecstasy!
Sometimes the best way to describe mood in general is to just vent….just let it all out there. If we didn’t, we would not be considered human. This one is pretty much to the IIHF……..
GO SUCK IT!!!!!!!
Why? Simple….it isn’t the goal that wasn’t that irks me as much as the phony apology from their organization. Yes they manned up and fired the goal judge but he should never be allowed to work another IIHF or olympic event ever…PERIOD…DONE!! There is no excuse for what happened. Now would the US have still lost anyway? Well we will never know now will we? Finland got much needed momentum from that goal and that measures itself in more ways than just the tally itself.
Like I said before…no links, pictures or videos this time….this is just an angry man just letting it out. I want heads rolling….not chopped off or anything but something more needs to be done. To add further insult…in the end of the game fight….the ensuing scrums saw Teemu Selanne basically being allowed to jaw at the American bench for what seemed like minutes before he was finally escorted off. His little attempted sucker punch did not go unnoticed by the USA squad and damn you thought Coach John Tortorella was going to castrate him right on the ice. The question there would be….who did he go after first…officials, or Selanne? His press conference was colorful to say the least. There was nice usage of several explicit curses mixed in eloquently with good in-game insight. I felt for the guy…he already has a short deck….then to see his team get jobbed had to send him over the edge and it did to me as well.
Well not is all bad today as the Americans are bouncing back early against poor Norway. The US is up 3-0 after 1…outshooting Norway 18-5. Goals by Kane, Brown, and Dubinsky punctuated a strong first period that hopefully is a harbinger of things to come. Maybe this is the rallying point this team really needed. Only time will really tell.
The ecstasy comes in the form of my predictions which are off to a great 4-0 start following the Pittsburgh win yesterday. Well time to stop tooting my own horn here and get to today’s prediction….here is what I got.
Dallas 3Â Detroit 2
Let’s see how right I am. I figure home ice will mean something especially in Game 3. Thank you and enjoy the hockey everyone!
Pens Win Eastern Finals Game 1
The Pengunins beat the Flyers 4-2 Malkin scored to dazzling goals 5 minutes apart. To give the Pens a two goal lead after Crosbey tied it. The Pens look unstoppable with Malkin and Crosbey leading the way. However when the Red Wings sweeped the Colorado Avalanche, most of us knew they would sweep a team like Colorado just because the Wings seem to always be in the playoffs every year.
After the Sharks beat Calgary in game 7 of that series, I really thought that they were the team to beat in the NHL. Now not a lot of us thought that the Stars would come out with such talent and determination to send the Sharks home. I am not saying the Stars are not good, but I just did not expect that the Stars would beat a team like the Sharks and send them home.
The Pens seemed very dominant in Game 1 against the Flyers, but the flyers didn’t back down. They kept on fighting till the game was done. But the Pens are just to good with Malkin, Crosbey and all the other talent that the Pens have. I personally do not think the Flyer will beat the Pens, but just like with the Stars and Sharks series, not a lot of people thought that the Stars would win the series. So don’t be surprised if the Flyers beat the Flyers, but I highly doubt it. :)
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