The first of these match-up series was US against the Capitals. The second was US against the Devils… and here we are (if it ended today) matched-up against those little maggots from PhilOdelphia. What can we expect from this one?
Well, let’s start with last year’s EAST FINALS only this time the FLYS will bring no excuses like last year when they used Kimmo Timinen and Braydon Colburn as excuses for being steam-rolled… and that led to that city’s brotherly love affair with the Eagles and the Phillies. PhilOdelphia isn’t the Hockeytahn that it once was.
Well, let’s start with last year’s EAST FINALS only this time the FLYS will bring no excuses like last year when they used Kimmo Timinen and Braydon Colburn as excuses for being steam-rolled… and that led to that city’s brotherly love affair with the Eagles and the Phillies. PhilOdelphia isn’t the Hockeytahn that it once was.
From some guy playing on his an organ a “Crosby Sucks” chant builds-up and we have yet another team’s fans (just like the Capitals) that can’t focus on their own team and players but spend it more on Crosby, Malkin and Fleury. Yet when these two teams meet it is usually a WAR. Last season those FLYS resurrected the well-worn-out “Did the Pens TANK their last game of the regular season?” Then… the Pens steam-rollered them in FIVE. I LUV’D it. Didn’t you too!
This is a new season but what’s different with them? Nothing. The FLYS are pretty much the same low-life team as last season and the year’s before. That’s why we all hate them. The fans that could remember their last Stanley Cup watch the games from Nursing homes.
In the April fool’s early edition THE INKY summed it up like this: The Flyers are six points behind the Devils, who are seeded No. 3 in the East, and have a game in hand on New Jersey. Tonight, should the Flyers win in Toronto while the Devils lose in Pittsburgh, the race could get more interesting.
As usual, the goaltending is always a problem for the FLYS and that tandem of Biron and Niittymaki is a major weakness. You think they don’t know that? They are both unsigned UFA’s for next season. And, not having a #1 goaltender heading into the playoffs… that’s never been a good sign. Steven’s YANKED Biron last night and this is only going to add to the confusion and non-confidence in their net.
Weaknesses: The FLYS let other teams skate out of their own zone with ease and that is Penguin strength right now. They have a lack of experience on defense and although their PK group looks pretty good the reason is that they get a lot of experience.
Strengths: Mike Richards is the key to both the PP and the PK. It’s really all about Richards and Carter and sometimes Gagne and Briere (both of whom pretty much bypass physical play and disappear)… Hartnell is one of those love ‘em hate ‘em types and gives the Penguins fits and also why the Penguin fans HATE those little maggots a little bit more. Can you sense the dislike here? Actually, I’m trying to cover it up.
First round match-up… I’d love it. Home ice or not home ice it doesn’t much matter. This series will end the same as last year.
Did I mention that I hate the FLYS?
Look, this hate goes back a long time. Even Roberto Clemente hated the FLYS!
I wasn’t sure if I made that clear. There is not one single Pen’s fan who doesn’t hate them.
When I think of those FLYS I see a picture of Derian Hatcher (a cheap-shot) 
that deserves all the playing time he’s got this year. Too bad he isn’t healthy so that Malkin and Crosby can skate around him like a human pylon he’s always been.
The FLYS have that same mutal hate of the Penguins and if we could play them in the playoffs every year (first, second or third round)it would be that much better for hockey all around.
This is DR Hook… carry on.
How about those FLY$ going 4-5-1 in their last 10 games and after blowing home ice against the NY RAG$ their coach (John Steven’s) says,”I’ve liked the way we played lately . . . ” Oh yea – no wonder those FULGY fans are booing. What’s that message?
@ Stealth
Those Flyers walked right over Montreal after beating the Caps. They didn’t look too wore out!
By Jesselvis, April 2, 2009 @ 3:17 pm says:
“We probably beat the Flyers as easily in five as last year, that’s if the Flyers make the playoffs, they are sinking fast.”
The Flyers will make the playoffs, and as for last season, the CAPS wore the Flyers out in that first round seven game series… No one wants a first round matchup like that…
I doubt anyone would be “Tanking”, with how close all the teams are and how close they are to missing the playoffs, 1 win changes everything, there is no way someone would be purposely losing, at least until they secured a spot. I do believe that the last game teams may throw it for a better matchup.
This would be a super first round match-up. Question now is with Paul Holmgren calling-up three start players and his coach is this a SMOKE and MIRROR routine and they are really TANKING to avoid a Penguin 1st round!
GM calls out the FLYERS STARS…………
http://csnphilly.com/pages/landing_homepage/?Panaccio-Holmgren-Says-Flyers-Must-Pick-=1&blockID=47565&feedID=717
FLYERS falling down – cruising LOL
Paul Holmgren says, “Mike [Richards] has to play better, Jeff [Carter] has to play better. These guys are our big guns. Simon [Gagne] has to play better. Mike Knuble and Scott Hartnell, these are our big guys, they all have to step up.”
FLYER FANS are losing it too: Why can’t the defense get any shots on net from the point?? Come on Briere earn your money! Stevens is the coach. It’s his team. it’s his fault. They play with NO intensity at all. Stevens has no intensity at all. The Defense has been suspect at best. How many giveaways have we seen by Coburn and Alberts lately? As long as we only have a second rate goalie like he was in Buffalo, we will only be a second rate team.
Mr. Lover lover loves this stuff boom -boom -boom.
Okay – Okay YINZ is convincing me to park the Pen’s WOOHOO TRAIN here at PenguinPOOP. I see a few visitors and original WOOHOO Train Pen’s fans starting to post here so why not. YINZERS all have to be some where when the playoff rides begins – right.
@ DR Hook YINZ had better get the Matchup of the PENS VS CANES in the works after last night, eh.
DR Hook,
Nice Write-up. Can’t disagree with you here.
Whatever Bylsma’s doing, it’s working. He has the team playing almost to their potential. He brought the swagger back.
Its funny to think that not too long ago we weren’t sure the Pens would make the playoffs, now we’re bracing ourselves for what very well might be another serious run.
KULT: After reading the post-gazette article that dunlop posted, I’m starting to believe maybe Therrien was the problem, I willing to bet the Pens are high on the list of teams no-one wants 2 play!
First of all I just want to say nice site guys/girls. First timer her. In these times you have to keep a sense of humor and it’s much better than tracking my IRA!
As to the Flyers, they are one of those good and bad teams some days they are on and some days they are off. The pens are in that catagory too unless you go along with the theory that Therrien was stinking the place up. Right now since Bylsma been on the scene I’m going with it was Therrien and these boys are right back where they should have been all the time. I’m thinking that if anyone is TANKING games it’s around playing us in the first round. I don’t think any team wants us right now.
We probably beat the Flyers as easily in five as last year, that’s if the Flyers make the playoffs, they are sinking fast.
Tell me how you really feel, Hook. LMAO He was the REAL (and first) Great One – ARRIBA!