1st Round PLAYOFF MATCHUP – Penguins vs. Flyers?

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.

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.

DR Hook