Scouting the Enemy: Philadelphia Flyers
by FrankD
on Jan 13, 2009 12:27 PM EST
in News
16 comments
Record: 23-10-9
Leading scorers: Jeff Carter (29G, 17A), Mike Richards (16G, 28A)
Blogs: Broad and Pattison | Flyers Goal Scored By...
Penguins lost this one and they're just another .500 team. That's how crucial this one is. Combine that with the fact that four of the Penguins next eight games are division games and you can almost conclude that tonight is a must-win.
But lately they're all must-wins, aren't they? With the Penguins dropping eight of their last nine they definitely have some ground to make up for in the division. Here's their first chance.
Rest assured, it won't be easy. The Flyers are 3-0-2 since kicking off the new year but for all intents and purposes should be 5-0. Their 55 points puts them in first atop the Atlantic as the equally beloved New York Rangers sit only one point behind. The Pens? Yeah, they're 11 points out of first.
Again, this is a good chance to close that gap.
The Penguins have a slight edge on the season series at 2-1-0. Tonight they head back into Philadelphia where they were knocked down 6-3 during a Saturday matinee back on December 13. Hopefully Sid brings his earmuffs with him.
In short here's what the Pens have to do: keep the Flyers from getting two and edge a bit closer. This month doesn't get any easier.
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These back to back games with the Flyers and Caps have come to be a very pivotal point in the season.
by PensFan024 on
Jan 13, 2009 12:58 PM EST
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Amazing, isn’t it?
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by FrankD on
Jan 13, 2009 1:00 PM EST
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I think it’s time to smack some Flyers up. They have become a good offensive and defensive team, but they are nothing but a bunch of goons dressed in orange. Once the Pens find someone whose willing to drive to the cage and stay there these teams better watch out because the goal total will go through the roof.
Oh yeah that and start shooting the puck.
by paps35 on
Jan 13, 2009 2:02 PM EST
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Shots would be nice. frankly I’d like to see double digits with each period but I know that’s just wishful thinking
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by FrankD on
Jan 13, 2009 2:13 PM EST
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I have heard that tonights 4th line will consist of Godard, Bissonette, and Wallace.
by PensFan024 on
Jan 13, 2009 2:07 PM EST
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Yah B-Net/Biz-nasty got the call up earlier today. He’ll be on line 4.
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by FrankD on
Jan 13, 2009 2:12 PM EST
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Oh Jeez – Cooke skating with Sid now. Who’s left?
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by FrankD on
Jan 13, 2009 2:17 PM EST
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Therrien is losing it. He should put someone there and let it stick for a while. At least long enough to see if anything could develop.
by PensFan024 on
Jan 13, 2009 2:21 PM EST
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I don’t see Therrien as losing it. I just see a team who doesn’t want to work for wins. They want to be cute and fancy. I see a team full of spoiled brats who like to play like it’s a video game and not a real game. When they decide to shoot the puck instead of passing to a player that has 2 players in front of him they will win games.
I don’t think the Matt Cooke move is a bad one at all. Cooke might decide to pull a Holmstrom and use his lack of skill as an advantage to post up in front of the net and get some more goals.
by paps35 on
Jan 13, 2009 2:28 PM EST
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Agreed about the cuteness.
But, their fancy shmancy passing is just one problem. I also think a complete lack of chemistry with their linemates is another problem. In fact, that lack of chemistry exacerbates the problem you mentioned. I was with therrien and his crazy linechanges when they were winning, but he doesn’t have that to fall back on now. The Pens were winning in the beginning of the season. Injuries forced line changes and Therrien can’t find one that works but he doesn’t leave one together long enough to really find out.
I don’t understand were your coming from with your spoiled brats comments. I would think that a spoiled brat would actually pass less.
by PensFan024 on
Jan 13, 2009 4:52 PM EST
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Therrien has been quite erratic with the lines, it’s just his way. Last year we at least witnessed a few lines stick it out together for a road trip or a few consecutive games. This year is entirely different. I’d prefer he keep Staal up on the top line and keep working with that. It’s not that it hasn’t worked it’s just that it hasn’t work yet. I don’t expect drastic improvements overnight, but he’s not even giving it 24 hrs.
I wouldn’t say they’re playing like brats but they are playing a very choreographed game. This more or less poses as fundamental hockey but it isn’t working. Not to mention the other teams can predict when to block a shot, poke the puck or play the man. Manning a power play isn’t rocket science but the Pens are making it look like paint by number.
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by FrankD on
Jan 13, 2009 5:03 PM EST
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In my mind he posed as one of the last possible guys to line next to Sid. I don’t get it at all. I know Dupuis is hurt and maybe Cooke can fill that grinder role on the first line mix that Therrien is throwing out there, but Cooke was doing well on 3 and 4. Wow such a dramatic jump to line one?
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by FrankD on
Jan 13, 2009 2:29 PM EST
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I think it’s safe to say that if the Flyers win by three or more, Therrien is outta here.
Y’all should check out my game preview over at The Flyer Frequent
http://flyers.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=RssDescriptionPage
Swing by The Flyer Frequent if you have nothing better to do.
by Ben Rothenberg on
Jan 13, 2009 3:25 PM EST
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I liked the preview, but I have to disagree with some of your points as to why the Flyers will win.
The Penguins couldn’t beat a drum at this point.
They beat the Thrashers last week. Yeah, that’s not saying much, but it’s more than a drum…and the Islanders (sorry Dominick).
The Flyers always play up against the Penguins, who are clearly the team they like least. Playing up against a team that’s playing so down pretty much guarantees victory.
I would argue that nothing guarantees victory, but yeah, it will make the Flyers a lot harder to beat.
The Flyers are currently ELEVEN points ahead of Pittsburgh in the standings.
You’ve got me there. The Flyers are definitely playing better hockey.
Desperate teams play desperate hockey, so it’s really unlikely that the Penguins will have the composure this rivalry mandates. Look for lots of penalties, especially to Malkin and Crosby. Wouldn’t be surprised to see a real nasty cheapshot from somebody, too.
Oh, here we go again. On Saturday’s game against the Avalanche, the Penguins drew ONE penalty during the entire GAME and it was in the third period (cross-checking by Matt Cooke). Even when the game became desperate for the Pens (giving up a PP goal less than a minute after picking up a shorty) no cheap penalties came. Except for one game (out of 43 played) Crosby has not had a ton of penalties. If you want a lot of PIM, check the goon line of Godard and Bisonnette – not Crosby and Malkin.
Flyers have won 14 straight at home. Penguins haven’t won on the road since last year.
Being that the year is only 13 days old, that’s not saying much. They won the last road game of 2008. A four game road losing streak is a much more accurate way of putting it.
Sure, it may be a rough stretch, but at least it's okay to like Jaromir Jagr again.
by JDunman on
Jan 13, 2009 3:50 PM EST
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I too shall refute some points.
Saying the Penguins couldn’t beat a drum is a valid point, but everyone knows their talent is capable of winning when they click.
Don’t guarantee victory. If you win you look like a prude and if you lose you look like a jerk. It’s a risk we all take at times, especially when running a blog, but you can easily just set yourself up for embarrassment. Plus, you said the Flyers ‘always play up to the Penguins.’ Always? How did the Eastern Conference Finals work out for you last year? Even this year – always? The Pens are up 2-1 on the season.
Eleven points is a nice lead, but a lot of teams can close out strong. Your Flyers did it last year. 11 points might matter more in March but as of right now it’s a stretch. Flyers win – they’re up by 13. Pens win and that 11 turns to 9 with two more meetings left this season.
Penalties? Yeah I’m with Dunman on this one. The Penguins played a disciplined game last time out. I’d expect more penalties tonight just based on the nature of the rivalry.
Last year is such a nice way of phrasing things, isn’t it? I’ve used it a few times since January hit but that will soon start to fade away. All streaks, for good or bad, must one day break. I’m sure your toasting to a no and we’re toasting to a yes.
So until the triple zeroes we’ll just have to wait and see.
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by FrankD on
Jan 13, 2009 4:59 PM EST
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