Penguins Game 6 Review

Flyers nation can now exhale.

Anxiety was rising, but instead the Flyers turned out their best 60 minutes of the series.  Giroux provided the early boost, and the Flyers circled the wagons and survived the Penguins furious counter-punch.  That would prove to be Penguins' best shot.

I was oddly confident this morning.  Rationally, I should've been very concerned about the Flyers shorthanded defense, and Bryz looking physically hampered, but instead I just thought to myself that there was no way the Flyers would let this series get away from them.  They were going to win this game.  This team has been way too resilient this year, never giving up.  Yes, the Penguins were a more focused team than earlier in the series, but this Flyers team always answers the bell.

I'm already looking forward to the next round, and pulling hard for both Washington and Ottawa to complete their upsets and leave a clear path to the finals for the Flyers.  Either way, it will be great not to have to think about punks like Malkin, Neal and Letang for 6 months.

Notes:
-The Flyers really tightened up defensively.  Bryzgalov faced hardly any clean looks, and didn't have to move laterally nearly as much.  As a result, he looked more comfortable and made all the expected saves.  Also, the Flyers blocked 40 shots today, more than the previous two games combined (and double the 20 they blocked in game 3, their previous series high).

-Gustafsson came in and played like a champ.  His ice time rose from ~12 minutes in game 5 to ~22 in game 6, nearly all at even strength.  That was more than Timonen and Carle at even strength this game.  Timonen actually played less than 7.5 minutes at even strength, and 15 overall.

-After going for 1/3 on the power play today, the Flyers percentage dropped to 57% (12/23) for the series.  The Pens themselves went 31% (9/29), a damn good number in any other reality, but also gave up 3 shorthanded goals.  Mind you, the Pens were one of the best penalty killing teams in the league this year and set a franchise record for PK percentage.

-Crosby was nearly invisible today, and I suspect he is not 100% after getting nailed on the chin by Malkin last game.  Malkin was very good, scoring one, hitting a post, and generally wreaking havoc in the Flyers zone around the net.

Penguins Game 3 Review

"[The Flyers] seem to bring out the worst in me."  

   -Sidney Crosby, 4/2/2012

Turns out that was a bit of an understatement.  Another game, another early Penguins lead, and another collapse by the Penguins.  With each game, the Penguins mental capitulation gets more severe, and today they completely lost their sh*t.

I was a little nervous going into this game, for two reasons.  One, the Flyers were terrible in day games this season, with even worse first periods than usual.  Second, I said after game one that the Pens were being distracted by trying to hit too much and punish the Flyers physically, and I thought being on the road they might tone it down and played more poised hockey.  Neither of those occurred.

The Pens got an early gift goal from Bryzgalov, but then on a PP (for what appeared to be a phantom high sticking call), Giroux made a good play shorthanded, and Fleury put the puck in his own net trying to cover a loose puck.  It was all downhill from there.

As the game wore on, the Penguins became a total embarrassment.  Asham's high crosscheck to Schenn (and punch to the back of the head while Schenn is defenseless and face down on the ice) after Schenn made a perfectly legal check was a disgrace.  Things got worse, as another melee was caused when Crosby was determined to cause trouble, slashing Bryzgalov after he covered the puck, prodding Voracek and hassling Timonen until Giroux finally stepped in and went with him.  Letang beat up Timonen (whom I've never seen fight) then petulantly tried to shoosh the crowd.

Apparently that wasn't enough, as Neal threw 2 dirty hits in the space of a minute after the game was out of reach.  He launched himself at Couturier well after the puck was gone, and quite frankly it would've been an illegal charge even if Cooter still had the puck.  As it was, it was an indefensible hit.  Then he stayed on the ice and hit Giroux in the head with another late hit.  At the ensuing stoppage Crosby was grabbing Hartnell (apparently to keep him away from Neal), and when Hartnell engaged Crosby, Adams starting punching him in the back of the head.  Once the two squared to fight and grappled, Adams starting pulling Hartnell's hair.  What is this?  A lunch time scrap between middle school girls?  Ridiculous.

The NHL would be wise to suspend both Asham and Neal for this nonsense.  For one, their actions merit suspension in any scenario.  Second, the outcome of the series is all but settled, and the NHL should reel it in rather than invite more cheapshots or score-settling in an inconsequential game.

The Penguins should be embarrassed enough by allowing 20 goals in three games to their hated rival, in a series in which they were favored.  I guess that wasn't enough, and they've turned themselves into a farce.  This series was there for the taking for them, with 3-0 and 2-0 leads in the first two games.  The Pens were unable to control their passion and quite frankly lost their cool and their minds trying to prove something, and they psyched themselves out of the series.  Crosby was definitely right with the quote above.

Notes:
-I hope Couturier, Giroux and Schenn are okay after absorbing cheapshots.  Giroux appeared woozy and stumbled after being hit by Neal.

-It shouldn't be lost in the shuffle that Bryzgalov let in 2 terrible goals again today.  He's looking leaky and his 5-hole has been gigantic.  This series is a goalie's nightmare, but this will have to tighten up against the likes of the Rangers and Bruins.

-With 20 goals, the Flyers have scored several more goals than any other series has featured COMBINED between the two teams.

NHL Players Poll

CBC Sports and the NHLPA ran a players poll. The results are here.

Always interesting to get a player's perspective. A few observations:

Crosby

He's public enemy number one in Philly, and a some Flyers fans like to delude themselves about how he is an overrated diver who isn't respected around the league.

Crosby placed first or second in the following votes;

-Toughest forward to play against

-Active player you'd like to start a franchise with (69% of vote!)

-As a goalie, who is the most difficult to stop (2nd)

-Toughest to play against (overall)

-Hardest to take puck off of (2nd)

-Smartest player

-Best skater (2nd)

That is no joke folks.

Flyers-related

-The Flyers came in 5th as the most overrated team with 4% of the vote. :(

-Chris Pronger came in 3rd as toughest defensemen to play against. Chara, Lidstrom and Pronger were out ahead of the pack in this category.

-The Flyers did not place in the top 5 of teams you'd like to play on. Surely there are myriad of factors here (management, ownership, fan base, rink, consistency, city), but it always appeared to me the Flyers were attractive target for free agents because their fan base, desire to win, and consistency.

Other

-Dan Bylsma number one list of 'coaches you'd like to play for.' Wow, didn't see that one coming.

-Mike Babcock got 2nd on 'coaches you'd like to play for' list, and second on 'which coach demands the most of his players.' Taken together that's pretty high praise I think.

-'Should fighting be banished'-- 98% no. 'Should instigator rule be abolished'--66% no. Nothing's changing there I think.

-Montreal's rink was the runaway winner in favorite arena to play in, despite being number 2 in having the worst boards/glass. Must be the buzz in the crowd.

-'Best referee'? Winner--none, 15%. Figures.