Playoff Preview: Battle of Pennsylvania - Flyers/Penguins May 4, 2008
Posted by Dave in Flyers.Tags: NHL, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, Scott Hartnell, Kimmo Timonen, playoffs, Marian Hossa, Danny Briere, Martin Biron, Scottie Upshall, Stanley Cup, Marc-Andre Fleury
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SCHEDULE
GAME 1 - @ PIT - Fri May 9 - 7:30pm - VERSUS
GAME 2 - @ PIT - Sun May 11 - 7:30pm - VERSUS
GAME 3 - @ PHI - Tue May 13 - 7:30pm - VERSUS
GAME 4 - @ PHI - Thu May 15 - 7:30pm - VERSUS
*GAME 5 - @ PIT - Sun May 18 - 3:00pm - NBC
*GAME 6 - @ PHI - Tue May 20 - 7:30pm - VERSUS
*GAME 7 - @ PIT - Thu May 22 - 7:30pm - VERSUS
*if necessary
POINTS ON THE PENS
This inexperienced team has really learned on the fly throughout the post-season and shown they can be successful. The Penguins got hot right before the home stretch of the NHL’s regular season and got the division title as they were three points better than the New Jersey Devils. The road to the conference finals hasn’t been quite as difficult for the Penguins as it has been for the Flyers. They swept the lowly Senators who struggled all season after their hot start to the 2007-08 campaign. Then the Penguins beat the New York Rangers in five games when they got a little bit more of a fight out of their opponent.
The Penguins defense was suspect throughout the regular season, but improved in the playoffs. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has been good, but hasn’t had to be great because of the improved blue line. He has only had to make 240 saves so far in the playoffs, thus his impressive goals against and save percentage. The test for the Flyers will be shutting down the star-studded Penguins offense. Evgeni Malkin is always dangerous. So is Sidney Crosby when he isn’t laying on the ice whining for penalties. Trade deadline acquisition Marian Hossa had only eight points going into Sunday, but he scored twice in game 5, so the Flyers will have to look out for him as well. Another headache is sure to be on the way for Kimmo Timonen.
KEYS TO THE SERIES
- Officiating
The biggest key to this series could be the special teams for the Flyers. If you thought the officiating was bad last series against Montréal, just wait until you see how the NHL officials have been trained to protect Crosby and Co.. The Flyers have been shorthanded 57 times this post-season. Who was the next worst? Surprise, surprise, it was the Penguins last opponent, the New York Rangers with 54. The Flyers have allowed 13 power play goals so far in the playoffs so they definitely want to improve there.
- Goaltending
The hottest goalie hands down in the NHL is Marty Biron. The Flyers have to use this to their advantage, but can’t rely on him to win every game. He can’t stay this hot forever, and the orange and black will have to continue their efforts they put forth in game 5 against the Canadiens to pick up Biron, rather than count on him to pick up the rest of the team.
1.76 GAA / 8 wins / .940 SV% / 220 saves *stats entering Sunday’s game 5 win
2.72 GAA / 8 wins / .914 SV% / 361 saves (best in NHL)
- Physical Play
This will again be a very physical series, but unlike the Washington and Montréal series, these two teams flat out hate each other because they’re division opponents. We haven’t seen a fight yet in the playoffs and I wouldn’t be surprised if Riley Cote made an appearance in this series to reinforce the physical presence for Philadelphia.
- Experience
Critics have noted time and again that this is a young Flyers team and noted their inexperience, but look at how little experience the Penguins have. Crosby, Malkin, and Fleury (perhaps the three most important players for the Penguins), have not seen third round action in the NHL. Danny Briere has been there three straight seasons, and Kimmo Timonen, Jason Smith, and Jim Dowd all have a lot of experience to bring to the table.
If nothing more, this series will be a ton of fun. The physicality was there against Montréal, but this series will take it up a notch. Look for Hartnell, Upshall, and Hatcher to really mix it up against the pesky Penguins.
SCRATCHED UP
Pittsburgh
- Max Talbot C Day-to Day Foot
- Mark Eaton D Injured Reserve Torn ACL
Philadelphia
- Mike Knuble RW Day-to-Day Torn Hamstring
- Simon Gagne LW Injured Reserve Mild Concussion
PREDICTION
Flyers in 6. The Flyers physical play will wear down the stars on the Penguins offensive front. If the Flyers can continue to balance their scoring and have goal-tending like they did in game 5 (good but not fantastic), they will win this series.
In depth NHL playoff coverage coming up this week.
THE SEASON SERIES
Wed Nov 7, 2007
Flyers win 3-1.
Sat Nov 10, 2007
Flyers win 5-2.
Tue Dec 11, 2007
Flyers win 8-2.
Thu Jan 24, 2008
Flyers win 4-3.
Sun Feb 10, 2008
Penguins win 4-3.
Sun Mar 16, 2008
Penguins win 7-1.
Wed Apr 2, 2008
Penguins win 4-2.
Sun Apr 6, 2008
Flyers win 2-0.
You’re an idiot….the Flyers are not skilled and rely on planting 2 goons in front of the goalie to screen him, or to deflect and pick-up trash. They always have a ton of shots…just flip it at the goalie, crash the net, and hope one of the goon patrol finds gold. Briere is your only skilled player, but he’s a pussy, and just cruises around the perimeter…when was the last time he fought for position or the puck
And, they are penalized alot because they commit a lot of penalties. And in the playoffs, the ref.s are actually allowing you’re goons to get away with more. The team knows that cheap play is their only hope. And the officials gave you a gift in G-7 of the Washington series ….what a crime….4 obvious Philly penalites ignored in the 3-rd period. Then a BS call in overtime gave you the series.
The Pens won game 1 even though the ref.’s ignored at least 5 blantant penalties. Hossa was bleeding after the high-stick in P-3…they had to stop play and shovel the blood off the ice !!! If you deny this,,,then you’re just a Philly hack with no real ability to evalutate hockey (like you claim).
You (like all Filthadelpians) are just pissed off becasue you’re teams haven’t won shit since ….. hell, when was the last championship there. The city is old, it’s cold, it’s polluted, high crime (dare you to walk thru north Phily at night), corrupt, grid-lock, and full of me-first people. I went to PSU and nobody could stand anybody from Philly…..it was PSU-Philly, then the rest of the school. Nobody outside of Philly would associate with you arrogant jerks. Don’t feel bad though….it’s the whole Boston-to-Baltimore corridore…..the arm-pit of America.
So keep watching and, like year-after-year, get ready for the inevitable failure of another Philly team. Ashame that you’re big hero is a fictional, hollywood-created, boxer….who, bye the way, was every bit of a goon that you’re beloved Flyers are.