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UMBERGER, UPSHALL, CARTER, RICHARDS, COBURN: STUDS |
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Gotta hand it to Pittsburgh native, RJ Umberger. The guy has been a beast vs. Washington and Montreal.
RJ will get to play the ECF inside Mellon Arena, the very place he used to watch his beloved Pens win Cups when he was growing up in Da Burgh.
His 8 goals have been nothing short of amazing.
What I love about RJ is his PK. Umberger has shown me shades of Rod Brind'Amour in these Playoffs. He can kill you on both sides of the puck. Not many players in today's NHL can do that.
The Philly PK obliterated the vaunted Montreal PP. Game, set, match. Thanks for playing. Here's a lifetime supply of Rice-A-Roni and some Armour all. Beat it!
That's badass!
RJ looks like a bonafide Conn Smythe candidate to me.
The Brian Campbell collision did not kill Umberger. It only served to make him stronger.
Great story.
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Scottie Upshall, anyone?
Nice bunt for a goal!
Nashville GM David Poile parlayed Upshall, Kimmo Timonen, Parent and Hartnell for Forsberg. Who's laughing now????!! Are you freakin kidding me???!!! Forsberg will likely retire after this most recent Avalanche collapse vs. Detroit.
The farther we get from the Forsberg to Music City deal, the more its beginning to resemble the Hershel Walker deal that sent the Dallas Cowboys the vital cogs it needed to go on a Super Bowl bender!
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Don Wadell should have his head checked. What the Hell was he thinking sending Braydon Coburn to Philly for Alexei Zhitnik?
WOW!! Talk about getting snookered!
The Thrash coach, Bob Hartley, has a penchant for busting balls with his young players. Thats why he gets punted from NHL teams. He plays the vets and ignores the development of the youngsters.
Case in point, Braydon Coburn.
Coburn and Kimmo Timonen have been pillars of strength for the Flyers in these Playoffs.
Coburn is a +5 and is logging 21 minutes a game.
Coburn should send Hartley and Waddell a Thank You note on Eastern Conference Finals stationery!
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I love Jeff Carter's story.
The kid is so talented and so committed to improving his game. He's ONLY 23!
This guy can do it all. John Stevens is letting hism do just that.
Think back to February 26th. The Flyers were playing without Mike Richards and the 10 game losing streak was a front and centre concern to Flyer Nation.
Carter was rumoured to be on the next flight to The Maple Leafs for Mats Sundin or Tomas Kaberle.
Sometimes the best deadline deals are the ones that are NOT made.
Thank Paul Holmgren for keeping Carter in Philly.
Caution: I'm hearing that 5-7 teams, including Toronto, Chicago, Vancouver, and Montreal are said to be preparing offer sheets for Carter.
Carter will be this Silly Season's version of Thomas Vanek.
Carter will earn $942,000 in 08/09. He'll be UFA 7/1/09.
The guy potted 29 and added 24, and was a +6 this season. The London native will no doubt score 40 in the NHL before too long. How many guys can play 5 on 5, PP, PK and score 40? This guy is special and he'll command a ton of interest in late June.
The Flyers will have a tough time paying Carter. Will they match offer sheets or let him walk?
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Hate the Fly Botys all you want. Scoreboard tells the truth.
How can we not pat Paul Holmgren on the back? The guy has taken his team from the outhouse to the penthouse in 12 short months! REMARKABLE accomplishment!
He planned his work, and he's working his plan.
If the Flyers were a stock, the people that were fortunate to have bought low would be cashing huge dividend checks today!
Talk about "ROI"-- return on investment.
Mr. Snider and Mr. Lukko deserve a ton of credit for backing Homer with the resources, ie: Don Luce and the bankroll.
Clarkie and Hitch had to go in order for this team to grow and embrace the new NHL.
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Eklund and I got into a spirited debate last September when I told him which Flyer I would award the "C" to for the 2007/2008 season.
My personal choice was Mike Richards.
I've seen him blaze through the OHL and World Junior program. The kid is a firecracker and I love his jam.
Ek told me to give my head a shake, as he thought the "C" should be worn by a veteran player with NHL leadership experience. Ek won our side bet when John Stevens named Jason Smith Captain of the Flyers.
Its likely that Smith will ove on as a UFA after July 1. Its a no brainer that Richards will wear the "C".
Series over.
Love 'em, hate 'em, it don't matter. The Flyers are for real. Show some respect.
Congratulations to Marty Biron. He backstops his team to the Conference Finals.
In the end, the hockey world gets a glimpse at what Sabres fans have known for years: Marty Biron is a difference maker on the ice and in the room.
Paul Holmgren, Don Luce and the Flyers front office were not lying when they told Marty that they were committed buildng a team that would compete for Lord Stanley's Cup.
Good on 'em!
Show of hands:
Who thought the game was over when Latendresse rang the post late in the third with the game tied 4-4?
Montreal had the mo, but, could not score the winner.
Pittsburgh will dispatch the Rangers on Sunday.
Isn't it ironic that the Pens took it easy in its season finale vs. Philly so that they would not draw the Flyers in the first round of the Playoffs.
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Go ahead and second guess Carbo now.
What was he thinking, pulling price for Halak?
What would you have done in a situation like that?
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The Philly Pkers deserve high praise for their heroics vs. Montreal's Powerplay.
The Canadiens were bad on the PP vs. Boston.
They were horrendous vs. Philly.
The Habs should be ashamed of themselves. Their PP went from first to worst in a hurry.
If I'm Paul Holmgren, I vote Claude Julien a Playoff share if/when the Flyers win the Cup. Julien's Trap and PKers helped to reveal the warts on Montreal's game.
John Stevens read the scouting reports and carefully crafted a winning plan.
Job Well done!
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