THE BURGH - This is it.

Tonight, we get to see whether this malaise that has afflicted the Flyers is permanent or not. If the Flyers can't get up for this showdown match against the Penguins, I really question how they are going to handle the playoffs.

Back on Feb. 24 the Flyers had a comfortable 8=point gap on Pittsburgh in the Atlantic Division standings. Al Morganti and I felt it was over. So did the Flyers apparently because they pretty stopped playing last month.

Now it's down to 2 points. Sergei Bobrovsky will try to stem the bleeding tonight.

As fans have pointed out, the quotes from Kimmo Timonen, Danny Briere, Andrej Meszaros and Sean O'Donnell lately are disturbing because there really seems to be some kind of emotional gap on this team that so many guys can't to "get up" for games or as Timonen noted, "show up" to play.

When a guy like Timonen says players aren't coming prepared to play games, that is serious cause for alarm.

Having said all this, I can tell you there was a bit of a buzz of snarl in the Flyers dressing room after today's morning skate.

“That’s good,” coach Peter Laviolette said. “We’re not happy with the last game we played against Pittsburgh. So, hopefully, we’ll have a better outing tonight.”

I suggested to Dan Carcillo - moments after Danny Briere said I had been rather intense during interviews lately _ that if this team can't rise to the challenge tonight then all is probably lost.

Carcillo's response to me was, “We both realize what is at stake tonight. Regardless of where the points are [in the standings], it’s always a good game with these guys. Hard skating, hard hitting and hard working game.

“It seems that whoever wins the little battles always comes out on top. They’re definitely back in the mix, but we didn’t think they wouldn’t be hanging around, either. They’re a great team. It shouldn’t be hard for us or them to get up for this one.”

Here's some interesting quotes from O'Donnell appearing in my story on CSNPhilly.com:

cllick here

Join the Discussion: » Comments » Post New Comment

» Hextall on Post Free Agency, Cap, Kids' Chances

» Sign a Goalie, That's It.

» My take on Weal signing

» They Are What They Are

» Hextall's Take on the Benchings