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On Stamkos Et Al. and Special Teams |
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Sean Couturier seemed primed the past two days in relishing his assignment to shut down Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos tonight when the Flyers meet the Tampa Bay Lightning.
He's had Evgeni Malkin, Alex Ovechkin and now Stamkos.
“I try to take pride in what I do and shut them down,” Couturier said. “If we can get some offense created, it's good. Even if we're playing sort of a defensive role, if we're getting our chances offensively, it's all good.”
I asked him who was tougher to play against – Malkin or Stamkos?
“Don’t know – we’re gonna find out tonight,” Couturier replied. “They’re different players. Stamkos is faster, his shot is pretty good, one of the best in the league.
“Malkin is pretty good and controls the puck and makes plays. It’s different talents. You got to adapt. We played him good and didn’t give him much time with the puck.”
Personally, I think Malkin is tougher. Why? He's sneaky dirty with his stick. Overchkin is far more timid this year than last season, as well.
“Everybody is a bit dirty,” Jakub Voracek said. “Peter Forsberg, he was a little dirty, too. He had that little bit of attitude. I think it’s that attitude that helps you be one of the best players in the league.”
The other guy on that line lately has been Max Talbot. Voracek alternates with Zac Rinaldo.
“They done a good job,” Laviolette said. “It’s a been probably 7 games now where we try get Cobie and Grossmann out there with Coots’ line, against the other team’s big guns, whoever they might be.
“Just another challenge. You throw to a guy like Sean and he’s answered the bell. He’s done a good job.”
**
First chance for defenseman Pavel Kubina to go up against his old mates.
Funny moment. I asked Kubina who he misses the most. I thought he would say Vinny Lecavalie or Marty St. Louis, two guys he had been with way back when they won a Cup in Tampa.
It was neither.
“It’s one of the trainers – Poppy," Kubina told me.
That would be Christian “Poppy” Rivas.
**
PK ... I think the Flyers 3 vs 5 penalty kill against Montreal was a pivotal moment late in the game on Saturday when the Canadiens were starting to make a push.
The Flyers got tremendous work out of Couturier, Talbot and Braydon Coburn.
“Special teams are important all over the map," Coburn told me on Sunday. "Power play did a good job last game and we need the PK to follow up.
"That can make all the difference when games are tight and opportuinites arise. Going from regular season level to playoff levels, there are not many opportiniunies and you need the PK to close the door."
It's been a while since the FLyers PP and PK units were dominating in the same game and made a crucial difference.
You'd have to go back to mid-January against Minnesota to find a game when both were working in unison and having an impact. Been that long.
"Every game is a different story," Coburn said. "Some nights, you have games when you get 10 power plays and 10 PKs. This last month and half here, teams buckling down and not as much PP opportunities. When you get htem, you have to bury them."
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger • 
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