Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Schedule Awaits,
- bmeltzer

I don't think we'll beat Pitt. Apart of it is, I don't think we're as good and I don't like how we match up seeing how they're a three line team. The other half of it is, I think the Penguins will end up with four to five damaging calls. Whether it be a phantom offside to call back a goal or a soft penalty. To me, it's the league's MO.

With this said, I love this rivalry. The old guys on this board would say it isn't a rivalry, it's Rangers or nothing. That's crap! It's about right now. How much our current core hates that other team. Giroux wants to be better than Crosby. This is as great a rivalry as any.

So I haven't watched wrestling in years. Honest question. Is it way more scripted now than it was in the days of Backlund and Hogan?

Seems like the male version of a Soap Opera with insane stunts and violence. And I don't mean that as derogatory.
- MBFlyerfan

Yes, it is way more choreographed inside the ring and the interviews are scripted nowadays (whereas in-ring actions and promos used to be improvised).

I don't think we'll beat Pitt. Apart of it is, I don't think we're as good and I don't like how we match up seeing how they're a three line team. The other half of it is, I think the Penguins will end up with four to five damaging calls. Whether it be a phantom offside to call back a goal or a soft penalty. To me, it's the league's MO.

With this said, I love this rivalry. The old guys on this board would say it isn't a rivalry, it's Rangers or nothing. That's crap! It's about right now. How much our current core hates that other team. Giroux wants to be better than Crosby. This is as great a rivalry as any.
- SuperSchennBros

This is a huge rivalry. We're going to see some bad calls yes, but that can't be the focus. Have to elevate our game and receive at least solid tending. If we do that and we see that the flyers give consistent and solid efforts every game, then let the chips fall where they may

I don't think we match up well with the pens this year, and I expect they will win in 6. The team is going to learn a lot from this series about what it takes to win.

Ot, so far people have donated 4 million to the humbolt broncos to help. Don cherry and Maclean visited the survivors and first responders in hospital yesterday which was huge for the team. I am really proud of how the hockey community has responded to this disaster.

So I haven't watched wrestling in years. Honest question. Is it way more scripted now than it was in the days of Backlund and Hogan?

Seems like the male version of a Soap Opera with insane stunts and violence. And I don't mean that as derogatory.
- MBFlyerfan

Pro wrestling has always been scripted, that hasn't changed a bit. The biggest difference today from the Backlund/Hogan era is that, for the most part, the performers are much better overall athletes and the matches move at a faster, more entertaining pace. Also, the TV shows are much better produced than they were in teh late 70s/early 80s.

I was huge fan as a kid and I still get a kick out of it.

This is a huge rivalry. We're going to see some bad calls yes, but that can't be the focus. Have to elevate our game and receive at least solid tending. If we do that and we see that the flyers give consistent and solid efforts every game, then let the chips fall where they may

I don't think we match up well with the pens this year, and I expect they will win in 6. The team is going to learn a lot from this series about what it takes to win.

Ot, so far people have donated 4 million to the humbolt broncos to help. Don cherry and Maclean visited the survivors and first responders in hospital yesterday which was huge for the team. I am really proud of how the hockey community has responded to this disaster.
- Hextall271

The reaction to the crash world wide has been huge.

I also have us in 6. Again, for me goaltending has been an issue but I feel it's really the team in front. Mrazek and Elliot are starters but both are average starters. Break up that stupid third pair. Keep it simple with this team. Get pucks out of our zone and deep in there zone!

Yes, it is way more choreographed inside the ring and the interviews are scripted nowadays (whereas in-ring actions and promos used to be improvised).
- bmeltzer

To a degree, that's true although the finishes of most matches were pretty much always planned out before hand. There are still some guys who do it the old school way and call matches in the ring, but they are few in number. OTOH, the matches on the underdcards are much more entertaining than they were when I was a kid. I don't miss having to sit through Jose Estrada vs some generic mid card baby face putting each other in wristlocks and headlocks for 8 minutes or so.

Also with the product being international rather than regional, you see a much more athletic and skilled breed of talent overall than you did back then.

edit: I do think the promos, at least for the better talkers, were better back in the day. While some guys work well with the writers and can deliver a good promo, there is no one who comes close to the way guys like Dusty Rhodes, Ric Flair and even more recently, Mick Foley, the Rock or Chris Jericho used to do. I miss that.

First round picks, FWIW:

WEST
Nashville in 5 over the Avs. Kudos to the Avs for their great bounce back season, but this is where it will end. The Preds are just a significantly better and deeper team.

Vegas in 7 over LA. I think every home team wins in this series and every game is going to be close. This is one I'm really looking forward to.

Anaheim over San Jose in 7. Anaheim, IMO, is a better team than their record and had to fight through a lot of man games lost to injury this season. This will be another close, hard fought series between 2 teams that don't like each other and you gotta love that. This was the hardest series for me to make a pick in the West and San Jose winning wouldn't surprise me in the least.

Winnipeg over Minnesota in 6. The Jets are the better team and the better team is going to win, it's that simple.

EAST
Tampa over Jersey in 6. Keith Kincaid has been amazing for the Devils, but at some point he is going to come back to earth at least a bit. Tampa is just deeper and better at every position and while the Devils will give it a good effort, they aren't winning this series.

Washington over Columbus in 7. Ovi is on a mission and the Caps are going to find a way to win this series no matter who ends up in goal. It will be close, but no cigar, for Torts and his boys.

Toronto over Boston in 7. Boston just hasn't looked right the last couple weeks of the season and I think some late injuries are catching up with some of their players, especially the veterans. Toronto has a speed advantage and will use it to wear the B's down. Winning game 7 in Boston should be especially sweet for the Leafs and their fans.

And, the one you're all waiting for....
Penguins over the Flyers in 7. Sorry, I don't like it, but that is how I see it. Giroux will do everything humanly possible to pull off the upset, but they will fall just a bit short. OTOH, it will be a great experience for the youth on the Flyers and they are only going to get better over the next few seasons.

WWE has been pretty unbearable since they fully moved away from the attitude era. I mean it's always been phoney but the product for the past 10-15 years has been increasingly more and more cartoon-like.

I mostly blame the lack of personalities, which I guess falls on the writers more than anyone else. John Cena was the face of the WWE for years. And what was his angle exactly, denim shorts?

Anywho, dear Boston, please embarrass the Leafs.

First round picks, FWIW:

WEST
Nashville in 5 over the Avs. Kudos to the Avs for their great bounce back season, but this is where it will end. The Preds are just a significantly better and deeper team.

Vegas in 7 over LA. I think every home team wins in this series and every game is going to be close. This is one I'm really looking forward to.

Anaheim over San Jose in 7. Anaheim, IMO, is a better team than their record and had to fight through a lot of man games lost to injury this season. This will be another close, hard fought series between 2 teams that don't like each other and you gotta love that. This was the hardest series for me to make a pick in the West and San Jose winning wouldn't surprise me in the least.

Winnipeg over Minnesota in 6. The Jets are the better team and the better team is going to win, it's that simple.

EAST
Tampa over Jersey in 6. Keith Kincaid has been amazing for the Devils, but at some point he is going to come back to earth at least a bit. Tampa is just deeper and better at every position and while the Devils will give it a good effort, they aren't winning this series.

Washington over Columbus in 7. Ovi is on a mission and the Caps are going to find a way to win this series no matter who ends up in goal. It will be close, but no cigar, for Torts and his boys.

Toronto over Boston in 7. Boston just hasn't looked right the last couple weeks of the season and I think some late injuries are catching up with some of their players, especially the veterans. Toronto has a speed advantage and will use it to wear the B's down. Winning game 7 in Boston should be especially sweet for the Leafs and their fans.

And, the one you're all waiting for....
Penguins over the Flyers in 7. Sorry, I don't like it, but that is how I see it. Giroux will do everything humanly possible to pull off the upset, but they will fall just a bit short. OTOH, it will be a great experience for the youth on the Flyers and they are only going to get better over the next few seasons.
- BiggE

New Jersey went undefeated against the Bolts this year. Just sayin...

we know the Pens will focus on shutting down G, if they do, can the Flyers still win the series?

Boston really shxt the bed down the stretch.

First round picks, FWIW:

WEST
Nashville in 5 over the Avs. Kudos to the Avs for their great bounce back season, but this is where it will end. The Preds are just a significantly better and deeper team.

Vegas in 7 over LA. I think every home team wins in this series and every game is going to be close. This is one I'm really looking forward to.

Anaheim over San Jose in 7. Anaheim, IMO, is a better team than their record and had to fight through a lot of man games lost to injury this season. This will be another close, hard fought series between 2 teams that don't like each other and you gotta love that. This was the hardest series for me to make a pick in the West and San Jose winning wouldn't surprise me in the least.
We'll be lucky to get to 7.
Winnipeg over Minnesota in 6. The Jets are the better team and the better team is going to win, it's that simple.

EAST
Tampa over Jersey in 6. Keith Kincaid has been amazing for the Devils, but at some point he is going to come back to earth at least a bit. Tampa is just deeper and better at every position and while the Devils will give it a good effort, they aren't winning this series.

Washington over Columbus in 7. Ovi is on a mission and the Caps are going to find a way to win this series no matter who ends up in goal. It will be close, but no cigar, for Torts and his boys.

Toronto over Boston in 7. Boston just hasn't looked right the last couple weeks of the season and I think some late injuries are catching up with some of their players, especially the veterans. Toronto has a speed advantage and will use it to wear the B's down. Winning game 7 in Boston should be especially sweet for the Leafs and their fans.

And, the one you're all waiting for....
Penguins over the Flyers in 7. Sorry, I don't like it, but that is how I see it. Giroux will do everything humanly possible to pull off the upset, but they will fall just a bit short. OTOH, it will be a great experience for the youth on the Flyers and they are only going to get better over the next few seasons.
- BiggE