Pens are starting to look really damn dangerous. May take the division.

Flyers will have a damn hard time in round 1 against them or the Rags.

Would almost be better to fall to 6th.
- flyer_nutter

Don't understand the general feeling of fear here. Flyers are just as hot as the Pens, with their goalie figuring out his game. And this is with a largely unhealthy team (Kimmo, Meszy, Vorc, JVR). With these guys coming back for playoffs and the Flyers finishing the season strong, I don't see why the Rags and Pens shouldn't be scared of us.

With a Flyers win today, we're only 2 points back of the Pens and 4/6 points back of the Rags (depending if they win or not). I understand Pens are missing Crosby and are expecting him back as well, but I don't see them as a superior team to the Flyers. Rags and Bruins are showing how touchable they really are.

Have to bring your A+ game during the playoffs.
- stveshdy

That goes without saying. And you need elite level goaltending, like the Flyers are getting now.

That goes without saying. And you need elite level goaltending, like the Flyers are getting now.
- PLindbergh31

Yup. The one thing that helps the Flyers come playoff time is their is no shootout. This team could easily be in first place if they would of won more of them. I like the Flyers chances in the playoffs when games have to be decided in regulation or OT. The team and goalie are playing great at the right time.

I think they should concentrate on playing the best hockey they can for the rest of the season, and where they land in the standings is where they land. Then they take it from there.

The key is peaking at the right time and taking that play into the playoffs, and right now they're on the right track.
- tangent_man

Hence my location and change of avatar.

Hey guys, just got back from spring break Vaca in Cuba, and I see that Bryz has been completely on fire. Fanstastic. I'll admit, I was worried all year that Bryz wouldn't figure it out, but catching up on the games looks like Bryz has been giving us what we paid for. I can't remember the last time a Flyers tender has had 3 shutouts in 4 games along with a 2 goal win and 37 saves vs the Wings. Maybe Bryz just needed to have more work to get into the groove. If he plays like this from here on out, then I think a lot of fans will forget about the struggles.

Also, amazing goal by Roo last night in the SO..
- Hextall271

Oh, no, don't you know were aren't supposed to think it was cool BECAUSE it was in the shootout and we're supposed to be bummed Toronto got a point?

Don't understand the general feeling of fear here. Flyers are just as hot as the Pens, with their goalie figuring out his game. And this is with a largely unhealthy team (Kimmo, Meszy, Vorc, JVR). With these guys coming back for playoffs and the Flyers finishing the season strong, I don't see why the Rags and Pens shouldn't be scared of us.

With a Flyers win today, we're only 2 points back of the Pens and 4/6 points back of the Rags (depending if they win or not). I understand Pens are missing Crosby and are expecting him back as well, but I don't see them as a superior team to the Flyers. Rags and Bruins are showing how touchable they really are.
- steelydan

It's Philly: Complain when the team's not performing and fear a drop-off when they're playing well.

i'll get called a neanderthal but i sure had been missing having a guy like grossman on the team. a badly needed dash of touhness
- Don'tForgetTocchet

Neanderthal has two N's. It's only natch.

It's Philly: Complain when the team's not performing and fear a drop-off when they're playing well.
- Flyskippy

So true...

Yup. The one thing that helps the Flyers come playoff time is their is no shootout. This team could easily be in first place if they would of won more of them. I like the Flyers chances in the playoffs when games have to be decided in regulation or OT. The team and goalie are playing great at the right time.
- stveshdy

Yup. Although I believe they are 3-3 in shootouts this year.

Wins vs. Florida, Calgary, and Toronto. Losses vs. Colorado, NYI, and Boston. I might be missing a loss somewhere though.

Harry Z has been recalled. Wonder who else got dinged

Yup. Although I believe they are 3-3 in shootouts this year.

Wins vs. Florida, Calgary, and Toronto. Losses vs. Colorado, NYI, and Boston. I might be missing a loss somewhere though.
- PLindbergh31

Any word what is wrong with Kubina? How much longer will Mez and Timonen be out?

Yup. Although I believe they are 3-3 in shootouts this year.

Wins vs. Florida, Calgary, and Toronto. Losses vs. Colorado, NYI, and Boston. I might be missing a loss somewhere though.
- PLindbergh31

3-5 according to NHL.com....Lost to Winnipeg and NJ in shootouts as well as Colorado, Boston and the Isles

Has nothing to do with hanging a division banner. Its about getting home ice no matter what your record is (home/road). Why would a team want to play a seven game series on the road? If this is the case then Bob should start today bc they dont care about winning the division or getting home ice. They played the ECF in 2010 on home ice verse Montreal.

Whos to say they wont play better at home than on the road come playoff time?
- stveshdy

The flyers have been eliminated on home ice 2 of the last three years. The last 3 cup winners have clinched the cup on the road.

Home ice isn't really all it's cracked up to be. I'd rather they just crank it up in the playoffs then now. Bryzgalov doesn't need to start today. If you're starting him today to chase home ice than that's silly. If you're doing it to help him improve I think it's unnecessary. There's no real reason not to start Bob tonight which is the basis for this whole debate. It's a back to back against an inferior division opponent. You'll need Bryzgalov for back to backs next weekend. While I'm not a fan of chasing the division at this point I'm all for them playing up to par and remaining competitive. Winning and losing are habits.

Happy 117th Birthday, Shemp

Don't understand the general feeling of fear here. Flyers are just as hot as the Pens, with their goalie figuring out his game. And this is with a largely unhealthy team (Kimmo, Meszy, Vorc, JVR). With these guys coming back for playoffs and the Flyers finishing the season strong, I don't see why the Rags and Pens shouldn't be scared of us.

With a Flyers win today, we're only 2 points back of the Pens and 4/6 points back of the Rags (depending if they win or not). I understand Pens are missing Crosby and are expecting him back as well, but I don't see them as a superior team to the Flyers. Rags and Bruins are showing how touchable they really are.
- steelydan

They also haven't been this imposing force in the postseason the past two years either.

The flyers have been eliminated on home ice 2 of the last three years. The last 3 cup winners have clinched the cup on the road.

Home ice isn't really all it's cracked up to be. I'd rather they just crank it up in the playoffs then now. Bryzgalov doesn't need to start today. If you're starting him today to chase home ice than that's silly. If you're doing it to help him improve I think it's unnecessary. There's no real reason not to start Bob tonight which is the basis for this whole debate. It's a back to back against an inferior division opponent. You'll need Bryzgalov for back to backs next weekend. While I'm not a fan of chasing the division at this point I'm all for them playing up to par and remaining competitive. Winning and losing are habits.
- JoeRussomanno

I would give Bryz a blow today. It's going to be a tough game to win, looks like ridiculously there could be 7 regulars out of today's lineup. Give him a game off, try and get some of the cavalry back for Tuesday night and get Bryzgalov back in there.

I would give Bryz a blow today. It's going to be a tough game to win, looks like ridiculously there could be 7 regulars out of today's lineup. Give him a game off, try and get some of the cavalry back for Tuesday night and get Bryzgalov back in there.
- PLindbergh31

Under no circumstances will I ever give him that But otherwise I concur!

I would give Bryz a blow today. It's going to be a tough game to win, looks like ridiculously there could be 7 regulars out of today's lineup. Give him a game off, try and get some of the cavalry back for Tuesday night and get Bryzgalov back in there.
- PLindbergh31

Will see what Coach Pete does. I have this feeling that Bryz will be in net tonight. They guy has posted two straight shutouts and three in his last four games. He is playing incredible right now and I dont think he sits until he loses a game imo.

3-5 according to NHL.com....Lost to Winnipeg and NJ in shootouts as well as Colorado, Boston and the Isles
- Jsaquella

I forgot about those two games, the shootout results do not concern me, although the Flyers have won 3 of their last 4 shootouts after starting the season 0-4.

The bigger concern is players dropping like flies every game. It's getting old. Didn't Giroux get kneed in the head by Hartnell last night? God forbid he's out again.

Under no circumstances will I ever give him that But otherwise I concur!
- JoeRussomanno

A day off.

Will see what Coach Pete does. I have this feeling that Bryz will be in net tonight. They guy has posted two straight shutouts and three in his last four games. He is playing incredible right now and I dont think he sits until he loses a game imo.
- stveshdy

I'm sure it will be Bryzgalov. Laviolette rides the hot hand.

I'm sure it will be Bryzgalov. Laviolette rides the hot hand.
- PLindbergh31

This is why the Flyers went out and got a goalie of Bryz's caliber. You play your best players at this point in the season. The Flyers (1 game in hand) are only two points ahead of NJ and this game tonight is very important imo. Bob will get his couple of games down the stretch.

This is why the Flyers went out and got a goalie of Bryz's caliber. You play your best players at this point in the season. The Flyers (1 game in hand) are only two points ahead of NJ and this game tonight is very important imo. Bob will get his couple of games down the stretch.
- stveshdy

If the Flyers lose this game tonight, I put very little stock into it. They are playing with a skeleton crew.

If the Flyers lose this game tonight, I put very little stock into it. They are playing with a skeleton crew.
- PLindbergh31

Skeleton crew or not im looking at the points. I say keep winning and lets move up in the standings.

Have you played 60+ games in the NHL?

Edit: FWIW I hope I'm wrong about this but it's a gut feeling that he's going to be ridden too much here in a short amount of time and I do appreciate the input I hope you are right.
- JoeRussomanno

I have played 9 seasons of 50+ games as goalie, 3 games a week but not at the NHL level, started every game. Fatigue was never an issue. No backup either. I really don't buy into the 'bryz will get too tired' if that was the case then all the players who play 82+ games as skaters would have their limbs falling off. Goalie is not as effort consuming physically as a forward or defensemen. My 2 cents