jvr will be back. sadly pronger and meszaros won't be, but fortunately we've got kubina and grossmann, who've been godsends afaic. they miss the heavy point shots from pronger and meszaros, but kubina has a bomb from the right, and if kimmo continues to shoot like he has recently - they still have some legit weapons on the blueline.
- hammarby31

JVR will be back, but he probably won't be able to get any games in before the playoffs. Hard to miss 5-6 weeks, and jump right back into a playoff series against a big time opponent. Not sure we can expect anything from JVR.

Grossmann has been awesome, much better than I ever imagined. Kubina has been serviceable thus far. Still any way you slice it while being quality blueliners, they are still a notch below Pronger, and Meszaros.

He does get a ton of good fortune. Almost unfair to be lucky while being that good.

I'm starting to worry Giroux isn't going to catch Malkin for the Ross Trophy...
- PLindbergh31

malkin just hit an empty netter - think it was him anyway. giroux isn't going to catch him. doesn't really matter. individual trophies are nice. i only care about the team trophy, and believe me, that's all they care about too.

as for fleury, thinking back to the playoffs, not sure if it was 08 or 09, but i've never seen a goalie have so many posts get hit behind him in a series and not have a single one of them direct into the net. not one. he's a tremendous goalie though. and really improved his game from his first couple of years in the league when he was overly active and too much of a flopper.

i don't know that i'd call a quick wrister on the ice about 12 feet out on a breakaway spectacular, but it was a very nice shot. marty didn't really have much chance. certainly not staying on his feet and not moving, anyway.
- hammarby31

It was the play he made to get himself free that made it spectacular.

malkin just hit an empty netter - think it was him anyway. giroux isn't going to catch him. doesn't really matter. individual trophies are nice. i only care about the team trophy, and believe me, that's all they care about too.

as for fleury, thinking back to the playoffs, not sure if it was 08 or 09, but i've never seen a goalie have so many posts get hit behind him in a series and not have a single one of them direct into the net. not one. he's a tremendous goalie though. and really improved his game from his first couple of years in the league when he was overly active and too much of a flopper.
- hammarby31

Yeah, I was joking, Malkin is like 13 points ahead of Giroux now.
Fluery is better in the playoffs than he is in the regular season, he raises his level of play.

I know it's a longshot, but I'm hoping Ottawa can catch the NJD. I want the Devils to play Boston in the first round, not Washington or Florida.

JVR will be back, but he probably won't be able to get any games in before the playoffs. Hard to miss 5-6 weeks, and jump right back into a playoff series against a big time opponent. Not sure we can expect anything from JVR.

Grossmann has been awesome, much better than I ever imagined. Kubina has been serviceable thus far. Still any way you slice it while being quality blueliners, they are still a notch below Pronger, and Meszaros.
- PLindbergh31

he'll likely have to step directly into the fire. i hope he can handle it. with jvr, you just never know what you're going to get. total domination or the cloak of invisibility. i won't expect much from him.

pronger's pronger, but i don't view kubina or grossmann as downgrades on meszaros who's shown to be very inconsistent at times. they're different kinds of players, and i believe they're better defensively than meszaros. also bigger and can just swallow guys up with their smart play and size.

It was the play he made to get himself free that made it spectacular.
- MBFlyerfan

i didn't see that part.

he'll likely have to step directly into the fire. i hope he can handle it. with jvr, you just never know what you're going to get. total domination or the cloak of invisibility. i won't expect much from him.

pronger's pronger, but i don't view kubina or grossmann as downgrades on meszaros who's shown to be very inconsistent at times. they're different kinds of players, and i believe they're better defensively than meszaros. also bigger and can just swallow guys up with their smart play and size.
- hammarby31

Excellent points as always sir.

It's going to take a Hurculean effort from everyone just to win one series. What would even be left of them after a 7 game war with the Pigeons or Rags? I guess that's why they play the games. If Bryzgalov plays at this level anything is possible.

Yeah, I was joking, Malkin is like 13 points ahead of Giroux now.
Fluery is better in the playoffs than he is in the regular season, he raises his level of play.

I know it's a longshot, but I'm hoping Ottawa can catch the NJD. I want the Devils to play Boston in the first round, not Washington or Florida.
- PLindbergh31

didn't realize he was that far ahead. a couple of games ago it was only a few points. oh well.

washington is not a legit threat. i hope they miss the playoffs. buffalo is right there. the jets are crashing and burning.

ottawa has been stumbling a bit lately, although they put an 8 spot on the pigeons last night. the devils would give boston a run for their money.

Man Shea Weber is good. What a game he is playing against the Hawks. I know Karlsson has been unbelievable offensively, but Weber has to win the Norris trophy this year.

didn't realize he was that far ahead. a couple of games ago it was only a few points. oh well.

washington is not a legit threat. i hope they miss the playoffs. buffalo is right there. the jets are crashing and burning.

ottawa has been stumbling a bit lately, although they put an 8 spot on the pigeons last night. the devils would give boston a run for their money.
- hammarby31

Jets are done, they just can't win on the road. (2 wins in Philly aside ) Washington or Florida will likely win the Division with the loser out, Anderson is back now for Ottawa, I would think they will hang on to a playoff spot.

Excellent points as always sir.

It's going to take a Hurculean effort from everyone just to win one series. What would even be left of them after a 7 game war with the Pigeons or Rags? I guess that's why they play the games. If Bryzgalov plays at this level anything is possible.
- PLindbergh31

grossmann's been more of a contributor, in part, because he's been healthy. kubina was out for a bit, obviously, but he's got solid playoff experience and a ring. you have to value having champions on your team. can't say enough about how those two guys have solidified the back end. and i know lilja gets a bad rap in here by some, but they will need him. can not have another rookie pairing the whole way through.

i believe the flyers can beat both of those teams, but only if bryz plays at his current level. if danny starts to heat up, that will certainly help their offensive woes. they will need him. can't expect to rely on guys like coots and read for points at this time of year as rookies playing the most hockey they've likely ever played in 1 year. i also pray that jagr doesn't go down with another groin injury. his health is important too.

Man Shea Weber is good. What a game he is playing against the Hawks. I know Karlsson has been unbelievable offensively, but Weber has to win the Norris trophy this year.
- PLindbergh31

i covet weber. he's just beastly, and has the best beard in hockey.

Jets are done, they just can't win on the road. (2 wins in Philly aside ) Washington or Florida will likely win the Division with the loser out, Anderson is back now for Ottawa, I would think they will hang on to a playoff spot.
- PLindbergh31

ottawa's done a great job this year. bishop got hurt last night and anderson had to mop up. not sure how serious it is.

grossmann's been more of a contributor, in part, because he's been healthy. kubina was out for a bit, obviously, but he's got solid playoff experience and a ring. you have to value having champions on your team. can't say enough about how those two guys have solidified the back end. and i know lilja gets a bad rap in here by some, but they will need him. can not have another rookie pairing the whole way through.

i believe the flyers can beat both of those teams, but only if bryz plays at his current level. if danny starts to heat up, that will certainly help their offensive woes. they will need him. can't expect to rely on guys like coots and read for points at this time of year as rookies playing the most hockey they've likely ever played in 1 year. i also pray that jagr doesn't go down with another groin injury. his health is important too.
- hammarby31

Well said. I agree with all of this. I'm just happy that Bryzgalov has turned things around. I was worried we were headed toward another goaltender carousel in the playoffs, now I don't care if Bryzgalov allows 5 goals a game in the first round, he will start every game in the playoffs barring injury.

ottawa's done a great job this year. bishop got hurt last night and anderson had to mop up. not sure how serious it is.
- hammarby31

Word is Bishop might be done for the year.

i covet weber. he's just beastly, and has the best beard in hockey.
- hammarby31

Can you imagine him in orange and black? I would be willing to acquire him almost at any cost.

Excellent points as always sir.

It's going to take a Hurculean effort from everyone just to win one series. What would even be left of them after a 7 game war with the Pigeons or Rags? I guess that's why they play the games. If Bryzgalov plays at this level anything is possible.
- PLindbergh31

A series with the pens would be far less taxing Physically as opposed to the rangers or bruins. I'm hoping we play pens first to try and knock them out off the bat

A series with the pens would be far less taxing Physically as opposed to the rangers or bruins. I'm hoping we play pens first to try and knock them out off the bat
- Just5

I hear you, but do you think it's more feasible winning 5-4 games vs. Pittsburgh, or 2-1 games against the Rangers? Either way you couldn't draw up a tougher first round opponent. Flyers will probably finish in the 102-104 range, and be rewarded with a first round opponent that will likely have the second best record in the NHL.

Can you imagine him in orange and black? I would be willing to acquire him almost at any cost.
- PLindbergh31

NSH destroying CHI right now 6-1. Radulov looks amazing out there. Could be one of the best players in the game right now......

Well said. I agree with all of this. I'm just happy that Bryzgalov has turned things around. I was worried we were headed toward another goaltender carousel in the playoffs, now I don't care if Bryzgalov allows 5 goals a game in the first round, he will start every game in the playoffs barring injury.
- PLindbergh31

i don't think bryz's overall play prior to this current stretch of stellar play was as bad as has been discussed. he was great in his wins, and certainly bad at times in the losses. just inconsistent. that said, i can't recall a goalie making the leap that he's made during the course of a season. it's remarkable, and i certainly didn't believe it would happen this year. there is no question his teammates have full confidence in him and that makes a difference in their own play. allows them to be relaxed and not afraid to make mistakes. i honestly wouldn't care if bryz played all 7 games that are left. he is their guy. i'm thrilled we have a scorching hot goalie going into the playoffs, and he's a big reason why the flyers turned their post ASG slump around into the streak they're on right now.

at the end of the day, this team has 29301 rookies on it, and turned over half the roster, playing without their best dman and captain virtually all year. any damage they do in the playoffs is gravy. who knows. maybe there's a miracle in store for us this year? nobody in their right mind thought boston would win the cup last year.

Word is Bishop might be done for the year.
- PLindbergh31

After leading their division briefly. They are hanging on to a playoff spot. They are in real danger of missing out with the way buffalo and Washington have played

Word is Bishop might be done for the year.
- PLindbergh31

oh? didn't see the injury. that's too bad. not sure who they have behind anderson. alex auld maybe?

I hear you, but do you think it's more feasible winning 5-4 games vs. Pittsburgh, or 2-1 games against the Rangers? Either way you couldn't draw up a tougher first round opponent. Flyers will probably finish in the 102-104 range, and be rewarded with a first round opponent that will likely have the second best record in the NHL.
- PLindbergh31

it's (frank)ing dumb is what it is.

oh? didn't see the injury. that's too bad. not sure who they have behind anderson. alex auld maybe?
- hammarby31

I guess Auld or the kid Lehner.

NSH destroying CHI right now 6-1. Radulov looks amazing out there. Could be one of the best players in the game right now......
- coffee junkie

emery was great in mop up duty, even though he allowed 2 goals. no chance on either of them.

the spanking looked good on chicago. nashville didn't look to be working all that hard either. they're a damn good team. radulov is quite talented, isn't he?