The first pp unit looked a bit lost in the last game without Giroux.
He is the main cog for that group.
- Marc D

Giroux led the NHL in PP points, so I would say that's an area where they definitely missed him.

Their best shot at winning the series depends on Bryz coming through.
Hopefully he is in good form.

Having Grossmann back should help the goalie alot.
- Marc D

Hes a beast and the Flyers need him in the lineup to be successful in this series. He can matchup with any of the Pens forwards. He does a great job in his own end and blocks a ton of shots. Grossmann is the man.

Giroux led the NHL in PP points, so I would say that's an area where they definitely missed him.
- MJL

I did not know that, that is great.
I know he was at/near the top in assists.

More then a few Flyers had career years.

Hes a beast and the Flyers need him in the lineup to be successful in this series. He can matchup with any of the Pens forwards. He does a great job in his own end and blocks a ton of shots. Grossmann is the man.
- stveshdy

I agree 100 percent, really need the playoffs to get started. Best time of the year for a hockey fan, I think the Stanley Cup Playoffs are the best and hardest type of championship to win IMO

Giroux led the NHL in PP points, so I would say that's an area where they definitely missed him.
- MJL

I really think that Couturier is going to give Malkin fits, Like you said kid has hockey talent that is not seen in a 19 yr old.

I really think that Couturier is going to give Malkin fits, Like you said kid has hockey talent that is not seen in a 19 yr old.
- bigmookalookie

I hope your right. But I think the best you can do is limit him. Malkin is going to do more then his share of damage in the Series. The Pens are a scary offensive team.

Harry Zolnierczyk ‏ @HarryZ87 Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Nooooknkk nik oooooookkooiik oil okio


I... um... oh.

I agree 100 percent, really need the playoffs to get started. Best time of the year for a hockey fan, I think the Stanley Cup Playoffs are the best and hardest type of championship to win IMO
- bigmookalookie

Lets get it started. Pens/Flyers let the "bloodbath" begin...

Lets get it started. Pens/Flyers let the "bloodbath" begin...
- stveshdy

(frank) yaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

I hope your right. But I think the best you can do is limit him. Malkin is going to do more then his share of damage in the Series. The Pens are a scary offensive team.
- MJL

I have full faith that Couts can handle himself. This is gonna be a hell of a series

I hope your right. But I think the best you can do is limit him. Malkin is going to do more then his share of damage in the Series. The Pens are a scary offensive team.
- MJL

Bryzgalov is going to be a difference maker in this series.
- stveshdy

I agree...the real question is what kind of difference will he make? If he plays well, the Flyers have a very real shot...if not....

One of the reasons all the analysts are picking the Pens to win is the Flyers have a large number of rookies in key roles.
And the playoffs can be very tough on rookies.
But the Flyers rookis have come up big all season.
It will be interesting to see how they handle the extra pressure.
- Marc D

The young Pens learned how different the pressure of the playoff can be when a veteran Ottawa squad took them to school. It will definitely be interesting to see how your younger guys fare.

I agree...the real question is what kind of difference will he make? If he plays well, the Flyers have a very real shot...if not....
- Emperor Filonius

If he can't, it will be a easy day for all the Flyers media

I agree...the real question is what kind of difference will he make? If he plays well, the Flyers have a very real shot...if not....
- Emperor Filonius

That goes for most teams. If you dont play well defensively and your goaltending is questionable you will be going home.

In the past I would be concerned because of Fluery but he isnt playing that well down the stretch and thats a good thing for the Flyers.

The single biggest issue the flyers must resolve if they are going to win this series is not digging early holes. They will expand too much energy. They can't expect to play a game like that 6-4 win they had and think they'll win it. The season series suggests the flyers dominated the pens. IMO they just dominated the scoreboard and nothing more

The single biggest issue the flyers must resolve if they are going to win this series is not digging early holes. They will expand too much energy. They can't expect to play a game like that 6-4 win they had and think they'll win it. The season series suggests the flyers dominated the pens. IMO they just dominated the scoreboard and nothing more
- Just5

That is a concern. Flyers cant dig a hole every game and chase the Pens. Have to play better and it starts in the first period where they struggle.

Off topic.

But does anyone know a bit about car racks?

Im buying a kayak thursday and not really want to dish out the money for a brand new car rack.

I have a Mazda 3. Do you need specific kinds or is it one size fits most kind of a thing.

That is a concern. Flyers cant dig a hole every game and chase the Pens. Have to play better and it starts in the first period where they struggle.
- stveshdy

I do think game 1 is very important.

Flyers have to show they can play with them in an actual playoff game. For all the support I have, I dont for one second think the Flyers aren't underdogs in this series.

With a young squad as this they cant go back to Philly down 2 games. If Bryz is iffy in his first two starts things could go crazy real fast. For all the talk about shutting down Giroux I would in no way be suprised to see the pens really try and get to Bryz. Honestly, its what I would do.

Excited

Busy all day today. Any updates I should be aware of about the Flyers? Something Bill hasn't wrote in his blog?? Maybe something tweeted in the middle of the day??

Off topic.

But does anyone know a bit about car racks?

Im buying a kayak thursday and not really want to dish out the money for a brand new car rack.

I have a Mazda 3. Do you need specific kinds or is it one size fits most kind of a thing.
- flyer_nutter

If there is one thing I have learned on HB, the guy to ask about racks is rockychocbill.

I do think game 1 is very important.

Flyers have to show they can play with them in an actual playoff game. For all the support I have, I dont for one second think the Flyers aren't underdogs in this series.

With a young squad as this they cant go back to Philly down 2 games. If Bryz is iffy in his first two starts things could go crazy real fast. For all the talk about shutting down Giroux I would in no way be suprised to see the pens really try and get to Bryz. Honestly, its what I would do.

Excited
- flyer_nutter

I think the Flyers HAVE to take one of the first two games to win. Getting game one would not only be a great start ... but I bet it would be shocking to the Pens, and really get them a bit nervous.

The young Pens learned how different the pressure of the playoff can be when a veteran Ottawa squad took them to school. It will definitely be interesting to see how your younger guys fare.
- Emperor Filonius

yeah, either they do a great job and beat the Pens ... or they get a valuable learning experience for next year and beyond.

It's almost a win/win scenario for them, even if it's a definite win/lose scenario for the fans.

I agree...the real question is what kind of difference will he make? If he plays well, the Flyers have a very real shot...if not....
- Emperor Filonius

When he's played on good, deep teams, he's been very good, excellent even, in the playoffs.

When he's played on overmatched Phoenix teams against the Red Wings, he's had issues.

yeah, either they do a great job and beat the Pens ... or they get a valuable learning experience for next year and beyond.

It's almost a win/win scenario for them, even if it's a definite win/lose scenario for the fans.

- FlyerGuy

If a nobody like Joe Vitale is allowed to take out 2 of our key players in one game, the Flyers need to be just as dirty but not as obvious on Crosby and Malkin or any other key player they might have. It's playoff time. Eye for an eye. The league needs to be watching this series closely and stop giving free passes. Berube wasn't wrong for his quotes. Crosby and Malkin are caught on camera giving cheap shots when they're frustrated. Time to make them pay the price. The Penguins will go into this series the favorite but win or lose, they won't be the same team once they leave this series. This is the mindset the Philadelphia Flyers must have. Tip for tat. Wait for them to make the first dirty mistake before going in that direction.