no way.

if they do, then they aren't going anywhere!
- flyersfan51

We'll see how Game 5 plays out. Leighton's had a very good season from what I've heard. Luongo is sitting on the bench in Vancouver now and he had a stellar season and was not to blame for the Canucks losses in Game 1 or 2.

I thought Bryz was pushing off his right foot on Letang's save and had to push off the left last night?
- nhindian

That's what I remember. He was slow pushing off his left foot on the 2nd Pens goal too. Could all be coincidence though I guess

As it stands the d-core is brutally banged up.

Kubina isnt playing at 100%, Grossman still has a (frank)ed knee and a concussion.

Meszaros had back surgery for (frank)s sake.

The forwards are generally healthy and they need to help big time defensively. No letting your man get by, or being outmuscled so easily.

Thats one factor. However in the end it is a goaltender that can often settle a team down, change momentum, and win a game. Before the start of this series Bill said that Bryzgalov will have to steal a game.

I still believe that. You can say what you will about a team playing well defensively, and dont get me wrong the Flyers have not. However ask the penguins how a weak goal at the worst time can change momentum. The Flyers need Bryzgalov to play like a star. Not average.
- flyer_nutter

Unleash!

I would be surprised if Rinaldo plays anymore games in the playoffs. If he breaths on someone he gets called for a penalty. He lost his mind last night and should be suspended, if he's not Laviolette should replace him with Harry Z, until JVR is ready.

More importantly the defense and goaltending being in shambles is much more concerning than who the 12th forward is... (That being said it better not be Shelley)
- PLindbergh31

I agree. But I liked that Rinaldo was pissed...you could just see how f'n angry he was. The problem is, I didn't get that from the rest of the team. And the other problem is, the Pens are slowly but surely taking out the Flyers with questionable and/or downright illegal hits. So far, Rinaldo has been the only 1 to respond to this.

Yes, Bryz needs to be much better than he has been. And if he can't move from side to side, give Bob and start and hope he does better than when he's dropped into the middle of an already hopeless game.

The thing with this series is the Flyers played well when they went on an all out forecheck.

Every time it went into the defensive zone it generally looked like trouble. I do not for one second want them to start turning super defensive.

They do not have the horses on the back end right now with the injuries to play that way.

The forwards need to do a much better job defensively. In particular Jagr and Briere.

We'll see how Game 5 plays out. Leighton's had a very good season from what I've heard. Luongo is sitting on the bench in Vancouver now and he had a stellar season and was not to blame for the Canucks losses in Game 1 or 2.
- rockychocbill

sounds like you want to see Leighton in goal.

I'm not condoning what Rinaldo did with crosscheck, that was bad. But I will say I understand his frustration. He has been playing with a target on his back and seemingly with a different set of rules.

The penalty he was called for in the first when he finished his check on a pens d man was wrong and shouldn't have been called.

The refs last night were awful.
The first three or four calls against the pens were very soft, and then it went against the Flyers the rest of the game. Call what is a penalty, not try to set a tone by calling nonexistent penalties.

If Rinaldo is not suspended Lavi has to sit him now, he can't do a thing without going to the box. I wondered about this after game one and it's become reality.

The thing with this series is the Flyers played well when they went on an all out forecheck.

Every time it went into the defensive zone it generally looked like trouble. I do not for one second want them to start turning super defensive.

They do not have the horses on the back end right now with the injuries to play that way.

The forwards need to do a much better job defensively. In particular Jagr and Briere.
- flyer_nutter

So how is the mood up North?

The thing with this series is the Flyers played well when they went on an all out forecheck.

Every time it went into the defensive zone it generally looked like trouble. I do not for one second want them to start turning super defensive.

They do not have the horses on the back end right now with the injuries to play that way.

The forwards need to do a much better job defensively. In particular Jagr and Briere.
- flyer_nutter

Agree. They don't have the personnel with all the injuries to play a defensive style game right now. They are likely going to have to outscore the Pens 6-5, 5-4 something like that to win the series.

I agree. But I liked that Rinaldo was pissed...you could just see how f'n angry he was. The problem is, I didn't get that from the rest of the team. And the other problem is, the Pens are slowly but surely taking out the Flyers with questionable and/or downright illegal hits. So far, Rinaldo has been the only 1 to respond to this.

Yes, Bryz needs to be much better than he has been. And if he can't move from side to side, give Bob and start and hope he does better than when he's dropped into the middle of an already hopeless game.
- wolfhounds

Sergei doesnt touch the ice if I am coach. Only in a situation like yesterday.

As much as I have, and still somewhat do like Bobrovsky he is scaring me. It is hard to come out, as young as he is and with such little playing time and be expected to calm the storm.

However it is painfully obvious the book is out on him. Shoot high and he has big trouble. He goes down far too early and is too far back in his net. If the Flyers are to win they will have to do so with Bryzgalov.

I agree. But I liked that Rinaldo was pissed...you could just see how f'n angry he was. The problem is, I didn't get that from the rest of the team. And the other problem is, the Pens are slowly but surely taking out the Flyers with questionable and/or downright illegal hits. So far, Rinaldo has been the only 1 to respond to this.

Yes, Bryz needs to be much better than he has been. And if he can't move from side to side, give Bob and start and hope he does better than when he's dropped into the middle of an already hopeless game.
- wolfhounds

This is the one thing that gives me hope in Game 5. Bob has played well in the Consol Center, no? In fact the whole team has. There is every reason to believe the team has flushed last night's turd down the drain already.

On the other hand, there are a lot of young guys on this team................

I'm so conflicted.

Agree. They don't have the personnel with all the injuries to play a defensive style game right now. They are likely going to have to outscore the Pens 6-5, 5-4 something like that to win the series.
- PLindbergh31

Look at your crystal ball and tell me what you think about Friday night?

I'm not condoning what Rinaldo did with crosscheck, that was bad. But I will say I understand his frustration. He has been playing with a target on his back and seemingly with a different set of rules.

The penalty he was called for in the first when he finished his check on a pens d man was wrong and shouldn't have been called.

The refs last night were awful.
The first three or four calls against the pens were very soft, and then it went against the Flyers the rest of the game. Call what is a penalty, not try to set a tone by calling nonexistent penalties.

If Rinaldo is not suspended Lavi has to sit him now, he can't do a thing without going to the box. I wondered about this after game one and it's become reality.
- Marc D

People will think i'm nuts, not that they don't already, but if Rinaldo isn't gonna play, I'd like them to put Holmstrom in there to center the fourth line and move read back out to wing. We are too small down the middle and Holmstrom is at least decent on the faceoff. Not that f/o's are a big problem right now, but they will be going forward.

Look at your crystal ball and tell me what you think about Friday night?
- stveshdy

I think Friday is the best night to close it out, if they don't I think they are in enormous trouble.

Sergei doesnt touch the ice if I am coach. Only in a situation like yesterday.

As much as I have, and still somewhat do like Bobrovsky he is scaring me. It is hard to come out, as young as he is and with such little playing time and be expected to calm the storm.

However it is painfully obvious the book is out on him. Shoot high and he has big trouble. He goes down far too early and is too far back in his net. If the Flyers are to win they will have to do so with Bryzgalov.
- flyer_nutter

Bryzgalov is the guy. If we win or lose it will be with him being the starter. He gives this team the best chance to win.

Agree. They don't have the personnel with all the injuries to play a defensive style game right now. They are likely going to have to outscore the Pens 6-5, 5-4 something like that to win the series.
- PLindbergh31

Isn't that what they have been doing? I think both teams are just built to exploit the other team's defensive weaknesses right now.

Sergei doesnt touch the ice if I am coach. Only in a situation like yesterday.

As much as I have, and still somewhat do like Bobrovsky he is scaring me. It is hard to come out, as young as he is and with such little playing time and be expected to calm the storm.

However it is painfully obvious the book is out on him. Shoot high and he has big trouble. He goes down far too early and is too far back in his net. If the Flyers are to win they will have to do so with Bryzgalov.
- flyer_nutter

The situation and Bob's recent playing time certainly aren't helping even a little bit, but he did look friggin horrible. The scary part is, is Bryz healthy, cause he looks like poop as well, and he looks slow laterally.

Thanks.

That's a fair assessment.

And that's where the rules...like the Nystrom hit on Letang...make it tough to call it one way or the other.

If you make them black and white...then there will be suspension for accidents...assuming you believe the Steckel hit was an accident (like I said earlier) then Steckel would have been suspended.

But that whole thing also brings 'fighting' into the mix...and no player or GM wants to ban it.

It would look...please don't kill me for saying this...hypocritical...for the league to outlaw any hits/bumps to the head at all...but allow two guys to punch each other silly.
- icedog97

I didn't say that Malkin did/didn't intend to hit the head. I just said looking at the video, it's hard to tell one way or another, thus the reason you take "intent" out of the discesion. I can't remember the Steckle hit, but I always thought they didn't see each-other which could be ruled as incidental collision, thus no suspension. But you are right about fighting and making it hypocritical to allow it if you ban all head shots. The only thing I could think to say of this is, if both players drop the gloves then they both assume the responcibility of taking blows to the head. However, if one guy punches another like Carkner, or even in a scrum after the play, then there should be a suspension... No reason for it, even if its soft.

sounds like you want to see Leighton in goal.
- flyersfan51

Want might be a bit strong. We'll see what happens. This is the Flyers though. Anything is possible.

So how is the mood up North?
- GoFlyersGoSlovakia

Honestly its about 50/50.

A lot of people hate the penguins. A lot like them. The media however loves them. I dont really care but its annoying as (frank) to hear the bias constantly. TSN and the NHL are praying for pittsburgh to win. There is no talk about how the Flyers lead 3-1, its all about the penguins comeback.

At least from people I know, they find this series to now be a joke. From the officiating to the constant high scoring games.

I think Friday is the best night to close it out, if they don't I think they are in enormous trouble.
- PLindbergh31

I'll say this much I think the Flyers are headed into a hornets nest Friday night.

Isn't that what they have been doing? I think both teams are just built to exploit the other team's defensive weaknesses right now.
- JoeRussomanno

Yup. Pretty much.

Want might be a bit strong. We'll see what happens. This is the Flyers though. Anything is possible.
- rockychocbill

If they put leighton in there i'm done because then it will be over.

This is the one thing that gives me hope in Game 5. Bob has played well in the Consol Center, no? In fact the whole team has. There is every reason to believe the team has flushed last night's turd down the drain already.

On the other hand, there are a lot of young guys on this team................

I'm so conflicted.
- rockychocbill

Same. I'm hoping last night's game was a serious wakeup call.

We'll see how Game 5 plays out. Leighton's had a very good season from what I've heard. Luongo is sitting on the bench in Vancouver now and he had a stellar season and was not to blame for the Canucks losses in Game 1 or 2.
- rockychocbill

If Leighton plays a single minute as a Flyer this post season it will be the ultimate irony, and I will be pissed.

My neighbor with the Canucks tickets thinks Luongo is going to be a Leaf next year.
He wants them to trade Lu for Phaneuf, which will never happen but is interesting.