Bill,

What was your opinion of Cooke's attempted hit on Giroux with five seconds left?

Giroux had caught up to Cooke and prevented the empty net goal. The game, though, was decided. The Flyers were not going to get back up the ice in 5 seconds. As Giroux went behind the net, Cooke gathered steam again and made a run at Giroux. However, the situation was similar to post touch up on an icing. Luckily, Giroux's spider sense was tingling and he managed to put on the full brakes and only get a glancing blow. Cooke's elbow was up and had the hit connected, I'm sure that Giroux would have been concussed.

After the horn had blown, they briefly showed Cooke skating backwards past an irate Flyers' bench. I am sure Giroux's post-game stick swinging tirade was as much about Cooke as it was about losing.

Gustafsson was better than Lilja and Kubina without question. That's not saying much, but Gus did about as good a job as can be expected.

But don't forget Gus played 30 games this year, playing Manning or Lauridsen would be a disaster. But at least they are young and can move. Lilja and Kubina are just wastes of a uniform.
- PLindbergh31

I would go with Manning. Get another defenseman who can skate. Pittsburgh has speed to go around and Kubina is too slow with his current injury. It is what it is at this point but they have to do something because if they have to play Coburn, Carle, and Timonen those minutes again in Game 6 and lose their in trouble for Game 7.

I would go with Manning. Get another defenseman who can skate. Pittsburgh has speed to go around and Kubina is too slow with his current injury. It is what it is at this point but they have to do something because if they have to play Coburn, Carle, and Timonen those minutes again in Game 6 and lose their in trouble for Game 7.
- stveshdy

They won't win a game 7 under any circumstance. You can guarantee that. Their chance is tomorrow.

They won't win a game 7 under any circumstance. You can guarantee that. Their chance is tomorrow.
- PLindbergh31

I'm not willing to go that far. I just think there chances decrease because those three defenseman are logging heavy minutes.

It's okay, boys, the Flyers just want to make me look smart.

I said Flyers in 6, and I'm sticking with it.
- KGBflyers10

Yeah. It may not be the order of wins and losses you'd have thought. But whether you were picking Pens or Flyers before the series started, most people were saying 6 or 7. Just go out and win it tomorrow, boys. I wanna see that handshake line live and in person.

I'm not willing to go that far. I just think there chances decrease because those three defenseman are logging heavy minutes.
- stveshdy

They decrease infinitely.

They decrease infinitely.
- PLindbergh31

I'll say this much when I seen Timonen struggling to get to the bench after taking a shot I was nervous because if he goes down the Flyers chances are pretty much over. They would have Carle and Coburn with Gustafsson and Lilja as their second pair. YIKES!!!

Flyers hit two posts, and failed to convert on either of the two odd man rushes they had. That is the difference in the game right there.
- PLindbergh31

The fact that the series is now 3-2 is starting to reflect how evenly the teams are matched. Lost in the fact that the Flyers were ahead in the series 3-0 was that game one was an overtime game and game 2's outcome was a see-saw affair who's outcome was doubt until very late in the 3rd period. Games 3 and 4 were blowouts on each side, and last night was very close. You folks are annoyed the FLyers can't close this out, but I'm sitting hear annoyed the Pens blew multiple goal leads in the first 2 games and that they aren't up 3-2.

Yeah. It may not be the order of wins and losses you'd have thought. But whether you were picking Pens or Flyers before the series started, most people were saying 6 or 7. Just go out and win it tomorrow, boys. I wanna see that handshake line live and in person.
- bodiva88

Have your camera ready because I believe the Flyers will win tomorrow night.

The fact that the series is now 3-2 is starting to reflect how evenly the teams are matched. Lost in the fact that the Flyers were ahead in the series 3-0 was that game one was an overtime game and game 2's outcome was a see-saw affair who's outcome was doubt until very late in the 3rd period. Games 3 and 4 were blowouts on each side, and last night was very close. You folks are annoyed the FLyers can't close this out, but I'm sitting hear annoyed the Pens blew multiple goal leads in the first 2 games and that they aren't up 3-2.
- Emperor Filonius

The better team will win four games and advance to the second round. The question is will it be the Flyers or Penguins?

This series is going to take a lot out of either team that does advance.

Why was Giroux going bananas at the end of the game last night? Was it just frustration over the loss or did something happen at the end? I feel like NBC had their B team at the game last night. There weren't any replays on a few penalty calls during the game and other plays throughout the night.
- The_Inkwell

He was frustrated because he's a great competitor. Pushing as hard as they did at the end and not tie it has got to be maddening.

That said, I'm sure if Crosby had done that his picture would be on the front page of the TSN website, and he'd be being ripped mercilessly here and in the hockey press for doing something so childish and un-captainlike.

I'll say this much when I seen Timonen struggling to get to the bench after taking a shot I was nervous because if he goes down the Flyers chances are pretty much over. They would have Carle and Coburn with Gustafsson and Lilja as their second pair. YIKES!!!
- stveshdy

Timonen was very slow getting up behind the Flyers net, he's definitely nowhere near 100%, but he's still playing well.

Grossmann was very effective, so the Penguins plan worked perfectly hit him with a couple sneaky headshots, problem solved Grossmann is done.

The better team will win four games and advance to the second round. The question is will it be the Flyers or Penguins?

This series is going to take a lot out of either team that does advance.
- stveshdy

I think we are looking at the 2 best teams in the east.

Timonen was very slow getting up behind the Flyers net, he's definitely nowhere near 100%, but he's still playing well.

Grossmann was very effective, so the Penguins plan worked perfectly hit him with a couple sneaky headshots, problem solved Grossmann is done.
- PLindbergh31

I don't like to use officiating as an excuse but it does seem like there are a lot of head shots happening in this series.

I don't like to use officiating as an excuse but it does seem like there are a lot of head shots happening in this series.
- stveshdy

Both teams have had plenty of PPs, and PK's the officiating hasn't been awful with the exception of game 4, and the Flyers weren't winning that game anyway. I'm more disgusted with Shanasham and his lack of guts when it comes to suspending star players.

Both teams have had plenty of PPs, and PK's the officiating hasn't been awful with the exception of game 4, and the Flyers weren't winning that game anyway. I'm more disgusted with Shanasham and his lack of guts when it comes to suspending star players.
- PLindbergh31

It's not just the stars, I'm having a hard time reconciling how Rinaldo didn't get a suspension.

Both teams have had plenty of PPs, and PK's the officiating hasn't been awful with the exception of game 4, and the Flyers weren't winning that game anyway. I'm more disgusted with Shanasham and his lack of guts when it comes to suspending star players.
- PLindbergh31

gimme last night's officiating tomorrow afternoon, please.

He was frustrated because he's a great competitor. Pushing as hard as they did at the end and not tie it has got to be maddening.

That said, I'm sure if Crosby had done that his picture would be on the front page of the TSN website, and he'd be being ripped mercilessly here and in the hockey press for doing something so childish and un-captainlike.
- Emperor Filonius

"If Crosby had done that..."

Sorry Filonius, I know it isn't just you, but this line's getting old as a response to what other players do. Crosby earned his rep in his first couple of years in the League, and I give him credit for getting past it (for the most part), but some Pens fans use this line as a crutch, it seems.

It's not just the stars, I'm having a hard time reconciling how Rinaldo didn't get a suspension.
- Emperor Filonius

No question about it. He certainly deserved a suspension. And frankly I wish Shanahan would have taken the possibility of Laviolette dressing him again out of the equation.

gimme last night's officiating tomorrow afternoon, please.
- OrangeBlack27

I thought the refs did an excellent job last night. Couple of calls (missed) here and there but that happens. Overall they let the two teams play hockey.

I think the Flyers should consider going with 7 Dmen next game. With Grossmann out and Kubina ineffective to the point of being unusable, Lauridsen would be my 7th D for his size. However, Manning would be more likely to get the nod.
- bmeltzer

Who comes out, they barely used JVR last night

gimme last night's officiating tomorrow afternoon, please.
- OrangeBlack27

It was a fairly well officiated game. There were some ticky tack stuff called early, then in the last 5-6 mins the refs swallowed the whistle. Orpik got away with mugging JVR, and with about 2 mins left Coburn clearly got away with a blatant trip that was directly right in front of the referee.

I thought the refs did an excellent job last night. Couple of calls (missed) here and there but that happens. Overall they let the two teams play hockey.
- stveshdy

they would be well advised to use the same crew on Sunday. But they won't.

Who comes out, they barely used JVR last night
- ob18

If they use 7 D, I suspect it would be Wellwood who comes out for a game. But I agree that if JVR barely plays -- then again, it's going to take a few games to get him worked back into the rotation -- it's kind of pointless.

Who comes out, they barely used JVR last night
- ob18

JVR started getting a regular shift in the third period. He ended up around 8 minutes for the game. There was lots of special teams time in the first two periods, that's probably why he wasn't used much. I would dress him in game 6.