I thought you're not supposed to use injuries as an excuse... I thought Philly played very well last night, a break here or there and you guys are moving on. IMO game 6 is your game 7.

And before you all rip me a new one I realize Calgary is crap and about 10 years away from the playoffs.
- whipper334

good post and lol @ the last sentence.

I thought you're not supposed to use injuries as an excuse... I thought Philly played very well last night, a break here or there and you guys are moving on. IMO game 6 is your game 7.

And before you all rip me a new one I realize Calgary is crap and about 10 years away from the playoffs.
- whipper334

Correctamundo. The Rangers are playing without Zucchini. I haven't heard a peep out of anyone regarding that.

What do we have to lose? Let the dane play , ive heard hes a speedster on the ice. Either that or manning, anything better then pylon kubina.My observation on bryz is he looked alot better. He was moving fast post to post , reaction was quick i thought. That great split glove save at end of game Would have been a goal the last game. Bottomline we still just need to win ONE game! Now you get a chance infront of home crowd. If they dont win this game i dont kkow what to say.

Cant wait to see what clever motivational t- shirt they make for this huge game.

Are you defending Rinaldo?
- whipper334

To an extent. Some of the calls against Rinaldo are absolutely let go if there's a different name of the back of the jersey.

But my point was that the officiating is very bad and 'discipline' has little to do with the subjective calls made on the ice.

Now you're changing the argument, aka moving the goalposts.
- wolfhounds

It's a moot point, because I don't believe they will blow a 3-0 series lead.

Malkin's antics sicken me. Dirty dirty player. If you're not wearing Pens colored glasses folks see it.

I'd have to say he's my most hated player in the NHL and I hope he gets his at some point.
- hockeylover

Malkin gets away with a lot, no doubt. But I was more upset with Cooke taking a run at Giroux with 4 seconds left and the puck at the other end of the ice.

It's a moot point, because I don't believe they will blow a 3-0 series lead.
- PLindbergh31

Me neither. I believe they take it tomorrow because now they realize there's a very real chance for them to lose this series, and nobody wants to be associated with such an epic collapse.

morning, sir.
- OrangeBlack27

hi, boo

Compare the way Fleury played that 3rd period save on Voracek on the Flyers' PP with 7 shots to the way Bryzgalov played the first Penguins goal. Fleury knew right away what was up, and got over to turn a near impossible save into a routine one while Bryz went down to the ice way early and had no chance at a recovery when Letang made the pass (as Clement put it, Bryz guessed and guessed wrong).

That's the difference between getting outstanding goaltending in a game and average goaltending. In the third period Fleury made several tough stops look easier than they were. He did the same on that save on Jagr in the second period. Every shot on Bryzgalov is an adventure right now because he is NOT moving well.
- bmeltzer

I'm not certain I'd call MAF's performance outstanding. Solid, maybe. Not that there's a huge difference in my book, but to be outstanding, my feeling is that your team needs to be clearly outplayed and the goalie steals the game.

That wasn't the case here. MAF made the saves he needed for his team to win, especially the last 10 minutes, but needed plenty of help.

He left numerous rebounds, and but for Briere's inability to get any air under the puck twice in succession, the game was tied.

Admittedly, he looks spectacular in comparison the Breeze, who because of whatever, is moving like a cigar store Indian. Hip? Toe? Lack of anticipation? Lack of concentration? Who knows?

Seriously hate this concept.

Flyers went from worst team in the league to ECF in one year. Edmonton rebuild model is over-rated, dont tead Cloutiers blogs.

Feaster is a smart guy, there is a such thing as rebuilding on the fly (and yes, it can be done much better then how the Maple Leafs are attempting to do so).

You trade Kipper and Iginla and continue to draft/sign FA's well this summer, Flames could be a totally different team next year.
- mochoson

I like your optimism...

To an extent. Some of the calls against Rinaldo are absolutely let go if there's a different name of the back of the jersey.

But my point was that the officiating is very bad and 'discipline' has little to do with the subjective calls made on the ice.
- wolfhounds

Agreed. It's been brutal in all games and admitted to by the league.

Malkin gets away with a lot, no doubt. But I was more upset with Cooke taking a run at Giroux with 4 seconds left and the puck at the other end of the ice.

- FlyerGuy

Yeah I saw that as well. I think at the last second Cooke slid off him a bit but when I saw him skating towards him I thought here we go again.

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

You mean you think it's going multiple OT?

Admittedly, he looks spectacular in comparison the Breeze, who because of whatever, is moving like a cigar store Indian. Hip? Toe? Lack of anticipation? Lack of concentration? Who knows?
- 77rams

Agreed. Do you start Bryz tomorrow if he is hurt? The fact of the matter is, he's been average this entire series, and although it was easy to overlook when we were winning, it seems to be a bit of a serious problem now.

I'm not certain I'd call MAF's performance outstanding. Solid, maybe. Not that there's a huge difference in my book, but to be outstanding, my feeling is that your team needs to be clearly outplayed and the goalie steals the game.

That wasn't the case here. MAF made the saves he needed for his team to win, especially the last 10 minutes, but needed plenty of help.

He left numerous rebounds, and but for Briere's inability to get any air under the puck twice in succession, the game was tied.

Admittedly, he looks spectacular in comparison the Breeze, who because of whatever, is moving like a cigar store Indian. Hip? Toe? Lack of anticipation? Lack of concentration? Who knows?
- 77rams

Agree about the rebounds -- mentioned it in the blog. But rebound control has always (and will always) be Fleury's main weakness.

As for Brzgalov, I am absolutely convinced that his problems right now are physical. The team can deny injury issues all they want. His lateral movement pushing off his right foot (the one with the chip fracture) has been awful ever since the injury and it's very common for a hip or groin issue to follow due to overcompensation.

I actually thought Bryz did about as well as he could last night under the circumstances. The second and third Pens goals were rockets. The second one went short-side, though, and was the one he MIGHT have been able to get.

Talks of a guy making his NHL debut tomorrow on defense with the Flyers season on the line. Seriously, it's come to that?
- PLindbergh31

Shut up. You said you can't mention injuries. Without injuries that's not an issue.

I like your optimism...
- whipper334

I'm serious too. The Flyer's built basically their entire team we have know through trades. We only drafted JVR, Cooter, Giroux and only signed Briere, Jagr, Talbot, Read, and Lilja.

Everyone else we acquired through trade.

If the Flames are serious about winning now, it just comes down do they want to do it with or without Iginla.

Find someone to take Jbo and burry that Stajan contract and you guys are gravy.

Agree about the rebounds -- mentioned it in the blog. But rebound control has always (and will always) be Fleury's main weakness.

As for Brzgalov, I am absolutely convinced that his problems right now are physical. The team can deny injury issues all they want. His lateral movement pushing off his right foot (the one with the chip fracture) has been awful ever since the injury and it's very common for a hip or groin issue to follow due to overcompensation.

I actually thought Bryz did about as well as he could last night under the circumstances. The second and third Pens goals were rockets. The second one went short-side, though, and was the one he MIGHT have been able to get.
- bmeltzer

So, do you start Bryz tomorrow? Or do you practice the Hell out of Bob today and get him ready for his 1st start of the post-season?

I'm serious too. The Flyer's built basically their entire team we have know through trades. We only drafted JVR, Cooter, Giroux and only signed Briere, Jagr, Talbot, Read, and Lilja.

Everyone else we acquired through trade.

If the Flames are serious about winning now, it just comes down do they want to do it with or without Iginla.

Find someone to take Jbo and burry that Stajan contract and you guys are gravy.
- mochoson

Yeah I think JBO is gone to a team needing to hit the floor. He does have a limited NTC so it could be tough. I think Stajan will be traded. I know. So we'll see after that what Feaster can do. It just sucks that we already know that Parise and Suter won't be coming here.

That's crap. It has little to do with discipline and everything to do with the subjective perceptions of the officials.

If it was discipline and objective, Bryz getting tripped was a penalty, Malkin running into Bryz was a penalty, and Kennedy and Malkin are sitting a game for their headshots. And Malkin did it again last night...but he still won't sit a game, apparently not until he knocks another Flyer out of the lineup.

Very little of the officiating has to do with 'discipline'.
- wolfhounds

Sorry, but there's nothing subjective about viewing the way Rinaldo plays. For the amount of time on the ice he gets, the number of cheap, dumb things he does is staggering.

I can only imagine how this all plays out if our team is 100% healthy.
- mochoson

Injuries are what they are. They suck. If not for all the injuries the Pens had this year, they probably finish first in the east and we wouldn't be having this series. Just have to deal with them.

Sorry, but there's nothing subjective about viewing the way MALKIN plays. For the amount of time on the ice he gets, the number of cheap, dumb things he does is staggering.
- Emperor Filonius

Fixed.

Yeah I think JBO is gone to a team needing to hit the floor. He does have a limited NTC so it could be tough. I think Stajan will be traded. I know. So we'll see after that what Feaster can do. It just sucks that we already know that Parise and Suter won't be coming here.
- whipper334

This off-season is bigger then Weber/Suter.

People forget that there could be big changes coming in Chicago, Detroit, NY, Pitt, San Jose, and Vancouver with early exits.

Realistically, every one of those teams could have first round exits. Lot's of coachs or gm's could get let go and lots of big name players on the move.

I'd love to see what Vancouver does with Luongo/Schenieder, SJ with Thorton/Marleau, Pitt with Staal, etc.

Injuries are what they are. They suck. If not for all the injuries the Pens had this year, they probably finish first in the east and we wouldn't be having this series. Just have to deal with them.
- Emperor Filonius

You could just as easily say the Flyers could have been in first.

The entire east could be different.

Agree about the rebounds -- mentioned it in the blog. But rebound control has always (and will always) be Fleury's main weakness.

As for Brzgalov, I am absolutely convinced that his problems right now are physical. The team can deny injury issues all they want. His lateral movement pushing off his right foot (the one with the chip fracture) has been awful ever since the injury and it's very common for a hip or groin issue to follow due to overcompensation.

I actually thought Bryz did about as well as he could last night under the circumstances. The second and third Pens goals were rockets. The second one went short-side, though, and was the one he MIGHT have been able to get.
- bmeltzer

That's what I'd like to believe, however on Niskanen's goal Wednesday (the Pen's second), the puck was passed from the Pens right point across to Nisk standing to Breeze's right. Breeze had to push off his left (uninjured) foot to slide across but did so very late and laboriously, it seemed.

If it's his right toe that's the issue, then why the difficulty moving left to right?

His read and react response seems to be a problem.