Fixed.
- GoFlyersGoSlovakia

Exactly.

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

The entire east could be different.
- mochoson

Yes. I still wish this was the conference finals matchup.

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.
- Emperor Filonius

I agree with this.

So wait, Bryz is gonna start tomorrow, yes?

Yes. I still wish this was the conference finals matchup.
- Emperor Filonius

It is, by far, the most interesting and entertaining series this year.

But am I a little prejudiced?

Regarding Malkin I completely understand the viewpoint here. After all, he IS the enemy...but he'd be hugely popular if he played in a Flyers uniform....a superstar that plays with and edge and a downright nasty streak. That would seem to epitomize the kind of player Flyers fans would embrace, and have done so over the years. (See Clarke, Bobby, Lindros, Eric, and Pronger, Chris)

And for what its worth, just like we embraced Tocchet in 92, we'd do the same with Hartnell if he wore the black and gold.

Lets speak the truth here the national media along with the NHL do eveything in their power to give Sid love. Everything he does people watch because they forced it on people. The obsession is beyond ridiculous over him.
- stveshdy

They maginify the good with the bad though. And if he had pulled a stunt similar to Giroux it would be everywhere and we'd get to listen to Aaron Ward analyze Crosby's psyche again.

Regarding Malkin I completely understand the viewpoint here. After all, he IS the enemy...but he'd be hugely popular if he played in a Flyers uniform....a superstar that plays with and edge and a downright nasty streak. That would seem to epitomize the kind of player Flyers fans would embrace, and have done so over the years. (See Clarke, Bobby, Lindros, Eric, and Pronger, Chris)

And for what its worth, just like we embraced Tocchet in 92, we'd do the same with Hartnell if he wore the black and gold.
- Emperor Filonius

No doubt, can't really argue with that. The problem I have, he doesn't seem to get labeled 'dirty' like some of the other players or get suspended (like Pronger) for consistently going after and sometimes hitting the head.

And I have a real problem with hurting one of our best defensemen and NOTHING happening because of it. That's just f'n crap.

It is, by far, the most interesting and entertaining series this year.

But am I a little prejudiced?
- 77rams

yeah, but so am I. Its also the only series that really has any juice in terms of a real blood feud type of rivalry. Each game has been different and dramatic in its own way...

I thought MAF played very well last night, but didn't necessarily "steal" the game. Sometimes the hockey god's frown on you a bit and the pucks don't bounce your way. Consider:

1. Two rockets off the post, if I remember correctly.
2. The puck just bounces away from Schenn on the 3 on 1 shorthanded rush.
3. G's drop pass to Jagr. Normally he buries that but he flubbed it.
4. Hartnell uncovered at side of net and the puck jumps his stick.
5. Briere couldn't elevate the puck and basically shot it in the only place MAF could have stopped it.

There were other bad bounces as well. Bottom line is the Penguins won and deservedly so. Unfortunately with the hype and print stating MAF is back, it will be easy for him to latch onto that, and ultimately it will boost his confidence a bit.

But hopefully the Flyers feel the way I did after this game. Much better than Thurs morning!

Flyers in 6.

They maginify the good with the bad though. And if he had pulled a stunt similar to Giroux it would be everywhere and we'd get to listen to Aaron Ward analyze Crosby's psyche again.
- Ben37

What did Giroux do?

No doubt, can't really argue with that. The problem I have, he doesn't seem to get labeled 'dirty' like some of the other players or get suspended (like Pronger) for consistently going after and sometimes hitting the head.

And I have a real problem with hurting one of our best defensemen and NOTHING happening because of it. That's just f'n crap.
- wolfhounds

I understand that. He does hit high and gets a bit out of control. It alsmot really hurt the Pens last night.

To be fair, from everything I've heard and seen, it was the Kennedy hit that really threw him for a loop. He pretty much staggered to the bench after that one..not saying that the Malkin hit didn't target the head, but I don't think it did the damage. I guess there's really no way to know...its kind of like trying to decide which hit really hurt Sid last year.

What did Giroux do?
- wolfhounds

Just when he smashed his stick. It's minor really and we've all seen guys who compete hard do it, but if it was Crosby with the magnifying glass that is always on him the talking heads and social media world would have blown a fuse.

Regarding Malkin I completely understand the viewpoint here. After all, he IS the enemy...but he'd be hugely popular if he played in a Flyers uniform....a superstar that plays with and edge and a downright nasty streak. That would seem to epitomize the kind of player Flyers fans would embrace, and have done so over the years. (See Clarke, Bobby, Lindros, Eric, and Pronger, Chris)

And for what its worth, just like we embraced Tocchet in 92, we'd do the same with Hartnell if he wore the black and gold.
- Emperor Filonius

Malkin is a dirty poophead. His sneaky nasty head shots are NUMEROUS.

I LOVED how he took out Crosby. I sincerely hope that that hit will contribute to his (87) demise. Karma is a female dog.

I understand that. He does hit high and gets a bit out of control. It alsmot really hurt the Pens last night.

To be fair, from everything I've heard and seen, it was the Kennedy hit that really threw him for a loop. He pretty much staggered to the bench after that one..not saying that the Malkin hit didn't target the head, but I don't think it did the damage. I guess there's really no way to know...its kind of like trying to decide which hit really hurt Sid last year.
- Emperor Filonius

Yup. I didn't even take note of the Malkin hit during the game, but saw Grossmann wobble after the Kennedy hit, which didn't even look all that bad to me, beyond the obvious after-effect. But the combination of both hits apparently proved too much.

What did Giroux do?
- wolfhounds

What did Giroux do?
- wolfhounds

Broke his stick over the goal in frustration over the goal last night, made a few negative remarks about the fans here in Pittsburgh (then taunted a few in the warmups)...

None of this is a big deal, nor should it be, but the central point is if Sid did it, it would be front page news...so yeas, the NHL does shove him down everyone's throat, but the downside is he's held to a ridiculously strict standard of conduct that other stars are not...

Regarding Malkin I completely understand the viewpoint here. After all, he IS the enemy...but he'd be hugely popular if he played in a Flyers uniform....a superstar that plays with and edge and a downright nasty streak. That would seem to epitomize the kind of player Flyers fans would embrace, and have done so over the years. (See Clarke, Bobby, Lindros, Eric, and Pronger, Chris)

And for what its worth, just like we embraced Tocchet in 92, we'd do the same with Hartnell if he wore the black and gold.
- Emperor Filonius

Every opposing player is the enemy, and a spotlight shines a little brighter on the stars and the dangerous players. Malkin, for whatever reason, has been both this series.

I love players who play nasty and with a edge, but not those who play to intentionally/potentially seriously injure - even those who play for the Flyers. There is a distinct difference.

Funny, there weren't many non-Flyers posters here when the series was 3-0.

Just when he smashed his stick. It's minor really and we've all seen guys who compete hard do it, but if it was Crosby with the magnifying glass that is always on him the talking heads and social media world would have blown a fuse.
- Ben37

You can't compare every players action to "what if it was Crosby" who did that. Crosby is the best player in the game, has received tremendous hype for years (and rightfully so), has won everything there is to win, and will probably go down as the greatest player of his era.

Everything #87 does is going to be put under the magnifying glass. It's just who he is. Giroux is not on that level.

I thought MAF played very well last night, but didn't necessarily "steal" the game. Sometimes the hockey god's frown on you a bit and the pucks don't bounce your way. Consider:

1. Two rockets off the post, if I remember correctly.
2. The puck just bounces away from Schenn on the 3 on 1 shorthanded rush.
3. G's drop pass to Jagr. Normally he buries that but he flubbed it.
4. Hartnell uncovered at side of net and the puck jumps his stick.
5. Briere couldn't elevate the puck and basically shot it in the only place MAF could have stopped it.

There were other bad bounces as well. Bottom line is the Penguins won and deservedly so. Unfortunately with the hype and print stating MAF is back, it will be easy for him to latch onto that, and ultimately it will boost his confidence a bit.

But hopefully the Flyers feel the way I did after this game. Much better than Thurs morning!

Flyers in 6.
- TheGreat28

MAF was in position to make the saves and preserve the win. THat's all you can ask of a goalie...as far as what if's, if STaal's shot doesn't hit the post in the 3rd period of game 1, its 4-1 Pens and its game over...could be a much different series..shoulda, woulda, coulda...

Just when he smashed his stick. It's minor really and we've all seen guys who compete hard do it, but if it was Crosby with the magnifying glass that is always on him the talking heads and social media world would have blown a fuse.
- Ben37

Ahh, yeah, I don't even take note of that stuff from athletes. I've smashed more than my fair share of sticks, rackets, bats, etc.

No doubt Crosby is at another level regarding the media microscope.

MAF was in position to make the saves and preserve the win. THat's all you can ask of a goalie...as far as what if's, if STaal's shot doesn't hit the post in the 3rd period of game 1, its 4-1 Pens and its game over...could be a much different series..shoulda, woulda, coulda...
- Emperor Filonius

Agreed. Sometimes you just don't get the bounces, and the Flyers didn't give a 60 minute effort in this one, so they got the result they pretty much deserved. Does that mean that they can't take some positives from this game? Absolutely not, but they need to be better if they want to finish off the Pens on Sunday.

Funny, there weren't many non-Flyers posters here when the series was 3-0.
- GoFlyersGoSlovakia

Just like there aren't nearly as many non Pens posters in our thread today.

I stop in here win or lose, because most of you are good knowledgeable fans.

Says the guy from the town that rioted when they lost!
- TheGreat28