Many will disagree with me but I want the Rangers in the next round. I'm tired of hearing about how they smacked us around during the regular season.
- stveshdy

put me on the list of the many.
I think we can beat anybody and to be the best, you have to beat the best and all of that, buuuut, I would still rather not play them.

Not to change the subject, but does anyone else find the Devils-SunCats absolutely boring? I mean, they don't hit, no bad blood, no passion it seems. The Flyers blocked 40 shots in game 6, those two teams combined for what, a dozen? There hasn't been a major penalty. I can't watch!
- danham92

All the eastern series were boring, especially if you compared them to the flyers pens.

Boston Washington would be the closest thing to an enjoyable series, but only because games 5 and 6 were good.

Me too. If Philly didn't give up early goals to the Rangers during the season, we would have been on the other side of W-L column. I say, bring them on, they can barely beat Ottawa.

And to add to this...I was telling my friend how the Rangers need more scoring depth for the playoffs. Well, look at them now. Hardly scoring and that lack of depth is showing. All you need to do is shut down Gaborik, Callahan, and Richards, which Ottawa has done, and they have NO ONE.
- Shephardbd

This is the playoffs. Every team is a tough and formidable opponent. Including Ottawa. If all you have to do is shut down those 3 players and they have no one, then why hasn't Ottawa already won the Series and moved on? Every team is a real threat to knock the Flyers out. No team should be underestimated. It will be a tough series to move on past the Rangers.

put me on the list of the many.
I think we can beat anybody and to be the best, you have to beat the best and all of that, buuuut, I would still rather not play them.
- FlyersFirst

Why dont you want to play them? It is because of the regular season record? You dont want to see Lundqvist?

The Flyers are going to have to play a very good team next round either way and I say bring on the challenge.

This is the playoffs. Every team is a tough and formidable opponent. Including Ottawa. If all you have to do is shut down those 3 players and they have no one, then why hasn't Ottawa already won the Series and moved on? Every team is a real threat to knock the Flyers out. No team should be underestimated. It will be a tough series to move on past the Rangers.
- MJL

Because Ottawa cannot score either!

And I completely agree with you, but as much as the Rangers were a buzz saw during the regular season, they are hardly one now. They're a team built for the regular season, not the playoffs, in my opinion.

Me too. If Philly didn't give up early goals to the Rangers during the season, we would have been on the other side of W-L column. I say, bring them on, they can barely beat Ottawa.

And to add to this...I was telling my friend how the Rangers need more scoring depth for the playoffs. Well, look at them now. Hardly scoring and that lack of depth is showing. All you need to do is shut down Gaborik, Callahan, and Richards, which Ottawa has done, and they have NO ONE.
- Shephardbd

I like your line of thinking... the ole' root for the rags and hope for the 'Jackson Jinx' and Ottawa wins... I see what your doing there!

Why dont you want to play them? It is because of the regular season record? You dont want to see Lundqvist?

The Flyers are going to have to play a very good team next round either way and I say bring on the challenge.
- stveshdy

I agree with MJL on this. every team will be tough. We just dont match up well against the Rags. All things being equal, however, I dont want the "challenge" I want the FRANKING CUP. Nothing else matters.

I agree with MJL on this. every team will be tough. We just dont match up well against the Rags. All things being equal, however, I dont want the "challenge" I want the FRANKING CUP. Nothing else matters.
- FlyersFirst

Every single round from here out will be a challenge. There are no easy series imo. Your going to have to beat good teams theres no avoiding that. The goal is the cup but you cant be scared to get it because the Rags stand in the way.

I agree with MJL on this. every team will be tough. We just dont match up well against the Rags. All things being equal, however, I dont want the "challenge" I want the FRANKING CUP. Nothing else matters.
- FlyersFirst

This

Because Ottawa cannot score either!

And I completely agree with you, but as much as the Rangers were a buzz saw during the regular season, they are hardly one now. They're a team built for the regular season, not the playoffs, in my opinion.
- Shephardbd

Is it that neither team can score or that both teams are playing well defensively with top goaltending behind it? And I have a hard time understanding how a team that plays that well defensively, and has arguably the best goaltender in the League, isn't a team built for the playoffs. Lunqvist alone can beat you in a 7 game Series. And the Rangers are not a weak offensive team. They're a formidable offensive team.

Is it that neither team can score or that both teams are playing well defensively with top goaltending behind it? And I have a hard time understanding how a team that plays that well defensively, and has arguably the best goaltender in the League, isn't a team built for the playoffs. Lunqvist alone can beat you in a 7 game Series. And the Rangers are not a weak offensive team. They're a formidable offensive team.
- MJL

If that were the case.. the Bruins shouldnt have drank from that bigger silver thing last June.

Every single round from here out will be a challenge. There are no easy series imo. Your going to have to beat good teams theres no avoiding that. The goal is the cup but you cant be scared to get it because the Rags stand in the way.
- stveshdy

I am not SCARED. We will have a challange either way. Some teams match up better with other teams. I just want to WIN. Period. I just like our chances Better against any team other than the Rags.

Let me put it to you this way, in 2010, we benefited from having favorable matchups in the playoffs and were 2 games away from lifting the cup. Would you have preferred to have greater "challenges"/worse match ups in the 1st or second rounds and never have gotten the chance to play the Blackhawks in the finals????

I agree with MJL on this. every team will be tough. We just dont match up well against the Rags. All things being equal, however, I dont want the "challenge" I want the FRANKING CUP. Nothing else matters.
- FlyersFirst

Thank you.

Just having a discussion over in the Pens blog.. and was talking about Giroux vs Crosby.. I did a little research and came up with this.

I wont say that Giroux has had a better career than Crosby.. but I will certainly say he pretty much made him his chump this year. In the playoffs Crosby and Malkin had a combined 6 goals, 10 assists, and were a -4. Giroux had 6 goals 8 assists and was a plus 6.

Including the regular season. Crosby and Malkin combined for 10 goals, 19 assists 29 points and a -4 in 21 games. Giroux alone had 7 goals 15 assits, 22 points, was a +4 and all in only 11 games.

I don't care who they play. That said, on paper, the Rangers and Bruins would make the road to the SCF more difficult. But if they are eliminated, the Flyers will have to face a team that was good enough to do so.

Be careful what you wish for. It won't cheapen a Flyers Stanley Cup if they have to go through Florida and Washington, rather than Boston and New York. But they're going to have to beat whomever is on their path. If it's the Rangers or the Bruins; or the Senators and the Caps...get it done.

Just having a discussion over in the Pens blog.. and was talking about Giroux vs Crosby.. I did a little research and came up with this.

I wont say that Giroux has had a better career than Crosby.. but I will certainly say he pretty much made him his chump this year. In the playoffs Crosby and Malkin had a combined 6 goals, 10 assists, and were a -4. Giroux had 6 goals 8 assists and was a plus 6.

Including the regular season. Crosby and Malkin combined for 10 goals, 19 assists 29 points and a -4 in 21 games. Giroux alone had 7 goals 15 assits, 22 points, was a +4 and all in only 11 games.
- jak521

at this point Cindy and Malkin's handicap are more relevant than their +/-
no need talking about 2 golfers.

Just having a discussion over in the Pens blog.. and was talking about Giroux vs Crosby.. I did a little research and came up with this.

I wont say that Giroux has had a better career than Crosby.. but I will certainly say he pretty much made him his chump this year. In the playoffs Crosby and Malkin had a combined 6 goals, 10 assists, and were a -4. Giroux had 6 goals 8 assists and was a plus 6.

Including the regular season. Crosby and Malkin combined for 10 goals, 19 assists 29 points and a -4 in 21 games. Giroux alone had 7 goals 15 assits, 22 points, was a +4 and all in only 11 games.
- jak521

No matter how you look at it. Right now, Giroux has the edge over Crosby. That was proven in the last Series. It may change in the future. But I don't know how you could argue any differently right now.

Unfortunate news on Hovinen. I read Teemu's tweet this morning and thought about how scary it sounded. I wonder if he has a stress fx or an avulsion bc if it was truly a "broken hip" there would be now way (physiologically) he could play though that. Either way wishing the best as he played well this past year, even while battling this injury.
- jak521

I think it's most likely a torn labrum (very common for goalies).

I don't care who they play. That said, on paper, the Rangers and Bruins would make the road to the SCF more difficult. But if they are eliminated, the Flyers will have to face a team that was good enough to do so.

Be careful what you wish for. It won't cheapen a Flyers Stanley Cup if they have to go through Florida and Washington, rather than Boston and New York. But they're going to have to beat whomever is on their path. If it's the Rangers or the Bruins; or the Senators and the Caps...get it done.
- Jsaquella

Very well said.

We don't get to pick who we have to play.

Besides I don't think anyone will be throwing who we played in our faces years from now.

I don't remember who the Bruins or Hawks had to play in their cup years, although I'm sure some Buzzers here do, Im just saying the population in general.

Go Flyers! Giroux is the Alpha and the Omega.

I am not SCARED. We will have a challange either way. Some teams match up better with other teams. I just want to WIN. Period. I just like our chances Better against any team other than the Rags.

Let me put it to you this way, in 2010, we benefited from having favorable matchups in the playoffs and were 2 games away from lifting the cup. Would you have preferred to have greater "challenges"/worse match ups in the 1st or second rounds and never have gotten the chance to play the Blackhawks in the finals????
- FlyersFirst

I would love to play the rangers you wouldn't. I think the flyers are good enough to win against anyone.

I think it's most likely a torn labrum (very common for goalies).
- bmeltzer

Hmm.. Teemu H from Euroflyers reported it as a broken right hip. He is usually pretty accurate. Dont know how a torn labrum (which i currently suffer from) and broken right hip could be confused.. unless its a language thing.

No matter how you look at it. Right now, Giroux has the edge over Crosby. That was proven in the last Series. It may change in the future. But I don't know how you could argue any differently right now.
- MJL

Exactly. I get bothered when I hear ppl say you cant mention the two in the same sentence. Look at what Crosby has done in the past, blah blah blah.

Both are world class players. Today. Right now.

Is it that neither team can score or that both teams are playing well defensively with top goaltending behind it? And I have a hard time understanding how a team that plays that well defensively, and has arguably the best goaltender in the League, isn't a team built for the playoffs. Lunqvist alone can beat you in a 7 game Series. And the Rangers are not a weak offensive team. They're a formidable offensive team.
- MJL

I am not saying they are weak, but a formidable team can be much weaker in the playoffs with the tighter defense that is played. Look at it this way, you shut down Giroux-Jagr-Hartnell, great. What about Schenn, Coots, Briere, Simmonds, Voracek, etc? On the Rangers, with Callahan-Gaborik-Richards out of the picture, who is left? Rupp? Prust? Stepan? Anisimov? Fedotenko? These guys aren't getting it done. My point is, I feel a lot of depth is going to go a long way with the tight checking that you see in the playoffs. Rangers are barely handling it with Ottawa. If Ottawa had the depth the Flyers have, I believe this series would be over.

I don't care who they play. That said, on paper, the Rangers and Bruins would make the road to the SCF more difficult. But if they are eliminated, the Flyers will have to face a team that was good enough to do so.

Be careful what you wish for. It won't cheapen a Flyers Stanley Cup if they have to go through Florida and Washington, rather than Boston and New York. But they're going to have to beat whomever is on their path. If it's the Rangers or the Bruins; or the Senators and the Caps...get it done.
- Jsaquella

Exactly. There's no guarantee playing the caps or panthers is going to be an easier series than playing the rags or bruins.

I am not saying they are weak, but a formidable team can be much weaker in the playoffs with the tighter defense that is played. Look at it this way, you shut down Giroux-Jagr-Hartnell, great. What about Schenn, Coots, Briere, Simmonds, Voracek, etc? On the Rangers, with Callahan-Gaborik-Richards out of the picture, who is left? Rupp? Prust? Stepan? Anisimov? Fedotenko? These guys aren't getting it done. My point is, I feel a lot of depth is going to go a long way with the tight checking that you see in the playoffs. Rangers are barely handling it with Ottawa. If Ottawa had the depth the Flyers have, I believe this series would be over.
- Shephardbd

For whatever reason, we just don't stack up well with the Rags. As I previously said, I'd just love to see the Rags and or the Bruins out. If both as well as NJ, it'd be great. It doesn't guarantee us anything, but it ceratinly may mean a more manageable path. I remember 2010. Montreal didn't match up well with us at all and the other upsets in the playoffs really helped us.