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

At the end of the day, I don't care who the Flyers play either. I do not understand the fear everyone has regarding the Rangers.

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

All true statements as the teams that beat the Rags and Bruins would have to be good enough to do so, but it's also about matchups and the Flyers match up better with certain teams.

At the end of the day, I don't care who the Flyers play either. I do not understand the fear everyone has regarding the Rangers.
- Shephardbd

I understand the "fear". The Rangers swept them. They're a good team. But there's going to be things that every team does that could create problems for the Flyers.

I think the Flyers are capable of beating everyone that's left. But the converse can also be true. It doesn't matter who they play. It's HOW they play. They play like they did in game 6 against the Penguins, they can beat anybody.

All true statements as the teams that beat the Rags and Bruins would have to be good enough to do so, but it's also about matchups and the Flyers match up better with certain teams.
- Hextall271

Well, if the Flyers play Florida...we know that trapping teams can give the Flyers fits. They had some issues with Ottawa, too, especially when Anderson was hot.

No matter who the Flyers face, they are going to have to play well. Repeat game six and they can beat anybody left, in the East or West.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: A Day at the Office
- bmeltzer

good read

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

Teams as deep offensively as the Flyers have been shut down offensively. Vancouver and Detroit were top offensive teams with deep forwards. They both averaged under 2 goals a game in the first round and got knocked out. The same could be done to the Flyers by a top defensive team with top goaltending. Ottawa is an equal to the Flyers as a 5 on 5 offensive team. I think your underselling Ottawa as an offensive team. Also underselling the Rangers. The Rangers aren't a weak offensive team.

Good stuff Bill. Always interesting to see how the wait affects a team, and never hurts to get healthy.

If I wasn't on my phone, I'd link us all to John Lennon's Watching the Wheels....

Can someone oblige??

Great read Bill. Thanks as always. Loved Mullen's thoughts about the PP.

Thanks again
- Giroux_Is_God

good call sir

Teams as deep offensively as the Flyers have been shut down offensively. Vancouver and Detroit were top offensive teams with deep forwards. They both averaged under 2 goals a game in the first round and got knocked out. The same could be done to the Flyers by a top defensive team with top goaltending. Ottawa is an equal to the Flyers as a 5 on 5 offensive team. I think your underselling Ottawa as an offensive team. Also underselling the Rangers. The Rangers aren't a weak offensive team.
- MJL

On the other side.. how great do you think it will be for the Flyers to get Grossmann and Meszy back!

Our top 6 could go from:

Carle-Kubina/Gusty
Coburn-Timonen
Lilja/Gusty/Kubina

to: (??)
Carle/ Gusty
Coburn/ Grossmann
Timonen/Meszy

Thats fantastic!
EDIT: this is not a knock on the d from the first series either... they were amazing on Sunday (especially Lilja and Gusty)

On the other side.. how great do you think it will be for the Flyers to get Grossmann and Meszy back!

Our top 6 could go from:

Carle-Kubina/Gusty
Coburn-Timonen
Lilja/Gusty/Kubina

to: (??)
Carle/ Gusty
Coburn/ Grossmann
Timonen/Meszy

Thats fantastic!
EDIT: this is not a knock on the d from the first series either... they were amazing on Sunday (especially Lilja and Gusty)
- jak521

It would be great. I just hope they don't rush either player back. Meszaros will not have played in about 2 months. So I don't know how much can be expected.

No Grossmann or Meszaros at rehab/Black Ace skate this morning.

Good stuff Bill. Always interesting to see how the wait affects a team, and never hurts to get healthy.
- simmerpuck

Thanks, Simmer .

get well, andrej, nik, and young hove.

No Grossmann or Meszaros at rehab/Black Ace skate this morning.
- bmeltzer

I am not counting on Meszy but if we play BOS or NYR we will need Grossmann

I am not counting on Meszy but if we play BOS or NYR we will need Grossmann
- PT21

easy, brah. maybe they'll skate with the rest of the club at noon?

I am not counting on Meszy but if we play BOS or NYR we will need Grossmann
- PT21

We'll see more at noon... If Grossmann is with main group, his non-appearance with the Black Aces today is a positive sign. If not, gotta figure he had a setback with the concussion.

With Meszaros, today could simply be an off-day for him since he pushed it pretty hard with the double session yesterday.

Timonen doing a light solo skate (no pads) for last 10-15 minutes. He took a maintenance day yesterday. Seems like he'll sit out main practice again today. Little doubt he'll be ready for Game 1 next round, though.

No Grossmann or Meszaros at rehab/Black Ace skate this morning.
- bmeltzer

I'm going with the "glass is half full" on this.

Timonen doing a light solo skate (no pads) for last 10-15 minutes. He took a maintenance day yesterday. Seems like he'll sit out main practice again today. Little doubt he'll be ready for Game 1 next round, though.
- bmeltzer

Such a warrior. You think he will hang them up after next season with his contract expiring? Go back home and play? Id love to have him for a few more years, if not only for his experience and positional defense. Such a smart player

At the end of the day, I don't care who the Flyers play either. I do not understand the fear everyone has regarding the Rangers.
- Shephardbd

I used to think the Rangers had some kind of edge on us, until I looked at what Bill said about the schedule. Then I went back to each game and looked at the injured list we had while playing in those games... Then I looked at how many guys were just coming back from injury a game or so before, or playing thier first game for us... and you know what... A lot of those circumstances just seemed to fall directly in favor of the Rangers. The one game... no... The one period we were healthy against the Rangers we dominated. The guys have to go into the next series saying, "We just beat the best team, there is no reason we can't do the same thing to these guys."

Teams as deep offensively as the Flyers have been shut down offensively. Vancouver and Detroit were top offensive teams with deep forwards. They both averaged under 2 goals a game in the first round and got knocked out. The same could be done to the Flyers by a top defensive team with top goaltending. Ottawa is an equal to the Flyers as a 5 on 5 offensive team. I think your underselling Ottawa as an offensive team. Also underselling the Rangers. The Rangers aren't a weak offensive team.
- MJL

Afraid? Go buy a dog.

I like the fact that all 3 series in the East are heading to a game 7.

I hope they all beat the heck out of each other. I would like all 3 games to go to overtime.

I can't wait for round 2 to arrive!
- ggunky

the first round has been crazy. who would have believed the west 2nd rounders. la, st. louis, phx, and nashville. (i picked 3 of the 4, coincidentally - but that's based on who i wanted to win, not who i thought would win). and in the east - flyers kind of easily skating past the pens, and the other 3 all going 7. unfortunate the underdogs couldn't put them away in 6. now the rangers and bruins have home ice at the end. i hope they all go to OT and injuries happen everywhere (not to specific players though).

I hear ya, I say bring on whomever is next!

3rd year in a row the Flyers have made it to the second round of the playoffs.


- ggunky

that's true. losing in the first round is just the worst.

Well maybe we'll find out ONE thing today.
If the Caps win, then we can't play the rags.

I don't really care who we play, I just want to know the when, so i can solidify plans for this weekend. So while i love all the Game 7's... i also all the game 7's

At the end of the day, I don't care who the Flyers play either. I do not understand the fear everyone has regarding the Rangers.
- Shephardbd

Got me. If the Flyers play their game and continue to play solid defensively, I have zero concerns over playing the Rangers (or any team).