Sorry about that lack of a preview today, I would have posted it late last night had I realized that I wouldn't have an opportunity this morning. Anyway...the Penguins played another of the famous early season afternoon games. You know the ones I am talking about, where it seems as if they would rather be doing anything other than playing a hockey game. That is not to take anything away from the Flyers who looked like a completely different team than they did in the two previous games versus the Penguins.

The Flyers got to every loose puck, finished every check, kept their feet moving and had control of this game throughout. The Penguins just looked lethargic and uninterested and at times looked as they were walking while the Flyers were running. A lot of that can be attributed to the amount of hockey that the Penguins have played lately, but it does fall right in step with the efforts they put forth in recent Saturday afternoon games against the Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators...both loses.

Special teams played a huge role in this one, as the Flyers struck early and often on the power play. The Penguins penalty kill just wasn't up to the task and allowed four goals while down a man. That performance ended a streak of killing 12 of 13 on the road and poor performance aside, ended up being the difference in the game.

For as many penalties as there were in the game, there were many that fell by the wayside. Sometimes you get the calls and sometimes you don't.

Marc Andre Fleury is definitely coming back at the right time. Dany Sabourin is really struggling right now, and though he wasn't the reason the Penguins lost this game, there were at least three goals that he probably wishes he had back. He is still struggling with pucks that miss the net and deflect back out in front of his cage. I have never seen a goaltender react so often to shots that were going wide and it is costing him one or two goals per night. He is also coming way to far out of his net to challenge shooters...they are catching on to it and stickhandling around him. NHL goaltenders should not be getting beat on wrap arounds as consistently as Sabourin is right now. I get the feeling that Fleury, after four more days off, will get the start Thursday evening and Sabourin can get back to doing what he does best, being a good back up goaltender in the National Hockey League.

The Penguins definitely did not test Marty Biron enough today. It would have been nice to see them pull off more misdirection and traffic in front of him. He was obviously struggling with deflected pucks, as the Penguins scored two goals on the same play...though they came from different sides. He probably should have stopped one or both of Staal/Goddard goals. He also still seems to go down to early, something that has haunted him throughout his career. Patient shooters, who outwait Biron tend to score a lot more often against him, especially in the top part of the net.

The Penguins at times struggled with their transition game and the inability to get the puck out of their own end cost them on several occasions. The Flyers picked up at least three of goals off of Penguins turnovers in the neutral zone, or plays in which they failed to get the puck up and out after one of their players had posession of the puck. Kudos to Richards and Carter for turning those mistakes into goals. I mention those two because they were both very impressive today.

I have praised Richards and Carter in the past, but I need to mention that it is amazing to watch the progress that they have made. You have yourself two of the top young players in the league with those two Philadelphia. Richards was great last year, as was Carter albeit in more of a checking role, so it is even more impressive to see the offensive prowess of Carter coming to the surface. You can just see him slide into goal scoring positions even when they do not put one in. He just knows where to go on the ice to score goals...you can't teach that.

Hal Gill has been a lightning rod for the criticism of Penguins fans lately, but I for one am really missing him in the Penguins line-up. The penalty kill has really suffered in his absence. It is afterall one of his specialties and one of the reasons he was attractive to Ray Shero last year at the deadline.

I still dislike the fact that the organ accompanies the "Crosby Sucks" chant in Philly, but that is just me. Guys get jeered and mocked around the league I realize, I just think that sort of thing should be left completely to the fans. I don't like when organizations seemingly get involved. Don't beat me up...just wanted to get that off of my chest!

In response to some of the comments in my last thread. Eric Goddard didn't exactly pick on a light weight when he tangled with Scott Hartnell. Hartnell has a long history of mixing it up with the Penguins and with many around the league. Had he gone after Lupul or something I could see your point. I will say that I look forward to a future battle between Cote and Goddard. Cote is probably my favorite tough guy in the league right now.

I don't know about you guys, but I get the feeling that these two teams are going to have some epic battles over the next 10 years. Both in the regular season and playoffs. I can't wait to see it unfold.

Tim Wallace looks like a guy who can stick in the league in an energy role. I have been very impressed with what I have seen from him. He came close to knocking in his first NHL goal this afternoon, but it was a play he made that set up the Penguins first goal that was more impressive. He barreled into Coburn at the Penguins blue line, sent him flying off of the puck and made a nice pass to spring Fedotenko, Goligoski and Staal.

The Penguins are off until Thursday against the Atlanta Thrashers. I will still be with you each day in between. Stay tuned for more tomorrow...