I actually was very happy with the discipline showed by the team. You could tell they wanted the 4 pts big time. Very good start to this sched from hell. I also would start Mase Tuesday... maybe come back with Ray vs Dallas.
- Hextall271

I would start Emery. Mason looked a little shaky in the last game. His glove hand has not been very good and thats usually a strong point of his game. He could use a day off.

I hope you get a chance to listen to an interview Shelley did with NHL radio this year.
I really have a lot of respect for him after hearing it.
He's had over 500 stitches in his face.
Great story teller and he truly loved the opportunity to play in the league.
- Marc D

I'm sure he's a great guy. Had no business playing for the Flyers. Was a waste of a roster spot, and cap space for 3 years. Water under the bridge now.

I wish the Flyers would get away from the ass backwards thinking of having to have a goon on the roster every (frank)ing year. It's a waste of time. Amazing they haven't figured this out yet.

I would start Emery. Mason looked a little shaky in the last game. His glove hand has not been very good and thats usually a strong point of his game. He could use a day off.
- PhillySportsGuy

I worry about sending Ray in vs the Blackhawks after no game action in weeks. Mason looked sharp at the end of yesterday's game IMO. He's got today off after an early game yesterday and we can't afford to give away any points right now.

My favorite part was when Hartnell buried a guy and Crosby came over like he was going to do poop. Thankfully, for him, Burtuzzo came over also.
- PhillySportsGuy

Like the Caps, the Pens are frighteningly easy to get out of their game.

Like the Caps, the Pens are frighteningly easy to get out of their game.
- johndewar

Poor coaching and lack of leadership in the locker room.

Like the Caps, the Pens are frighteningly easy to get out of their game.
- johndewar

Thats true, but at least the Caps are willing to fight man to man.

The funny thing about both teams is how often they give dirty hits to the Flyers. Orpik, Neal, Malkin, Asham, Orlov, Erskine, Wilson. Its uncanny how many of them have been suspended because of dirty hits against the Flyers. I can't remember any Flyers being suspended for dirty hits against the Pens or Caps.

I worry about sending Ray in vs the Blackhawks after no game action in weeks. Mason looked sharp at the end of yesterday's game IMO. He's got today off after an early game yesterday and we can't afford to give away any points right now.
- Hextall271

Agreed. Emery hasn't started a game in about 6 weeks. Throwing him in there against one of the best teams in the NHL isn't smart. Mason had a relatively light work load this weekend, and he has a full day off today. Roll with Mase.

Poor coaching and lack of leadership in the locker room.
- twotoekenn

ding ding ding ding ding

Like the Caps, the Pens are frighteningly easy to get out of their game.
- johndewar

I would much rather the Flyers match up in the playoffs with the Pens, than the Bruins. The Penguins will most likely be a much healthier team when the playoffs start then they were this weekend though.

Poor coaching and lack of leadership in the locker room.
- twotoekenn

They have the Division clinched already, despite having the most man games missed in the NHL by far. They must be doing something right.

Agreed. Emery hasn't started a game in about 6 weeks. Throwing him in there against one of the best teams in the NHL isn't smart. Mason had a relatively light work load this weekend, and he has a full day off today. Roll with Mase.
- PLindbergh31

I'd be shocked if he didn't start.

I worry about sending Ray in vs the Blackhawks after no game action in weeks. Mason looked sharp at the end of yesterday's game IMO. He's got today off after an early game yesterday and we can't afford to give away any points right now.
- Hextall271

emery is going to have to play against some good team. Its not like they can wait until April to use him.

Thats true, but at least the Caps are willing to fight man to man.

The funny thing about both teams is how often they give dirty hits to the Flyers. Orpik, Neal, Malkin, Asham, Orlov, Erskine, Wilson. Its uncanny how many of them have been suspended because of dirty hits against the Flyers. I can't remember any Flyers being suspended for dirty hits against the Pens or Caps.
- PhillySportsGuy

I looked back over the years, and the only one I saw was Carcillo getting the "message sending" suspension late in Game 1 in 2009. I don't think he got suspended for the 29-minute penalty against Matt Bradley.

I would much rather the Flyers match up in the playoffs with the Pens, than the Bruins. The Penguins will most likely be a much healthier team when the playoffs start then they were this weekend though.
- PLindbergh31

The Bruins look like an unstoppable machine right now. They may be peaking early, but I think injuries etc is the only way they get derailed from taking the East.

emery is going to have to play against some good team. Its not like they can wait until April to use him.
- PhillySportsGuy

You mean you don't want to play Mason in 12 games in 23 days or whatever?

emery is going to have to play against some good team. Its not like they can wait until April to use him.
- PhillySportsGuy

Dallas is a solid club, but I think he'd be better off vs them than Chicago. Even when healthy, Mase has better lateral movement than Ray and I think we'll need it tomorrow night.

I looked back over the years, and the only one I saw was Carcillo getting the "message sending" suspension late in Game 1 in 2009. I don't think he got suspended for the 29-minute penalty against Matt Bradley.
- jmatchett383

The Bradley thing was a big mistake. I think he thought Bradley was ready to fight.

What did Carcillo get suspended for in game 1?

Dallas is a solid club, but I think he'd be better off vs them than Chicago. Even when healthy, Mase has better lateral movement than Ray and I think we'll need it tomorrow night.
- Hextall271

Stars may be faster than the Blackhawks. They just don't have the depth and defense. They can really rush the puck though.

I'm sure he's a great guy. Had no business playing for the Flyers. Was a waste of a roster spot, and cap space for 3 years. Water under the bridge now.

I wish the Flyers would get away from the ass backwards thinking of having to have a goon on the roster every (frank)ing year. It's a waste of time. Amazing they haven't figured this out yet.
- PLindbergh31

I think the Flyers are slowly transitioning away from it.
They didn't play Rosehill at all this weekend.
The future is having guys with skill who also have size and toughness.

The Bradley thing was a big mistake. I think he thought Bradley was ready to fight.

What did Carcillo get suspended for in game 1?
- PhillySportsGuy

He took a faceoff against Talbot and kind of came down with his stick, and Talbot said it hit him. It looked like there was minimal contact if any, but Talbot played it up a bit. This was after the NHL announced it would not tolerate "message sending" in the playoffs...which, of course, meant that the mandatory 1-game suspension given to Malkin for instigating a fight in the SCF would be arbitrarily removed.

As for Bradley, I'll say this: both of his gloves were off when Carcillo landed the punch.

Thats true, but at least the Caps are willing to fight man to man.

The funny thing about both teams is how often they give dirty hits to the Flyers. Orpik, Neal, Malkin, Asham, Orlov, Erskine, Wilson. Its uncanny how many of them have been suspended because of dirty hits against the Flyers. I can't remember any Flyers being suspended for dirty hits against the Pens or Caps.
- PhillySportsGuy

Except for the idiots like Boulerice, Downie, etc, I really can't remember any Flyer throwing a vicious hit.

I think baby Schenn got like 1 or 2 games last year didn't he? Other than that...

I think the Flyers are slowly transitioning away from it.
They didn't play Rosehill at all this weekend.
The future is having guys with skill who also have size and toughness.
- Marc D

I'd be fine with Rino in the lineup all the time.. he's no heavyweight but who cares. Simmonds can also throw down when required...I'd just like him to stay away from that the way he's been scoring! lol

I would much rather the Flyers match up in the playoffs with the Pens, than the Bruins. The Penguins will most likely be a much healthier team when the playoffs start then they were this weekend though.
- PLindbergh31

I don't fear the Pens, at all -- they're the same team they've been every season since Bill Guerin couldn't play anymore.

I'm totally serious. Can the Pens beat you in the playoffs? Sure. Tremendous talent, when healthy.

But again: Think about it.

Montreal. Tampa Bay. Philadelphia. Boston.

The Pens have been favored, in various degrees, in every one of those playoff series.

2009 is starting to be a long time ago. Bill Guerin and Sergei Gonchar and Maxime Talbot are long gone from that franchise.

Look at Marc-Andre Fleury now. Just look at him.

Fragile. Because his coach and captain, their best players, don't bear down in the biggest games, the biggest series. They lose their composure and their focus, and let the guy get strafed.

This weekend was exactly like it was in 2011. Nothing, and I mean nothing, looked different on the ice. If James Neal and Chris Kunitz had been out there, they'd have been running around like idiots, too.

The Bruins look like an unstoppable machine right now. They may be peaking early, but I think injuries etc is the only way they get derailed from taking the East.
- Hextall271

Probably. The Bruins don't seem to have many weaknesses. A team in the East would have to play a hell of a series to knock them off.

They have the Division clinched already, despite having the most man games missed in the NHL by far. They must be doing something right.
- PLindbergh31

They've got lots of skill no doubt.