I can't wait to read how the Rangers are going to clip out the article, pin it on the bulletin board in the dressing room, and use it as motivation.
- Atomic Wedgie

exactly - big mistake in my opinion.

Back to the same thing. I think every NHL fan knows that the playoffs are difficult. And that the best teams are playing in the playoffs. It's not supposed to be easy, that is a given. This to me says, well Giroux is trying, but what do you want, the playoffs are difficult. Coaches are scheming against the other teams top players. Is any of this anything new. Every player who has ever played in the playoffs has faced the same situation. Players have found ways to rise above it. Giroux has done so in the past. And what about the top players who have lit it up in the playoffs, and been point a game players? How did they do it, with the Coaches being paid millions to not let that happen?
And I don't believe that Giroux lacks heart, nor will I feel that if the Flyers get knocked out, that Giroux isn't the player he is thought to be. It will just be one bad playoff series to me. And I'll still believe in him as a player. But that dosn't change that to this point, Giroux isn't getting it done.
- MJL

And it's to Giroux's credit that he has lit it up in the playoffs before -- that's tremendous.

But, again: The results won't always favor you

Exactly -- guys get shut down all the time. It happens every single year.
- AllInForFlyers

Toews and Kane have played 6 games together and have 1G and 3A between them. Oh and they have each averaged 23+ minutes a game. Pretty solid D team and Dmen they're up against for 6-7 games.

Giroux is at least not getting burned for goals against while he's been on the ice this series. That, IMO, can be looked at as somewhat of a positive contribution in and of itself. Can he be better? Yes he can, and he will. Top Dmen and top forwards do often nullify each other in these close series. That's when the depth of each team dukes it out and these 2nd and 3rd (even 4th) liners come to the forefront as heroes, as well as when some of the stars finally have breakout games.

Soon!
- Tomahawk

not this year!

And it's to Giroux's credit that he has lit it up in the playoffs before -- that's tremendous.

But, again: The results won't always favor you
- AllInForFlyers

But, again: Not expecting the results to always favor Giroux. But also not expecting the results to always favor the Rangers. And for the most part, with a few exceptions, the results in that situation are dramatically in favor of the Rangers. And that balance needs to be tipped a lot more in the Flyers favor, if they're going to be successful.

exactly - big mistake in my opinion.
- flyersfan51

Pretty sure the previous post was sarcasm and I don't think this one was. What do you expect a player to say "well we're gonna come out and try to win game 4 but we might not" and do you think the other team honestly cares if an opponent "guarantees victory"? They expect to win the game as much as they expect the other team to have the same confidence in their winning.

Edit: Guaranteeing victory is not bulletin board material IMO. Saying "wakey wakey" is (if true).

exactly - big mistake in my opinion.
- flyersfan51

Here is the full quote:

"We’re going to tie up this series and go back to New York,” Giroux said. “You’ve got to stay confident.”

That isn't exactly pulling a Messier or Namath here. I don't think its saying all that much.

Toews and Kane have played 6 games together and have 1G and 3A between them. Oh and they have each averaged 23+ minutes a game. Pretty solid D team and Dmen they're up against for 6-7 games.

Giroux is at least not getting burned for goals against while he's been on the ice this series. That, IMO, can be looked at as somewhat of a positive contribution in and of itself. Can he be better? Yes he can, and he will. Top Dmen and top forwards do often nullify each other in these close series. That's when the depth of each team dukes it out and these 2nd and 3rd (even 4th) liners come to the forefront as heroes, as well as when some of the stars finally have breakout games.
- eayost

That's what I've always seen -- that's why it was a killer for Columbus when Brooks Orpik scored for the Pens the other night. They didn't see that coming, and while the Pens had been playing better overall, they had still managed to keep Crosby and Malkin and Neal and Kunitz off the scoresheet

That goal by Orpik...it might've changed the course of that entire series

Here is the full quote:

"We’re going to tie up this series and go back to New York,” Giroux said. “You’ve got to stay confident.”

That isn't exactly pulling a Messier or Namath here. I don't think its saying all that much.
- mrhattrick27

no. id be disappointed as a flyers fan if he said anything different.

Pretty sure the previous post was sarcasm and I don't think this one was. What do you expect a player to say "well we're gonna come out and try to win game 4 but we might not" and do you think the other team honestly cares if an opponent "guarantees victory"? They expect to win the game as much as they expect the other team to have the same confidence in their winning.

Edit: Guaranteeing victory is not bulletin board material IMO. Saying "wakey wakey" is
- five4fighting10

Fixed.

I'd like to see some line juggling before the next game

Read-G-Hartnell
Akeson-Vinny-Simmonds
Schenn-Coots-Jake
Hall-Raffle-Rinaldo

This would give Vinny a skilled guy to work with. Breaking up G & Jake might get the other lines going offensively too. I think having new line mates will force them to keep it simple & gets shots on goal.

Pretty sure the previous post was sarcasm and I don't think this one was. What do you expect a player to say "well we're gonna come out and try to win game 4 but we might not" and do you think the other team honestly cares if an opponent "guarantees victory"? They expect to win the game as much as they expect the other team to have the same confidence in their winning.

Edit: Guaranteeing victory is not bulletin board material IMO. Saying "wakey wakey" is (if true).
- five4fighting10

I couldn't believe Keith did that - that's messed up!

but no, i don't expect him to say we might not win, but he should've just said, we're gonna go out there and do our best and hope to go back to NY best of 3.

That's what I've always seen -- that's why it was a killer for Columbus when Brooks Orpik scored for the Pens the other night. They didn't see that coming, and while the Pens had been playing better overall, they had still managed to keep Crosby and Malkin and Neal and Kunitz off the scoresheet

That goal by Orpik...it might've changed the course of that entire series
- AllInForFlyers

thats what im hoping. my god you cant get any more flukey than that. im largely with you. although at some point, the stars have to show up. 2 or 3 game stretches happen. if the pens and flyers go 6 or 7 games without a goal from crosby or giroux, they will be in trouble

no. id be disappointed as a flyers fan if he said anything different.
- stayinthefnnet

Exactly. He's the captain of the team. He's supposed to talk like that.

I thought after the goal in game 2 that Czechie was going to be that. He CAN be that. But he and everyone else seems to have lost their way.

I do wish that a guy on the rush with followers would just shoot hard on net so if there were a rebound the follower could pot it. It seems they always pull up and set up, giving the D and goalie a chance to do the same.
- bodiva88

I was saying that last night! On a rush shoot low to create rebounds and allow the guys crashing the net a play on it!

Exactly. He's the captain of the team. He's supposed to talk like that.
- johndewar

exactly. like what should he say? ugh yeah you know. the defensive pressure is really getting to me. i sure hope we can not go back to NY down 3 to 1, but hey, you never know. dont blame me, blame the rangers shot blockers.

thats what im hoping. my god you cant get any more flukey than that. im largely with you. although at some point, the stars have to show up. 2 or 3 game stretches happen. if the pens and flyers go 6 or 7 games without a goal from crosby or giroux, they will be in trouble
- stayinthefnnet

Agreed -- I'm not saying that the Flyers can afford for Giroux to go scoreless. But just saying he should be scoring without acknowledging the obvious...well, hell. People are going to say it, no matter what I say or do, so (frank) it

Agreed -- I'm not saying that the Flyers can afford for Giroux to go scoreless. But just saying he should be scoring without acknowledging the obvious...well, hell. People are going to say it, no matter what I say or do, so (frank) it
- AllInForFlyers

Yeah. its not a black and white answer. understanding the reasons for such difficulties isnt the same as just being complacent about a lack of production. it happens. you strive to change it. but when you stop your analysis at a "he sucks", its ridiculous

I think we all need to



The series is 2-1 in favor of the Rangers. That is not insurmountable.
Let's not panic and start juggling lines.
Let's not panic and start chanting that the sky is falling.
Let's not play into the ol' "refs blew this" -- (only Tampa Bay can deservedly say that right now.)
Flyers' play (overall) improved last night aside from two deflating goals early on.
Mason will be back in net on Friday.
Let's roll.

exactly. like what should he say? ugh yeah you know. the defensive pressure is really getting to me. i sure hope we can not go back to NY down 3 to 1, but hey, you never know. dont blame me, blame the rangers shot blockers.
- stayinthefnnet

no - but you don't guarantee a victory - you just say, we're gonna play our asses off and hopefully make it a best of 3 - i just don't like the guarantee word.

no - but you don't guarantee a victory - you just say, we're gonna play our asses off and hopefully make it a best of 3 - i just don't like the guarantee word.
- flyersfan51

I do. I want these guys confident and I especially want our best player acting confidently.

I think we all need to



The series is 2-1 in favor of the Rangers. That is not insurmountable.
Let's not panic and start juggling lines.
Let's not panic and start chanting that the sky is falling.
Let's not play into the ol' "refs blew this" -- (only Tampa Bay can deservedly say that right now.)
Flyers' play (overall) improved last night aside from two deflating goals early on.
Mason will be back in net on Friday.
Let's roll.
- Moose_15

- johndewar

- Moose_15

Fortunately, I do think staying calm is one of Berube's strengths as a coach, so hopefully, the team remains calm (unlike the fans) and executes on Friday. I really think they will.

- johndewar

This seems more the mood in here today: