i agree. they scored some lucky, strange ones, and some flat out bad ones. take that crap away and the flyers might have 5 wins instead of losses. if they can keep the ship tight, they should win. they simply have more firepower.
- hammarby31

Good point. Not sure they would have won 5, but with stronger goaltending against the Rangers the series could certainly be 2-2-1. If that were the case, Flyers are sitting 3 points out of the Division lead right now.

Thing is I think Bryz has been playing very close to this level since the new year, just the team in front hasn't been. Don't get me wrong he was terrible in a few games like the Penguins game but overall the coverage was too loose and it led to more goals. Now he trusts the defense more and isn't cheating and anticipating stuff that lead to him looking poopty. The additions of Kubina(even though he didn't play tonight) and especially Grossmann did give this team a new dimension.
- JoeRussomanno

Call the fire department cause your burning...

Thing is I think Bryz has been playing very close to this level since the new year, just the team in front hasn't been. Don't get me wrong he was terrible in a few games like the Penguins game but overall the coverage was too loose and it led to more goals. Now he trusts the defense more and isn't cheating and anticipating stuff that lead to him looking poopty. The additions of Kubina(even though he didn't play tonight) and especially Grossmann did give this team a new dimension.
- JoeRussomanno

his GAA since the all-star is 1.81, and he's 8-3-2.

the addition of grossman and kubina without the subtraction of any roster players has been a huge boost, and should pay dividends down the stretch. the flyers will not be stuck with a horrendous 3rd pairing only getting 5 minutes a night in the playoffs. love the size, shot blocking, physicality, the r handed boomer from kubina, and general lack of panic. can play them with anyone.

only 8 back of the rangers. they beat them in their remaining game and it's only 6. they've lost 2 in a row....anything's possible. they've faced no adversity really all year. maybe now is the time.
- hammarby31

One game at a time. One game at a time. Right now they have 2 big games against NJ coming up in a home and home. They can put some padding between them and Newark with a couple of Ws. But they damn well better not overlook Toronto on the way there. One game at a time.

BTW. I missed the news about Kubina. What is his deal? I know UBI but how long is he expected to be out?

Good point. Not sure they would have won 5, but with stronger goaltending against the Rangers the series could certainly be 2-2-1. If that were the case, Flyers are sitting 3 points out of the Division lead right now.
- PLindbergh31

probably not, i was getting all excited, but you know what i mean. they certainly wouldn't be 0-5. not a chance.

the difference between them, 5 rangers wins aside, is their home ice play. road records are almost identical.

Could you imagine if the Rangers fall out of first place with the Pens and Flyers finishing higher?

And I'm not saying this because I hate them, in fact I like players on that team to a man except for Rupp and Dubinsky, but I just feel like they are gonna run out of gas in the playoffs. Seems like they've been playing a gear higher than the rest of the league. Come playoff time that catches up to these teams who rode atop the conference all year. I don't think a first place team has won the cup out of the East since the Tortorella Bolts and that's a totally different team than this Rangers team.
- JoeRussomanno

i'm not so sure they'll run out of gas, although it's very possible, and certainly if they're dinged with a key injury or two when it matters, because they haven't really dealt with shuffling the deck much, but i've been thinking more that they might fold under pressure, having been at the top of the pack all year, all eyes will be on them when the post season starts and they'll be expected to make a deep run. couple that with a maniacal fonzie, and it could be too much. i don't think captain shoulder pads will just start giving up garbage and playing poorly, but more that they could faulter as a group. i'm not expecting a collapse or really believe it will happen. i just want it to happen.

I think the Rangers style of play is tailor made for the playoffs. Goals are tougher to come by. Defense and goaltending wins.
- MJL

True and the thing is they still need to score and scoring is going to be a lot more difficult for their struggling attack too. If a team like Boston or the Flyers can choke them off to only1 or 2 goals a game they'll be in trouble. I just don't see a guy like Chara in their lineup who for that style of play you need.

probably not, i was getting all excited, but you know what i mean. they certainly wouldn't be 0-5. not a chance.

the difference between them, 5 rangers wins aside, is their home ice play. road records are almost identical.
- hammarby31

Exactly. Hopefully Flyers will get everyone back with the exception of Pronger for the playoffs, probably wishful thinking, but you have to figure they are long overdue for some good luck.

True and the thing is they still need to score and scoring is going to be a lot more difficult for their struggling attack too. If a team like Boston or the Flyers can choke them off to only1 or 2 goals a game they'll be in trouble. I just don't see a guy like Chara in their lineup who for that style of play you need.
- JoeRussomanno

That's the point Joe. They don't have a struggling attack. They are a solid offensive team. It's a misconception that they aren't good offensively. They have an outstanding group of defenseman.

so i was at the game tonight and you can really see that bryz is in command of his crease. the flyers did a great job tonight of keeping most chances to the outside and clearing any stray pucks in the slot area. the refs sucked again, but what else is new. rinaldo's hit was not at all boarding it was shoulder to shoulder and jovanovski's shoulder went into the boards, not his head at all. the flyers started the first and second periods flat, but the intensity was great 90% of the game. also, i thought wellwood should have been the second star instead of briere

his GAA since the all-star is 1.81, and he's 8-3-2.

the addition of grossman and kubina without the subtraction of any roster players has been a huge boost, and should pay dividends down the stretch. the flyers will not be stuck with a horrendous 3rd pairing only getting 5 minutes a night in the playoffs. love the size, shot blocking, physicality, the r handed boomer from kubina, and general lack of panic. can play them with anyone.
- hammarby31

I've had some friendly debates with people I know in the RL about the Flyers not sitting so high in the standings all year. My thing has been this all along: I wanted them to stay in the middle of the pack and finish strong. So far it seems like that is what the team is doing. Just like in a Marathon. You don't run ahead of the group for 20 miles because down the home stretch you'll burn out. I see the Rags burning out and a team like the Flyers or even Boston again, coming on strong late in the season and overtaking them.

One game at a time. One game at a time. Right now they have 2 big games against NJ coming up in a home and home. They can put some padding between them and Newark with a couple of Ws. But they damn well better not overlook Toronto on the way there. One game at a time.

BTW. I missed the news about Kubina. What is his deal? I know UBI but how long is he expected to be out?
- Lexington Flyer

i don't think they'll actually catch them. all i want is for there to be no more injuries, and the team playing with confidence and on a general win streak into april, not limping like they've done for the past several years.

That's the point Joe. They don't have a struggling attack. They are a solid offensive team. It's a misconception that they aren't good offensively. They have an outstanding group of defenseman.
- MJL

Random question for anyone. Who was the last number one seed to make it to the SCF out of the East?

so i was at the game tonight and you can really see that bryz is in command of his crease. the flyers did a great job tonight of keeping most chances to the outside and clearing any stray pucks in the slot area. the refs sucked again, but what else is new. rinaldo's hit was not at all boarding it was shoulder to shoulder and jovanovski's shoulder went into the boards, not his head at all. the flyers started the first and second periods flat, but the intensity was great 90% of the game. also, i thought wellwood should have been the second star instead of briere
- flyerscup2011

Rinaldo's hit was definitely boarding. He hit him clearly from the back.

The guy next to me tonight would like you all to know that Bryz was just lucky tonight.

No, I didn't kill him. I am a free woman on my home computer now.

At least he knew shouting SHOOT SHOOT throughout the power play was stupid.

In the coverage tonight they had a stat w/ Matt Read in front in the rookie scoring race.....

I want to know if anyone has seen a stat with the team with the most points/goals from their rookies....I can only assume the flyers have more points/goals from their rookies than everyone else by a large margin

I would like the see that in % of the team points compared to other teams and also to past years b/c it seems this year is the year of the rookies for the flyers.....

Bill I think this would be a nice blog?????

i'm not so sure they'll run out of gas, although it's very possible, and certainly if they're dinged with a key injury or two when it matters, because they haven't really dealt with shuffling the deck much, but i've been thinking more that they might fold under pressure, having been at the top of the pack all year, all eyes will be on them when the post season starts and they'll be expected to make a deep run. couple that with a maniacal fonzie, and it could be too much. i don't think captain shoulder pads will just start giving up garbage and playing poorly, but more that they could faulter as a group. i'm not expecting a collapse or really believe it will happen. i just want it to happen.
- hammarby31

Apparently callahan is hobbled with more than a bruise. I don't know but he's definitely hurting from blocking a shot with his foot last week.

The way they block shots, an injury is bound to happen. I'm not a big fan of shot blocking. I think a defender needs to pick his spots with that. IMO if I'm a coach my players don't start sprawling out on the ice to block shots until the playoffs. that's just me.

Random question for anyone. Who was the last number one seed to make it to the SCF out of the East?
- stveshdy

i'm just guessing the devils.

Random question for anyone. Who was the last number one seed to make it to the SCF out of the East?
- stveshdy

The senators in 07 i think.

The guy next to me tonight would like you all to know that Bryz was just lucky tonight.

No, I didn't kill him. I am a free woman on my home computer now.

At least he knew shouting SHOOT SHOOT throughout the power play was stupid.
- bodiva88

Apparently callahan is hobbled with more than a bruise. I don't know but he's definitely hurting from blocking a shot with his foot last week.

The way they block shots, an injury is bound to happen. I'm not a big fan of shot blocking. I think a defender needs to pick his spots with that. IMO if I'm a coach my players don't start sprawling out on the ice to block shots until the playoffs. that's just me.
- JoeRussomanno

I've been thinking all along that he has a break but can play on it. I don't know how important it is for them to say #1. It might make sense for them to rest him a bit longer.

Rinaldo's hit was definitely boarding. He hit him clearly from the back.
- MJL

looked clean to me in person and on the instant replay they showed on the jumbotron

Random question for anyone. Who was the last number one seed to make it to the SCF out of the East?
- stveshdy

That would be the 2004 TB Lightning.

Apparently callahan is hobbled with more than a bruise. I don't know but he's definitely hurting from blocking a shot with his foot last week.

The way they block shots, an injury is bound to happen. I'm not a big fan of shot blocking. I think a defender needs to pick his spots with that. IMO if I'm a coach my players don't start sprawling out on the ice to block shots until the playoffs. that's just me.
- JoeRussomanno

it boggles my mind they haven't had more injuries.

i hear you about the tactic. jvr lays down to block the first shot of his life, and it breaks his (frank)ing foot. incredible.

looked clean to me in person and on the instant replay they showed on the jumbotron
- flyerscup2011

It wasn't that bad, but definitely a 2 minute penalty.