The argument was why Bylsma had the players on the ice he did at the end of the game. Events from the entire game probably went into that decision, yes.
- canadianpenfan

To send a message. Isn't that clear?

Wanted to comment on those saying in yesterday's thread that Mike Emrick has a "grudge" against the Flyers. Scoop Cooper could address it better than I can, because Doc is one of Scoop's closest friends, but I have talked to Emrick enough times to be able to say that this is 100 percent false.

Emrick holds the organization in high regard, even though no one likes to lose his job. But even if he didn't, he's an absolute pro who is pure class. Any personal feelings are left out of his professional work.

When Emrick learned he was being replaced by Jim Jackson, do you know what Doc did? He took JJ out to lunch and passed along as much advice as he possibly could about the particulars of broadcasting hockey in the Philly market. He didn't have to do that, but that's the kind of person Mike Emrick is.

It should also be said, although Emrick himself wouldn't want it to be said, that Doc is the #1 reason that Mark Howe finally got in the "big" HHOF in Toronto. It is Doc who nominates Fred Shero for the builders' category year after year.

If you don't enjoy his broadcasting style or think he has a good voice for play-by-play, that's your prerogative. I disagree, but that's a matter of opinion. But to say his work is influenced by some sort of bias, is 100 percent false.
- bmeltzer

Thanks Bill. I'm not a fan the vocabulary contest style Doc seems to have adopted in the later stages of his career, but I've never doubted that he was a pro or felt that he was biased. In fact, he may be one of the least "homerish" broadcasters out there when doing the Devil's games. It is a shame he's saddled with Chico for those broadcasts though....ugh.

I knew from prior comments that you had shared that Doc was/is tight with Scoop, but hadn't heard the Howe info before. That's good stuff and I'm sure glad he was such an advocate for Howe, because as we all know, Howe is more than deserving of HHOF honors.

Why do they only have to be out there to cause trouble? They had other non eventful shifts. They didn't throw out a Steve macintyre Georges laraque type lineup. T wasn't like the devils rangers game a couple weeks ago. And the whole thing escalated when the flyers and laviolette lost it over a clean hit. Had the flyers just played the game after a clean hit it would have been nothing. Instead the flyers on the ice circled back and went after vitale and we all know what happens next.
- schiefer466

One question. The line they put out.. Vatile, Asham, and England... Is that a normal line? Or was your coach trying to "send a message" and get someone hurt....

benoit wasnt an original horseman anyway

and pretty sure murdering his family is does not warrent a "but come on"
- Crimsoninja

Any man who commits such a horrendous crime shall be stripped of all titles, exiled from the realm and sentenced to die in the worst possible manner known to mankind.

Why are you bringing up Clarke, that was 30 years ago.

Fair enough. There seem to be 2 lines of argument for what happened in the closing minute yesterday - Retaliation and regular hockey rolling of the lines. Which is it?

That wasn't Giroux getting hit in the head by Malkin yesterday? I don't remember anybody going after Malkin earlier in the year when he tried to decapitate Giroux. (I know, I know...he missed. But if he connects, Giroux would have been out of hockey a very long time. And isn't there something in the rule about 'intent'?) And how many hacks has Giroux taken to the hands after it being known - because Hartnell was taking draws - that he had some issues?

The point being, Giroux takes a lot of punishment.
- wolfhounds

There's rarely been a ruling based on intent in the NHL. They try to stay away from that.

There was chippy/nasty/dirty stuff both ways was my point. The confrontation at the end was one team sending a message, nothing big or wrong about it. Teams have been doing such things since the dawn of the NHL.

Guess what? The stuff about hacking at Giroux's hands is what teams do. That's why injuries are kept so secret

To send a message. Isn't that clear?
- GirouxForTheShow

Yes it is and I'm not saying they weren't sending a message, in fact I already said they were. Why are you all up on my nut sack over this?

There's rarely been a ruling based on intent in the NHL. They try to stay away from that.

There was chippy/nasty/dirty stuff both ways was my point. The confrontation at the end was one team sending a message, nothing big or wrong about it. Teams have been doing such things since the dawn of the NHL.

Guess what? The stuff about hacking at Giroux's hands is what teams do. That's why injuries are kept so secret
- Jsaquella

I dont disagree with what the coach from Pittsburgh did yesterday but I also understand why Lavi was pissed off.

I'm guessing the flyers have a complete off day today. Could we not receive a Grossman update until tommorow?

One question. The line they put out.. Vatile, Asham, and England... Is that a normal line? Or was your coach trying to "send a message" and get someone hurt....
- RooNosHockey

It was vitale Adams and asham. Engelland was on the ice as a defenseman as normal. And yes vitale asham and Adams had played together all game. And the one before. And so on. They had many Uneventful shifts in yesterday's game. And only disappeared for 12 minutes because it was a 1-2 goal game prior. After the empty netter there was no reason to leave Sid or malkin on the ice. So it was either staal's line or the 4th. Since those guys were plenty rested why not let them get a shift in garbage time?

Any man who commits such a horrendous crime shall be stripped of all titles, exiled from the realm and sentenced to die in the worst possible manner known to mankind.
- JoeRussomanno

You cant honestly think Benoit's actions were that of a sane man. He obviously went bananas. How can people hate a guy like Benoit who was a victem of drug abuse forced upon him by his industry, and yet these same people love rappers that have killed in clear state of mind and boast about it... Society has it all backwards... We should Pity Benoit.

I dont disagree with what the coach from Pittsburgh did yesterday but I also understand why Lavi was pissed off.
- stveshdy

I understand him being pissed off. The comments afterward were a bit much, though. You know Laviolette has used Carcillo and Rinaldo in the last few minutes of games.

The line they sent out had Asham, who is hardly a goon, Adams a solid grinder who can agitate, and Vitale and younger energy guy. Were they out to send a message? Sure, to a degree. But it's nothing new in the sport of hockey.

Look, everyone can agree yesterday's game was awesome. Pens, Flyers, fans of hockey can say that. Were players taking a lot of abuse? Yes. Were some star players being spoiled brats? Yes. Were people out to hurt others? Most likely. Were the coaches trying to protect their players? Yes. Did I love every second of it? Absolutely. This is the Pens and Flyers, not Florida and Jersey. The hatred is awesome, for both sides. I have no problem with Pens fans hating on us because Rinaldo is a little franker at times. Hartnell is goalie bumper. Jagr is a grabber. Pronger is a real bastard. But the Pens fans need to realize Crosby is a female dog. Malkin is a dirty scumbag and one of their players is the pigman from Seinfeld.

Actually hope that is true about Bryz. He's prone to being rusty when coming back from a layoff. A couple games would be huge for him to kick off the rust.

We need Grossmann though,gotta keep our fingers crossed.
- JoeRussomanno

I know. As happy as I was for the win yesterday I was worried about Grossmann's possible loss. Here's hoping that it's just a charley horse.

Yes it is and I'm not saying they weren't sending a message, in fact I already said they were. Why are you all up on my nut sack over this?
- canadianpenfan

Im up on no ones nut sack

Great word choice though.

I understand him being pissed off. The comments afterward were a bit much, though. You know Laviolette has used Carcillo and Rinaldo in the last few minutes of games.

The line they sent out had Asham, who is hardly a goon, Adams a solid grinder who can agitate, and Vitale and younger energy guy. Were they out to send a message? Sure, to a degree. But it's nothing new in the sport of hockey.
- Jsaquella

Ah, the voice of reason.

You cant honestly think Benoit's actions were that of a sane man. He obviously went bananas. How can people hate a guy like Benoit who was a victem of drug abuse forced upon him by his industry, and yet these same people love rappers that have killed in clear state of mind and boast about it... Society has it all backwards... We should Pity Benoit.
- RooNosHockey

There's no excuse for what he did plain and simple. He took drugs—too bad. THere is this thing called being responsible for our own actions. IF he was still alive I'd be a big advocate of him burning at the stake, case closed.

Look, everyone can agree yesterday's game was awesome. Pens, Flyers, fans of hockey can say that. Were players taking a lot of abuse? Yes. Were some star players being spoiled brats? Yes. Were people out to hurt others? Most likely. Were the coaches trying to protect their players? Yes. Did I love every second of it? Absolutely. This is the Pens and Flyers, not Florida and Jersey. The hatred is awesome, for both sides. I have no problem with Pens fans hating on us because Rinaldo is a little franker at times. Hartnell is goalie bumper. Jagr is a grabber. Pronger is a real bastard. But the Pens fans need to realize Crosby is a female dog. Malkin is a dirty scumbag and one of their players is the pigman from Seinfeld.
- Deasr1

Frank you!







j/k

I understand him being pissed off. The comments afterward were a bit much, though. You know Laviolette has used Carcillo and Rinaldo in the last few minutes of games.

The line they sent out had Asham, who is hardly a goon, Adams a solid grinder who can agitate, and Vitale and younger energy guy. Were they out to send a message? Sure, to a degree. But it's nothing new in the sport of hockey.
- Jsaquella

Lavi only called him "Gutless" because those guys didnt see the ice for over 12mins. I just think he expected Pittsburgh to throw out their 2nd or even 3rd line and finish out the game but he didnt. It happens. Clean hit or not you have to stick up for your teammate in that situation especailly after all the yapping that was going on between the benches. Thats hockey.

One question. The line they put out.. Vatile, Asham, and England... Is that a normal line? Or was your coach trying to "send a message" and get someone hurt....
- RooNosHockey

Bylsma was sending a message. That it was a 3 goal game that was getting chippy and he wasn't risking the health of his star players. Engelland is a defenseman and was playing D.

Asham had played a shift just 5 minutes prior to the festivities, but spent most of the game with Adams on his line. Vitale's hit was clean and perfectly legal.

As far as sending a message and getting somebody hurt, that's nonsense. Sure they were going to hit players if the chance arose, but they were not going out of their way or playing dirty.

Using guys like that has been done in the NHL for 100 years. It was nothing new, it wasn't gutless and it wasn't against some code that people seem to feel exists

I'm guessing the flyers have a complete off day today. Could we not receive a Grossman update until tommorow?
- Just5

Yup. Day off today. Unless Holmgren issues an update, there probably won't be any information until tomorrow.

I doubt Grossmann, or Bryzgalov will play tomorrow night. Sucks being compromised without a poop ton of key players, with the Rags looking to lock up the Division, Conference, and sweep the season series... But hey 5'2" Matt Zucchini won't being playing for NY tomorrow night....

You cant honestly think Benoit's actions were that of a sane man. He obviously went bananas. How can people hate a guy like Benoit who was a victem of drug abuse forced upon him by his industry, and yet these same people love rappers that have killed in clear state of mind and boast about it... Society has it all backwards... We should Pity Benoit.
- RooNosHockey

Seems to me you're taking all responsibility for the drug abuse away from the user.

What were you doing to your 13 year old dates after the dance that they ended up crying?

And are all your comments so (frank)ing stupid?
- wolfhounds

^^

and one of their players is the pigman from Seinfeld.
- Deasr1

Lavi only called him "Gutless" because those guys didnt see the ice for over 12mins. I just think he expected Pittsburgh to throw out their 2nd or even 3rd line and finish out the game but he didnt. It happens. Clean hit or not you have to stick up for your teammate in that situation especailly after all the yapping that was going on between the benches.
- stveshdy

Asham played a shift within 5 minutes of that last shift. Both Vitale and Adams had been out for about ten minutes. Eneglland and Niskanen had played their last shift about two minutes prior.

I don't fault the Flyers for responding to the hit, I don't fault the Penguins for making the hit, and I don't fault Laviolette or Granato for chirping one another. I don't like that he called it gutless afterward...nor did I think that Crosby made a lick of sense in complaining about the crosscheck from Schenn

Frank you!







j/k
- canadianpenfan

you got me