Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 4/7/12 @ Penguins

LETS GO FLYERS!!!!!

Bill, your thoughts on the contract terms for Grossmann? Many of us feel Homer got a very fair deal and are thrilled Grossmann is re-signed. I was wondering if you feel the sentiment?

Penguins not dressing certain players and calling up goons? Now that's funny.

... in the final minute of play with the game outcome no longer in doubt, a gratuitous (but technically clean) open ice hit by Vitale on Danny Briere in retaliation for a cross-check by Brayden Schenn on Sidney Crosby a few minutes earlier

....gratuitous?

I do not think that word means what you think it means....

When a star player, the best player in the world, is cross-checked by a Brayden "I'm trying to prove that I'm a tough guy by cross-checking a guy with concussion issues in the back" Shenn, there's nothing gratuitous about any response.

....gratuitous?

I do not think that word means what you think it means....

When a star player, the best player in the world, is cross-checked by a Brayden "I'm trying to prove that I'm a tough guy by cross-checking a guy with concussion issues in the back" Shenn, there's nothing gratuitous about any response.
- Prez_USA

................AND WE'RE OFF!!!!!!!

A lot of talk of this being a 'meaningless' game...I think the Pens might find a little meaning in winning one at home against the Flyers before Round 1.

There just might be a psychological edge to whichever team wins this game.

....gratuitous?

I do not think that word means what you think it means....

When a star player, the best player in the world, is cross-checked by a Brayden "I'm trying to prove that I'm a tough guy by cross-checking a guy with concussion issues in the back" Shenn, there's nothing gratuitous about any response.
- Prez_USA

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NEWS ALERT: #Pens have recalled F Steve MacIntyre from @WBSPenguins. MacIntyre has appeared in 11 NHL games this season http://bit.ly/HkosVx

LETS GO FLYERS!!!!!
- B2B76

there's always room on the wagon. it's ok. if you stay long enough, who knows what might happen.

....gratuitous?

I do not think that word means what you think it means....

When a star player, the best player in the world, is cross-checked by a Brayden "I'm trying to prove that I'm a tough guy by cross-checking a guy with concussion issues in the back" Shenn, there's nothing gratuitous about any response.
- Prez_USA

schenn was responding to Sid, not initiating out of thin air. flyers get under the pens skin, but today's gme is a glorified exhibition game.

Bill, your thoughts on the contract terms for Grossmann? Many of us feel Homer got a very fair deal and are thrilled Grossmann is resigned. I was wondering if you feel the sediment?
- ravishingone

I was thinking it would be about a $3.25M contract, so $3.5M isn't much of a stretch. Good deal for both sides.

given the grossmanN signing, I think the flyers will attempt to sign a young puck mover or acquire one in a trade. carle's likely an outside possibility at best.

there's always room on the wagon. it's ok. if you stay long enough, who knows what might happen.
- hammarby31

....gratuitous?

I do not think that word means what you think it means....

When a star player, the best player in the world, is cross-checked by a Brayden "I'm trying to prove that I'm a tough guy by cross-checking a guy with concussion issues in the back" Shenn, there's nothing gratuitous about any response.
- Prez_USA

maybe crosby shouldn't be dishing out hits after the play if he doesn't want to get hit back. and if you believe what schenn did constitutes as an actual x-check, you need to spend more time with the rule book. gratuitous? how about the well-documented grundle punch by sid against the thrashers a few years ago?

and what does his concussion history have anything to do with being weakly shoved in the back? if you want to go down that road, should we talk about malkin punching giroux in the back of the head twice while lying on top of him? giroux has had a concussion too.

give me a (frank)ing break.

Bill, I usually enjoy your articles, except when they are Pen related I suppose. You are very good. I didn't see the knee to knee hit, so I'll take your word for it but for the record Vitale is not a goon or dirty. He plays the 4th line Center role hard. As for the hit on Briere was nothing but a clean solid open ice body check. Looking forward to the game and more importantly the series.

....gratuitous?

I do not think that word means what you think it means....

When a star player, the best player in the world, is cross-checked by a Brayden "I'm trying to prove that I'm a tough guy by cross-checking a guy with concussion issues in the back" Shenn, there's nothing gratuitous about any response.
- Prez_USA

1) Crosby's stickwork on Schenn was what precipitated the cross-check. Crosby wasn't an angel in this situation.
2) The cross-check was delivered with very little force behind it. Crosby sold it like he'd been shot out of a cannon. But that's fine. It's still happened after a goal was scored and Schenn should have responded between the whistles, not after a stoppage. I don't blame the Pens for being angry about it.
3) It's 100 percent gratuitous to be targeting the smallest player on the ice for an open ice hit in the final minute of play with no chance of changing the final outcome.

A lot of talk of this being a 'meaningless' game...I think the Pens might find a little meaning in winning one at home against the Flyers before Round 1.

There just might be a psychological edge to whichever team wins this game.
- tangent_man

I would agree with this if it weren't the Pens and Flyers. Nothing normal about these games.

....gratuitous?

I do not think that word means what you think it means....

When a star player, the best player in the world, is cross-checked by a Brayden "I'm trying to prove that I'm a tough guy by cross-checking a guy with concussion issues in the back" Shenn, there's nothing gratuitous about any response.
- Prez_USA

You just got MeltzPwned

given the grossmanN signing, I think the flyers will attempt to sign a young puck mover or acquire one in a trade. carle's likely an outside possibility at best.
- isaiah520

Certainly Pronger's health will play a major factor in the future of the d core. Also, the CBA has yet to be finalized so I wonder if there will be any additional relief for teams with players who are on long-term injury?

Bill, I usually enjoy your articles, except when they are Pen related I suppose. You are very good. I didn't see the knee to knee hit, so I'll take your word for it but for the record Vitale is not a goon or dirty. He plays the 4th line Center role hard. As for the hit on Briere was nothing but a clean solid open ice body check. Looking forward to the game and more importantly the series.
- Doogs

Time, place, score. It's a "good, solid clean" body check when there's still time to win the game. When your team is down by three goals in the final minute, it's a predatory hit. But Danny left himself open to it, and probably shouldn't have been on the ice.

I don't think Vitale is normally a dirty player. I believe he did not intend to take out Grossmann's knee. However, Bryan Marchment got suspended I don't know how many times for exactly what Vitale did to Grossmann -- the main difference was that Marchment already had the reputation for taking out other players' knees so he never got the benefit of the doubt on potentially accidental situations where he stuck a leg out and initiated the hit to the knee.

Certainly Pronger's health will play a major factor in the future of the d core. Also, the CBA has yet to be finalized so I wonder if there will be any additional relief for teams with players who are on long-term injury?
- ravishingone

if there is an amnesty, I'm thinking briere would be the guy to move on.

................AND WE'RE OFF!!!!!!!
- B2B76

I love that teams are now publicly calling out the bs out of Pittsburgh. For once Im glad torts is speaking out.

1) Crosby's stickwork on Schenn was what precipitated the cross-check. Crosby wasn't an angel in this situation.
2) The cross-check was delivered with very little force behind it. Crosby sold it like he'd been shot out of a cannon. But that's fine. It's still happened after a goal was scored and Schenn should have responded between the whistles, not after a stoppage. I don't blame the Pens for being angry about it.
3) It's 100 percent gratuitous to be targeting the smallest player on the ice for an open ice hit in the final minute of play with no chance of changing the final outcome.
- bmeltzer

Agree with your take on the situation Bill. One question I posed that I haven't seen an answer to, I was hoping someone asked Laviolette after the game, but with the crack media in Philly I wasn't holding my breath.

Any idea why Briere, who as you mention is the smallest player on the team, and who has been prone to big hits this year, what the hell was he doing on the ice in a 6-3 game with a powder keg brewing?

if there is an amnesty, I'm thinking briere would be the guy to move on.
- isaiah520

I always try to be optomistic, so I'm not writing Pronger off yet. Certainly off ice quality of life is more important, I just believe he will also make back on the ice (I know the odds are against it).

I wonder with all the success of the rookies this year, maybe just promote from within for a puck moving d-man to replace Carle and if needed address at trade deadline. Certainly enough candidates are in the system.

Time, place, score. It's a "good, solid clean" body check when there's still time to win the game. When your team is down by three goals in the final minute, it's a predatory hit. But Danny left himself open to it, and probably shouldn't have been on the ice.

I don't think Vitale is normally a dirty player. I believe he did not intend to take out Grossmann's knee. However, Bryan Marchment got suspended I don't know how many times for exactly what Vitale did to Grossmann -- the main difference was that Marchment already had the reputation for taking out other players' knees so he never got the benefit of the doubt on potentially accidental situations where he stuck a leg out and initiated the hit to the knee.
- bmeltzer

I don't disagree with the time, place, score thought, but if you consider player, that's what Vitale does. Goes hard and is physical. We dealt with similar against the Stars and Letang a bit ago. So I get the frustration, it's never easy to see that against your top players.