Penguins vs Flyers - The Past and Future

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Let these little nuggets seep in:

How can we forget? 5 overtimes - players worn out on both sides.  It all comes down to the stick of Keith Primeau.  You could blame the choppy ice, sheer fatigue and exhaustion or just the fact it was a genuinely nice goal.

Respective answers in this order: it's possible, that's highly likely, that's kind of true but I still won't accept it.

My personal memory of this game is trying to stay awake to watch the game with my father, constantly staring at the clock as school edged closer and closer.  I don't remember what time it ended, but I do remember my father getting up after the loss, going into the kitchen to eat breakfast, getting changed and heading right off to work.  I guess I fell asleep for a bit before doing just the same for school.

Now I know this game didn't clinch the series, but it definitely turned the momentum in favor of the Flyers.  So much so, in fact, that Philly turned around from a 2-0 deficit to win the series 4-2.  Next to home-ice, momentum is a huge factor in this match-up.

It's funny to look back on times like that and laugh at the ridiculous nature of it, but you just shake your head in shame knowing the Pens dropped a nail-biter to the Flyers.  Would it have been different if the Penguins edged out a 3-0 series lead?  Of course it would've.  But perhaps they'd also have run the chance of dropping 4 straight for only the third instance ever of a team leading 3-0 and losing 4-3 in a best of seven series.

Seeing as how it's somewhat relative, I'd like to take this time to say; San Jose, we feel your pain.

Let me just dissect the quote from the Flyers' Chairman Ed Snider:

"Let's face it, you get rewarded for being the worst team in the league, so Pittsburgh has all these great players for being lousy for so many years," Snider said Monday during a rare locker-room visit. "That part I don't like so much. "I've never been in favour of the draft the way it is." Ed Snider - Flyers Chairman

Reactions?

Personally I see this as Snider already trying to make an excuse.  "You guys were horrible and now you're great - that's not fair!"  Give me a break.  The Flyers were horrible last year too; they just didn't get a huge pick like Crosby, Ovechkin or Malkin in the draft.  Would he be singing a different tune if he did?  Of course he would.  That's what makes this hysterical.  I just feel bad for James VanRiemsdyk, their first round pick.

Now, this series is definitely on pace to be one of the most violent ones in the league.  Everyone knows it.  A majority of New York fans are pulling for Pittsburgh, which shows you just how hated the Flyers really are.  While I normally have issues with supporting the team that eliminated the Pens, I can honestly say my full support would have gone to New York had the series ended otherwise.

Then I would have gone West - but that's besides the point.

Fact is, we're going to see a lot of hitting, potentially even a few fights in the heart of this series.  Home-ice and undying fan support will really turn the tides in this match.  Keep in mind: Pittsburgh is still undefeated at home.

I could go on and down-talk Philly's playoff appearance, awarded solely by a fluke goal against Washington in the first round.  But I won't.  You know why?  Because Philly earned it.  Now they get the ultimate test against Pittsburgh to see if they deserve to go further.

Game 1 : Friday at 7 p.m.

More Flyers/Penguins history to come.

Steel TownDraft Pick

553 days ago

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You know what makes me made about that quote from Snider and the thinking that procedes it? It lacks any common sense. I have said countless times, that you still have to scout and draft properly. Look at the Pirates, another team in Pittsburgh. They have stunk for years and guess what? The still lack good prospects. There are lots of teams that struggle with futility, but they never seem to rebuild. The Pens rebuilt through the draft, not by cherry picking free agents and they get a bad rap. Sniders team helped to dismantle the Buffalo Sabres and then he has the gull to complain that Pens rebuilt through the draft. That is how you are supposed to do it.

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FrankDDiv-I Stud

553 days ago

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Of course. He's already, like I said, trying to talk down the Pens while simultaneously talking down his own. The Flyers have gotten this far with what they have - which is definitely above mediocre and just a notch or two under spectacular. "The Pens are so good, the Pens are so good" blah blah blah - it all translates to me as if he's intimidated by the 'better staffed' team.

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JuTMSY4Legend

553 days ago

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don't you think ed snider is the last person you should worry about intimidating...

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FrankDDiv-I Stud

553 days ago

Score 1

haha valid point Jut. but he was the first to step out and say something.

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KelsdadAll-Star

553 days ago

Score 1

Thing is, the Pirates don't have poor prospects. Within three years, they will be a postseason team.

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Steel TownDraft Pick

552 days ago

Score 0

But, that is after a decade of having very few good prospects and trading those away.

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OvertheedgeVarsity

553 days ago

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after last seasons debacle the flyers are surprising just bout everyone

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JuTMSY4Legend

553 days ago

Score 1

Before we get into any other disagreements over some of the stuff that is obviously penguin slanted, lets take some stuff from the objective state

The Snider quote I agree with (you) to some extent...

The penguins sucked and got good picks...that's the way parity works in practically every sports league in the US...i think the system works fine (its works worse in the NFL)...I think to turn bad teams around (that deserve it) you need to fix them via the draft

Then again, teams that suck and continually suck clearly have other issues...look at the blackhawks

The pirates are a poor example, as is all baseball because its more than poor scouting, its money...salary cap based leagues change that

The flyers by comparison with previous drafts certainly had bad luck...but that's what it is...bad luck...if you think drafting/acquiring someone of Crosby's level is strictly just skill, then you don't get it

Now let's get down to the good stuff instead of some silly complaining about ed snider (I miss pat croce)

Here's a Marty Biron quote you can identify with:

"You look at Washington, you look at Montreal, it took a game and a half to get the emotions involved into the games," Biron said. "I think against Pittsburgh, it will be a half minute and things will get going. They might not want to say that. They might not feel the same way, but that's how things will go."

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FrankDDiv-I Stud

553 days ago

Score 1

Biron will definitely get his team motivated and fired up. When you look at Pittsburgh you see a team that is looking to guys like Crosby, Malkin and Hossa for leadership. The funny thing is, Crosby and Malkin are all experiencing this for the first time to. Same thing with Fleury. That's why you have guys like Gary Roberts and Daryl Sydor, even though both of them have been scratches for a majority of the playoffs.

I think as far as the Flyers go, Biron is looking to take the team and hoist them up on his shoulders. Umberger has been insane lately, Briere and Richards are leading and Lupul has been the savior once already.

This series is going to be unreal; plain and simple.

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Pittsburgh GunnyMajor Leaguer

552 days ago

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Gary Roberts for President.

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