Rd 1 - Official Series Discussion Thread: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers

[pghin08]

I think the pens have decided that they care more about hurting Philly's chances at a cup than winning another one of their own, lol. What a bunch of classless lowlifes.

Congrats to all the faithful Pittsburgh fans, who by defending the gutless actions of their despicable team, are doing nothign but perpetuating the cycle by not holding their team accountable for it's dirty play.

Personally, I hope for Crosby's sake that Neal gets a couple of games suspension. If not Philly might just decide to prove a point. If I were playing for Philly, I would DEFINTELY sacrifice a couple of games to throw an IDENTICAL hit on Crosby just to prove a point.

I'm a Pens fan who is certainly holding them accountable. We're not a despicable team though, contrary to what this series might say. It hurts that people think of us like that.

And actually, that's how I knew I hated Neal's shot on Giroux. I thought about someone doing that to Sid, and it made me livid. So to me, that meant that Neal was undeniably in the wrong.

[RGM81]

Very nice to hear a calming voice from one of the partisans of the teams involved in the series. May you be an example to your fellow commenters, pghin08.

The volume needs to be taken down a notch in this thread - some folks are getting perilously close to crossing the line. Remember guys, we want to keep these series threads alive for as long as we can without having to close them due to being disruptive. Your cooperation with this is greatly appreciated.

[pghin08]

Very nice to hear a calming voice from one of the partisans of the teams involved in the series. May you be an example to your fellow commenters, pghin08.

The volume needs to be taken down a notch in this thread - some folks are getting perilously close to crossing the line. Remember guys, we want to keep these series threads alive for as long as we can without having to close them due to being disruptive. Your cooperation with this is greatly appreciated.

Haha, thanks. The perception of the Pens as a team right now is disappointing enough. It's tough that on top of that, a lot of people around the NHL see Penguin fans as arrogant blowhards. I'm just here to say that's not the case.

[policeradio556]

Its certainly tough... I'm a huge Flyers fan, and while I want "my team" to win... I don't want to see anyone knocked out cold...Yes that even includes Sid... I'm all for settling differences on the ice, be it through good CLEAN body checks or if the situation merits it..fistacuffs... Heck they keep fighting in hockey for a reason. Do I like the message Crosby and a few of the others are sending to spectators? No way! however from a skills perspective his antics don't take anything away from that... Its just a shame he can't maintain a more sportsmanship and humble approach. If I'm a captain on a team and down 3-0 in a playoff series, if my team is unable to comeback and win I want the team that beat me to go all the way... at least then you know you got taken out by the "best" team in the playoffs... With that said I'm shocked at how many of these playoff series have taken such a brutal route... This kind of thing is rare in modern hockey playoff games... as I can usually count the number of TOTAL fights on one hand for league...lol

[abls10]

First I would like to say I am a pens fan. With the exception of the first 10 min. of gm.1 and gm.2 and the first 5 of gm.3, this series has been a disappointment. My hats off to the flyers. By saying they have out played the pens would be an understatement. The flyers have gotten under the skin of the pens, and their reactions have taken them out of the game(s). I must say I don't like crosby hitting the glove away with his stick. That was childish. Also I would like to say that asham hitting schenn when he was down was disappointing. But that being said. The flyers have not been saints in this series. There have been just as many hits on pens whithout the puck with no calls and did not get much attention by the commentators. Neal and Malkin both have been taking hits in open ice when they don't have the puck with no penalties. This has caused malkin to run and hide. Neal on the other hand has decided to hit back. I admit that the 2 hits that neal put on the flyers in the third period were penalties and may get him suspended. But they were no worse than some of the hits he and malkin have taken throughout the series. Neals 2 hits have been magnified because of when they occurred. The game was out of reach and out of control. I believe if these occurred in a closer game as did some of the hits earlier in this game as well as the series there would not of been as big of a deal. I could be wrong about this, but I am not even sure Neal got a penalty on the hit to giroux, but got one later in the scrum along the boards. One last thing. Asham has taken a lot of criticism for his cross check on Schenn. I know the end result was that Schenn got hit in the neck but the initial point of contact was in Schenn's chest, not the neck. It wasn't until Schenn's arms went up that Ashams stick ended up in his neck area. This was a response to Schenn taking a run at a pen who was engaged with another player which resulted in a penalty for Schenn. Even the commentators were wrong in saying that Schenn's hit was clean. Anyways the flyers have earned where they are and have taken care of business. The pens need not to worry about getting even for hits, but get even by putting the puck in the net, and keep it out of theirs (mostly out of theirs).

[pghin08]

First I would like to say I am a pens fan. With the exception of the first 10 min. of gm.1 and gm.2 and the first 5 of gm.3, this series has been a disappointment. My hats off to the flyers. By saying they have out played the pens would be an understatement. The flyers have gotten under the skin of the pens, and their reactions have taken them out of the game(s). I must say I don't like crosby hitting the glove away with his stick. That was childish. Also I would like to say that asham hitting schenn when he was down was disappointing. But that being said. The flyers have not been saints in this series. There have been just as many hits on pens whithout the puck with no calls and did not get much attention by the commentators. Neal and Malkin both have been taking hits in open ice when they don't have the puck with no penalties. This has caused malkin to run and hide. Neal on the other hand has decided to hit back. I admit that the 2 hits that neal put on the flyers in the third period were penalties and may get him suspended. But they were no worse than some of the hits he and malkin have taken throughout the series. Neals 2 hits have been magnified because of when they occurred. The game was out of reach and out of control. I believe if these occurred in a closer game as did some of the hits earlier in this game as well as the series there would not of been as big of a deal. I could be wrong about this, but I am not even sure Neal got a penalty on the hit to giroux, but got one later in the scrum along the boards. One last thing. Asham has taken a lot of criticism for his cross check on Schenn. I know the end result was that Schenn got hit in the neck but the initial point of contact was in Schenn's chest, not the neck. It wasn't until Schenn's arms went up that Ashams stick ended up in his neck area. This was a response to Schenn taking a run at a pen who was engaged with another player which resulted in a penalty for Schenn. Even the commentators were wrong in saying that Schenn's hit was clean. Anyways the flyers have earned where they are and have taken care of business. The pens need not to worry about getting even for hits, but get even by putting the puck in the net, and keep it out of theirs (mostly out of theirs).

I actually disagree. I think these are the cleanest 3 games I've ever seen the Flyers play against the Pens (for whatever that's worth). James Neal was out of control at the end of the game. In fact, short of a guy like Steve Sullivan, the entire Pens team has been out of their minds. They're panicked. They never expected to be in this situation, and rather than refocus on fundamentals (sticks in lanes, boys!), they've decided to try to out-tough the Flyers. Clearly it's not working.

[policeradio556]

First I would like to say I am a pens fan. With the exception of the first 10 min. of gm.1 and gm.2 and the first 5 of gm.3, this series has been a disappointment. My hats off to the flyers. By saying they have out played the pens would be an understatement. The flyers have gotten under the skin of the pens, and their reactions have taken them out of the game(s). I must say I don't like crosby hitting the glove away with his stick. That was childish. Also I would like to say that asham hitting schenn when he was down was disappointing. But that being said. The flyers have not been saints in this series. There have been just as many hits on pens whithout the puck with no calls and did not get much attention by the commentators. Neal and Malkin both have been taking hits in open ice when they don't have the puck with no penalties. This has caused malkin to run an hide. Neal on the other hand has decided to hit back. I admit that the 2 hits that neal put on the flyers in the third period were penalties and may get him suspended. But they were no worse than some of the hits he and malkin have taken throughout the series. Neals 2 hits have been magnified because of when they occurred. The game was out of reach and out of control. I believe if these occurred in a closer game as did some of the hits earlier in this game as well as the series there would not of been as big of a deal. I could be wrong about this, but I am not even sure Neal got a penalty on the hit to giroux, but got one later in the scrum along the boards. One last thing. Asham has taken a lot of criticism for his cross check on Schenn. I know the end result was that Schenn got hit in the neck but the initial point of contact was in Schenn's chest, not the neck. It wasn't until Schenn's arms went up that Ashams stick ended up in his neck area. This was a response to Schenn taking a run at a pen who was engaged with another player which resulted in a penalty for Schenn. Even the commentators were wrong in saying that Schenn's hit was clean. Anyways the flyers have earned where they are and have taken care of business. The pens need not to worry about getting even for hits, but get even by putting the puck in the net, and keep it out of theirs (mostly out of theirs).

Very well said... Everyone certainly knew going in that it was going to be a hard nosed series... As for the hit on Schenn by Asham... Its not so much the intent but the result... Just ask Marty McSorely or Todd Bertuzzi about that... McSorley has stated he was trying to tap Brashear on the shoulder to engage him in a fight, and Bertuzzi jumped Moore but most likely wouldn't have resulted in the injury it did if there wasn't the ensuing pile up... In either sense the severity of the resulting injury shouldn't dictate the severity of the punishment... Asham or any other hockey player with half of a brain has to know if you go to crosscheck a player facing you that they will most likely try and put their arms or hands up to deflect the blow... Honestly if he thought the hit Schenn laid out was cheap, I would've preferred to see him drop the gloves and beat the living tar out of him... As a fan and someone who's played the game, I cringe and the stick work especially up high. Aside from the Asham end of the statement I couldn't agree more with your take

[policeradio556]

I actually disagree. I think these are the cleanest 3 games I've ever seen the Flyers play against the Pens (for whatever that's worth). James Neal was out of control at the end of the game. In fact, short of a guy like Steve Sullivan, the entire Pens team has been out of their minds. They're panicked. They never expected to be in this situation, and rather than refocus on fundamentals (sticks in lanes, boys!), they've decided to try to out-tough the Flyers. Clearly it's not working.

Now Steve Sullivan...Thats a guy I would LOVE on my team in Philly... Class act player... Great leadership and very good ability... I just want to see it put to rest so they can play hockey... with a rivalry like this I would've preferred a tighter series from both teams..

[pghin08]

Now Steve Sullivan...Thats a guy I would LOVE on my team in Philly... Class act player... Great leadership and very good ability... I just want to see it put to rest so they can play hockey... with a rivalry like this I would've preferred a tighter series from both teams..

In my opinion, he's a must-sign for the Pens this off-season. The power play is 100% better with Sullivan on it. And at what would probably be around $1.5 million a year, he's a steal.

[abls10]

My point was not to say that Asham was not wrong, but that everyone is saying that his aim was for the neck. As far a using sticks. I can think of two occasions that the flyers used theirs as weapons. In game 3 after the flyers scored I am not sure which goal but a scrum occurred and one flyers stick was swung at a penguin. I am not talking about a cross check but a baseball swing. I apoligize for not having specifics, but the tv coverage seemed to focus more on the penguins being bullies. Also in the game where Letang was robbed by the goalie. After the whistle a flyer again took a swing with his stick on Letang. In both occassions when they showed replays, they stopped before I could get the players involved for the flyers. As far as playing clean I don't think that was the case. I think the difference is that the flyers played smarter, and did not allow their emotions to affect their play. but they had their fair share of questionable hits that the penquins allowed to get under their skin.