Around the Horn! Game 5 Preview, Memorial Cup, and More!
Posted 3:25 PM ET | Comments 7
Game 5 Preview of the Eastern Conference Finals, Memorial Cup, and More!
Sure everyone wants to bring this crazy idea about the 33 year old curse of a comeback from 3-0 and how Dallas and Philadelphia are both vying to be that team to do it. The thing I find freaky about the curse is that it was done to the Detroit Red Wings in 1942 by the Toronto Maple Leafs and it was done to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1975 by the New York Islander, the two teams that are trying to hold that off right now. Barry Melrose and other analysts are saying some things I don't like. Melrose says this has no chance because you won't be able to beat Pittsburgh 4 times in a row, maybe I'm wrong, but I just don't look at it like that. Plus if you did wanna look at it like that, we did beat Montreal 4 games in a row, and they were the number one seed. What I'm trying to say is that the series is now 3-1, and plenty of teams have come back from that. Washington forced a Game 7 on us, Boston forced a Game 7 on Montreal, we lost Game 7 in the 2000 ECF to the Devils after being up 3-1, I don't care if we have to beat them 4 times in a row, the fact of it now is it doesn't matter if we had won game one or game four, the series is now 3-1, and you move on and go to Game 5. We are the brink of elimination, so I expect us to go out a play a hard game 5 in Pittsburgh. That's all the focus should be on for the Flyers, not about how they still have to beat Pittsburgh 3 more times in a row to win the series. Just focus on the next game and if you win, you move on. Although Pittsburgh is a young team, I expect them to step it up now, meaning the Flyers are going to have to play better like Joffrey Lupul said last night after the game. The Flyers will be likely getting two key players back next game.
Some Penguin fans and others are thinking Flyers fans are overexaggerating by the loses of Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Coburn. The fact of it is Timonen was the Quarterback on the Second Best Ranked Powerplay in the NHL this season, He's our best puck moving Dman, He is great in his own zone, He is the co-leader (in my opinion him and Richards) of this team, he blocks shots, and has proven he can defend the best in the world. Kimmo is an All-Star and has been for years. The Red Wings were 1-10 without Lidstrom this year. Coburn on the other hand is playing like an all-star at the age of 22. Coburn is breaking out this season and has come into his own especially since these tow were paired. Kimmo appears to have done what he did to Shea Weber back in Nashville to Coburn. I expect Coburn to be an All-Star very soon, and I have heard scouts call him a future Norris Trophy Candidate. Coburn's puck moving skill, size, speed, PP time, and PK time have been missed. However, someone has stepped up big time for the Flyers. Randy Jones. Randy Jones has been all over the place for the Flyers. Setting up our PP, Playing great in his own end, Playing on the PK, and being this team's puck mover. Jones has played unbelievable hockey this series. Ryan Parent also has had 2 extremely solid games. This kid will be a regular next year and the Flyers need him to develop into a Top 4 Dman. The Flyers will be getting Timonen back, and likely Coburn this Sunday for Game 5 and they should have a huge impact to this game.
The Flyers will need to continue to get pucks in deep, forecheck, and check the opposing team hard if they are to win this game. The Flyers must continue to get chances and put the puck into the net like they did the in the first period of Game 4. They need the intensity, and the Penguins are likely to back off the trap a little with our puck movers back in the lineup. Expect the rest of the series, whether it's one game or three, to be more run and gun. I personally feel we can run with them.
The Series intensified in the final 22 seconds when there were over 20 penalty minutes in those final seconds. It all started after Upshall charged Jordan Staal and really got him good, which led to Malone going after him and then Hatcher coming in and basically destroying him in a fight. Malone did not fair well against Big Hatch. Then with 14 seconds left Michel made a mistake by putting Crosby out against Richards, and Mike has been wanting to fight him all season and Crosby wanted no part of him. I don't blame him honestly. Pitt might be looking for some revenge next game, but they better play smarter hockey, and not let the Flyers get under their skin like they did this game. Physical play should only intensify this series. On a a side note, I did not like the way Michel handled his PC after the game. He was ultra sarcastic and was whining.
The Memorial Cup is this weekend. OHL Champions, and the future next team in the NHL's home, the Kitchener Rangers will battle the Gaitneau Olympiques, the QMJHL champions. Claude Giroux, a Flyers elite prospect, was named MVP of their tournament yesterday after scoring 17 goals and recording 34 assists,a total of 51 points, in 19 games in the playoffs. I look forward to watching more of this kid, who a lot of people are VERY high on. Giroux is also a two-way kid. He was a +33 in these playoffs, and plays key roles on the PK for Gatineau and when he was on Team Canada in the WJC. Homer said this about Giroux's postseason, “Claude has had an outstanding season, With the World Junior gold medal for Canada and now his run with Gatineau to the Memorial Cup, it has been great to see his development.”
My pick for the 2008 World Champions will be Sweden! I'll go with unexpected team who is missing many key guys. I expect a Sweden and Russia showdown in the finals. Ovechkin vs. Backstrom, but goaltending will prevail. Lundqvist has been stellar and he will lead Sweden, like he did in the Olympics in 2006, to a 2008 World Championship win.
The Flyers will be having a viewing party in the AT&T Pavilion This Sunday, Get Down there and get ready to rock!
Sure everyone wants to bring this crazy idea about the 33 year old curse of a comeback from 3-0 and how Dallas and Philadelphia are both vying to be that team to do it. The thing I find freaky about the curse is that it was done to the Detroit Red Wings in 1942 by the Toronto Maple Leafs and it was done to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1975 by the New York Islander, the two teams that are trying to hold that off right now. Barry Melrose and other analysts are saying some things I don't like. Melrose says this has no chance because you won't be able to beat Pittsburgh 4 times in a row, maybe I'm wrong, but I just don't look at it like that. Plus if you did wanna look at it like that, we did beat Montreal 4 games in a row, and they were the number one seed. What I'm trying to say is that the series is now 3-1, and plenty of teams have come back from that. Washington forced a Game 7 on us, Boston forced a Game 7 on Montreal, we lost Game 7 in the 2000 ECF to the Devils after being up 3-1, I don't care if we have to beat them 4 times in a row, the fact of it now is it doesn't matter if we had won game one or game four, the series is now 3-1, and you move on and go to Game 5. We are the brink of elimination, so I expect us to go out a play a hard game 5 in Pittsburgh. That's all the focus should be on for the Flyers, not about how they still have to beat Pittsburgh 3 more times in a row to win the series. Just focus on the next game and if you win, you move on. Although Pittsburgh is a young team, I expect them to step it up now, meaning the Flyers are going to have to play better like Joffrey Lupul said last night after the game. The Flyers will be likely getting two key players back next game.
Some Penguin fans and others are thinking Flyers fans are overexaggerating by the loses of Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Coburn. The fact of it is Timonen was the Quarterback on the Second Best Ranked Powerplay in the NHL this season, He's our best puck moving Dman, He is great in his own zone, He is the co-leader (in my opinion him and Richards) of this team, he blocks shots, and has proven he can defend the best in the world. Kimmo is an All-Star and has been for years. The Red Wings were 1-10 without Lidstrom this year. Coburn on the other hand is playing like an all-star at the age of 22. Coburn is breaking out this season and has come into his own especially since these tow were paired. Kimmo appears to have done what he did to Shea Weber back in Nashville to Coburn. I expect Coburn to be an All-Star very soon, and I have heard scouts call him a future Norris Trophy Candidate. Coburn's puck moving skill, size, speed, PP time, and PK time have been missed. However, someone has stepped up big time for the Flyers. Randy Jones. Randy Jones has been all over the place for the Flyers. Setting up our PP, Playing great in his own end, Playing on the PK, and being this team's puck mover. Jones has played unbelievable hockey this series. Ryan Parent also has had 2 extremely solid games. This kid will be a regular next year and the Flyers need him to develop into a Top 4 Dman. The Flyers will be getting Timonen back, and likely Coburn this Sunday for Game 5 and they should have a huge impact to this game.
The Flyers will need to continue to get pucks in deep, forecheck, and check the opposing team hard if they are to win this game. The Flyers must continue to get chances and put the puck into the net like they did the in the first period of Game 4. They need the intensity, and the Penguins are likely to back off the trap a little with our puck movers back in the lineup. Expect the rest of the series, whether it's one game or three, to be more run and gun. I personally feel we can run with them.
The Series intensified in the final 22 seconds when there were over 20 penalty minutes in those final seconds. It all started after Upshall charged Jordan Staal and really got him good, which led to Malone going after him and then Hatcher coming in and basically destroying him in a fight. Malone did not fair well against Big Hatch. Then with 14 seconds left Michel made a mistake by putting Crosby out against Richards, and Mike has been wanting to fight him all season and Crosby wanted no part of him. I don't blame him honestly. Pitt might be looking for some revenge next game, but they better play smarter hockey, and not let the Flyers get under their skin like they did this game. Physical play should only intensify this series. On a a side note, I did not like the way Michel handled his PC after the game. He was ultra sarcastic and was whining.
The Memorial Cup is this weekend. OHL Champions, and the future next team in the NHL's home, the Kitchener Rangers will battle the Gaitneau Olympiques, the QMJHL champions. Claude Giroux, a Flyers elite prospect, was named MVP of their tournament yesterday after scoring 17 goals and recording 34 assists,a total of 51 points, in 19 games in the playoffs. I look forward to watching more of this kid, who a lot of people are VERY high on. Giroux is also a two-way kid. He was a +33 in these playoffs, and plays key roles on the PK for Gatineau and when he was on Team Canada in the WJC. Homer said this about Giroux's postseason, “Claude has had an outstanding season, With the World Junior gold medal for Canada and now his run with Gatineau to the Memorial Cup, it has been great to see his development.”
My pick for the 2008 World Champions will be Sweden! I'll go with unexpected team who is missing many key guys. I expect a Sweden and Russia showdown in the finals. Ovechkin vs. Backstrom, but goaltending will prevail. Lundqvist has been stellar and he will lead Sweden, like he did in the Olympics in 2006, to a 2008 World Championship win.
The Flyers will be having a viewing party in the AT&T Pavilion This Sunday, Get Down there and get ready to rock!
I'm looking forward to watching Giroux tonight and through the tournament. It should be a good indication of his skills tonight since Kitchner is top ranked junior team in Canada. The NHL network will be carrying all the Memorial Cup games here in the US
Yup. I can't wait to see. However I don't doubt Giroux's skills because he played in the QMJHL, aka a very high scoring league, because the QMJHL has been producing very good hockey players post lockout. Should be great to watch.
Great stuff! Looking forward to Sunday. 1 period at a time. 1 game at a time.
Yup. That's how you have to look at it.
GO CANADA
I love Canada's team. Fine by me to see them!!!! :)
If it ends Sunday, it was still a great ride. However, I don't want it to slow down, let alone end...Go Flyers!!