Home HockeyBuzz Register Login
"All Geeked-Up for the Deadline..."
Newtown Square, PA • United States • 45 Years Old • Male
Just a few seemingly random thoughts, as I checked that my heart was still beating, after Niitty made that highlight reel right pad save on Ilya Kovalchuk. Pure magic.

#22 - Mike Knuble owes Niitty a drink tonight for hanging him out to dry by leaving a 50 goal scorer alone in the slot with less than 10 seconds remaining on the clock. Mike, you almost won "Goat of the Night" going away.

Thank you Antero Niittymaki - I still don't know how you got across to make that save - and neither does Kovalchuk (who still might be lying on the Wachovia ice)

Thank god for the schedule makers who decided that Atlanta should play the Flyers on this given night - I love you all.

The Must List:

* Antero Niittymaki must start the next game versus the Blueshirts on Friday night.

* The Flyers must continue to put the puck on net - 49 shots goes a long way towards keeping the pressure on the opposition.

* Flyers must have at least a two goal lead heading into the final two minutes of any third period.

* Jeff Carter must continue to fire the puck at the net from any and all angle - he is in a zone and seems to be in the right place at the right time.

* Mike Richards must stay in the lineup at all costs - he is the unquestioned heart and soul of this team.

* Braydon Coburn is playing like a seasoned veteren and, as Brian Engblom correctly stated, he and Kimmo Timonen must stay on the ice as much as possible. They are the key to the defense.

* Ryan Parent played a HUGE game tonight and must continue to get more ice time as the sprint to the playoffs continues.

* Vinny Prospal must try to be resigned by the Flyers. His give and go tonight was exactly what was lacking since the season ending injury to Simone Gagne. A huge pickup for Homer.

* On that note, Briere, Lupul and Prospal must stay healthy and together - they have the chance to gain some chemistry in the next weeks and could be a very dangerous line in the playoffs.

* Joffrey Lupul (they still cannot keep from calling him "Jeffrey") had a huge game and showed us that he is really back, as he played a solid game and came up with two assists on the night. He must play well on that first line if the Flyers can make a run at this thing.

* As mentioned in past blogs, the Flyers' forwards must do a better, more conscious job at defensive coverage in their own zone. Mike Knuble almost cost them a point. 7 times out of 10, Kovalchuk scores that goal.

* The Flyers must play with an edge. The Flyers play better when they take the body, play hard along the walls and wear teams down. If they can do this on a regular basis - they can exploit their transition game.

* The Flyers must find a way to beat the teams in the Atlantic that have given them fits - Rangers, Devils and Penguins. The Washington Capitals are the team breathing down the O&B's neck and this is no time to let up.

Hard Road Ahead:

The Caps' remaining schedule is as follows: Chicago, Atlanta, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Florida, Carolina, Tampa Bay and Florida.

The Flyers schedule is: NY Rangers, NY Islanders, NY Rangers, New Jersey, NY Islanders, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, Pittsburgh.

Definite advantage to Washington.

Think good thoughts for the Flyers/Rangers game...

Thanks for reading...

SYF
March 19, 2008 2:13 AM ET | Delete
SYF - Great stuff once again. I think Homer has a huge choice in the offseason with regards to Vinnie. I loved Vinnie when he was here before and he seems to really be starting to click with Danny, but do we take Vinnie over Carts? I have to think that Carts long-term is more of a win for the Flyers, but then again....what happens if Gags doesn't come back for a while. I think that Homer will sign Vinnie if he thinks that Gags isn't going to be available for most of the year. Knuble - wanted to kill him. Nitty - wanted to kiss him! My heart has made it to about my shin at this point and still on it's way home! The FREAKING GOALS WITH 30 SECONDS HAVE TO STOP!!!!!!! Great Blog!
March 19, 2008 2:17 AM ET | Delete
The homing devices have been activated. Scottie, Ryan, Harts, and Kimmo are zombie walking back to their original home. (Cue Theremin music.)
March 19, 2008 7:23 AM ET | Delete
Good job SYF yup I agree
March 19, 2008 8:36 AM ET | Delete
<3
March 19, 2008 9:03 AM ET | Delete
T'is the Raving Isles Blogger, morning B.D.
March 19, 2008 9:04 AM ET | Delete
Tim,You CAN'T have them :P, but you sure could have used them last night...
March 19, 2008 9:13 AM ET | Delete
Nice one SYF. I heard one minute remaining and thought here we go again.....goal......save of the game. Somehow we did it.
March 19, 2008 9:57 AM ET | Delete
Niitty flashed the pad so fast I didn't have time to be scared. Big win. BIG win.
March 19, 2008 10:17 AM ET | Delete
Lasse Kukkonen needs to stay in the damned line-up, he was one of their best defensemen last night and has been good since his return to the line-up.
March 19, 2008 10:36 AM ET | Delete
JS - I meant to mention that - thanks for doing the thinking for me. He was solid and played really inspired hockey. I like him in the lineup better than in the press box. Good call J.S.SYF
March 19, 2008 10:46 AM ET | Delete
Kukkonen and Parent were easily the two best defensemen, and Jones is surely missed. Parent is really starting to play like a seasoned vet.
March 20, 2008 12:15 PM ET | Delete
Great blog, SYF. But I do disagree about who should be in net on Friday. I would go with Biron for the rest of the season (except for the back-to-back next weekend). We need to live or die with one guy - and I'd rather go to war with Marty.
March 20, 2008 2:18 PM ET | Delete
Nitty in net - I agree
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to leave a comment.

Blog Archive