NHL FanHouse

The Ice Sheet: Left for Dead Again

Bruce Ciskie — Sat, 17 May 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Dallas, Detroit, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, General NHL, Flyers, Penguins, Wings, Stars, Stanley Cup

Every day from Monday to Saturday, The Ice Sheet will take a look at the biggest stories in the league that happened on the ice and elsewhere the night before.

There may be a lot of you who are surprised there is hockey this weekend.

I'll freely admit to being one of them. I'm even more surprised that there are two games this weekend.

Both the Dallas Stars and Philadelphia Flyers were left for dead after falling behind 3-0 in their respective series. Even though they were playing on home ice, they were heavy underdogs in Game Four.

They both got the job done. Their prize? They're being left for dead entering road games this weekend.

While I think it would be outright lunacy to predict one of these series will be extended, you can't rule it out. After all, most of you ruled out these series even going five games, and here we are.

Dallas tries first, as they face Detroit Saturday in "Hockeytown". We'll be live-blogging the game here at FanHouse, so join us for the action starting at 1pm Eastern.

Can this added confidence carry the Stars to a Game Five upset?

(Still to come: The conference finals indeed continue, NBC prays for a regulation end to Saturday's game, and a YouTube to remember from the incomparable Tie Domi)

The Red Wings looked dominant at times in Games One and Three, and practically ran the Stars off their own rink in the third game. However, Detroit looked beatable at times in the even-numbered games.

I'm a big believer in the power of confidence on a team. Dallas got a lead, played pretty well with it, and found a way to beat a team that had just pounded them two nights earlier. Marty Turco was outstanding in Game Four after a poor performance in Game Three.

Obviously, Dallas has to overcome some things in Saturday's game. Most notably, the Stars have to overcome the almost undeniable fact that Detroit is the better team. It's one thing to beat a team that's better than you once, on your home ice. It's another to come back a couple days later and beat that same team in their place. Oh, and that team you need to beat? They're 7-0 at home in the playoffs. Good luck, boys.

If the Stars can find a way to win Game Five, they'd be back home Monday night to try to force Game Seven.

Can the Flyers do it? I didn't think they'd win Thursday, and they get full credit for jumping all over Pittsburgh like they did.

When they meet Sunday in Pittsburgh, the Flyers will have a tall task. There's talk that Kimmo Timonen may play Sunday, which would be a great boost to Philly's beleaguered defensemen. They held on late in Game Four despite looking quite fatigued. They appeared to wear down late in the third game of the series.

In order to win an elimination game on the road Sunday, they're going to have to stay physical with Pittsburgh's stars.

(Put it this way, Mike Richards isn't trying to do the samba with Sidney Crosby in that photo to the right.)

They need Martin Biron to continue to play like he did Thursday night. It's not too much to ask, as Biron played like that for much of the first two rounds.

In the end, however, I think Pittsburgh is the better team (similarly to Detroit being better than Dallas). The Penguins will prevail eventually, and I think it's a good bet that they'll get it done Sunday at home.

Having Versus would be a good thing, just in case. I'm sure many of you have already done the requisite research on this topic, but we're here to serve.

Last year, you may remember NBC cutting out of the Ottawa-Buffalo playoff game so they could bring us the stirring six-hour lead-up to the Preakness.

(Okay, it wasn't six hours. More like four.)

Anyway, it caused an uproar among hockey fans. That's understandable, but it doesn't change the fact that NBC was obligated to make the switch.

This year, they've done a somewhat better job of planning ahead for the possibility of a long hockey game. The network says they will stick with the hockey game through one overtime, at which point the game will switch to Versus if it's still going on. That way, NBC can get their coverage of the horse race on the air at a decent time, satisfying its larger pool of viewers and more lucrative advertisers.

Clearly, it's in the best interests of NBC to work with both partners. Horse racing has its flaws, no question, but it's still much more popular than hockey. That said, the NHL has enjoyed some decent ratings increases during these playoffs, and they have a loud, passionate, loyal fan base.

Recommended reading. Jes Golbez would like Crosby to shave. Frankly, I disagree. I feel the playoff beards are a tradition, and guys should be encouraged to play along. Bad beards are part of the game. It's also amusing when you get a guy like Scott Niedermayer, who has all the money you could ask for, but is too cheap to buy a box of Just for Men.

Among Matt Saler's notes is the revelation that Bill McCreary's Mustache will work Game Five in Detroit. Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News picks it up from there.

This would be the same Bill McCreary who Stars captain Brenden Morrow said on his radio show Thursday ``made up'' a call in Game 1 to ``even the score'' with Stars' rookie defenseman Mark Fistric, who apparently did not show the proper amount of respect to McCreary during Game 5 of the Anaheim series.

When asked about a roughing call on Mark Fistric made in Game 1 that handed Detroit a 5-on-3 power play, Morrow responded on his show on KTCK The Ticket:

``That was a very phantom call. I think that was just a little payback for something that happened in the Anaheim series between Fisty and McCreary. That's just my opinion, but I think that's something that was made up. I think there was a little grudge between referee and player where he felt he wanted to even up the score. You never want to see those things.''

It's worth noting that Fistric has mono and isn't playing Saturday. However, this seems to me to be a situation the NHL should have worked harder to avoid. Actually, it wouldn't take much effort at all. Just bizarre.

Also, Greg Wyshynski talks about marriages of athletes and teams that never should have happened. To this day, I refuse to acknowledge that Mark Messier ever played for Vancouver, so I see Greg's point.

Random YouTube glory. Penguin fans think this should happen to Philadelphia fans more often. Thank you, Tie Domi.

We'd love to hear your tips, ideas, comments, thoughts, and what-not. Feel free to drop us a line at nhlfanhouse@googlegroups.com.

The Ice Sheet: Left for Dead Again originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 17 May 2008 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Versus: The Flyers TV Network?

Kevin Schultz — Fri, 16 May 2008 14:09:00 EST

Filed under: Philadelphia, General NHL, Flyers, NHL Media Watch, Stanley Cup

It's not as far-fetched as you may think.

Now don't get me wrong here. I'm not saying the broadcast is biased towards the Flyers -- it's not, despite what Pittsburgh may say. Versus is actually doing a pretty good job of covering the playoffs, in my opinion. They haven't really had any major snags, although their studio team is lacking any names recognizable to the casual fan. But that's neither here nor there.

Let's get back to what we were here for in the first place. A business lesson. So, we have the Flyers and Versus, two seemingly separate organizations. Let's do about .01 seconds of research. Who are each of them owned by?

From the Versus website:

VERSUS, a wholly owned company of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA, CMCSK), is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.

And from the Flyers website:

Copyright (C) 1999-2008 Comcast Spectacor, L.P. and the National Hockey League. All Rights Reserved.

See any similarities?

Now it's clear that there haven't been any serious conflicts of interest here. I really don't think that the coverage on Versus has been biased towards the Flyers in any way. It's just interesting what happens -- or what could happen -- in this country when we have so many large conglomerates.

Versus: The Flyers TV Network? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 16 May 2008 14:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Penguins/Flyers Game 4: Liveblog

Pat Lackey — Thu, 15 May 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, General NHL, Flyers, Penguins, Eastern, NHL Live Blogging, Stanley Cup

And so we've come to this. What was supposed to be a knock-down drag-out series is looking very dangerously like a Pittsburgh sweep. Except for about ten minutes during the first period in game one and brief stretch in the second period of game two, this series has been almost all Penguins these first three games. Marian Hossa, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin have stepped things up big for the Pens while everyone not named Mike Richards has faded into the woodwork for the short-handed Flyers.

Braydon Coburn won't be coming back tonight thanks to his ugly eye injury, but playing to avoid a sweep in front of the home crowd is always a huge incentive (just ask Dallas or New York). Gary Roberts won't be playing for the Penguins thanks to what's being called "mild pneumonia," which I had no idea existed. The Flyers are really going to have to raise their level of play from where it was in Game 3 if they want to make another trip to the western part of Pennsylvania. Can they pull it off? Follow along with our liveblog after the jump.

We're again using CoverItLive to blog this bad-boy, which means you don't have to keep clicking refresh and you can join in on the conversation or ask us questions using the box at the bottom of the blog (they have to be approved, so don't even bother with useless or abusive comments because they won't fly). Eric McErlain and maybe Bruce Ciskie will be joining me for this one, so buckle up and let's get this show on the road.

Penguins/Flyers Game 4: Liveblog originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 15 May 2008 19:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Ice Sheet: Penguins Win to Continue NHL's 3-0 Series Trend

Earl Sleek — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, General NHL, Flyers, Penguins, Eastern, Stanley Cup

Every day from Monday to Saturday, The Ice Sheet will take a look at the biggest stories in the league that happened on the ice and elsewhere the night before.

It appears that the only thing separating the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings from a date in the Stanley Cup Finals is the formality of a fourth win. Just like Detroit had done in Dallas Monday night, the Penguins took a 3-0 series stranglehold in Philadelphia with a 4-1 win last night.

Defenseman Ryan Whitney and trade deadline acquisition Marian Hossa scored goals less than three minutes apart in the first period to open the Game Three scoring, with new playoff scoring leader Sidney Crosby assisting on both goals. Flyers forward R.J. Umberger cut the lead in half with his 10th goal of the postseason, but a third period goal by Ryan Malone and an empty-net goal by Hossa sealed the decision for Pittsburgh.

It's tough to say why 3-0 series leads are such the rage in the NHL lately, but since the first round ended, five of the six series in Rounds Two and Three have started with near-sweeps. While I'll admit that there is some excitement generated from having elimination games happen early in a series, in a practical sense it makes for some quickly uninteresting series. Granted, I'm a fan of a team that was eliminated in Round One, so I'm somewhat cynical. Even so, from a competitive angle these playoffs seem to have lost the thrill of a tightly-contested series; right now the most interesting topic of discussion seems to be what will happen when juggernauts collide in the cup finals. It looks as if the Fanhouse panel will be discussing that Detroit-Pittsburgh matchup sooner than we thought.

After the break: More from your Fanhousers, the Stat of the Day, and a YouTube summary of Detroit and Dallas Game Three.

Elsewhere from your Fanhouse staff:

If you missed yesterday's Game Three liveblog, Pat Lackey and Bruce Ciskie both added game commentary using Cover It Live technology. Take a look at its interactive functionality and make sure to check in tonight as they cover the Wings and Stars in a crucial Game Four.
Meanwhile at Japers' Rink, JP takes a look at what will likely be Olaf Kolzig's last season for the Washington Capitals.
James Mirtle puts a list together of head coaching vacancies in the NHL next year, and a list of possible candidate names that might fill them.
With the Ducks out of the playoff picture, I've been mostly quiet over at Battle of California, but I did take time last week to mark the blog's second birthday. Here's looking forward to BoC's Terrible Twos!

Stat of the Day: It's interesting to note that both the Dallas Stars and the Philadelphia Flyers only managed to put 18 shots on goal in each of their Game Three losses. As these were practically must-win situations for both teams, it seems an awfully low total. Frankly, we're going to need to see better results than this if sportswriters are going to insist on referring to post-lockout hockey as a "wide open" game.

Obligatory YouTube embed: In preparation for tonight's Game Four, here's a video recap of the action from the Red Wings at Stars in Game Three. Again, check back in tonight for your Fanhouse liveblog.

Got a Tip ... or a link you'd like to share with us? Just use this form to let us know.

The Ice Sheet: Penguins Win to Continue NHL's 3-0 Series Trend originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 14 May 2008 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Penguins/Flyers Game 3: Liveblog

Pat Lackey — Tue, 13 May 2008 19:20:00 EST

Filed under: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, General NHL, Flyers, Penguins, Eastern, NHL Live Blogging, Stanley Cup

Games don't get much more important than game three's in a 2-0 series and tonight's Penguins/Flyers game is no exception. If the Flyers win, they cut Pittsburgh's lead down to 2-1 with another game in the Wachovia Center looming on Thursday. If the Penguins win, they take a 3-0 lead and history, the odds, and basic probability is on their side.

Can the Flyers get to Marc-Andre Fleury? Can the Penguins silence the Philadelphia crowd early? Can the Flyers keep up being down two defensemen? Did Gary Roberts really get pneumonia? The answer to all these questions and more are coming tonight in the biggest game of the season for both teams, so follow along with the liveblog after the jump.

We're going to be using the Cover It Live tool for blogging during the playoffs this year. It automatically updates, so you don't have to click refresh. You can send comments and questions along to the moderators in the box below and if they're relevant and not abusive, we'll publish them as the blog goes along and try to faciliate some real blogger/reader rapport. Your hosts tonight will be Pat Lackey and Bruce Ciskie. Pat is a Penguins fan, and he is not apologizing for this.

Penguins/Flyers Game 3: Liveblog originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 13 May 2008 19:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Braydon Coburn Likely Out for Game 3

Pat Lackey — Mon, 12 May 2008 20:06:00 EST

Filed under: Philadelphia, General NHL, Flyers, Eastern, NHL Injuries, Stanley Cup

As the old saying goes, "If it wasn't for bad luck, the Flyers wouldn't have any luck at all." One day after taking a puck right between his eyes, Braydon Coburn's prospects for Game 3 on Monday are not looking very good. Anyone that saw him go down with blood pouring on the ice probably isn't surprised by that news, but it's still a blow to the Flyers to have the worst confirmed. From the Philadelphia Daily News's Flyers' blog:

Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn is considered "probably doubtful" for tomorrow night's Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against Pittsburgh, general manager Paul Holmgren said today.

Coburn required more than 50 stitches to close a circular cut around his left eye suffered early in the Flyers' 4-2 loss Sunday night in Game 2.

There's two ways to read that phrasing from Holmgren: 1.) "It's the Stanley Cup Playoffs and we're not telling you jack about his injury," or, 2.)"He got hit in the face with a puck and has 50 stitches between his eyes ... what do you think?" Since it is the playoffs, we can't really rule out the first one, but the second is certainly more likely. There is at least a silver lining today; there's no damage to Coburn's eye, so he'll likely make a full recovery. If he can't go on Tuesday, Ryan Parent will take his place in the lineup.

Braydon Coburn Likely Out for Game 3 originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 12 May 2008 20:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steve Downie May Play Tonight: Flyers Look to Get More Physical

Pat Lackey — Sun, 11 May 2008 14:06:00 EST

Filed under: Philadelphia, General NHL, Flyers, Eastern, Stanley Cup

After the Penguins cruised to a 4-2 win in game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, mostly everyone agreed that the Flyers were nowhere near physical enough and that trying to score with the Penguins, as they did in the first period of the game, was going to lead with a short series. The Flyers must agree because word out of Pittsburgh today is that John Stevens is going to dress Steve Downie tonight. Downie, for his part, seems ready to go:

"I'll play my usual, simple, physical game," he said. Downie, who has played in four of the team's 13 postseason games, said he already has learned something about the Penguins.

"Discipline. That seems to be the key to Pittsburgh," he said. "You don't want to give them too many power plays."

If Downie does indeed play (and Stevens hasn't confirmed it yet), then discipline will definitely be the key for a player that only played in 32 games, averaged less than 10 minutes on the ice in those games, and still racked up 73 penalty minutes. The Flyers do need to be more physical tonight, but the last thing they need to do is take stupid penalties that give the Penguins a chance to take an early lead in front of the home crowd.

Steve Downie May Play Tonight: Flyers Look to Get More Physical originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sun, 11 May 2008 14:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Ice Sheet: Defense Optional

Bruce Ciskie — Sat, 10 May 2008 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Dallas, Detroit, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, General NHL, Flyers, Penguins, Wings, Stars, Stanley Cup

Every day from Monday to Saturday, The Ice Sheet will take a look at the biggest stories in the league that happened on the ice and elsewhere the night before.

It became evident very quickly Friday night that the coaches in the Eastern Conference Finals had some work to do.

Yes, both teams were scoring and creating chances. Neither team, however, was playing much defense. The goalies were tested more than usual, and the action was exciting.

In the end, Pittsburgh was the team that got their defense going first. They held Philadelphia off the board through the last two periods of a 4-2 Game One win.

Petr Sykora set the early tone, getting open in front and making a great move on Martin Biron for the game's first goal. Mike Richards scored two in a row for the Flyers, before a Biron turnover led to a goal by Sidney Crosby to tie it for Pittsburgh. Late in the first, Evgeni Malkin held the puck in the Philadelphia zone by a hair, skated in, and wristed a shot past Biron, giving the Penguins a 3-2 lead after one.

Malkin added a short-handed goal in the second period to make it 4-2 before things finally settled down. Of course, that wasn't good news for Philadelphia, since they had to make up a two-goal deficit.

(Still to come: More on Flyers-Penguins Game One, the Stars try to rebound, and we'll dig something up from YouTube. You'll then have to judge whether or not it's cool.)

They couldn't do it. The Flyers outshot the Penguins 28-21, but Biron was uncharacteristically shaky, and Marc-Andre Fleury played well on the other end of the rink. The Penguins showed over the last two periods that they are capable of mucking up the neutral zone, and they also used their forecheck to keep the puck in Philadelphia's end, even when they weren't generating great chances.

Pittsburgh's penalty kill was very strong, holding the Flyers' power play off the board in three chances. They also tallied Malkin's shortie, which was a huge goal for the Penguins. Not only did it give them a two-goal lead, but the goal seemed to take a lot of air out of Philadelphia. The Flyers only got 16 shots over the last two periods, and give the Pens credit for playing sound defensive hockey and keeping Philadelphia from re-gaining any momentum in the game.

Game Two is Sunday night at 7:30pm Eastern in Pittsburgh.

Can Dallas bounce back? I mentioned Friday that the Stars need to get their feet moving. They also have to decide how to defend Johan Franzen and Tomas Holmstrom in front of the net, because what they tried in Game One didn't exactly work very well.

Actually, it failed miserably.

Franzen and Holmstrom each scored goals from the front of the net in the Wings' Game One win. It's a pattern that's likely to continue.

For one, the league adjusted rules after the lockout, cracking down on how players were treated when they didn't have the puck. While Holmstrom and Franzen (and others around the league who like to camp at the top of the crease) still have to establish position, the way they are treated once they win that battle has changed.

Dallas defenseman Mattias Norstrom said he can't battle or wrestle his fellow Swedes, adding there are ways to get the job done against Franzen and Holmstrom.

"You try to get in front of them and turn away that shot instead of focusing on moving the guy," Norstrom said. "From Marty's standpoint, if we're standing there battling, now they have two guys instead of one in front of them. Not a good situation."

Dallas doesn't have the bodies to win those battles for position in front of goaltender Marty Turco, so they have to defend in front of them better. If you're going to camp in front of your goaltender, you have to keep the puck from getting to him.

I expect to see some adjustments made by the Stars, but the big area of needed improvement is in the execution of their defensive zone play.

Ticket sales in Detroit lag again. James Mirtle covered this Friday. Frankly, I wish I could get really hyper about "Hockeytown" not selling out games, but this story isn't really news. It happened last year, too.

My guess is Dallas will fill its rink to capacity when the series shifts to Game 3 in Texas, Pittsburgh has sold out every game this season and things in Philadelphia are starting to really heat up in terms of sales and TV viewers.

It makes you wonder just where "Hockeytown" fits in as an American hockey market these days, and if the team has priced its cash-strapped fans out of the building.

Here's a look at playoff ticket prices in Detroit. For the conference finals, the cheapest ticket is $70-75, which is down from $99 last season. Upper bowl tickets, like the one I bought for a game against Phoenix in January, go from $44 in the regular season to $90-100 in this round, while lower bowl seats range from $180 to $215.

Listen, I have a lot of respect for the history of the Red Wings franchise. I'm confident a large majority of their fans do, too. While I think the "Hockeytown" moniker is a bit ridiculous (I'm also admittedly biased, having lived in or near Minnesota for my whole life), I'm also not going to hold it over anyone's head on this one.

These prices are ridiculous. It's amazing and sad that they're actually down from last year. But they're not "down" enough. Michigan's economy is terrible right now, and it's unfair to expect even a large city like Detroit to fill a hockey arena when the prices are like this.

Hopefully, ownership in Detroit gets this message, and we don't see a repeat next year.

Today's example of YouTube's awesomeness. In honor of University of Minnesota junior Blake Wheeler apparently deciding to sign with the Phoenix Coyotes, I present one of the best college hockey goals you'll ever witness. This is Wheeler's game-winner in the championship game of the 2007 WCHA Final Five.

The Ice Sheet: Defense Optional originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 10 May 2008 08:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It Is So on Between Pittsburgh and Philly

Pat Lackey — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, General NHL, Flyers, Penguins, Eastern, NHL Fans, Stanley Cup

Before the second round of the playoffs, a Montreal fan adorned the Rocky statue in Habs' colors, the statue was quickly cleared by security, and that was that. Given the proximity of Pittsburgh and Philadephia and the diffusion of people going both ways across the state, things might be a little different in the Eastern Conference Finals. Penguins fans have been bombarding the Rocky statue with black and gold this week, but the Flyers' fans aren't taking it sitting down this week.

Already, a radio station in Philly has offered tickets to the first person willing to guard Rocky all week, while this craigslist ad has appeared, calling for the draping of a prominent Pittsburgh statue (presumed to be Willie Stargell, Roberto Clemente, or Art Rooney since the Shrine to Mario is yet to be built, but presumably in the offing) in orange.

This, friends, is what the playoffs are all about. We've got two fanbases here that are pretty much dropping everything else in their life, hellbent on proving their city superior, and we haven't even dropped a puck yet. This is going to be a crazy two weeks or so in Pennsylvania. It makes me more than a little sad that I moved away.

H/T to The Pensblog, who's all of this one, of course.

It Is So on Between Pittsburgh and Philly originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 09 May 2008 13:28:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Pens and Flyers Have Done This Before

Pat Lackey — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:03:00 EST

Filed under: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, General NHL, Penguins, Flames, Eastern, NHL Videos, Stanley Cup

The Penguins and Flyers kick off their playoff series tonight at seven, but it's not the first time these intrastate rivals have met in the playoffs. In fact, they've played three times in the post-season in the past and the Flyers have won all three series. What better way to get in the mood for round four than to check out some YouTubes of the Flyers and the Penguins playoff past?

1989 Patrick Division Finals
In 1989, Mario Lemieux and finally reached the playoffs in his fifth season. After a first round sweep over the Rangers, the Pens ran smack into the Flyers, who took them out in seven games. I'm honestly not sure what game in the series this brawl is from but it's awesome.

More after the jump.

1997 Eastern Conference Quaterfinals
'96 was Lemieux's first "last season" with the Pens and since his comeback ended with a mess of injuries and awful teams, the '96 playoffs were his true farewell tour. With the Penguins down 3-0 in their first round series to the Flyers, Mario faced the prospect of his last game in front of what was then the Civic Arena crowd. Late in the third period he got a breakaway and buried a shot on a helpless Garth Snow, giving what everyone in attendance assumed was one last glimpse at greatness. As a Penguin fan, this one still gives me goosebumps, even though the Penguins lost the series in five games and Mario came back a little more than three years later. You can check out the clip here.

2000 Eastern Conference Semifinals
There might not be a sicker sports related feeling in the world than staying up until the wee hours of the morning watching your favorite hockey team play a multiple overtime game, only to lose. Here, the 7th seeded Penguins lead the top-seeded Flyers two games to one in their second round series and only needed a goal to take a 3-1 stranglehold on things. Instead, overtime lasted a modern record 92 minutes (if you watch the clip below it looks like the players are skating in sand) until Primeau's wrister beat Ron Tugnutt in the fifth overtime. The Flyers didn't lose again during the series. Again, you can check out the clip here.

If you're not psyched for this series by now, it's never gonna happen.

The Pens and Flyers Have Done This Before originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 09 May 2008 11:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flyers Lose Timonen for East Finals

Eric McErlain — Thu, 08 May 2008 21:11:00 EST

Filed under: Philadelphia, General NHL, Flyers, Penguins, Stanley Cup

Here's some rough news for Philadelphia Flyers fans: Kimmo Timonen, the team's most consistent defender over the course of the season is projected to miss the entire Eastern Conference Finals because of a blood clot in his left ankle. Timonen apparently suffered the injury during Game Four of Philadelphia's series with Montreal, after getting struck by a shot from Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov.

Missing the Eastern Conference Final isn't even the worst case scenario. Doctors have apparently told Timonen that if the clot dissipates over the next two weeks, there's a small chance he could return to the ice this season, but that there are no guarantees.

If there was one player the Flyers could not afford to lost other than Mike Richards or Martin Biron, it would be Timonen. Besides quarterbacking one of the best power plays in hockey, Timonen has proven to be an underrated defender, punching way above his weight in the first round when along with Brad Richards he was assigned to shadow Washington's Alex Ovechkin. In 12 games this postseason, Timonen had six assists and was +5.

Here's what Philly GM Paul Holmgren had to say about the injury in a press conference today:

Q: This has to be a crushing blow to your team.

Holmgren: "It is what it is. We have to deal with it. It gives somebody else an opportunity to step up. Everybody else is going to have to do a bigger part and we will see what happens. Obviously you can't replace a player that does what Kimmo does for us. Somebody else is going to have to step up and the team is gong to have to do a better job of dealing with it."

Delaware County Times beat writer Anthony San Filippo seems to think a curse is involved:

Just when there was reason for hope that the Flyers could end a 33-year Stanley Cup drought, they are blindsided by a weird injury to their best player.

It's like they made a deal with the devil to win in 1974 and 1975, and that every time they came close from there to eternity they would be smacked with a deflating injury to a key player that would prevent any sipping from the Stanley Cup on Broad Street.

Hmmm? Let's see. After winning their second straight Cup in 1975, the Flyers returned to the Finals in 1976, 1980, 1985, 1987 and 1995. So, yes, while there is a 33-year Stanley Cup drought going in Philly, I think it's safe to say there are plenty of other cities who would have traded the sorts of thrills Flyers fans have enjoyed in exchange for the hands they've been dealt.

Apparently, this isn't the first time Timonen has had a blood clot. The Flyers say that either Ryan Parent or Jaroslav Modry will take his place in the lineup. At least one Flyers fan doesn't like the way it looks going forward.

Flyers Lose Timonen for East Finals originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 08 May 2008 21:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Conference Finals Roundtable

Eric McErlain — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:13:00 EST

Filed under: Dallas, Detroit, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, General NHL, Flyers, Penguins, Wings, Stars, Stanley Cup

Click here for more NHL playoff previews.

After what seems like forever, the NHL gets back on the ice tonight with the start of the Western Conference Finals tonight in Detroit as the Red Wings host the Dallas Stars. The Eastern Conference Final gets in gear tomorrow night for the battle of Pensylvania as the Penguins host the Flyers in Pittsburgh.

I'm not sure anyone is surprised that Detroit and Pittsburgh made it this far, though seeing Dallas and Philadelphia still alive this late in the game has to count as something of a shocker. As you'll see from our panel, while the discussion was nearly unanimous regarding predictions for both series, there were plenty of folks who were hedging their bets.

Eric McErlain: Let's kick it off out West where Dallas is the underdog -- just like their other 2 series -- against Detroit. The Wings have had plenty of time off after polishing off a denuded Colorado team, while it's safe to say that Dallas, despite playing almost two games on Sunday night, are probably going to be well rested going into Thursday night's game at Detroit. The Stars have gotten in done for two rounds now thanks to responsible play in all zones, a solid power play and superior netminding from Marty Turco. After watching them beat Anaheim and San Jose, it's hard to dismiss them as some sort of Spring fluke.

And Detroit, well, they're still Detroit. Still loaded up front and still stocked with plenty of role players who all seem to understand their roles rather precisely. The only potential weakness I see is with Chris Osgood, but I seem to recall plenty of people doubting him back in 1998. Granted, that's 10 years ago, but his numbers this year were plenty respectable, and when you're playing behind the rest of that team, it isn't like you have to make up for a lot of mistakes -- not with Nick Lidstrom running the defense and putting in almost 26 minutes per night.

Earl Sleek: I'm torn on this one. On the one hand, I've made a decision to stop being surprised by Dallas' success. I had them as a slight underdog to Anaheim and a serious underdog to San Jose, but it's made me look silly on both counts. On the other hand, I don't think there's any way that Dallas is taking the first two games in Detroit like they did in the first two rounds, and it will be interesting to see what happens if Dallas trails in the series.

On a game-within-the-game level, I'm really interested to see how the Red Wings attack the Stars' blueline. Both the Ducks and Sharks struggled with the ability to dump and retrieve the puck, as they had to deal with the ever-roving Turco as well as Dallas' ability to surround the puck and intercept passes. I don't think the Wings are as much a dump and chase team as the California squads, but the Stars will certainly be trying to force that as much as possible.

I'm thinking that special teams are a toss-up, or at least I'm not creative enough to decide who gets the advantage. Stars' penalty killing has been generally excellent, and their power play has been absolutely clutch, but the Red Wings certainly aren't any slouches.

In any case, I think this should be a solid series. Both teams have capable scorers throughout their top three lines, and both can counterattack quickly and effectively. I think Dallas' defense will have their hands full with Zetterberg and Datsyuk, who have more flash than any twosome on either Anaheim or San Jose, but I also think Detroit's going to have some issues with Morrow and Ribiero, who frankly has impressed the heck out of me through two rounds.

I think in the end the Red Wings take it, but if Dallas takes one of the first two games, it's going to be a close one. If Detroit has the home sweep, though, they're probably set. By my eye, the Stars have played better hockey these playoffs on the road than at home.

Bruce Ciskie: The key to this series is Dallas' ability to get pucks to the net. Detroit's defense is a bit on the, well, old side. They're experienced and playing generally awesome hockey right now, but they're not without their flaws (see: "Lilja, Andreas").

The Stars have to find ways to pressure Osgood and make him stop plenty of shots. Colorado couldn't consistently do this, and neither could Nashville.

The way to beat the Wings is to wear them down. That doesn't mean that you hit them into oblivion, because I'm not convinced an overly physical tone will work. I do think you have to make Detroit's defensemen skate. Force them to play in their zone, and you can get them to make mistakes.

Matt Saler: I'll be interested to see what the Stars do against a team that has it all together. I don't want to take anything away from them, but they beat the Ducks and Sharks when those teams weren't quite playing to their potential. The Wings were firing on all cylinders in the second round and there's no reason to believe they won't be in the third.

Detroit's forward depth will be tested by Ribeiro, Morrow, Richards, and Modano, but I think they should be in a good position to shut them down. To counter the Stars attack, they have two deserving Selke candidates that can be split up if necessary and a solid crop of defense-oriented forwards. Before Johan Franzen became a goal scoring machine, the team was working on molding him into a shutdown forward able to handle tasks like silencing Joe Thornton. Kris Draper, Dan Cleary, and Dallas Drake all have big bodies and are strong in their own end.

Bruce is definitely right about the Stars' need to pin the Wings in their own end. That was nearly Detroit's downfall in the first round as the Predators would put up two minute-long pressure shifts and wear the team out. They didn't have the same problem with Colorado, but whether that was a product of the Avs' injuries or the Wings having better defensive zone puck management, I can't be certain. I'd like to think it was the latter. The Wings will need to put on a puck possession clinic this round and it starts in their own end.

The Wings will have to be stellar in the breakout and transition games against Dallas. They'll need to get the puck up ice before the Stars can adjust and gain the zone without resorting to dump-and-chase hockey. The Stars' defense will make it difficult to cross the blueline on your average carry-in. If Detroit's puck moving defensemen can't get passes out to the forwards and spring them into the zone, they'll have a tough time getting going offensively.

The Predators showed that the Wings have the potential for composure problems when they scored so many of their goals in sequence. Detroit didn't let Colorado's goals rattle them as much, but the Stars would be smart to come out hard after they score.

James Mirtle: If I'm the Stars, my biggest worry is just how green the defence is there. Philippe Boucher's injured, Sergei Zubov missed a few months and doesn't quite look right, and the three of Nick Grossman, Mark Fistric and Matt Niskanen are going to play in this series.

A 23-year-old and two 21-year-olds on the blueline against the Red Wings? That's tough.

As Matt alluded to, the Stars' greatest asset is that three-shot at center (Ribeiro, Richards, Modano) which will create problems for every team. The Wings have problems of their own down the defensive depth chart, and that lack of depth could hurt either team.

Earl Sleek: Strangely, the Dallas defenseman I'm the most worried for is Matty Norstrom. I thought the youth on the blueline would be a problem for Dallas, but they seem to fit into the structure very well, especially guys like Trevor Daley. Norstrom was fine also, but that was largely against large bodies like Getzlaf and Thornton. If he draws the Zetterberg-Datsyuk line, I'm not sure Norstrom's assets will be terribly useful, and his weaknesses (mainly footspeed) could get exposed.

We'll see, but I think guys like Grossman and Fistric have looked very serviceable, and despite not having Zubov for round one or Boucher for round two, the Stars' defense didn't have too much trouble against the Ducks or Sharks. As has been pointed out, though, Anaheim and San Jose were the two worst offensive teams in the western bracket, so it definitely will be a tougher test.

Eric McErlain: All very interesting. One point nobody mentioned: The leading scorer among defensemen for this playoff -- Stephane Robidas of Dallas.

Ok, let's shift back to the East. As J.P. noted ahead of the entire hockey world, it's the Battle of Pennsylvania. Yes, Pittsburgh seems stacked beyond belief, and Marc-Andre Fleury seems to finally be fulfilling his promise as a top draft pick in net. But there's something about this Philly team I can't seem to shake. They always hang around and it seems like there's just no quit in them. As I've written before, the Philly Power Play is absolutely suffocating, their defense seems well balanced between speed, strength and grit and Martin Biron made all the saves he's had to since Game Seven against the Caps.

Does this one go to the distance?

James Mirtle: I'm going to pick it to.

They key for the Flyers is going to be getting a split in Pittsburgh. Getting into an 0-2 hole against a team with that much firepower, like the Rangers did, is too dangerous, and leaves you needing to win four of five to win the series.

But if things go back to Philadelphia at 1-1 or even 2-0 for the Flyers, that's where they want them. They've been tough to beat at home.

Biron's going to have to keep being terrific, too.

Bruce Ciskie: Can Pittsburgh go in the tough areas more consistently than Montreal did? If so, they have a real shot to crack the code of Biron. The Penguins strike me as being a little hungrier than Montreal looked, but how much of that was Philadelphia just sapping the will out of the Habs?

I want to see how Philadelphia's offense handles a goaltender who won't give them gaggles of soft goals.

Patrick Lackey: I think James is absolutely right about the first two games of the series. The Rangers definitely outplayed the Penguins for most of games 3-5 in their series, but it didn't matter because of the lead the Penguins had built up.

Honestly, I think this is going to be a really close series. Both teams are playing very well, both power plays should test the opposing goalie in ways that they haven't really been tested yet, and there's a lot of offensive skill and physicality on both sides.

I think the key questions that we should have answered early in the series are probably 1.) Is Philly's offensive attack really that good or was Carey Price simply that bad? and 2.) Is the Penguins penalty kill really that good or was New York's power play just that bad? In both cases, the answer is probably a bit of a compromise between the choices, but figuring out what applies from the early rounds and what was a factor of the opponents should go a long ways towards figuring out what kind of series this will be.

Kevin Schultz: I'm done picking against Dallas. I'm done picking against Philly as well as Osgood. All of them have made me look silly. As Mirtle said, home splits are going to be big in both series. Two wins in hand going back to either Dallas or Philly is going to be a killer obstacle for those teams.

Also a big key to both series: goaltending. All three Vezina finalists (Nabby, Brodeur, Lundqvist) have now been eliminated. Depending on who you ask, all four remaining keepers have serious doubts about them. All of these guys have question marks be it poor past experiences, lack of expericence or, in Ozzy's case, a whole bunch of doubters. I saw Osgood play a couple years on Long Island and the guy goes through spurts where he's the best in the league and spurts that make you want to strangle him. I think he's found his form and probably won't let up the rest of the way. Even if he does, he's got that Detroit D in front of him.

I'm taking Detroit and Pitt, but both series will likely go long. I'm also really curious to see how Pittsburgh matches up against the physical play of the Flyers. The physical play the Rangers thew at the Pens in Game Four might now be turned into an entire series of that type of play against Philly. Pens might be in a bit of trouble if that happens.

Eric McErlain: Predictions -- Who wins and in how many games?

Bruce Ciskie: I'm taking Detroit in seven and Pittsburgh in six. I don't feel awfully confident about either of those predictions.

James Mirtle: I hate to follow the crowd, but that's what I've got too. Detroit in six, Pittsburgh in seven.

I wouldn't be surprised at all to see one of the Stars or Flyers get in there, but I just can't figure out which.

Jon "J.P." Press: Stars in 7. Pens in 5.

Patrick Lackey: Pens in six, Stars in seven.

Like everyone else, I don't feel terribly sure about either of these picks. What I am sure of is Rule #1 of sports: whenever there's a final matchup that the media and public want to see and start talking up before the matchup is set, someone screws it up.

Jes Gölbez: Pens in 6 and Wings in 5.

Earl Sleek: Crosby in 6, Zetterberg in 6. Let the NHL have its dream.

Matt Saler: Wings in six, Pens in seven.

Patrick Lackey: Has anyone picked the Flyers? That makes me nervous.

Kevin Schultz: Gonna stick with what I got on BMR ... Pens and Wings in 7.

Eric McErlain: I'll close it out with Wings in six and Pens in Six, though like many of the others, I'd not exactly be surprised at the opposite outcome.

Conference Finals Roundtable originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 08 May 2008 16:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Ice Sheet: Hockey Returns

Bruce Ciskie — Thu, 08 May 2008 06:30:00 EST

Filed under: Dallas, Detroit, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, General NHL, Rangers, Flyers, Penguins, Wings, Stars, Stanley Cup

Every day from Monday to Saturday, The Ice Sheet will take a look at the biggest stories in the league that happened on the ice and elsewhere the night before.

Don't remind me that the offseason is quickly approaching. There will be many nights like Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

Here's hoping the NHL Network can find better "vintage games" than Devils-Flyers 2004 Game Five. Listen, I have nothing against that game, but it's hardly a "classic". It's going to be a long summer. Oh, and it's the NHL Network. Give me that four-overtime Avalanche-Panthers Cup clincher. I mean, Uwe Krupp rules, and he scored the game-winner.

Back on task, you need not worry about a lack of hockey anymore. The Ice Sheet is back, as the conference finals are set to get underway. We've already offered you previews of the East and West (read the East one, because the West was written by some idiot from Minnesota). You're invited to check them out.

As for other hockey news, there is some. We'll cover that, and offer some final words on the NHL's version of the "Final Four" after the jump.

Where does Jagr end up? Jaromir Jagr is a free agent this summer. Take note, because this has never happened before. Jagr knows it, and he is also likely aware that this is his last chance at a big-money contract. The Rangers may have been bounced in the second round with relative ease by Pittsburgh, but Jagr proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he can still play, and he has the desire to win.

For his part, Jagr says the Rangers are the first option for 2008-2009. He hinted that he's likely to return to Europe in two more years to fulfill a promise to his father. That means he will want to play for a team that has a real chance at the Cup. Do the Rangers qualify? They have a lot of money tied up in veteran forwards, and they are sorely in need of an upgrade on defense. Henrik Lundqvist is a great goaltender, but he can't do it alone, and he was too often left on an island against Pittsburgh. Either guys weren't getting back, or they would screen him when they did get back. New York will continue to be good, but they aren't a legitimate contender if they don't address their issues on defense.

Paul Maurice: You're fired. No surprise here. Maurice got the axe in Toronto after two years outside of the playoffs. One year is bad enough in Toronto, but a second year would get anyone fired up there, even if there wasn't a new GM coming. Colleague Jes Golbez makes a great point on his blog, saying that it's not like the Maple Leafs have been a well-oiled machine from the top down. Bad signings and bad trades crippled the roster, and while Maurice doesn't inspire confidence in his tactical abilities, he didn't have much of a shot with this team.

Make fun of the rabid Toronto fan base all you want, but they don't accept mediocrity. Then again, "mediocrity" would be a step up from what we saw much of this past season.

The Maple Leafs job reminds me of the Dallas Cowboys coaching position. The pressure is tremendous, and the chances of satisfying a significant percentage of the fans, along with ownership, are usually not very high.

What you may have missed. The NHL hasn't been doing much, but FanHouse has been busy. Here's a quick sample of what you may have missed since that four-overtime game Sunday night.

Leafs Give Maurice the Boot
John Tavares Fires Agent, Hires Mommy
Ron Wilson May Need Some Lessons on Motivation in the Workplace
Sabres Sign Boston College Star Gerbe
Detroit's "Mule" Pulls a Big Load
FanHouse Roundtable: NHL Playoff Officiating
America, Prepare to Be Blinded by Don Cherry
Hockeysfuture Purchased by CraveOnline

Final thoughts: Conference finals. If you're looking for more great material on these series, check out James Mirtle, who interviewed bloggers from the final teams, and Earl Sleek, who has some great stuff on the Dallas-Detroit series.

I already opined on Dallas-Detroit, and I like the Wings in a close shave. In the East, I feel the series will come down to the play of Marc-Andre Fleury. He's been great so far, but the Flyers have made two goalies (Huet and Price) look bad so far in the playoffs, and they'd love to do the same to the Pennsylvania rival goaltender. If Fleury plays well, can he frustrate a team that's scored a few softies so far, or will the Flyers bear down and beat him anyway? I like Pittsburgh, but I don't think it will be anything close to a cakewalk. It should easily be tougher than either of Pittsburgh's first two series.

Random YouTube, or maybe not Random at all. It's been 20 years since Jim Schoenfeld dropped a tirade for the ages on Don Koharski. In fact, May 8 is the 20th anniversary of the controversial one-game suspension handed down to Schoenfeld.

I'm almost embarrassed to state that Koharski's officiating career easily outlasted Schoenfeld's NHL coaching career, which ended in 1999. And he still stinks after all these years.

Let's all have a doughnut in honor of this monumental anniversary.

The Ice Sheet: Hockey Returns originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 08 May 2008 06:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHL East Finals Preview: Penguins vs. Flyers

Pat Lackey — Wed, 07 May 2008 07:30:00 EST

Filed under: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, General NHL, Flyers, Penguins, Eastern, Stanley Cup

Click here for more NHL playoff previews.

Holy cow. The Penguins and the Flyers are playing in the Eastern Conference Finals. If you live or have lived in Pennsylvania, you understand what a big deal this is. The players from these teams don't like each other. The fans of these two teams despise each other. There's a ton of civic pride on the line here. This is everything fans look for in a playoff series.

But to make this series all about the rivalry doesn't give these two teams the respect they deserve. The Penguins have played great hockey since January. The Flyers have been on fire since around the trade deadline, when everyone had left them for dead. They both disposed of their very talented second round opponents with surprising ease. There's really no doubt left that these two teams are the best teams in the Eastern Conference right now. The rivalry only heightens the intensity.

Offense: The temptation here is to say, "Malkin, Hossa, Crosby," and just move along. That completely short- changes the Flyers forwards, who have been on fire, and the fact that the Flyers actually outscored the Pens this year. Western PA native RJ Umberger, who always kills the Penguins, is on another planet right now. Mike Richards lives and breathes to play against Sidney Crosby. Daniel Briere has been all over the ice in the playoffs. I swear that every time I watch the Flyers play, Scottie Upshall's scoring a big goal. The problem for the Flyers, in terms of the offensive matchup, is that the Pens have upped their game just as much in the playoffs. Almost every single time the Pens have needed a goal, Evgeni Malkin's stepped up. Marian Hossa's firing good shots left and right, finding the net four times in five games against the Rangers, including the OT series winner in Game 5. Sidney Crosby didn't score a goal against the Rangers, but he had two three-assist games and was generally responsible for all of the good looks that Hossa got. While Carey Price played terribly against the Flyers, the Penguins made Henrik Lundqvist look bad.This category is still Advantage: Penguins, but it's closer than you think.

Defense: You'll hear a lot about how the Flyers are a bigger, meaner team than the Penguins, but it was the Pens that allowed fewer goals this year. While Martin Biron seemed like he was single-handedly keeping the Canadiens down, the Penguins' defense held the Rangers to some incredibly long shotless stretches and the tandem of Hal Gill and Rob Scuderi made Jaromir Jagr almost invisible in the games played in the Mellon Arena. To the Flyers' credit, they did a great job of shutting down the Canadiens' vaunted power play in the Eastern Semis and they made Ovechkin disappear between Games 1 and 5 in the first round, and I'm not even sure if Kovalev played against them after Game 1. The problem is that Timonen and Coburn can only play against one of the Pens' top two lines, unless they split them up, whereas the Pens' top two pairings (however Therrien chooses to align them) should match up fairly well with the Flyers top two lines. Advantage: Penguins

Goaltending: One of these two goaltenders is probably turning into a pumpkin in this series and there's a good chance it's going to cost his team the series. Marc-Andre Fleury leads the universe in just about every tangible goaltending stat during these playoffs while Martin Biron was absolutely silly against the Habs. Entering the playoffs, Biron and Fleury were two of the biggest goaltending questions among contenders, right behind Jose Theodore and Carey Price. Theodore and Price are both still in a daze after being de-pantsed in the second round. I'd be absolutely shocked if both of these guys stayed hot through this series. Who's more likely to suffer the meltdown? Hard to say. Advantage: Even

Other things to keep in mind: Most Penguins' fans are slow to admit this, but Michel Therrien has done a great job in the playoffs. He shuffled his defensive pairings to put Scuderi and Gill on the Jagr line and they mostly shut the line down in each of the three games that Therrien had the last switch. Special teams will certainly play a role in this series as both teams looked awesome on both the power play and penalty kill in the second round, but that could just as easily be due to Montreal and New York's power plays units taking an early vacation. Still, that Crosby-Malkin-Hossa-Sykora/Malone-Gonchar line that the Pens roll out as their top power play unit is something to see. I mentioned this once, but it's worth mentioning again: RJ Umberger kills the Penguins. He had 5 of his 13 goals during the regular season against the Pens and he had eight in five games against the Habs. I can't mention him enough.

Prediction: These breakdowns are a funny thing because if you were just counting up ticks in the "advantage" column, you'd think this series would be a romp for the Penguins. There's certainly no questioning that they're the more talented team. And still, it would be insane to think that the Flyers won't make a run at them after seeing them dispense of Montreal so quickly. These Flyers aren't the Flyers of old because they really have a ton of talent and the ability to put a big number on the scoreboard in a hurry (they did just that against the Penguins in December in an 8-2 win over the Penguins). Still, they'd be poorly served to try and beat the Penguins that way. And saying that they aren't the Flyers of old isn't to say that they're not a big, physical team, because they certainly are. The thing is, the Penguins are, too. The Rangers series was just the type of series the Penguins used to watch slip away in the middle and late 90s, with the all flash but no defense Lemieux and Jagr teams. This Penguin team is more than all offense. They've played some great defense this month and they're certainly not afraid to mix it up with the other team and get their hands dirty. In the end, that might be more important in this series than all the offensive firepower in the world. Penguins in six.

NHL East Finals Preview: Penguins vs. Flyers originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 07 May 2008 07:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flyers Stop Habs, Advance to Eastern Conference Finals

Pat Lackey — Sun, 04 May 2008 00:51:00 EST

Filed under: Philadelphia, General NHL, Flyers, Canadiens, Eastern, Stanley Cup

Before the Montreal/Philadelphia series started, I said that I thought that Philadelphia matched up well with the Habs. In light of their 6-4 victory tonight and their 4-1 series win, I suppose I was right, though this wasn't really what I had in mind at all. What I meant was that I expected the Flyers, a team that was one loss away from having the eight seed, would give the top-seeded Canadiens a battle better than or equal to what the Bruins gave them.

What ended up happening was Flyer dominance from start to finish in the series, save a few minutes at the end an in overtime of Game 1. In the Game 5 clincher, Montreal flew out to a 3-1 lead that lasted past the halfway point of the game, when the Flyers proceeded to score three goals in three minutes to regain their chokehold on the game and the series. The Habs managed to tie, but couldn't stop Scottie Upshall's game winner shortly after the four minute mark.

The Flyers now get to sit back and watch their two division rivals battle it out in the other Eastern semi. They certainly seem to be playing as well now as they were during the early part of the season and neither the Pens nor the Rangers will be happy to see them waiting for them in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Flyers Stop Habs, Advance to Eastern Conference Finals originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sun, 04 May 2008 00:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Ice Sheet: Habs on Brink

Bruce Ciskie — Thu, 01 May 2008 06:30:00 EST

Filed under: Dallas, New York, Philadelphia, General NHL, Flyers, Canadiens, Stars, Sharks, Stanley Cup

Every day from Monday to Saturday, The Ice Sheet will take a look at the biggest stories in the league that happened on the ice and elsewhere the night before.

Guy Carbonneau took an incredible risk Wednesday night.

It was admittedly a risk, even though I felt like it was necessary. Carey Price struggled, and it looked like the confidence was gradually seeping from him. Carbonneau was given almost no choice. Yes, Price was incredible down the stretch after Cristobal Huet was traded to Washington. But he looked to be slipping, and Montreal needed a win Wednesday to keep alive realistic hopes of winning this series.

With that in mind, Carbonneau went with fellow youngster Jaroslav Halak, who was asked to make just two third-period saves in relief of Price in Game Three.

The Canadiens' hopes are dwindling quickly. A power-play goal by Daniel Briere late in the third period nullified a late Montreal comeback, as the badly-outshot Flyers rode the goaltending of Martin Biron to a 4-2 win over Montreal and a 3-1 series lead.

The brilliant WhoWins website reports a probability of over 90 percent that a team up 3-1 in a best-of-seven will win the series. The percentage only falls to 87.5 percent when the team up 3-1 has to play Game Five on the road, as Philadelphia does.

This wasn't Halak's fault, however, as the Canadiens' netminder played well, with his highlight coming as he stopped an early breakaway by Jeff Carter. He was just outplayed by Biron, who is out of his head right now and carrying his team. He was also undone by another lackluster effort from Montreal's forwards. Alex Kovalev was practically a no-show, with Tomas Plekanec, the Kostitsyn brothers, Saku Koivu, Chris Higgins, and others taking turns making bad decisions with the puck.

Philadelphia isn't necessarily as talented as Montreal, but they're proving the age-old thought in hockey that "will beats skill". The Flyers have more will in their top line than Montreal's entire roster has shown so far.

(Still to come: The Stars try to close out ~~Ron Wilson~~ San Jose, Sean Avery's season is over, his teammates should soon follow, and we'll take a random look into the wonderful world of YouTube)

Sharks stay alive. Another physical game Wednesday night, which was only slightly surprising. Yes, these are the playoffs. Yes, San Jose's season was on the line. However, Game Three was noticeably hard-hitting, and it wasn't unreasonable to suggest that playing on back-to-back nights would slow the teams down a bit.

It didn't. Both teams played with great intensity, and both teams played well defensively. San Jose had a superb third period in a 2-1 victory that forces Game Five Friday in San Jose. Ron Wilson lives to coach another day.

Early on, it didn't look good for the Sharks. They had three power plays in the first period, but generated next to nothing. Then, Devin Setoguchi set up Jere Lehtinen with a great centering pass in the second period for the game's first goal. Of course, Setoguchi isn't likely to have done that on purpose, being that he plays for San Jose while Lehtinen is a longtime Star. Later, Patrick Marleau scored a short-handed goal for the second straight night, and a Milan Michalek power-play goal in the third gave San Jose a 2-1 lead.

The Sharks weren't exactly free-flowing on offense, and Dallas goalie Marty Turco still made some great saves. If the Sharks are to continue this comeback effort, they're going to need more out of their front-line players five-on-five. Marleau has the two shorties in the two games in Dallas, but the top line did nothing even-strength. And with how these games are being officiated, you know the vast majority of the 60 minutes will be played even-strength.

Avery update. Not much new to report. Eric McErlain and Pat Lackey did an outstanding job Wednesday, so there's no point in me laying any more shots in at the New York Daily News for screwing up the initial report. I'm glad to hear Avery will be okay and he will make a full recovery.

Meanwhile, Rangers coach Tom Renney did his part later in the day Wednesday to put to bed the "rushed to hospital at 3am" report the Daily News started this whole thing with.

"Our medical people were quick to react to that and did a great job. On my way home I knew that he was on his way to the hospital, and I got home before 3 a.m."

A source close to Avery told me Wednesday that he was resting comfortably and watching television in his hospital bed. It was early evening that Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur unexpectedly showed up. He stood between Avery and the television and started waving his arms back and forth.

(Sorry. On the bright side, I've now fulfilled the "one bad joke per month" provision in my FanHouse contract.)

Rangers, Avalanche on the brink. Avery's teammates could soon join him in the whole "season's over" thing. The Rangers face Pittsburgh at the Garden (7pm ET, Versus), trying to hold off elimination and get on the board in the series. The Rangers outshot and probably outplayed Pittsburgh in Game Three, but the opportunistic Penguins found a way to win by two goals.

New York isn't the only team down 3-0 trying to keep the season alive Thursday. Colorado will host Detroit (10pm ET, Versus) with the back against the wall. The Avalanche gave a valiant effort against Detroit Tuesday, but it wasn't enough to overcome the obviously superior Red Wings. By the way, I know not many of you have noticed, but Chris Osgood is 5-0 as the starting goalie for Detroit. Just sayin'.

We have two teams trying to avoid elimination. For the sake of entertainment for all of us who don't want to watch the NBA Playoffs, let's hope at least one of them wins Thursday.

Random YouTube Time! Obviously, we were all concerned for a time Wednesday about the health of Sean Avery. It's not the first time we've been scared for his well-being. This one goes all the way back to his time with the Los Angeles Kings.

The Ice Sheet: Habs on Brink originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 01 May 2008 06:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Ice Sheet: Have You Seen Carey Price?

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:30:00 EST

Filed under: Denver, Detroit, Philadelphia, General NHL, Flyers, Canadiens, Wings, Avalanche, NHL Videos, Stanley Cup

Every day from Monday to Saturday, The Ice Sheet will take a look at the biggest stories in the league that happened on the ice and elsewhere the night before.

Guy Carbonneau can't be happy. It's one thing to lose because your opponent played a strong game and earned the victory.

It's another to lose because you bring practically zero intensity to the table, you got overrun over about a 15-minute stretch, gave up two awfully soft goals, and your team showed up too late to do enough.

That was the case Monday night in Philadelphia, where the Flyers survived a late charge by Montreal to take a 3-2 win, along with a 2-1 series lead. All Much of Montreal's troubles can be traced to the second-period collapse of goaltender Carey Price, who looks lost and confused just often enough to overcome his immense skill and fundamentals.

Scottie Upshall's second-period goal broke the ice, and it was a bad sign. It was a shot where Price was screened, but still should have made the save. Not the softest goal we've seen in these playoffs, but when your team is anemic offensively, and the opposing goalie is absolutely on his game, it's not a goal you can afford to let in.

Oh, but it would get worse for the youngster.

(Still to come: How the stupidity of Derian Hatcher let Montreal back in the game, three teams have their backs to the wall Tuesday night, a Forsberg groin update, and a YouTube for everyone)

The second goal was worse. It was a very poor power-play sequence for Montreal, as they were getting throughly outworked by the short-handed hosts. Price made a save on R.J. Umberger, and tried to keep the puck in play. While doing that, he practically handed the puck over to Umberger. After Montreal tried to push it up the ice, Mike Richards got it back and crossed the blue line. As he skated towards the high slot, he flipped a wrist shot low to Price's glove side, and it inexplicably got through for a 2-0 lead.

Carbonneau would have been right to pull Price there, not only for Price's mental health but to perhaps jump-start his lifeless skaters. Instead, Price stayed in, and an Umberger rebound late in the period gave them a 3-0 lead that would - after some drama - prove insurmountable. That Umberger's goal was the game-winner may lead to some second-guessing in Quebec, as there was not much reason to leave an obviously struggling Price in the game past the second goal.

Price has stopped precisely 28 of the last 35 shots he's faced, a save percentage of .800. Does Jaroslav Halak get a shot in Game Four? Maybe, but I don't think it's the right move. Price is the guy who got you this far, and like any great goaltender (or football quarterback or baseball relief pitcher, if you want comparisons from other sports), he's going through a rough patch. A benching right now (for more than a period) could be mentally disastrous.

Montreal - to their credit - did make things interesting. Hatcher took a really bad boarding major penalty, as he cheap-shotted Francis Bouillon of Montreal into the boards. A garbage hit by a guy we've come to expect it from who should know better. The Canadiens scored twice in the power play to make it 3-2, and they outshot Philadelphia 17-2 in the third period.

Moving forward, Montreal has to find a way to consistently match Philadelphia's intensity. The passing is off because of the Flyers' ferocious forecheck pressure. When Montreal's been consistent with their work ethic, they've controlled the puck and gotten chances (the third period Monday is a good example, but it was too late). But Philadelphia's worked harder than Montreal so far, and they've deserved a 2-1 series lead.

Moreover, the Canadiens' power play was almost wholly snuffed out for two periods Monday night by one of the better efforts you'll ever see by a group of penalty killers. Montreal had two power play chances in the second period, and the Flyers had the better of the scoring chances on both of them. It's great for Philadelphia, but ask any coach, and they'll tell you it drives them crazy to see the power play get outworked. It's unacceptable, no matter how much credit you want to give the opponent.

Montreal can take some solace in how well they played in the third period. They got Philadelphia back on their heels and did some real good things.

Backs against the wall. There are three games Tuesday night. In all three series, there is a team down 2-0 that will be desperate to get on the board. After all, we all know the history of teams that are down 3-0 in a series. In Dallas, the Sharks face perhaps the tallest task. Not only are they down 2-0, but they play the next two games on the road. The odds aren't good, no matter how well San Jose played on the road this season. The one good thing for them is that they played better against Calgary when facing adversity. They're really good, and it doesn't appear that they like to do it the easy way.

Meanwhile, the New York Rangers return home Tuesday night to host Pittsburgh. I'm sure they're already sick of being reminded of how this series has turned. New York led 3-0 in the second period of Game One. Since that point, they've been outscored 7-1 by Pittsburgh, including a 2-0 Game Two shutout. Remember, these Rangers trailed Buffalo 2-0 in the East semifinals last year before rallying to tie the series. A Chris Drury goal in the final ten seconds of Game Five forced overtime, and Buffalo would win that game before taking Game Six at the Garden. The Rangers hope to take advantage of home ice again this year.

Forsberg update. The groin of Peter Forsberg has been an issue since his comeback. It is again now. The Avalanche don't know if they'll have him in Game Three, but they need him. Colorado trails 2-0 in the series after a 5-1 shellacking in Game Two Saturday. A Tuesday win is a must.

If Forsberg can at all go, the Avs need to let him. There is no more important game that they will play, so it's useless saving him for later. Without a win Tuesday, there won't be a later. However, if Forsberg is risking any kind of serious damage, it's obviously silly to throw him out there.

At this point, there is optimism that Forsberg will play. But he's so fragile that he could reinjure himself putting his shoes on to go to the rink Tuesday morning, and no one would bat an eye.

Tuesday's schedule. To be different, all times are Central. The rest of you can do the math. Enjoy.

Pittsburgh at N.Y. Rangers, 6pm (Versus) - Pittsburgh leads series 2-0
San Jose at Dallas, 6:30pm - Dallas leads series 2-0
Detroit at Colorado, 9pm - Detroit leads series 2-0

YouTube for everyone. This is especially for all the casual fans out there. We have many new fans for the playoffs (we hope). Please take less than 90 seconds to get a better understanding of the finer points of hockey.

The Ice Sheet: Have You Seen Carey Price? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canadiens Fans Invade Philadelphia

Pat Lackey — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:22:00 EST

Filed under: Philadelphia, General NHL, Flyers, Canadiens, Eastern, NHL Fans, NHL Videos, Stanley Cup

Although the Penguins and Rangers are getting all the ink, the Canadiens and Flyers are right in the middle of a heated series that's worth every bit as much attention as the other Eastern Conference semi. The teams split the first two games in Montreal and the heated matches saw Mike Richards get a beer dumped on his head and Tom Kostopolous level Kimmo Timonen with a sucker-punch that he somehow wasn't suspended for. Flyers' fans weren't happy about either incident, but now the Habs' fans have gone too far: they've dressed the famous statue of Rocky Balboa in blue and red.
The hat-tip on the video goes to Enrico at The 700 Level. And the Flyers? Well, they seem to be responding well, as Scotty Upshall just gave them a 1-0 lead in Game 3 while I was typing this post up.

Canadiens Fans Invade Philadelphia originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boreanaz and Hockey Blogger Blowback

Eric McErlain — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:48:00 EST

Filed under: Philadelphia, General NHL, Flyers, NHL Fans

A couple of months back when Oprah Winfrey endorsed Senator Barack Obama for President, she never dreamed that a significant number of her fans would turn on her for taking sides in a political fight.

Might the same danger exist in hockey fandom? Recently uncovered evidence suggests that the risk exists, and that NHL's celebrity bloggers brought in specifically to write during the Stanley Cup Playoffs could be in the crosshairs.

The man in question: Actor, Philadelphia Flyers fan and NHL celebrity blogger, David Boreanaz. Let's go to HF Boards for the latest where HF Boards member Octopi is holding court:

I used to like Boreanaz in his acting roles, but I've developed an angry loathing towards him ever since I found out he was a Flyers fan. Frankly I'd prefer finding out he was actually the blood sucking vampire from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel ...

Sounds like this might cost him a shot at a couple of choice roles over at the Lifetime Movie Network. Stay tuned!

Boreanaz and Hockey Blogger Blowback originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Ice Sheet: Lucky Game Sevens

Earl Sleek — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Philadelphia, Washington, DC, General NHL, Flyers, Capitals, Flames, Sharks, Stanley Cup

Every day from Monday to Saturday, The Ice Sheet will take a look at the biggest stories in the league that happened on the ice and elsewhere the night before.

Well, I was going to recap the thrilling third period heroics of Alexander Ovechkin in Game Six between the Caps and Flyers, but Eric's got that one more than covered. I was also going to talk about Montreal's dominant Game Seven victory over the pesky Bruins, but Pat already told that story. Go ahead and read them; they've done a better job than I was going to do.

Instead, for today's Ice Sheet I'll offer a preview for tonight's games, the importance of which can be expressed with the two most exciting words in hockey: Game Seven. For a hockey fan, there's nothing like the agonizing thrill of the do-or-die Game Seven, when two teams go head to head with their seasons squarely on the line. It's sixty minutes (and maybe more) where destinies collide, where every play matters, and even the bit player can forever earn a place in hockey lore.

Tonight the NHL features two Game Sevens, one in each of the conferences to close out the first round. First the Washington Capitals will host the Philadelphia Flyers at 7 pm, and then the San Jose Sharks will host the Calgary Flames at 10 pm. These games will not only be huge for fans of these four teams, but thanks to the league's playoff re-seeding, all remaining teams will be watching with interest to see who their next opponent will be.

(After the break, a quick look at each series thus far, a run-through of round two scenarios, and a glimpse from last year of Game Seven hysteria.)

Capitals vs. Flyers

Quck summary: the Flyers took three of the first four games againt the Caps, including a double-OT thriller in Game Four, before Washington took both Games Five and Six to even the series.

Key matchup: Alexander Ovechkin vs. Marty Biron. Biron and the Flyers have had their hands full containing AO, and they haven't performed too poorly; they did make the 65-goal man go 10 days between goals. Still, Ovechkin's picked his moments. All three of his goals were third period goals, and two of them were game winners. If the Flyers can't contain Ovechkin tonight, I don't like their chances.

Eastern Conference Scenarios:

If the Capitals win: (1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (5) NY Rangers; (2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (3) Washington Capitals.

If the Flyers win: (1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (6) Philadelphia Flyers; (2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (5) NY Rangers.

Sharks vs. Flames

Quick summary: the Sharks and Flames have been fighting a see-saw battle. They split two games in San Jose, then split two games in Calgary, then each won at home in Game Five and Six. Both teams have had comeback wins and shutout wins, and there's no telling what leads are safe.

Key matchup: Joe Thornton vs. Jarome Iginla. Both these superstar forwards are capable of jumpstarting offense, but they carry different postseason reputations. Iggy has already proven himself a clutch playoff performer, while Jumbo Joe still has his doubters. Tonight is a huge opportunity for Joe to quiet the doubters, but he'll likely need to outperform Iginla to do so.

Western Conference Scenarios:

If the Sharks win: (1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (6) Colorado Avalanche; (2) San Jose Sharks vs. (5) Dallas Stars.

If the Flames win: (1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (7) Calgary Flames; (5) Dallas Stars vs. (6) Colorado Avalanche.

My contractual YouTube embed: This postseason is a treat for hockey fans, with three Game Sevens already slated in the first round. Last year, there was only one Game Seven in the entire postseason, when Vancouver hosted Dallas. I picked this particular clip not because of its picture or sound quality (neither are very good), but rather for its raw bliss. It is emotion that can only stem from a Game Seven victory, and I'm looking forward to some more fan celebration tonight.

The Ice Sheet: Lucky Game Sevens originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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