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Broad Street Bull

Are Flyers as good as Cup champs?

The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull

25 comments

Are Flyers as good as Cup champs?

POSTED: Friday, February 4, 2011, 9:27 AM

Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer

With Thursday’s 3-2 win over Nashville, The Flyers equaled the third-best 52-game record in their history, tying the marks of the 1973-74 and 1974-75 teams.

The latter two teams won the Stanley Cup.

Which, on a day after Bobby Clarke was honored, begs the question, is this year’s team as good as those Cup champs?

Well, I’d say this year’s team is deeper on offense and defense, but the Cups champs get a big edge because of all-world goalie Bernie Parent.

The Cup champs also had much more consistent special teams.

So overall, I’d give the edge to the Cup champs.

For now.

What’s your take on it? (Hopefully, the comments section has been fixed.)

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25 comments

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Comments (25)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:13 AM, 02/04/2011

Ask again in June.

— Crayonic

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:33 AM, 02/04/2011

werent they better in the 79-80 season

— phillyfan27

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:54 AM, 02/04/2011

keep jinxing it. just let the boys play and enjoy the ride. too many people getting caught up in points, trophies, and nonsense. it's still waayy too early. we've had god teams flame out too many times before winning the cup.

— DennyP

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:05 AM, 02/04/2011

Players today skate right by players of the mid 70's. That and the addition of the system play would make it very difficult to compare era's, as always.

— Flyers2001

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:07 PM, 02/04/2011

So much has changed in hockey over the past 3 decades; what's the point of making a comparison?

— mccarte1

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:09 PM, 02/04/2011

We'll see...injuries are huge and I am still not convinced that our goaltending is good enough.

— tholler1

1 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:40 PM, 02/04/2011

Why do people continue to think that goaltending is the end all and be all of winning a Cup? We had the top ranked goalie in the playoffs last year and we lost the Cup. Niemi was HORRIBLE and the Blackhawks won the Cup. Where were all those $5mil and $6mil goalies last year in June and May? Mostly playing golf. The era of the high priced elite goalie could well be over.

— snipesmorris

1 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:33 PM, 02/04/2011

Are they good enough to win the cup? Sure they are, but they still have to win 16 games in the NHL playoffs, maybe the toughest thing to do in all of sports.

— sla6yer

Comment removed.

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:39 PM, 02/04/2011

Anyone else worried about entering the playoffs with a career backup or a rookie in net? I am. Deepest Offense. Deepest defense, don't mean squat, we learn that every year that a hot goalie is the key.

— hititwheretheyaint

1 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:04 PM, 02/04/2011

I'm not. A rookie back up goaltender hoisted the Cup last year. Leighton had zero playoff experience and he was brilliant until the Finals, and even with the Finals he finished first or second in save percentage and GAA for goalies in the playoffs. Who the hell knows who will get hot in the playoffs--it could be anyone, rookie, career back-up, etc.

I disagree about the deepest defense not meaning squat--it means everything. Our 3rd pair was HORRIBLE last year, and our first two pairs ran out of gas by the Finals as a result. That is why we lost, plain and simple, and that is why Homer prioritized upgrading the D above all else. When your 3rd pair is leading the entire league in +/-, you can pretty much put anyone in net and have a good chance at winning, as has been the case all season for the Flyers.

— snipesmorris

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:59 PM, 02/04/2011

The answer is No. This is not a cup winning team just yet. They cannot beat a Tampa Bay team which is very much like Chicago. The Flyers have too many breakdowns in their own end. Goaltending is suspect and I won't put it all on Bob. Not fair to him. Homer...Bring in a cup winning goalie and a seasoned 2-way winger and maybe, this team can compete with the Bolts and Hawks.

— rbecker1963

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:17 PM, 02/04/2011

Why do we need "a Cup winning" goaltender? Where were the Cup winning goaltenders deep into the playoffs last year? I remember a bunch of rookies, unprovens, back-ups, and career failures. What we need is a HOT goaltender, and from my view, our guys are just as likely to get hot as the next team's netminders.

— snipesmorris

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:23 PM, 02/06/2011

Do you really think the Flyers are not as good as Tampa? Yes, the Lightning outplayed them first game after all-star game but I would bet the house on the true Flyers team showing up on the 15th. Tampa is not as deep nor do they have as good defense or goaltending as Flyers. Philadelphia always seems to look bad against teams they don't take seriously. They will take Tampa seriously now.

— jlmfl