Can the Flyers stop Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby?
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Can the Flyers stop Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby?
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
PITTSBURGH _ Stopping the Penguins’ Sidney Crosby _ and his sizzling line _ will be No. 1 on the Flyers’ priority list on Wednesday when the teams meet in Pittsburgh at 7:30 p.m.
Forget that Crosby hasn’t scored against the Flyers in the last three meetings, including two in the post-season.
The 25-year-old superstar is a certified Flyers killer.
"It's a big rivalry, so it brings out the best in both teams," Crosby said after the Penguins' morning skate on Wednesday. "It's a game everyone expects to be intense and be at their best. Everyone seems to get up for these games a little more."
Remember Crosby’s comments about the Flyers that went viral during last year’s playoffs?
In Game 3 of the conference quarterfinals, the Flyers’ Jake Voracek went to pick up his glove after it feel to the ice during a scrum. Crosby got there first and knocked the glove away with his stick.
Why?
“I don't like him,” Crosby said.
Any particular reason?
"Because I don't like him. I don't like any guy on their team," he replied through clenched teeth.
Well, he actually LOVES playing against the Flyers, based on statistics.
In his career, including the playoffs, Crosby has 89 points in 57 games against the team he doesn’t like.
In 20 career home games against the Flyers, Crosby has 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists).
This year, Crosby is second in the NHL with 24 points. The line of Crosby, Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis combined for eight points (3-5) and was plus-8 in their last game, a 4-3 win over Buffalo on Sunday. The line has combined for 45 points in their last 11 games (4.09 per game).
The Flyers have a hot line of their own. Claude Giroux, Matt Read and Voracek combined for 10 points (three goals, seven assists) and a plus-9 rating in their 7-0 romp over the Islanders on Monday afternoon.
It will be interesting to see how much time the two lines spend against each other Wednesday.
The Flyers are trying to end their six-game road trip with a 3-3 record.
The Penguins will be “a really good test for us,” Flyers forward Ruslan Fedotenko said. “But we need to think about OUR game and how we play. If we are ready to play and play our best, we have a really good chance there.”
Defenseman Kimmo Timonen said tonight's game will be a "measurement" in how far the Flyers have come.
Said coach Peter Laviolette: "All the games are important. They're not awarding four points or eight points tonight because it's the Penguins and Flyers. But certainly through the course of time, rivalries build up and they bring that added flavor to it."
Flyers winger Wayne Simmonds said it's "desperation time" for his team.
"We've put ourselves behind the eight ball and we have to get every win as possible," he said.
Simmonds, who is in his second year with the Flyers after being acquired from the Kings, loves the rivalry with the Penguins.
"It's more intense than anything I had in the Western Conference," he said. "Anaheim was our biggest rivalry when I played with L.A. But last year, when I stepped on the ice, it felt like both teams wanted to take each others' heads off. It definitely makes for exciting hockey for the fans, and as a player, these are the type of games that I like to play in. I can't wait to get it started tonight."
Goalie matchup. Ilya Bryzgalov (7-7-1, 2.42, .911) will face the Pens' Tomas Vokoun (3-2, 2.27, .918).
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
Funny how people claim G is the best player in the league. He'd be a third line center in Pittsburgh.— Sidney Crosby- Funny how people claim Sid is the best player in the league. He'd be a third line center in Philadelphia.
- Were you proud of yourself in last years playoff series Sid? I especially was entertained by your skating around and starting skirmishes, only to skate away and have another player have to defend you. The big kicker was watching you attempt to fight G, Adams had to come save you....then Hartnell fought Adams and Adams PULLED HIS HAIR! Hilarious. Never saw another hockey fight when a player had to pull hair. Neal running around elbowing players like an idiot. What a team full of tools. G destroyed Sid in that series last year. — cdedrick05
- Letang fought Kimmo Timmonen too? Hah. What a bunch of total deuchebagz
— cdedrick05 - LOL at first two comments.— Breaking Bad
- You can blather all the stats you want, but none of that matters. What matters is what the Flyers do when the puck drops tonight at 7:30 (give or take 5 minutes).— ena1977
- Sad and pathetic how the first person to comment on a Philadelphia Flyers article is a Pittsburgh fan. Sad and pathetic. Gotta love dooshbags behind a keyboard. "Crosby said through clenched teeth." What kind of "Captain" uses words like that?! "I don't like him!' WAAAAHHHHHH! I don't like him, waaaahhhhhh! That sums up that team. Their captain is a cry baby, Matt Cooke is the dirtiest player to ever skate in the NHL and their goalie's name is "flower." Losers.Oh and Syd, our "third line center" was second in scoring last year and missed a month of the season. Just sayin'....— girouxforpresident
- It's not sad and pathetic to get different view points on topics people like. It's also great to point out when you homers are wrong, your center was third in the league in scoring behind Malkin and Stamkos. A month of the season? Giroux played in 77 games. In what month did the Flyers play just five games? Malkin played in 75 games and finished with 16 more points then your assist guy G. — theeutmost
- Fan of the Flyers since Doug Favell and the teams emergence into greatness in 72..... I can have a great appreciation for the greatest NHL players and we've been lucky to have been witness to so many of them in our lifetime.
Crosby is a favorite. The opposite of what the great Lemieux was, he'll goon it up with the best of them. On ice agitator, fantastic playmaker and great goal scorer. If he were in this city, they'd be erecting bronze statues of him. To not appreciate the Crosby's, Ovechkins, Brodeurs for their brilliant play is infantile. With all due respect to Boston-Montreal, Detroit-Toronto, New York-Boston, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh is the greatest rivalry going. Looking forward to tonights game!— DelawareRiverRat - Couldn't agree more, always great games. — theeutmost
- There are elite players who play with dignity, and elite players who whine and cry constantly. One gains respect through his actions, the other loses respect with his mouth.
— dogman5 - Pits and the FLYERS is a great Rivalry and makes for a fun interesting game can't wait till tonight. I willgive Cindy his do he is a top player but I still dont like him and even if he was a FLYER I would not like him....lol but that doesn't take away the fact he is a top player and he would make any team a lot better. Still love "G" and the boys lets hope tonight they continue top play hard for 60 minutes and give Cindy and company a nice beating too. LETS GO FLYERS!— srcdaddy1216
- In reference to the headline a resounding NO... Go Pens!!!— Soul child2013
- RiverRat is dead on. If Crosby was wearing the Orange & Black we'd all love him. He is a true elite player and I enjoy watching him. Having said that, I hope the Flyers whack the hell out of him tonight and pick up another win...— bigdaddyG
