Did Carter, Richards injuries cause loss to Penguins?
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Did Carter, Richards injuries cause loss to Penguins?
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
And so now the Flyers have come clean: Mike Richards played virtually the entire season with two bad shoulders that will require surgery, and Jeff Carter played most of the last four playoff games against Pittsburgh with a separated right shoulder that will not need surgery.
Give both players cedit for their gritty efforts, but it doesn't change the disappointment of the first-round exit.
Carter's injurty occurred early in Game 3. With the Flyers holding a 2-1 lead late in pivotal Game 2, Carter appeared to have an open net but was robbed by goalie Marc-Andre Fleury with 8:30 left. He then committed a penalty in the waning minutes _ though it appeared Jordan Staal grabbed Carter's stick _ that led to a Pittsburgh power-play goal that tied the score and led to an eventual Penguins win.
Carter and Richards each scored just one goal in the playoffs in a combined 51 shots.
If they were healthy, would it have made a difference?
Doubtful, but it does explain some of the faceoff deficiencies. It should be noted that the Penguins were bothered by lots of injuries, too. The bottom line: Pittsburgh produced in the clutch and deserved to advance.
And when you cough up a 3-0 lead in an elimination game at home, you don't have the right to make excuses.
I don't think Carter or Richards are making excuse. Carter know is did not contribute. The real problem has been the lack of intensity all season. Specifically in playoff game 1 and game 6 periods 2 and 3. The team just let the play come to them instead of force there play down a team that was starting to wilt. Stevens lack of intensity on the bench is the problem. He needs just a touch of John Tortarella.- LOOOOOOOOO.......SERS................BETWEEN THEM AND THE SIXERS THEY HAVE CAST MUCH SHAME ON OUR GREAT CITY AND SHOULD BE DISGUSTED AND ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES.............ILUVPHILLYCITYOFCHAMPIONS!!!!!!!— ILUVPHILLYCITYOFLOSERS
- What a joke...34 years of excuses and counting!— bvl390
- If these 2 guys were injured that bad that they couldn't win a faceoff, then why did Stevens continue to give each tons of ice time? He should have gone with the hot hand and double shifted Claude Giroux.— BobbyD
- All of you keep saying that they are making excuses. I have not read anything from the entire organization including players blaming injuries. I've only seen the players say they got beat and that they weren't good enough. Just because they are announcing that people were hurt, like every other team does, doesnt mean they are making excuses. Im not saying they never have but this year i havent heard one excuse about injuries.— crecke17
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- The Flyers were right to not reveal the injuries. Look at the way the euro-trash Pens went after Kimmo when it was clear he was injured. That's what the NHL has come to - you penalize the players that are there to police the sport every time they do their jobs, and you get cheap shot attempts to injure good players that go completely unpunished. Next season, let's take out Cindy's knees and see how the league likes it.— rstone
The real question is, why is that year after year we find out that our top players have been playing through injuries, or lose them for significant stretches? Surely it has nothing to do with the lack of respect and protection the Flyers get from the referees, nothing to do with the way opponents are constantly allowed to cheap shot and attempt to injure our star players without any fear of punishment. Dan Carcillo's suspension showed that they are happy to suspend a Flyer for a meaningless play, but when Crosby, Kunitz, or Talbot do worse, they get off scott-free.— Pelti- Fly58, it's not my fault you are not clever enough to understand my comparison. The way Flyers fans treat Mike Richards is the same the media treats Obama. He can not be criticized- only praised for everything he does, no matter what the facts are. Pelti- You are right. I also heard the refs sneak into the Flyers' locker rooms and throw acid on their equipment that makes it weaker so that the Flyers get injured more. They took all of the padding out of Lindros' and Primeau's helmets and replaced it with pretzels. I just hope Stevens does not get the touch of John Tortarella that blew a 3-1 series lead.— AreaMan
- Not the point. Inconsistency, focus, grit, and all are coaching responsabilities. IS THE POINT!— murph31
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- yahmpy - get off your meds. Have you seen Price play this year? I did not think so. That guy is a head case and belongs on a therapist's couch and not in the NHL...— lowbiddodotcom
OK, they're hurt and that's why we lost. Then we'd get wiped out by the Caps. So what's it matter?— burholme
