Penguins too fast, too skilled
The Flyers thought they had figured out how to play Pittsburgh after that 3-1 nationally televised victory here a few Sunday afternoons ago. Get your sticks busy, play positional, patient hockey, and wait for the Penguins to become needy.
Penguins too fast, too skilled
Sam Donnellon, Daily News Sports Columnist
PITTSBURGH – The Flyers thought they had figured out how to play Pittsburgh after that 3-1 nationally televised victory here a few Sunday afternoons ago. Get your sticks busy, play positional, patient hockey, and wait for the Penguins to become needy.
Pittsburgh played along that day, trying to be too pretty, making one pass too many. Tonight, not so much. Save a small second period window when the Flyers actually outchanced them, this was as dominating a victory as 4-1 can be.
It bore little resemblance to the game played March 22.
It looked a whole lot more like the 6-0 Game 5 dud here last May, when the Flyers, ragged and undermanned after two tough playoff rounds, simply could not put up much of a fight.
From the start, Pittsburgh’s speed seemed to startle the Flyers. Which is strange, given this was the 21st meeting between the two teams over the last two seasons. That speed led to three first period power plays and truth be told, could have led to more if either referee had seen Matt Carle’s stick open a cut in the mouth of Matt Cooke.
The chippiness started early, the offshoot of the Penguins getting some early licks on Marty Biron and the Flyers later snowing Marc-Andre Fleury. That the Flyers were only down one goal after one period was a testament to both their penalty killing and Pittsburgh’s quest for that perfect play.
The Flyers were guilty of this at times, too. During their only power play, Jeff Carter held the puck so long down in one corner that he knocked it off his own stick, resulting in a clear. Late in the third, on a tight 2-on-1, Mike Richards tried to slide a pass across the slot rather than shooting it, and the puck was smothered by a Pens defenseman.
Moments later, Scott Hartnell ran Fleury, extending his arms, pushing the net off its moorings, and assuring the Penguins third power play of the period.
Hartnell missed a lot of ice time after that but returned early in the final period and picked up another penalty, this time for tripping Kristopher Letang.
Are the Flyers this bad? That tired? Or is this matchup, in a playoff setting, as ill-fated as Frazier-Foreman?
We’ll know more Thursday. But they gave you little to base hope on tonight.
.
Comments (44)
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Fans don'pick the other team to win. They do however express concern over the attitude of the team. And that game should have been pretty sobering. Flyers need to get in some better habits and try to rachet up the intensity without the penalties. Pens got them off their game, they need to respond likewise.— flyler
No surprise here. Defense and goaltending win in the playoffs. 6 30-goal scorers is a nice stat, but means little in the playoffs. The Flyers D is too slow, gives up too many turnovers, and can't clear the crease....leaving an average goalie to try to keep them in games. This series ends in 5 games and the excuses can then begin.— mibrze- Comment removed.
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- Same story year after year. What ex-Flyer will you be promoting into a coaching position now Ed? I hear Pepe your gardener needs more work. Why not make him executive vice president? You've given positions to everybody else that ever did you a favor. Bring back Jay Snider too.— Slugfoot
- back to the drawing board— JamesJ
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- Are you people watching the game I am? Because as a player of this sport, it is kind of hard to get anything going when you are on a F**KING PENALTY KILL FOR THIRTY PERCENT OF THE FIRST TWO PERIODS!!!!!! "Don't blame the refs" are you JOKING ME?! HORRENDOUS no-calls against Giroux getting CROSS CHECKED in front of the Pens goal just minutes after that total diving p*ssy Crosby KICKED THE PUCK IN THE NET. And as far as Steven's goes, did he really separate Giroux and Briere? Did he really do that? Lastly, Biron needs to decide if he really wants to be a professional goaltender. Horrible decisions making. WTF!!!!!!— elektrika
- As dreadful as the performance by the Flyers was, it was only game one. Years of watching playoffs should have taught all of us that there is no carry over into the next game. I believe the Flyers got a wake up call and will play with playoff intensity Friday night. It would not surprise me to see the series tied 1-1 coming into Philly.— gilbi
- what do u mean we can't blame the refs? did u see the call on Asham. he held him for 1/10 of a second, and that's the first goal. additionally, we hit a lot of posts. a good first period in game 2 and it's a whole new series. but the game was hideous. trade every1 for luongo— Stanley Cup
- Now go out and sign some PREMIER TALENT that can compete!!— OUTOFTOWN
- Penguins are CLEARLY the better team!! Talent wins every time!! Same old Philadelphia story.....bringing Boone's Farm to the Champagne event!!— OUTOFTOWN
- Flyers have to learn to clear pucks from their own zone. Marty can't do everything. Refs were bad, but it didn't matter. Flyers didn't deserve to win anyway.— cnova000
- Sorry to say this however if you have clinched a playoff spot and DID NOT PLAY WELL down the stretch to secure good playoff posistion, you will going to the golf course by the end of April it's as simple as that and The Flyers have no one to blame but themselves. I do not have ANY confindence in this team at this time. If they play better in game 2, then and only then will they have to better the things that got them to playoffs...Discipline, Defense, and GOOD GOALTENDING...— bigd146
- muda - to be honest i dont think hockey fans really give a sh*t what other people think of the sport. The NBA is superior right? Someone get e the numbers on the sixers attendance over the past 5 years, or any year for that matter. moron— aceofchase
- muda345: ESPN is getting the NHL back next season, enjoy the games— BHite15
- Richards is not a good captain— BHite15
- come on face it, the NHL is so irrelevant in the US anymore. Thats why ESPN dropped its coverage, thats why you have teams who don't play in Canada relocating every other year, and thats why anytime there is a discussion about hockey on a sports channel its about how no one cares anymore. Between Harry Kalas dying and the Eagles schedule being released on Tuesday, hockey is WAAAAAAAAAAAAY down on the list of relevant sports topics in Philly— muda345
- Oh calm down... Richards hit the post 3 times tonight. How often does that happen? Sometimes things just don't go your way. Flyers will win Game 2, giving them home ice advantage for the remaining best-of-5 series.— jpb
- PHILLY200 - STEVENS CAN'T GET ON THE ICE AND PLAY FOR THEM. FLYERS FANS ALWAYS READY TO BLAME THE COACH OR THE REFS - FACE IT- THEY PLAYED WITH NO HEART, NO EMOTION, THEY BASCAILLY SUCKED - FROM DUMB PENALTIES TO LOSING 90% OF FACE_OFFS -IF THEY DONT FIND HEART OR EMOTION AND REALIZE THIS IS PLAY-OFF HOCKEY THEY WONT COME CLOSE TO A SECOND ROUND - THOUGHT THE RANGERS GAME WOULD WAKE THEM UP - IT WAS LIKE THAT SAME TEAM SHOWED UP. NO HEART, NO GLORY - THANK GOD THEY COONTAINED SISSY CROSBY and MALkiN WOULD HAVE BEEN 7-1 IF THEY DIDNT AT LEAST KEEP THEM AT BAY FOR THE GAME..— poshnspice
- Please watch the orange line show that aired today, watch the segment when the captain is microphoned up, embarrasing. Sweep without question.— Onlineps2beast
- You people are amazing,it's one game.— FloridaPhillyFan
- The Flyers are about the 7th or 8th best team in hockey and when matched against one of the teams above them (see Penguins) they will have trouble winning a game let alone a seven game series.— Tripod
- "FIRE JOHN STEVENS!!! This guy has not fired up his players in a long time, if ever." They are professional players playing for the Stanley Cup. They get paid millions of dollars to play this game. It is not the coach's job to get them fired up. Especially in the playoffs. If they need a coach to fire them up, they should not be playing in Philadelphia. They should head down to Atlanta or Nashville if they are the type of players who need to be fired up to play in the Stanley Cup playoffs. I'll be at the Phantoms game tomorrow. At least those guys play for something.— AreaMan
Ive been watching Flyers playoff games for 25 years and that was bar- none the most gutless performance from a Flyer team. This team just has not been the same since their energy guys were released/traded, Metropolit+ Upshall. Not syaing they would have won with those 2 guys just saying this team has not been the same since they left.— argonne- Ive been watching Flyers playoff games for 25 years and that was bar- none the most gutless performance from a Flyer team. This team just has not been the same since their energy guys were released/traded, Metropolit+ Upshall. Not syaing they would have won with those 2 guys just saying this team has not been the same since they left.— argonne
- Honestly, has anyone ever seen a coach look as scared behing a bench as John Stevens? This team is just not motivated to play when it matters. I understand tehse are professionals, but they need a coach that will tear into them when they've played liek they have fr the past month. Hello Craig MacTavish!!!!— duffers
- NOT GOOD ENOUGH. Flyers are in no way a cup contending team. Happy to just be there year after year. Oh well, that's what it's like in Flyers-land. Hey, at least they're going to knock down the Spectrum to build some over priced bars and restaurants though so Ed Snider and company can make more money. THANKS ED and MR. LUKKO......GREAT TEAM!— jibberjabber
- NOT GOOD ENOUGH. Flyers are in no way a cup contending team. Happy to just be there year after year. Oh well, that's what it's like in Flyers-land. Hey, at least they're going to knock down the Spectrum to build some over priced bars and restaurants though so Ed Snider and company can make more money. THANKS ED and MR. LUKKO......GREAT TEAM!— jibberjabber
- NOT GOOD ENOUGH. Flyers are in no way a cup contending team. Happy to just be there year after year. Oh well, that's what it's like in Flyers-land. Hey, at least they're going to knock down the Spectrum to build some over priced bars and restaurants though so Ed Snider and company can make more money. THANKS ED and MR. LUKKO......GREAT TEAM!— jibberjabber
- NOT GOOD ENOUGH. Flyers are in no way a cup contending team. Happy to just be there year after year. Oh well, that's what it's like in Flyers-land. Hey, at least they're going to knock down the Spectrum to build some over priced bars and restaurants though so Ed Snider and company can make more money. THANKS ED and MR. LUKKO......GREAT TEAM!— jibberjabber
- The Flyers never stuggle for fans. That's part of the problem. Everyone knows they will fill the Wachovia Center so why put a winning product on the ice?— wilson
- Like the Sixers the Flyers will be one and done in the playoffs. 82 games to get to this ? Both of these teams will struggle for fans next year.— ozey
- FIRE JOHN STEVENS!!! This guy has not fired up his players in a long time, if ever. They need someone that they fear, not someone that takes them to McDonald's after the game to make them feel better. Fire him for game 2, put Hatcher in charge.— philly200
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- Ugly, ugly, ugly. The Pens played a mediocre game and still dominated the Flyers for 90% of the game. There is a huge problem when this team can't beat a Rangers team with nothing to play for on the last day of the season to clinch home ice and come into this playoff game with preseason emotion. They are done in five, if their lucky.— twointhebox
- Flyers in 7— funsoaz
- The fans of the Flyers or-gan-eye-zation are the most annoying in all of sports, hands down. "I'm Cup Crazy!" SHUT UP.— There He Is
- If anybody complains about the refs, they get punched in the stomach. The Flyers totally got outplayed. Horrible effort. An embarrasing disgrace. They will be lucky to win one game in this series. Really lucky. They should actually be glad to be starting on the road. Scott Hartnell, oh jeez...— AreaMan
- keep taking stupid penalties hartnell...i hate you as my neighbor and you outkicked your coverage so f'ing bad...— rothstein12
- Don't blame the officiating either! They stunk!— hexyscores
- Pens in 5. Love the Flyers but they are not built to win a cup yet.— Gigs1777
- Pretty much a microcosim of the season. Stupid penalties and lazy/uninspired play. I predicted Pens in 6. Now it looks like 4 or 5. Pittsburgh didn't even play that well for Crissakes.— bobbyd24
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About this blog
Donnellon's career began in Biddeford, Me., in 1981, and has included stops in Wilkes-Barre, Norfolk, and New York, where he worked as a national writer for the short-lived but highly acclaimed National Sports Daily. He has received state and national awards at each stop and since joining the Daily News in 1992 has been honored by the Associated Press Sports Editors, the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association, the National Association of Black Journalists, the Associated Press Managing Editors of Pennsylvania and the Keystone Awards. He and his wife of 26 years have raised three fine children, none of whom are even the least bit impressed with the above. E-mail Sam at donnels@phillynews.com
Reach Sam at donnels@phillynews.com.
Sam Donnellon
Daily News Sports Columnist
Reach Sam at donnels@phillynews.com.
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