Flyers Playoff Outlook - Round 2

Alexis Nicgorski
May 1, 2000

Well, well, well, if it isn't round two. What have we learned so far in this entire post season? Don't underestimate the underdog. Don't believe me? Well, who advanced? The Flyers beat the Dominator, and the Sharks beat the Blues. The underdog advanced. Taking our lessons, what do we see ahead?

The Sharks are still the underdog, but what's this? The Flyers are the expected team to win? Will this mean the end of the Flyers? So far it looks that way. 

The Pens are up 2-0 heading back to Pittsburgh. What is so shocking about his fact is that the numbers said that the Flyers hadn't lost to the Pens in Philly since 1994. That means that according to the number the Flyers should have won these first two games. Numbers never lie. Then again, the playoffs don't account for numbers. If they did, Owen Nolan would be golfing right now, not Pierre Turgeon.

What is the cause of the sudden down fall of the Flyers to the Pens? Out side the obvious, goaltending and such, but I'm going to venture out a bit a point out the more glaring reasons, Mr. Lindros and Mr.'s Barnaby and Kasperitis.

I will dare to say that had Eric Lindros been playing, by no fault of his own, the Flyers would be winning. Or at least have more points. Why? Well, regardless of this conflict or that opinion, the man can play, the man can score, and frankly he's a presence on the ice. He's "Eric Lindros." Although there is a lot of hype around him, there is some cause for that hype. Do I think that the Flyers can win without him? Yes. Do I think it would be a more expedient series with him? Yes. How will the Flyers win without him? Ah, here is where Barnaby and Kasperitis come in. 

The Flyers have obviously let those two yappers, crawl under their collective skin, and allowed them to mentally control the team. How do I know? I went to the game on Saturday and I saw the Flyers unravel at every whistle and call. Before my (along with 19,800 fans) eyes, the Flyers managed to come out strong and just lose all of their control. Why? 

Well, the Pens did come out strong and played well. The refs made some bad calls, and they didn't make others. The team got some bad breaks, and Tugnutt was fantastic. However, these are not obstacles to the Flyers, usually. However, there's something here, in this series, that is causing the Flyers to snap. What could be the difference? I'll let you figure it out.

My prediction? Flyers in 7. I said they needed Lindros to make this thing end fast, not to win overall. Come on, if San Jose can beat the Blues, anything can happen.

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