Conference Quarterfinals: #4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 Philadelphia Flyers

[Flyers2001]

Originally Posted by PotvinSucks

This will be the best series of the first round in the east.

Flyers in 6.

Over/Under on Rinaldo's game misconducts - 2

Rinaldo's +/- number should be on misconducts period. I would set it at a resonable 2.5! Takers?

[bupz91]

Series of the 1st round.
It will be a brutal one, but the Flyers have had the Pens number in games this season.

Flyers in 6

[ProbieRules]

Unfortunately the league / refs will do all they can to contain this series, which is sad. I still think there will be a few scraps and maybe one game where it gets ugly. I'll take the Pens in 6, as I feel they're the most complete team heading into the playoffs. Should be a good series all around...

[Mike Tython]

I'd like to point out that the Flyers had 27 powerplays against the Penguins this season, while the Pens had just 18 against the Flyers. Look at that league favoritism!

[youthattack]

Flyers have been great on the road all year so I'm actually glad they are the 5 seed here. Hopefully the refs don't ruin this series and let these guys play the game. Flyers in 7.

[Wadubbin]

Originally Posted by jkidd

Records:
Pittsburgh 51-25-6 (108 points) Home: 29-10-2 Away: 22-15-4
Philadelphia 47-26-9 (103 points) Home: 22-13-6 Away: 25-13-3

Head to Head:
Dec 8th: Flyers 3 / Penguins 2
Dec 29th: Flyers 4 / Penguins 2
Feb 18th: Penguins 6 / Flyers 4
Mar 18th: Flyers 3 / Penguins 2
Apr 1st: Flyers 6 / Penguins 4
Apr 7th: Penguins 4 / Flyers 2
Flyers took season series, 4-2

Fights:
Dec 8th: Tyler Kennedy vs. Harry Zolniercyzk
Apr 1st: Deryk Engelland vs. Wayne Simmonds
Apr 7th: Joe Vitale vs. Harry Zolniercyzk

Lineup:
Goaltending: draw
Scoring: edge Pittsburgh
Defense: edge Pittsburgh
Coaching: draw
Grit: edge Philadelphia

Schedule:
Wed, Apr 11 in Pittsburgh 7:30PM ET
Fri, Apr 13 in Pittsburgh 7:30PM ET
Sun, Apr 15 in Philadelphia 3PM ET
Wed, Apr 18 in Philadelphia 7:30PM ET
*Fri, Apr 20 in Pittsburgh 7:30PM ET
*Sun, Apr 22 in Philadelphia TBA
*Tue, Apr 24 in Pittsburgh TBA

Prediction:
This great rivalry has yet another opportunity to add another blood filled playoff chapter to it, and will make for one of the best playoff series. This series comes down to which version of Ilya Bryzgalov will show up for the Flyers? The early season form, or the late season – nearly unbeatable – form? The Flyers will also be without the services of Danny Briere and Andrej Meszaros for the series, which removes a lot of offense. The Penguins come in healthy, hot and ready to fight for the cup. The war of words these teams had off the ice should play to a very physical and very fun to watch series. In the end, I like the Penguins being healthy, playoff battle tested and primed for a deep cup run. Penguins in 7.

Kidd I love the synopsis of the series but I have to disagree with your assessment of Philly having the edge in the grit department..Aren't the Pens the dirtiest team in the league???

I think the refs are going to give the Pens ever opportunity to win this series.Phantom calls will be made.Rinaldo will be kicked out of every game.Any time a Penguin is looked at.The refs hands will be raised to dish out a penalty to the Flyers every chance they get.Crosby will go through at least 30 sticks by game 3 because of his hacking and whacking problem.Malkin will need new elbow pads because of all the elbows he will throw,and Orpik just got new harder knee pads so that he can take out Giroux's knees,and the real Matt Cooke will return...All in all a pretty good set up for the Pens to take this in 4...I see a Pens sweep because of all the favoritism that will be handed out at the poor Flyers expense......

Oh and anytime Crosby whines...The Flyers will get a delay of game penalty for giving Crosby something to whine about..It's new..Bettman just wrote it in for this series alone....

[PhlyerPhanatic]

Heart says Flyers in 6...but I just don't see it this year.

reverse psychology

Pitt in 6.

[Bruins29]

Pittsburgh is too well coached and too disciplined to get sucked into some cheap-shot fest with Philly...and honestly, that's the only way the Flyers would be able to win this one.

As much as everyone can't stand Crosby and his pouty crying face, he's an unbelievably talented player. Put him back with Malkin and that's too much for the Flyers to handle.

Series prediction:
Penguins in 6.

Shelley prediction:
His massive, cinder-block head gets stuck in the press box doorway during game 1...and he stays there for the remainder of the series.

[camx]

I personally think these are the two best teams in the eastern Conf if not in the whole league...The Flyers match up very well against the Penguins with there depth and physical play...its unfortunate a great team like the Flyers have fans with built in excuses crying about officiating before the series even starts. It was pointed out many times that the Flyers had more power plays than the Penguins but that's not good enough I guess.. If the Flyers win the series which I believe they could I think their the fav to win the cup and if the Penguins win their is a big conspiracy by the league, Crosby is a whiner and the Refs gave them the series..I know its not the thought of all Flyers fans but just from seeing the first part of the thread the tears have already started....Pittsburgh in 7 in a great series by the two best teams but wouldn't be surprised at all if the Flyers win

[Flyers2001]

The reason why i am leaning towards Flyers in 7 is unlike the Mike Richards led teams of the past, this Flyers team knows how to play the Oens better. The Flyers that got beat by the Pens in the past have been known to retailiate. This Flyers team ignitiates. Face it, the Flyers are filledm with a bunch of agitators that know how to get under the skin of the Pens. Sean Coutier has some how figured out how to annoy Malkin and get him to take some undisciplined penalities. The Pens hate Hartnell. He knows how to walk that fine line and get the Pens slightly off their game.

They are going to have to play head games with the Pens to even this series out, because without Briere, JVR, and Pronger the Pens become much more talented top to bottom.

[fansince65]

I think the Pens win this one , but not being a fan of theirs at any time in their history , i take the Flyers in 7 just because I like them more than the Pens ....

[KnucklesNilan]

Originally Posted by Mike Tython

I'd like to point out that the Flyers had 27 powerplays against the Penguins this season, while the Pens had just 18 against the Flyers. Look at that league favoritism!

I am certainly not indicating that one team will gain an advantage over another when it comes to power plays.. its the constant stoppage of play due to these ridiculous calls that will slow down the intensity and flow of this series... I do not want to see mostly every goal scored in the form of the power play!

I am hoping that all the nonsense that lead up to this series will be washed away and let these two teams go at it!

[camx]

Originally Posted by Flyers2001

The reason why i am leaning towards Flyers in 7 is unlike the Mike Richards led teams of the past, this Flyers team knows how to play the Oens better. The Flyers that got beat by the Pens in the past have been known to retailiate. This Flyers team ignitiates. Face it, the Flyers are filledm with a bunch of agitators that know how to get under the skin of the Pens. Sean Coutier has some how figured out how to annoy Malkin and get him to take some undisciplined penalities. The Pens hate Hartnell. He knows how to walk that fine line and get the Pens slightly off their game.

They are going to have to play head games with the Pens to even this series out, because without Briere, JVR, and Pronger the Pens become much more talented top to bottom.

Good points but Briere did practice today and is expected to play Wednesday

[NJDevils17]

I think the Flyers take this in 7. However, all I really want is for the refs to let them play and for these two teams to kill each other for 7 games.

[mmafan]

my prediction is that this years playoffs will be really soft and no emotion in them. Last year they were hard to watch and this year will be even worse.

I think the pens win in 7