Penguins Poised To Bury Rivals
Jesse Marshall | Pittsburgh Penguins
Dec 15, 01:40 AM | Hype this story!
Everything that is wrong with the Philadelphia Flyers can be summed up in the bite mark on Kris Letang’s finger.
The Flyers struck success with a formula in 1974: beat everyone up.
It worked that two straight years, and they’ve been trying it ever since.
At most jobs, doing something successfully twice, and then repeatedly failing at it for 30 consecutive years would be enough to get you fired.
But, in the world of hockey, the Flyers live in their own universe. When people in Pittsburgh, Chicago, Vancouver, and even Tampa view the game, they view it differently than what comes through the orange colored glasses on broad street.
While the Pittsburgh Penguins continue on the path of success, the cross-state rivals are slipping further into obscurity.
I use the term rivals in a loose manner. The Flyers, a once hated and reviled organization by Pittsburgh fans and players alike, have moved into a different category: another one of those teams that the Penguins beat en route to the Stanley Cup finals.
A mobility-challenged defense, horrid goaltending, and a lack of serious depth at center are traits you would use to describe the 2003 Penguins, not a team that is two years removed from an Eastern Conference finals berth.
The Penguins will carry the same old recipe into this home and home as they always have. Let the Flyers fight and bite their way into the box. Score at will, and let the theatrics give you a good laugh for the plane ride back to Pittsburgh.
From their soft-spoken owner, savvy general manager, to the Stanley Cup champion, franchise center (pick one of the three), the Penguins have the opportunity to shovel a few heaps of dirt on the Flyers season with a sweep this week. Two wins would put them nearly 20 points ahead of their cross-state rivals.
Kris Letang and the rest of the Penguins must be chomping at the bit (pun intended).
However, beware. The Flyers tasted victory tonight against the Bruins and will surely use the underdog card as a rallying point.
Think of this as a cornered dog situation. Everyone is pointing the finger at the Flyers. The mouth of the NHL, Jeremy Roenick himself, fired shots at the “leadership” in the Flyers locker-room. What do they have to lose?
The Flyers will do what they always do against the Penguins: come out full blast and do whatever it takes to try and win, even if that action is embarrassing to the entire league.
It would be best for the Penguins to continue to distance themselves from the fun and games. After all, if we’ve learned anything from Philly, it’s that you shouldn’t ruffle feathers.
This is the same city that still chants “Crosby Sucks” despite his unprecedented dominance against the Flyers franchise.
The Flyers not learning from past mistakes? Tell me one I haven’t heard already.
Comments
Ads7
Dec 15, 02:21 AM
Um…just for the record, but the 2003 Penguins WERE in fact, two years removed from an Eastern Conference Finals berth.
Otherwise, you make some good points. I’d love to see two victories against these guys.
DaBich
Dec 15, 08:33 AM
Bring it baby, I’m chomping at the bit myself LOL! Love the write-up Matt, good job.
henkesweden
Dec 15, 08:57 AM
hey all u pens fans !
I wish u all a merry christmas and a happy new year …
=)
now to my Q ….
I have been reading about some rumors concering pens.
1) Pens are shopping Fedotenko for a 4 th round pick
2010 ….
Well i dont know but i havent been very impressed with “Feds” this season so maybe…. ?
always nice to have some dollars to caphit?
2) Islanders and or Phoenix are scouting pens defenders… Well what about about Skoula for Moulson (´NYI) or Skoula for Korpikoski(PHX)..... i feel that Skoulas nice performance will make other clubs interested since he dont get any icetime when everyone are back?
this trade wouldnt set pens back to much…. ‘if i remember right they earn nearly the same per season ???
hope to see your comments on this …..
bye for now…
DaBich
Dec 15, 09:01 AM
Hi Henke and Merry Christmas to you too!
Pens1967
Dec 15, 09:47 AM
Malkin likes Feds because he also speaks Russian which makes it easier for them to communicate on their line. No small matter.
Shero likes to have at least 10 NHL capable d-men so I can’t see him moving Skoula.
Ray aka WildcatRay
Dec 15, 11:32 AM
The Flyers became the Broad Street Bullies in 1972-73, the year before they won the first of their two Stanley Cup Championships. The Pens edged out the Flyers at the end of the 1971-72 season. It was after that that the Flyers made the playoffs 18 straight years, but the “bloodiest”, if you will, were the during the 1970s and early 1980s. (Isn’t 1979 in error then?)
Jesse Marshall
Dec 15, 12:17 PM
@ADS – True, but a lockout was thrown in the mix, and that severely changed the philosophy of NHL clubs. The Penguins failed to make the playoffs the first year and were eliminated by the Sens after that. Only after a complete overhaul, generational draft picks, and a new bargaining agreement could the team compete.
@Ray – you’re right. I had my dates mixed up. I corrected it.
DaBich
Dec 15, 12:25 PM
And Jesse, I called you Matt, sorry!
Matt Bodenschatz
Dec 15, 01:15 PM
@Jesse, great write-up. These next two games are huge for both teams. For the Penguins, we’re looking at a chance to sink the Flyers into a position where they almost certainly won’t pose a threat down the stretch. The fewer challengers, the better. For the Flyers, we’re looking at a chance to stabilize a sinking ship. Combined with their Monday night win over Boston, a three-game winning streak would give them some much-needed confidence and also swing them essentially 8 points closer to Pittsburgh (4 points they earn and 4 points the Penguins cannot earn). Needless to say, this is about as important of a two-game series you will see in the month of December.
@Henke, the Penguins are not shopping anyone. If a trade comes up to improve the team now while not damaging the future, he’ll pull the trigger. But trading Fedotenko, one of the team’s few proven scoring line wingers (and a playoff warrior) for a draft pick makes absolutely zero sense and is not in line with Shero’s track record. And, as Pens1967 said, Shero wants 10 NHL defenseman ready to go. We’ve all seen just how easily injuries can cripple a team and a defense. That alone proves the value of keeping Skoula, not trading him. Shero will be looking to add to his roster as the trade deadline approaches — not subtract from it. And what you are suggesting is an example of addition, not subtraction.
Ray aka WildcatRay
Dec 16, 04:51 PM
Not a problem, Jesse. Keep up the good work.
Commenting is closed for this article.