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Showing posts with label Bruins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bruins. Show all posts
Monday, April 20, 2015
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Sucker Punch
Welp. Could be the only thing worse than the Flyers losing to the Bruins is them losing to the Bruins in overtime, especially when getting the loser point seems inconsequential. An OT loss, as any hockey fan knows, is just like a sucker punch to the gut: unexpected, and it completely knocks the wind out of you.
The officiating has been killing the Flyers lately. I understand that they need to score more even strength goals and that it is their fault they are in this position so late in the season given their failure to beat lesser teams, but still:
Yesterday, the Bruins were on a power play at the end of all three periods, leading to both of their goals in regulation. So during both intermissions, the Flyers had to focus on the penalty kill, rather than the attack, which fundamentally changes the players' mentality, focus, and momentum.
Worse was the call on March 3 against the Flames when Nick Schultz's goal was disallowed after being called a goal on the ice. After the officials huddled and reversed the call, Toronto deemed the play unreviewable. Huh?
If that hadn't happened, the Flyers likely would have picked up 2 points. And, if they held on for another 14 seconds yesterday after the highly questionable tripping call on Wayne Simmonds, they would have picked up another 2, and today would have all but closed the gap on a wild card spot.
That penalty call against Simmonds, in such a critical game, and after the Bruins already had 3 power plays to the Flyers 2? Officiating (make that bad officiating) does make a difference.
P.S. Does anyone else think Dougie is a silly name for an adult professional hockey player? Just sayin'.
The officiating has been killing the Flyers lately. I understand that they need to score more even strength goals and that it is their fault they are in this position so late in the season given their failure to beat lesser teams, but still:
Yesterday, the Bruins were on a power play at the end of all three periods, leading to both of their goals in regulation. So during both intermissions, the Flyers had to focus on the penalty kill, rather than the attack, which fundamentally changes the players' mentality, focus, and momentum.
Worse was the call on March 3 against the Flames when Nick Schultz's goal was disallowed after being called a goal on the ice. After the officials huddled and reversed the call, Toronto deemed the play unreviewable. Huh?
If that hadn't happened, the Flyers likely would have picked up 2 points. And, if they held on for another 14 seconds yesterday after the highly questionable tripping call on Wayne Simmonds, they would have picked up another 2, and today would have all but closed the gap on a wild card spot.
That penalty call against Simmonds, in such a critical game, and after the Bruins already had 3 power plays to the Flyers 2? Officiating (make that bad officiating) does make a difference.
P.S. Does anyone else think Dougie is a silly name for an adult professional hockey player? Just sayin'.
Friday, March 6, 2015
Rising to the Occasion
What to make of a Flyers team that loses to the "bottom feeders" but defeats the leading teams in the NHL?
It's not the best way to make it into the playoffs. But, if they make it, isn't it exactly what you want this team to do?
In other words, they are going to have to beat the "best" teams if they want to make any sort of a deep playoff run. And, based on their performance in the regular season, it looks like they can rise to the occasion. The Flyers have recently beaten (in no particular order) the Blues, Rangers, Predators, and Lightning.
I read an article on NHL.com pegging the Blues as Stanley Cup contenders the day before the Flyers scored three unanswered goals on them in the third period last night to win. So what does anyone really, really know about the Flyers this season?
They just have to make it to the playoffs. The game tomorrow in Boston is HUGE.
But I don't need to tell you that.
Here's the NHL.com article referenced: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=756606
It's not the best way to make it into the playoffs. But, if they make it, isn't it exactly what you want this team to do?
In other words, they are going to have to beat the "best" teams if they want to make any sort of a deep playoff run. And, based on their performance in the regular season, it looks like they can rise to the occasion. The Flyers have recently beaten (in no particular order) the Blues, Rangers, Predators, and Lightning.
I read an article on NHL.com pegging the Blues as Stanley Cup contenders the day before the Flyers scored three unanswered goals on them in the third period last night to win. So what does anyone really, really know about the Flyers this season?
They just have to make it to the playoffs. The game tomorrow in Boston is HUGE.
But I don't need to tell you that.
Here's the NHL.com article referenced: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=756606
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