Penquins - Flyers

In response to the comments from Jen_Zwain:

"The Montreal team that just lost to the Flyers is NOT the same team they were during the year."

You're right there Jen, Montreal didn't play well, it had NOTHING to do with the Flyers.  That's just a dopey comment to make, but not your dopiest.

"I dont like Philly..dont like the fans etc."

Why don't you like the fans Jen?  Because the media overstates every isolated incident that ever happens in Philadelphia at a sporting event?  The fans in Montreal burn a police car after winning in the first round but that story gets less play on ESPN that if one fan in Philadelphia throws a snowball at an Eagles game.   And Im sorry but I think Pens fans booing Jagr, a man who helped bring you two cups is an absolute disgrace and you should all be embarassed of yourselves.

Now let me respond to the more outlandish claims being espouses by Pens fans:

1) The Flyers faced weak goalies in the first 2 rounds:

You are dead wrong about that. Stop judging goalies but what the media tells you---the best statistic for judging goalies is save percentage.  Both of the goalies the Flyers have faced so far in the playoffs had better save percentages than either of the goalies the Pens faced.  Price also came into this series having had an incredible, stand on your head game 7 in the first round.  The Flyers also arguably faced the two HOTTEST teams coming into the playoffs.  In their last 10 games the Caps were 9-1-0 and Montreal was 8-1-1.  In the first round the Pens faced an Ottawa team that had already given up on the season because of all the injuries they had.  They limped into the playoffs, going 3-6-1 in their last 10. The Rangers were a very good 5-1-4 in their last 10 but still not as dominant as the Canadiens and the Caps were to finish the regular season.

2) The Pens have such a POWEFUL offense:

If the Pens offense is so powerful how is it that the Flyers finished the regular season with one more goal than the Pens?  Granted just one more goal means nothing but I hardly think I would go into a series saying how POWERFUL my team's offense is compared to another team's offense when they were outscored by them.  And before you start in about how dominant they've been in the playoffs, the Flyers actually hold a scoring edge there as well.  The Pens have averaged 3.44 gpgwhile the Flyers have averaged 3.58 gpg.  Again a very small advantage but one that further illustrates that the Pens do not have an overwhelming edge on offense against the Flyers. 

You may be refering to the Rangers fans. Two threads about the refs alone.

Injuries. Where was crosby hossa and roberts for half the season?

Unlike price, fleury has blossumed in the playoffs and our offense hasn't let us down.

EVERYONE has injuries. That doesn't explain anything.  Big deal, the Penguins lost Crosby for 28 games.  Malkin didn't miss any games and Hossa played in 72 games.  That doesn't explain anything.  Simone Gagne only played in 25 games all season for the Flyers and he is their second biggest offensive weapon. 

I think Pens fans are really overstating just how good some of their players are.  The Pens definitely have the advantage when it comes to their top 3 guys, no doubt about it.  Once you get past that though  you will see the Flyers simply have more guys that put the puck in the net.  They have 7 players with 20+ goals compared to Pittsburgh's 5. 

Don't get me wrong, the Pens are a very good team with two very good lines.  But after those two lines there is nothing there.  The Flyers are solid three line team.  Umberger is a third line center and he had 9 goals against Montreal.  I just think you guys really haven't looked too closely at the match-ups as a whole.  And some Pens fans are really getting carried away saying that you have 3 "SUPERSTARS".  Crosby is a SUPERSTAR, he was annointed as one before he ever took the ice in the NHL. Malkin is definitely a star and he had a phenominal year and could very well wind up being a superstar at some point.  But Im sorry Hossa is not even close to being a superstar.  Hes a good player but there are no -14 superstars.