Ruffian

Let's Go Flyers!

It doesn't matter, in the long run, if the general public doesn't see what a could be a great series. Hockey coaches, GM's, scouts will all see it and hopefully copy the style. It would be one of the best things for hockey in attracting new fans. Casual fans like to see goals scored. They don't appreciate a defensive game or a stellar goaltender unless he is making hilight reel saves. And it feeds into the league wanting a kinder, gentler league. The Lightning were one of the least penalized teams in the regular season. Great hockey traditions have to start somewhere.

Maybe the ratings won't be there but I think a Lightning/Sharks matchup would be good for hockey for this reason: Teams copy winners. How many teams adopted the Devils' trapping style after they won a few cups? It's boring. The Lightning and Sharks are fast skating, skill teams. Hockey fans would be in for a treat if teams started copying them. I love the Flyers. Love how they have been playing. But througout the season I found the Lightning to be much more fun to watch. DaveK, what I said about Francis is that he is another player will a lot of heart as opposed to Kovalev. Who cares what he and Jagr did 10 or more years ago? Even in 94 Kovalev was a putz and almost cost the Rangers a game.

I don't see that the series wore the Flyers down. In fact I think they are building towards greater things, just as they should be. I also see a close team that draws inspiration from each other. The Lightning are the same and it should be a very close series. I love both teams and whoever loses it will break my heart.

Dave, did you watch the Flyers/Leafs tonight? Did you see the Tucker hit on Kapanen in OT? Kapanen did what gutsy hcokey players do. He made the winning goal possible by not making the play stop. Doesn't matter that he's a Euro or not. I saw Ron Francis do it a few years ago after a hit by Scott Stevens. Darryl Sydor crawled off the ice after a high ankle sprain. It's the playoffs. Guys like Kovalev and Ribiero don't belong on the same ice as those I named.

Officiating in the NHL is a farce. Bertuzzi's suspension means almost nothing now that Antropov has been allowed to swing his stick with impunity. The league needs to consistently hand down suspensions for using the stick with intent to injure whether it is the regular season or the playoffs. How does Ekman get a suspension and Antropov does not?

Apology accepted. I like plenty of non-North Americans. Lidstrom is my favorite defenseman in the whole league. Hasek was amazing. Khabibulin is who helped the Lightning turn the corner. Fedotenko is a personal favorite for his heart. I'd like Jagr if he had half of Feds' heart. Don't be mislead by my appreciation of a physical game. I like watching skilled players too. Who wouldn't love Forsberg? Selanne and now Gaborik. Sturm, Hecht, Ekman, Frolov, Zetterberg and Timonen are all Euros I appreciate very much. Who I dissed are two players who appear to put themselves before their team. Who disappear when they are needed most.

So you only consider a team dirty if they brawl? IMO that's a pretty narrow interpretation. I think dirty encompasses a whole lot of illegal actions by more than one of their players. Dirty is cheating and includes slashing, tripping, roughing, holding and even interference. Mostly though when I think of a dirty team I do think Ottawa and Toronto. NJ doesn't do the stick work but they do a whole lot of holding and get away with it.

I put Kovalev and Jagr in the same grouping. No heart. Lemieux had plenty of heart. There is also a difference between goons and physical players. McSorley and Domi don't compare to guys like Modano and JR. I'd take Sakic and quite a few others before Kovalev for what he pulled the first time much less after pulling it again against Boston. I have no respect for him no matter how much skill he has.

You had a pretty strong anti-fighting position. Liking a putz like Kovalev goes along with that.

Good news for the Flyers. Bad news for the Leafs. Flyers' coach Ken Hitchcock said on Monday that he hoped Esche would be ready for Game 6, since he's ill - not injured. "Robert was diagnosed with flu-like symptoms and dehydration," said Hitchcock. "He felt better today, and were hopeful that he can play tomorrow. Were thinking that, right now, hell be good to go tomorrow. His [injury] is not concussion related, or anything that was being reported. It has nothing to do with that. Weve had two or three players have exactly the same thing, and have had the same symptoms and the same problems throughout this series, and he was just an extension of whats been kind of going through the team here, so hes fine, pending practice." Burke will replace Esche if needed, with Antero Niittymaki making the trip just in case. Esche

Dave, you say you don't think TO is dirty. What do you think of Antropov coming up to JR after the play was blown dead while he was with a ref (or linesman) and cracking a stick across the back of his head? Is that not dirty? If it had been JR or Brashear they would have been tossed and you know it.

Figures. You should be embarrassed to admit that. He's pulled that I'm too injured to continue act twice now. To top it off he blamed a teammate for his own failure this time. He's a disgrace. The 2004 Canadiens are an embarrassment to the great teams of the 70's because of him and Ribiero.

Looks like there is no further reason to debate Esche. He left after the first period yesterday. I've been told it's a concussion from a puck off of the face mask in Friday's game. The Flyers will have to keep scoring like they did yesterday. I don't have as much confidence in Burke.

I'm not in Tampa. I live near Orlando. Mickey Mouse's backyard you might say. Tommiejo, you in the Tampa area? Do you go to the games?

I have Lightning season tickets so I've watched all the playoff games. I wouldn't say the Habs are dirty. The Senators and Leafs are though. The Leafs are whiners too. What I don't like about the Canadiens is the diving, easpecially the great performances by Kovalev and Ribiero in the Boston series. Esche was beatable in the last two games. But it was as much the fault of the team as a whole as his alone. The Flyers flat out did not come to play while TO came out roaring. The Leafs wanted those games more. Mental preparedness has been the Flyers weakness the past few seasons more than anything else. The talent is better than it has been in years. It appeared this might be the season they shook the tag of mental fragility. Unfortunately the doubt is back.

Sorry if I wasn't clear RedWing. Sharks over Avs this round. Sharks over the Wings next round. Sharks/Flyers-Lightning winner for the finals.

Flyers will take care of the Leafs. It would not be a shock to see Tampa beat Philly although the Flyers are coming together at the right time.

MafiaMan won't be wrong. Philadelphia and Tampa are the best in the East. A match up of these two teams would be much better for the NHL than a Canadian series. I think this not because of the American market but because it would be better hockey. Both teams are playing very well.

Sharks Flames Flyers Lightning Should the Wings meet the Lightning in the Finals the Wings age would show. After seeing what Nashville could do in their two wins I know Tampa would stand up pretty well with their speed. My prediction for the Finals - Flyers v Sharks, Flyers win. Although Tampa coming out of the East wouldn't surprise me.

As far as personal preference a lot has to do with what you are used to. I watch the NHL, both on CenterIce and live. I've attended some minor league games and it just isn't as enjoyable. Same for watching college hockey. It's has a different appeal. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Wouldn't say Brodeur was swiss cheese and Zach wouldn't have made a difference. The Devils defense was weaker than in the past and Brodeur was fallible but the biggest reason Philly won is that they are the better team this year. Should be an interesting match up if the Flyers meet the Lighting in the Eastern Conference Championship.

Until they showed me how they'd play against the Devils the Flyers concerned me. Not any more. Zhamnov may be the ingredient they have been missing.

Despite the outcome for the Islanders Blake did have a good a series. It surprised me he came back so quickly from his high ankle sprain and was still effective. Parrish was out much longer with his.