The Broad Street Blog

This is the kind of hockey you wait all year for. The playoffs don’t start until sometime next week, but the games being played right now feel like playoff games. Players fighting for every inch. Tempers flaring amongst the players. And the fans are completely into it. I mean, I’d boo my grandmother right now if she was wearing a Penguins jersey. (She wouldn’t do that, she has better taste.)

This is was the first in three crucial games for the Flyers, two of which are against Philadelphia’s cross state rivals. The Flyers came out in the first period and really took it to Pittsburgh. However, the Penguins turned in the following two periods and the Flyers let them dictate the pace of play.

I guess Sidney Crosby now has card blanche from the officials. He can jump another player and throw some punches, but only the other player gets a penalty. One thing that you wont see on the score sheet is the official’s assist on the Penguins second goal that was a result of the penalty call. After Crosby’s over-the-top celebration, I think I did see him high five one of the refs.

Sergei Gonchar also viciously hit Scott Hartnell in the face with the butt end of this stick, and there was blood all over his face, but the official who was about 10 feet away completely ignored it. However, when you have this type of adversity, you have to be able to rise to the occasion. The Flyers failed there and let the Penguins score all four of their goals on the Power Play chances they were given.

The Flyers had a scare when Timonen left the game after blocking a shot in the second period. He did return about half way through the third period. Late in the game, Danny Briere also had a ugly hit put on him by thug Jarkko Ruutu and left the game. He will be ready to go on Friday against the Devils however.

Highlights
Game Summary
Box Score

Tags:   briere · Crosby · Flyers · Gonchar · Hartnell · Penguins · TimonenNo Comments