Habs still need home ice. MSL-Girardi-and McDonagh all scratched, but they are healthy. Rangers have a tough time in Montreal, beat them shorthanded and start the offs feeling tough.. LGR
Not sure they win a round without him. Biron predicted a Rangers-Habs ECF, which is extremely unlikely but stranger things have happened. Pittsburgh isn't playing that well right now and the Bruins have a difficult road for a Presidents Trophy winner (Detroit in Round 1 is no cakewalk followed by possibly the Habs)
Today's Daily News says Kreider won't be able to play at all in the first round - unknown beyond that.
Targeting a shoulder is relatively easy. Already told you how they are likely to do it. Whenever McDonagh is on the ice, the Flyers will dump the puck on their offensive rushes instead of carrying it across the blue line - forcing McDonagh to chase it back to the rear boards ... at that point it becomes a matter of pounding the shoulder - the outer shoulder takes the body hit - the inner shoulder hits the boards ...
McDonagh wasn't able to take any slap shots during today's practice because of the shoulder ... therefore there's likely to be soreness as of Thu - and the Flyers are the type of team that will game plan (as I've outlined above) to specifcally target his shoulder. Not a difficult thing to do at all. Quite easy in point of fact.
Today's Daily News says Kreider won't be able to play at all in the first round - unknown beyond that.
No it didn't. It simply said it's unknown how long he's out, and he could be out for the entire first round. (I'm not saying he will be back against the Flyers, I suspect he won't be, but the News hasn't said that).
If that's the case, then he can't play and we have to move on with other guys as much as it pains me to say that.
And I can't blame the flyers or any other team for testing someone less than 100%. It's the playoffs - and these teams aren't friends. But yeah, they should patty-cake McD all series because It's humane.....
Cmon. This isn't golf nor badminton. You sweep the leg.
If that's the case, then he can't play and we have to move on with other guys as much as it pains me to say that.
And I can't blame the flyers or any other team for testing someone less than 100%. It's the playoffs - and these teams aren't friends. But yeah, they should patty-cake McD all series because It's humane.....
Cmon. This isn't golf nor badminton. You sweep the leg.
Here's what the Daily News said about today's practice:
Quote:
However, anyone at Saturday’s morning skate in Montreal could have seen that when all of the defensemen lined up for slap shots from the blue line, McDonagh did not wind up and instead elected to flick soft wrist shots towards the net. Here’s why:
McDonagh said as of Saturday morning, he physically has the range of motion back to take a slap shot, which he didn’t have in the immediate aftermath of the injury. That’s great news. He admitted there may be some pain when he does so; it’s just that the pain wouldn’t stop him from doing it in a game if he played.
And I didn't say I blamed them ... I simply said they were going to target his shoulder. I don't like it ... and I think some teams are dirtier than others ... some teams will play hard but not necessarily TRY to injure a player ... the Flyers are NOT one of those teams ... the Flyers WILL game plan on re-injuring the shoulder if they can. Maybe I'm naive and every team would game plan to intentionally injure another player. But the Flyers top the list.
No it didn't. It simply said it's unknown how long he's out, and he could be out for the entire first round. (I'm not saying he will be back against the Flyers, I suspect he won't be, but the News hasn't said that).
You're right. Went back and checked and I thought the article said he was out, but it didn't.
Quote:
They have not revealed – or do not know – how long they will be without injured left wing Chris Kreider (left hand surgery, March 28), who could miss the entire series and even more.
I was hoping philly would play Bruins in first round, but it didn't happen. Oh well, it should be tough, but I think with your good defense, you could do it.
Not true Baadbill. The Flyers in 1967/68, were still an expansion team and hadn't set their "style" yet.
After losing badly to the Blues in a series in 1971 ( they were man-handled by the Plager brothers and Noel Picard), Flyers owner Ed Snider publicly said that his team will never be physically beaten that way again. That's when his GM Keith Allen began assembling players on the "physical" side. Bob Kelly, Bob Clarke, Andre DuPont, Don Selesky,Dave Schultz, soon became the Broad Street Bullies, thus beginning the legacy that the Flyers have been known for since.
Targeting a shoulder is relatively easy. Already told you how they are likely to do it. Whenever McDonagh is on the ice, the Flyers will dump the puck on their offensive rushes instead of carrying it across the blue line - forcing McDonagh to chase it back to the rear boards ... at that point it becomes a matter of pounding the shoulder - the outer shoulder takes the body hit - the inner shoulder hits the boards ...
McDonagh wasn't able to take any slap shots during today's practice because of the shoulder ... therefore there's likely to be soreness as of Thu - and the Flyers are the type of team that will game plan (as I've outlined above) to specifcally target his shoulder. Not a difficult thing to do at all. Quite easy in point of fact.
The Flyers are going to play dump and chase and try to punish of the forecheck?
Crazy..
I do like how they will zero in on the shoulder when hitting. Usually shoulders never take a beating.
Look, I get that you're worried about McDonagh holding up in a physical series, I share the same concern. But you lose me when describing some kind of special beacon the flyers have that can target a shoulder only.
All you're really describing is what every other team will want to do to the oppositions top pair, pound them at every opportunity..
If McDonagh's shoulder can't hold up, it won't be from special targeting, it will be from playoff hockey.
his shoulder won't be a factor anyhow. He has his full range of motion back and it's just a little sore. I will say that Raffi Diaz shot that rang off both posts was a laser beam. The kid has a screamer when he lays into it. They need to take advantage of it a little more.
Not true Baadbill. The Flyers in 1967/68, were still an expansion team and hadn't set their "style" yet.
After losing badly to the Blues in a series in 1971 ( they were man-handled by the Plager brothers and Noel Picard), Flyers owner Ed Snider publicly said that his team will never be physically beaten that way again. That's when his GM Keith Allen began assembling players on the "physical" side. Bob Kelly, Bob Clarke, Andre DuPont, Don Selesky,Dave Schultz, soon became the Broad Street Bullies, thus beginning the legacy that the Flyers have been known for since.
Jim, you're undoubtedly right. My conscious memory of the Flyers really starts with the Broad Street Bullies - and I extrapolated that they were the same way from the beginning (and 1968 wasn't all that earlier) - but you obviously know more about their actual history - I never heard that quote from Snider before but, knowing why they turned into a dirty organization doesn't change my opinion of what they are.
Playoffs start Wednesday night but the awesome Knicks are home against Toronto that night so this series will either start Thursday or Friday. I'd say Thursday but I think they'll want game 2 Sunday at 1pm on NBC right?
There are 3 marquee first round games that NBC will get on tv - us, Detroit-Boston and Chicago-st louis. No other series has national interest... As much fun as I'm looking forward to mtl-tb and la-sj personally
that sucks.. my brother in law, huge Rangers fan, is flying down here (to Florida) that night and I need to pick him up at the airport around 10pm... we may have to get that flight changed.
Today's Daily News says Kreider won't be able to play at all in the first round - unknown beyond that.
McDonagh wasn't able to take any slap shots during today's practice because of the shoulder ... therefore there's likely to be soreness as of Thu - and the Flyers are the type of team that will game plan (as I've outlined above) to specifcally target his shoulder. Not a difficult thing to do at all. Quite easy in point of fact.
No it didn't. It simply said it's unknown how long he's out, and he could be out for the entire first round. (I'm not saying he will be back against the Flyers, I suspect he won't be, but the News hasn't said that).
If that's the case, then he can't play and we have to move on with other guys as much as it pains me to say that.
And I can't blame the flyers or any other team for testing someone less than 100%. It's the playoffs - and these teams aren't friends. But yeah, they should patty-cake McD all series because It's humane.....
Cmon. This isn't golf nor badminton. You sweep the leg.
If that's the case, then he can't play and we have to move on with other guys as much as it pains me to say that.
And I can't blame the flyers or any other team for testing someone less than 100%. It's the playoffs - and these teams aren't friends. But yeah, they should patty-cake McD all series because It's humane.....
Cmon. This isn't golf nor badminton. You sweep the leg.
Here's what the Daily News said about today's practice:
McDonagh said as of Saturday morning, he physically has the range of motion back to take a slap shot, which he didn’t have in the immediate aftermath of the injury. That’s great news. He admitted there may be some pain when he does so; it’s just that the pain wouldn’t stop him from doing it in a game if he played.
And I didn't say I blamed them ... I simply said they were going to target his shoulder. I don't like it ... and I think some teams are dirtier than others ... some teams will play hard but not necessarily TRY to injure a player ... the Flyers are NOT one of those teams ... the Flyers WILL game plan on re-injuring the shoulder if they can. Maybe I'm naive and every team would game plan to intentionally injure another player. But the Flyers top the list.
You're right. Went back and checked and I thought the article said he was out, but it didn't.
Not true Baadbill. The Flyers in 1967/68, were still an expansion team and hadn't set their "style" yet.
After losing badly to the Blues in a series in 1971 ( they were man-handled by the Plager brothers and Noel Picard), Flyers owner Ed Snider publicly said that his team will never be physically beaten that way again. That's when his GM Keith Allen began assembling players on the "physical" side. Bob Kelly, Bob Clarke, Andre DuPont, Don Selesky,Dave Schultz, soon became the Broad Street Bullies, thus beginning the legacy that the Flyers have been known for since.
McDonagh wasn't able to take any slap shots during today's practice because of the shoulder ... therefore there's likely to be soreness as of Thu - and the Flyers are the type of team that will game plan (as I've outlined above) to specifcally target his shoulder. Not a difficult thing to do at all. Quite easy in point of fact.
The Flyers are going to play dump and chase and try to punish of the forecheck?
Crazy..
I do like how they will zero in on the shoulder when hitting. Usually shoulders never take a beating.
Look, I get that you're worried about McDonagh holding up in a physical series, I share the same concern. But you lose me when describing some kind of special beacon the flyers have that can target a shoulder only.
All you're really describing is what every other team will want to do to the oppositions top pair, pound them at every opportunity..
If McDonagh's shoulder can't hold up, it won't be from special targeting, it will be from playoff hockey.
Not true Baadbill. The Flyers in 1967/68, were still an expansion team and hadn't set their "style" yet.
After losing badly to the Blues in a series in 1971 ( they were man-handled by the Plager brothers and Noel Picard), Flyers owner Ed Snider publicly said that his team will never be physically beaten that way again. That's when his GM Keith Allen began assembling players on the "physical" side. Bob Kelly, Bob Clarke, Andre DuPont, Don Selesky,Dave Schultz, soon became the Broad Street Bullies, thus beginning the legacy that the Flyers have been known for since.
Jim, you're undoubtedly right. My conscious memory of the Flyers really starts with the Broad Street Bullies - and I extrapolated that they were the same way from the beginning (and 1968 wasn't all that earlier) - but you obviously know more about their actual history - I never heard that quote from Snider before but, knowing why they turned into a dirty organization doesn't change my opinion of what they are.
Don't you have to change your handle? ;)
There are 3 marquee first round games that NBC will get on tv - us, Detroit-Boston and Chicago-st louis. No other series has national interest... As much fun as I'm looking forward to mtl-tb and la-sj personally