Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry44
Thank you. Yes, we lost to the Devils. But I think that any realistic assessment of that series has to address some basic facts working against the Flyers. Yes, Kovalchuk was playing hurt, but so were:
Giroux (double wrist surgery)
Jagr (groin/hip issue)
Hartnell (bad foot in the last games)
JVR (infected surgically repaired broken foot)
Simmonds (surgery on broken finger)
Couturier (foot/knee? and possible concussion)
Briere (back injury from last game, was never right)
Timonen (back surgery and sore knee)
Carle (surgery on stomach muscle)
Meszaros (only played last game - back surgery)
Grossmann (concussion/knee)
Lilja (had a minor injury vs. Pens)
Kubina (undisclosed, but you could tell he was hurt - ribs? shoulder?
Bourdon (out with concussion)
Bryzgalov (chipped bone in foot)
Who have I forgot? I'm sure there were a lot of other undiagnosed injuries too, including Schenn having a concussion after Asham's cheapshot.
The fact is that the Flyers took so many uncalled cheapshots against the Pens that they weren't healthy enough to beat a good Devils team coming off a pattycake-pattycake series with the Panthers. Our entire D was decimated, and no one can win like that. Gus and Coburn were the only ones who didn't appear to be playing hurt.
In the absence of burning hatred, the boring Devils just let the injured Flyerdogs lie, to their credit. The Devils were also good enough to beat a very good Ranger team. Now they've lost their captain.
I really hope Homer doesn't lose his mind and trade a Voracek for Ryan. We need to keep Jake. I would think about dealing Read and Meszaros or Simmonds, if necessary, but not JV. And if we're giving away that package, I'd almost sooner get Bouwmeester instead.
Keep the kids!
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It must be the summer heat, Larry. I'm agreeing with so many of your posts.
We can pretty much toss out any conclusions about the Flyers and playoff appearances after this past season's showing.
Every other series: Tour de France
Flyers - Penguins series: Formula 1 demolition derby