Flyers Playoff Coverage - Game One Open Thread
Friday, April 11, 2008
GAME 1
Tonight the playoffs get underway for the southeast division champion Washington Capitals and the surging Philadelphia Flyers. Look for a wide open game tonight as many of these players are making their first appearance in the playoffs, and for some of the veteran players this is an overdue return to the post season.
For the Capitals everything is focused largely on Alex Ovechkin, the best player in hockey. For the Flyers everything will be focused on how to contain Ovechkin. After all, you can't stop him, you can only hope to contain him.
Both goaltenders in this series are not playoff tested so it remains to be seen who has the advantage in that crucial area. Martin Biron capped off the final two games of the season with a pair of shut outs over the nemesis New Jersey Devils and star rival Pittsburgh Penguins. While many Flyers fans look to that to be a great sign of momentum, I am a little less optimistic. We know that the Penguins weren't giving their all in the final game.
Danny Briere will be back in the Flyers lineup tonight and seeing him paired with Vinny Prospal will be fun to see again. Those two seemed to gel together pretty well. Darien Hatcher will not play tonigh and may not return to the defense until game three in Philadelphia. Al Morganti of 610 WIP had a great point on why the Flyers should wait until game three and that is because with the home team getting the last switch of players in stoppages of play the Capitals would have a huge advantage if they saw a slowed down Hatcher on the ice. We will see what happens.
I predict a Capitals victory in game one, but I anticipate the series coming back to Philadelphia tied at one. I am prepared to say Flyers win out in six games.
This is an open thread so it may or may not get updated up to and during the game tonight with new links, videos etc. Feel free to comment away and cheer on your Flyers (or Capitals) in the comment section.
12:30pm - Al Morganti picks the Flyers in six (HT: 700 Level). WWN picks Caps in six. Morganti always picks the Flyers in six so take what you will from this.
News links
Caps briefing: Flyers make good foils - DClist
Ovechkin to star in NHL playoffs - Russia Today
Flyers-Capitals Preview - ESPN
Al Morganti Q&A - 700 Level
Flyers-Capitals Preview - USA Today
NHL Playoff Prediction: Capitals - Flyers - Point Spreads
Ovechkin set to dazzle physical Flyers - CBC Sports
Entering playoffs as underdog is good for the Flyers - Bleacher Report
Tonight the playoffs get underway for the southeast division champion Washington Capitals and the surging Philadelphia Flyers. Look for a wide open game tonight as many of these players are making their first appearance in the playoffs, and for some of the veteran players this is an overdue return to the post season.
For the Capitals everything is focused largely on Alex Ovechkin, the best player in hockey. For the Flyers everything will be focused on how to contain Ovechkin. After all, you can't stop him, you can only hope to contain him.
Both goaltenders in this series are not playoff tested so it remains to be seen who has the advantage in that crucial area. Martin Biron capped off the final two games of the season with a pair of shut outs over the nemesis New Jersey Devils and star rival Pittsburgh Penguins. While many Flyers fans look to that to be a great sign of momentum, I am a little less optimistic. We know that the Penguins weren't giving their all in the final game.
Danny Briere will be back in the Flyers lineup tonight and seeing him paired with Vinny Prospal will be fun to see again. Those two seemed to gel together pretty well. Darien Hatcher will not play tonigh and may not return to the defense until game three in Philadelphia. Al Morganti of 610 WIP had a great point on why the Flyers should wait until game three and that is because with the home team getting the last switch of players in stoppages of play the Capitals would have a huge advantage if they saw a slowed down Hatcher on the ice. We will see what happens.
I predict a Capitals victory in game one, but I anticipate the series coming back to Philadelphia tied at one. I am prepared to say Flyers win out in six games.
This is an open thread so it may or may not get updated up to and during the game tonight with new links, videos etc. Feel free to comment away and cheer on your Flyers (or Capitals) in the comment section.
12:30pm - Al Morganti picks the Flyers in six (HT: 700 Level). WWN picks Caps in six. Morganti always picks the Flyers in six so take what you will from this.
News links
Caps briefing: Flyers make good foils - DClist
Ovechkin to star in NHL playoffs - Russia Today
Flyers-Capitals Preview - ESPN
Al Morganti Q&A - 700 Level
Flyers-Capitals Preview - USA Today
NHL Playoff Prediction: Capitals - Flyers - Point Spreads
Ovechkin set to dazzle physical Flyers - CBC Sports
Entering playoffs as underdog is good for the Flyers - Bleacher Report
