30th Street Station
The hardest opening round series to pick has to be the Battle of Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia. If this was the National Football League I’d pray to my God for both teams beat the crap of out each other so bad that neither can continue and both have to suspend operations indefinitely. That would really be great, actually.
But this isn’t football. This is hockey, and though I really want to take Mike Richards, I just can’t get over the Flyers’ last game of the season. You know what happened: At home. Against the New York Rangers. The Orange needs just one point to catch the Penguins and claim the home-ice advantage for this round of post season hockey.
They lose. Fall flat. And now they have to start on the road.
Don’t underestimate what that does to a club. It sticks around. Said disappointment, a sadness that cannot be solved by saying the right things to the media, will remain with the Flyers through the next five games. Yes, Pittsburgh in five games. Maybe six.
Want a more tangible reason to take the Pens? The Flyers just don’t have the goaltending to slow the Crosby-Malkin double play. It’s that simple. They don’t have it. Never have.
[...] look as polished as they should, and I think a little experience, mixed with a little talent — like the Penguins have — could be the determining factor for the flightless [...]
The Super Bowl of the Second Round « the 4th star
April 29, 2009 at 12:03 am