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Sharks win game 1 in overtime, FUCK YEA

Oh Flyers...

This second round might have been the strangest in recent memory. Both the top two seeds in the east, Flyers and Capitals, were completely swept. Detroit was almost swept (they weren't the top seed, but they are NOT supposed to be in such a hole!). The only series going as expected so far is the Vancouver/Nashville series.

Breetai wrote:This second round might have been the strangest in recent memory. Both the top two seeds in the east, Flyers and Capitals, were completely swept. Detroit was almost swept (they weren't the top seed, but they are NOT supposed to be in such a hole!). The only series going as expected so far is the Vancouver/Nashville series.

I am not surprised that the Flyers got swept so early, I am more surprised that we got out of the series with the Sabres. The Flyers meltdown began before the post season. I have no idea what was going on with that team. Tired? Leadership issues? One goalie too young and one goalie to old? Coaching? Injuries? All of the above?

The team needs retooling and some motivation needs to be drilled into a couple of the kids on the team. I really want Bob to be back. He will have a whole off season and training camp to become our starting goaltender for next season. I am not worried about him, he didn't expect to be doing this much last year. Had no real mental preparation time before being thrown into the starting position. He still did pretty dang well. I like Boosh (and I still like Leighton), but Bob needs true support. Someone who can be the mentor Boosh was, but win some games if Bob needs rest. I think we would have done better if we started Bob again game one versus the Bruins (maybe even earlier). He played an amazing game his first start of the post season, only allowing 1 goal. The lost got in his head it would seem although it was the fault of the team in front of him. I think he looked good those occasions where he came in for relief, and he looked good in game four against the Bruins. The team in front left him out to dry, a young goalie who is playing in his first post season of his first season with a new team in a new league can't be left to win a game on his own (not even Ryan Miller could do it).

Couple of other things: yeah Zherdev had his normal moodiness during the season, but he came through during the end of the season and into the playoffs. I think he was one of the hardest working forwards out there for the Flyers - he has been a bizarre story all year as has the coaches handling of him. Deciding to sit him for Shelley in game four was a wrong move. A player is playing the best hockey of his season and you sit him for a guy whose only purpose is to send a physical message in a game where he will most likely only play 4 minutes and there is no other message to send except scoring goals and winning... phew... sorry.

Matt Carle. I want to like you. Just like I was with Ryan Parent, I keep waiting for you to breakout. It didn't happen when we really needed it. I regret trading Sbisa more and more.

Richards and Carter's lack of enthusiasm is unacceptable. I can't believe Zherdev is being blasted for being moody and lacking passion and a solid work ethic, when Carter has been getting away with it for years. You could argue that Carter's scoring output is the reason he is given special treatment, but Zherdev had almost as high a PPG than Briere (or at least 2nd highest behind Briere) in only a handful of games. Richards and Carter have been a problem for a few seasons, break them up. Richards seemed to get a little better, but Carter still floats around.

I never liked Richards as Captain. I think he showed potential, but needed to work a lot harder and prove himself for a few more seasons before being given the C. You don't always need a Captain to be loud and outspoken, but leading by example requires a player to actually lead by example (that still only gets you so far). Plus, the constant rumors of locker room troubles surrounding Richards and Carter's polarizing personalities needs to end. I hear that Richards and Pronger are the latest to be going at it with the teams taking sides. I voted that Pronger or Timmonen should be Captains and I still stand by it. They lead by example and show up to every game. Plus, I have always liked Defensemen as Captains. Not sure why.

Discipline seems to be the biggest of the Flyers problems. They just lack it. Every player is guilty of it. Stupid penalties that I cannot believe are tolerated. Hartnell played a better game this season, but he still took too many awful penalties, penalties he knows were horrible because he always gives that stupid grin afterwards. Carcillo can't keep from blowing his top. I keep hearing "well he can score." Bring in someone else who can score and be scrappy without throwing a temper tantrum and getting thrown out of each game. Briere is one of the worse with stick penalties and he had another one last night. I still felt like we were in the game and then he took a penalty and I just said screw it it is over. Someone needs to crack the whip, benchings for stupid penalties. Especially since turnovers plagued this team this season, leading to stupid plays to make up for it. Shelley may not be good for scoring, but he does it right. He gets under peoples skin, knows when it's appropriate to drop the gloves or take a penalty, and doesn't get himself into too much trouble on the ice.

Sorry for the huge analysis.

[quote="vash23n"I never liked Richards as Captain. I think he showed potential, but needed to work a lot harder and prove himself for a few more seasons before being given the C. You don't always need a Captain to be loud and outspoken, but leading by example requires a player to actually lead by example (that still only gets you so far). Plus, the constant rumors of locker room troubles surrounding Richards and Carter's polarizing personalities needs to end. I hear that Richards and Pronger are the latest to be going at it with the teams taking sides. I voted that Pronger or Timmonen should be Captains and I still stand by it. They lead by example and show up to every game. Plus, I have always liked Defensemen as Captains. Not sure why.[/quote]
I actually agree. Prongs, despite the cocky prick he can be, knows how to lead a team and knows his hockey better than most. He should be captain and would have been if he wasn't so "new" to the team. They are trying to build the team around Richards perhaps, which is why he's captain.

In essence: Pronger should be the leader and Richards the humble leader-in-training.

A lack of discipline and injuries (Pronger's injury was H.U.G.E.) is why they were swept. The Flyers do have the talent to win the cup.

Breetai wrote:I actually agree. Prongs, despite the cocky prick he can be, knows how to lead a team and knows his hockey better than most. He should be captain and would have been if he wasn't so "new" to the team. They are trying to build the team around Richards perhaps, which is why he's captain.

In essence: Pronger should be the leader and Richards the humble leader-in-training.

A lack of discipline and injuries (Pronger's injury was H.U.G.E.) is why they were swept. The Flyers do have the talent to win the cup.

I agree. The best reason to make Pronger captain is so he can start kicking the player's asses. I feel as though Richards is a grumbler. He only really stands up and speaks when the media starts getting on him about never standing up and speaking to his team. I think this is why the team is always rumored to be divided in the locker room. He grumbles and others grumble with him. One of the veterans finds out and tries to set everyone straight and we hear, Richards is the captain and we don't want to step on his toes. So no one ends up taking the lead. Pronger can be scary to his opponents and he needs to be scary to his team mates. Let someone try some lazy, winy bullshit. I could see him shoving a hockey glove down their throat. With all the talk of Richards leading by example, Pronger truly does this. Plus he delivers in all other aspects of the game. My only fear with him is that he is having some injury issues these last two seasons. He's getting older and I am worried this could be the trend. My second choice would be Kimmo for the same reasons - he is not as big and mean as Pronger, but he is just as serious about winning. I worry he's almost done too, he looked really dissatisfied at the end of last season and he seemed to want to say eff it at the end of this season. I heard JJ say (I think it was him) that Kimmo says his tanks almost empty or something like that. Maybe that just had to do with this season (still bad), but it made it sound like he was nearing retirement.

The Sharks better not lose again tomorrow or my face may go through my computer screen

Go Sharks!

vash23n wrote:Go Sharks!

Game 1 is sunday evening

Bradtemple87 wrote:

vash23n wrote:Go Sharks!

Game 1 is sunday evening

Go 'Nucks!