The Flyers are completely man-handling the Capitals in this series. The Capitals are a decent team and can put up a fight but in all tangible and intangible categories the Flyers are beating them this series. Caps fans and casual hockey fans need to remember that the Capitals play in the worst division in the entire league. If each division leader didn't get a top three slot, the Caps would have finished in the 7th or 8th seed. Also, with the way the scheduling is done there are a stretch of 8 inter-division games to end the regular season. The Caps were simply the best of the worst and got the chance to beat up on a group of teams with no real chance of making the playoffs. While their mid-season turn around was amazing, their "hot streak" really wasn't.

I'm just honestly enjoying watching Ovechkin, despite the fact he has been shut down this series, he really is the best player in the NHL. He just needs a better supporting cast as he can't do it all on his own.

As for the guy who thinks the Flyer's are a pack of old school goons, have you watched any games this year? The Flyer's have incredible offensive skill and depth. Their main weakness is their defense. They are seriously one or two D-men away from being the best of the best again. Hitting and fighting has a place in hockey and always will. You need to be physical to disrupt your opponent and keep/gain puck control. Checking is the easiest and best way to wear down your opponent and take control of a game. I don't think there has ever been a Stanley Cup champion in the past decade that wasn't a tough physical team. Even the Lightning had a solid group of physical guys. The closest an "all skill" team has ever gotten was Buffalo a couple years ago and they got beaten solidly by a more physical team. The key is matching physical strength with skill and speed, the Flyer's really have done that this year. To quote Fred Shero:

"20 figure skaters have never won the Stanley Cup and 20 figure skaters never will."

i agree with that quote

so what you're saying is... the Cap's are the Eagles of hockey... :lol:

lol...except their fans only discovered they existed 2 months ago :wink:

Go Flyers!!!!! Win or lose, good job this season.

and 100% agreed with NJGOAT...the capitals are lucky to even have made the playoffs. They would have been tied for the last seed if it went strictly by points.

haha touche

Yeah, that.

I would trade Gags for Green. That guy can play some hockey. Anyone think this is Hatchers last season?

Anyone think this is gags last season?

I would like to put him up as trade bait for a solid D man and use the cap space from him and Hatch to sign Prospal.

Yea but I mean with concussions. Those things scare the daylights out of me!

Eric Lindros Syndrome (ESS) :rolleyes:

I don't think so. I heard a report that if they make it to the finals he might come back. At least Scott Stevens won't be on the ice to knock him out like he did Lindros.

It's a tough call on Gags. I think that he is still a good player, but not elite. I would trade him if it ment that we would get a solid young defenseman. I guess it all comes down to his health and where the Flyer's think he will be. They picked up Prospal to fill the void that Gags left and he has been more than adequate in that role. A year or two ago there would have been no chance of trading Gags as he was the "face of the organization" but now Richards and Carter are filling that role.

If it were me calling the shots, I'd get rid of Hatcher (has one year left and I do like him but his time in the league is over), Gagne (can net you a great return), Kapanen (past his prime, let him retire with dignity) and Umberger (really doesn't fit anywhere on the team and can net a good return). Pick up 2 quality d-men with those trades and use the left over money on Prospal, Carter and some of the other UFA's. They also need to lock up Coburn long term. You should still have a nice chunk of change left to pick up a solid addition or two in free agency.

Im surprised the flyers didnt fire the coach after their 10 game losing streak in the season...such a shame.

why?

a) **** happens
b) how long was Bobby around for?

Here's food for thought.. half of the games they lost during the streak were 1 goal games lost in the last few seconds, or losses in overtime/shoot out. Get a grip and know your knowledge, or don't post BS. You're going to fire a coach who has brought a team from the last record in hockey to a game out of first place before the 10 game winless streak?

A lot of people said that. however, to fire the coach at that time would have been to give up on the playoffs entirely. If they missed the PO's, Stevens would probably be gone, but I think he has secured at least another season at this point barring a major meltdown.

Seriously, what did people expect of this team? They went from dead last the past season to 94 points and a serious PO contender. I personally didn't think the turn around would be this dramatic.

I think the Flyers are a solid team! i like them alot but i dont think they have the experience to go all the way! there young and talented i give them that. but they just started skating again. the few games they lost before the season ended were because they werent skating and were hanging back to early. honestly last night they almost lost when it was 4-3 the flyers just got lucky on the Penalty shot! it could have been anybody's game if they didnt score those last two goals.

hmm... sounds like a quote that should follow him around everywhere...

I would agree on most points. Kapanen could be let go now that we have Thorosen, they are very similar in style. I actually would keep Umberger though, he is great down low, he has some wheels and has no fear when it comes to driving to the net, and is a very strong penalty killer, that is always handy. Carter is coming along nicely, they can't let him go like they have with so many of their prospects, Prospal comes to mind.

Don't forget, Smith is also a free agent this year. I don't think he will be able to demand a huge pay increase but he deserves what he currently makes. I wouldn't mind them picking up Brian Campbell from the sharks.