We are not breaking any news when we say that a Flyers loss Tuesday night would put them in a near-insurmountable 3-0 hole to the Penguins.
The trend is on the Flyers' side, however: The Flyers have won six of the last seven and seven of the last nine when facing a 2-0 deficit in a seven-game series.
A few things we think worth watching:
* Home-ice advantage: The Penguins have only lost once in the playoffs and that was at Madison Square Garden. That is not much to cling to, but it's better than facing the 15-game winning streak they have at the Igloo. The Flyers are 4-1 at home and you can expect the Wachovia Center to be loud.
* Numbers game on defense: Bottom line is that the Flyers have lost their two best defenseman in Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Coburn. Ryan Parent figures to take Coburn's spot in the lineup, but he is a rookie, although any ice time will help ease the load from Game 2. Derian Hatcher and Jason Smith simply cannot play that many minutes.
* Star system: While Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were hitting the scoresheet over and over, the Flyers' best players simply were not playing their best (other than Mike Richards). Danny Briere and Vinny Prospal were each a minus-2 in the first game. Briere was minus-1 in Game 2 and Prospal was even. Briere has taken three shots in the first two games; Prospal has taken five. Briere is also a combined 11 for 26 on faceoffs. The magic these two had earlier in the playoffs needs to return, and return quickly.
* The goalie: Martin Biron has not played badly, but sometimes the goalie needs to bail out the team in front of him. That might be Biron's fate for the rest of the series.
* The power play: The Flyers had the second-best power play in the league during the regular season and are 1-for-6 in the series. A big factor there, of course, is that Timonen is not on the ice.
Tell us what you will be watching and your keys to the game.
Rich Hofmann has been at the Daily News since 1980. He previously blogged the Eagles' postseason run in 2006. 
Ed Barkowitz was the first Philadelphia Newspaper journalist to write a blog, starting back in 2002.
Comments (13)
My keys to the game:
1. Mike Richards. He's giving us a chance out there every single shift. He's an amazing player. Keep him on Malkin and hope Carter can do an even better job on Crosby. It's a joy to watch Mike Richards.
2. All the forwards have to support the defense, especially Hatcher, who is heroically playing on one leg.
3. Control the neutral zone. The Flyers HAVE to control the Penguins' transition game better than they have; they seem like they're in position to me, but then they are fumbling the puck at the last second. I think this is what Richards means when he says they have to play better. They have to control the puck when they have their opportunities.
4. Play physical. On the boards especially (between the wall and dots, like Stevens says), but in open ice, too. Not cheap shot for cheap shot, but commitment to checking at every opportunity. Take away time and space. Witness Detroit against Dallas in the 3rd period last night. The Flyers can play like that. I've seen them do it.
5. More Sami Kappenen. Get him on one of the top three lines if the fourth line isn't playing enough.
6. Skate better. Was it the ice in Pittsburg? Let's hope so.
7. Our fans. They are the best. Boo Malkin and Crosby. Cheer every hit. Get the team JUICED.
I could go on..... GO FLYERS!!!!!
Posted by Stacy | May 13, 2008 8:23 AM
Pens fan here. I Like the coverage you guys have here between the articles and the blogs -- great way to get a real feel for what the real fans of the opponent are thinking. Good stuff.
My read:
1. Down your top two defensemen changes everything. The flyers won't accept that as any excuse, which says good things about the team. But we all know the matchup is not as good as it would have been absent such big injuries. This issue permeates everything else.
2. Reffing has been lousy, but primarily because it is inconsistent. I can understand the Philly complaints, but Pens fans are seeing a few things missed or badly called as well. A good example was the call in game one, 3rd, when Orpik drilled Hartnell, knocking him feet up over onto his back behind the Pens net for a phantom holding call. This was identical to the legit hit game two where Hatcher lit up Malkin behind the Phili goal (I think it was in the 2nd) -- no call a good call. Look at the tape -- both are virtually identical. Game II also had a penalty in front of the Pens net in the 2nd on Dupuis, I think it was, for interference on Kukkonen. Dupuis didn't touch him. Kukkonen tripped over a leg of another pen who was sliding past the net -- completely incidental. Both sides could do this all day. No point to go further.
3. puck control is killing the Flyers. Sloppy. No fresh news there.
4. Pens were not on there A game in II.
5. Physicality is all nice from the Flyers, but so far its been a step behind the play consistently. That turns a legit disruption strategy into distraction from the developing play + potential penalty calls as the game progresses. Eventually the refs catch up on you with constant behind the play hits.
Good luck tonight. Hopefully no more injuries. Its a real shame to the series.
Posted by Hadrian | May 13, 2008 10:12 AM
test
Posted by oldiesfanjohn | May 13, 2008 10:47 AM
Wow, Hadrian - wish all fans could be that objective.
1. Passing. The Penguins are doing a great job blocking our passing lanes.
2. Shot selection. Shooting from the outside and at the top of the circle isn't working. Our forwards need to get in the slot, create traffic in front, and get in position for good rebounds. Fleury is leaving some juicy ones out in front, but no one's there to capitalize.
3. Production. Is it just me or is Richards the only forward who showed up this series? I would like to see more from Briere (obviously), Lupul, and Umberger, as well as some solid shifts from our fourth line.
Posted by Brian | May 13, 2008 10:49 AM
Yo Hadrian,
Nice to see reasonable analysis from Pens fans on this board instead of the general nonsense that has been coming from your compatriots. I appreciate it. I was starting to worry that everyone on the other side of the state was deranged.
Regarding the penalties, though, I agree that both sides have some reason to complain. Still, when the refs allow Malkin to throw an elbow at Briere's head, but they don't allow Hatch to make a clean defensive play on Malkin, we're left scratching our heads a bit. And game 2's 7-10 penalty ratio gave the Pens a distinct advantage, when penalty-worthy plays were about even on both sides. Moreover, we're just about sick of the double standard we're faced with every game. If Richie threw an elbow at Crosby and knocked him woozy, you know that Richie would have been in the box for at least 2 and the media would be talking about how the Flyers are the dirtiest team in the league.
This doesn't change the fact that the series is largely being determined by injuries and a Flyers offense that has been ineffective thus far, but it certainly stings.
A question for you: does Mike Richards get any respect out in Penguin land? Before the series began, I was reading an interesting discussion on a national site, where Flyers fans tried to compare him to Ovechkin, Crosby, and Malkin. Judging by reactions from other fans, you would have thought that those players were being compared to Jesse Boulerice or something. It was absurd. Yes, Ovie, Crosby, and Malkin are going to put up gaudier offensive numbers, but Richards' commitment to playing all facets of the game puts him among the game's elite, and I hope that Pens fans have gained an appreciation of that in the first two games of this series. The Richie-Crosby matchup is going to be with us for a long time, and it's only going to get better as these players get older and gain more experience.
Posted by Mike P | May 13, 2008 10:55 AM
My KEY to game 3: Sami Kap needs to be back playing defense to pick up the slack and change pace for our break outs! Having slow, lumbering defenseman like Modry, or Smith or Hatch or even Jones try and start the break out against the much faster Pen forwards is so utterly frustrating to have to endure. I know he is no savior, but the crafty veteran that he is would provide a change of pace. Secondly, we need to through the kitchen sink at their net, how many freak bounces have gone in throughout these playoffs by just having people in front of the net and throwing pucks there? Lastly, has anyone seen Briere or Propal? If so, let them know there is a game tonight and they should probably show up. Let's GO FLYERS!!!
Posted by dannyv | May 13, 2008 11:20 AM
Mike P, another Pens fan here. In response to your question about Richards, the guy's been an absolute star. He won't ever get the sort of press or hype that the big-number guys get, but he's always in the right place to score goals and he finishes at both ends of the ice. He's Ron Francis.
Posted by Russ | May 13, 2008 11:42 AM
The biggest key is going to be our Defensemen feeling comfortable enough to pinch in the Penguins zone. Right now Hatcher & Smith have been fantastic on Defense. (We only lost by a goal & and Empty netter) But they recognize Pitsburgh's speed and seem loathe to commit to Offense. They might be giving the Pens a bit too much respect. This is where Timmonen & Coburn's loss really hit's us. We're going to need Jones, Modry & Kukk to step up the offense. & We're going to need Biron to hold the fort if we do get caught.
Honestly we lost 2 away games. by 1 & 2 goal margins. That's not bad. We haven't stolen that Away game yet, but we can have 2 more shots at it as long as we win our home games. This series is not Done by a freaking longshot.
Go Flyers!!!!
Posted by flyler | May 13, 2008 1:01 PM
In my opinion, the one key to the game is puck control. The Flyers have to be able to consistently make more than 2 or 3 passes before losing the puck. They do that, and the Penguins counter-rush opportunities will be limited, as will the number of turnovers the Flyers have.
Posted by Pat H | May 13, 2008 1:14 PM
Needless to say this game is the series tonight. I am hoping that Parent can fill in nicely and eat up some minutes so Hatcher and Smith don't fall down from exhaustion on the ice. The team as a whole obviously has no jump since the Pens are controlling the play completely. Hopefully they can make adjustments so the forwards don't skate too far ahead of the play (they need give up on the long homerun pass -- too risky). If they start completing passes and get the puck in the zone then the forecheck starts to light up a little and puts the pressure on the Pens to clear the zone for once.
Without Timonen, the PP is a hot mess and not easy on the eyes. But you don't get points for beauty so take shots and get some rebounds. Ugly goals count the same as highlight goals so get some shots on net.
I agree that they played well in Game 2 but they have had trouble clearing their own zone all season and it was bound to hurt them eventually. Score the first goal and set the tone and don't let the Penguins take the crowd out of the game early.
It will be tough to counter Crosby, Malkin, and Hossa (especially without Coburn now) but here's hoping the forwards step it up and possess the puck for stretches.
OK, I'm done with my nervous rambling.
Go Flyboys
Posted by Mike | May 13, 2008 4:48 PM
Keys to the game:
There really isn't a whole lot to be said, so I'll break it down into 2 topics.
Offense - **Strong, balanced forecheck**. Try to disrupt plays coming out of their end, but try not go get caught up deep in the zone. Save the hits for between the top of the circles to the blue line on their way out. Put the puck on net and have somebody closing in on the opposite side of the play to hopefully pop home a rebound.
Defense - **Fundamental positioning**. Keep the pinching in to a minimum, cause the Pens will burn us on an odd-man rush. Keep the area in front of Marty clear, or at least neutralize the guys that end up there. Get some air on the puck when you get it out of the zone, especially if we end up down a goal late. If we have to ice the puck to relieve some pressure, ICE THE PUCK. I would much rather see an icing call than a bad turnover near our blue-line.
Posted by Dave | May 13, 2008 5:44 PM
Here's mine:
Offense - The Flyers need to hit the blue line with speed, following a crisp pass out of the defensive zone. Too often, you see weak passes out of the zone that slow down the offense and prevent them from setting up in the Penguins' end. This has a lot to do with the loss of Kimmo and Coby, but that's no excuse. Then, they'll have some space to cycle the puck, cause havoc in front of Fleury, and get shots from the point through traffic. Let's hope that Briere and Prospal can get some goals, with Stevens setting up favorable matchups on home ice.
Defense - I liked what I saw on Sunday night against Malkin and Hossa. They need to keep up that physical play and work on suffocating Crosby. Keeping Pittsburgh off of the power play is key... 2 of Pittsburgh's 3 goals on Sunday came after penalties that shouldn't have been called, and Pittsburgh only seemed to threaten the Flyers when on the advantage.
Posted by Mike P | May 13, 2008 6:43 PM
re the question from Mike P, I like Richards a ton. He gets its done. How can you not like it. Its funny you ask the question -- during tonight's game my buddy and I were saying to one another that its unfortunate for Philly he doesn't have the speed on his team to keep up with his play. We then concluded he'd be a great addition to the Pens since his speed would be such a great compliment.
We then also felt really good about the balance the Pens have between skill, speed, and toughness. I think Philly will be more dangerous if they can just add a little speed.
And ditch Downey... That's just not helping the cause.
Posted by Hadrian | May 13, 2008 11:00 PM