Phinally Philly

It’s that time of the year again. We don’t have home ice advantage and we’re playing one of the hottest teams in the NHL, our bitter rivals the Pittsburgh Penguins. That doesn’t mean that the Orange Crush is somehow less important though. We’re still the Orange Crush whether we’re in Pittsburgh, in Philadelphia, or even at home. Our players need us more than ever. Once again we’re the underdogs and everyone is counting us out immediately. Let’s go out and show them what Philadelphia hockey is all about.

Both sides of the state certainly hate each other when it comes to hockey. On top of that the players know the significance in this series, and where there is significance in rivalry match ups hard hitting matches are sure to follow. The Flyers are better than they were last season, and the Penguins aren’t nearly as good as they were.

Some minor notes going into the series:

• Luca Sbisa and Jared Ross have been recalled by the Flyers to complete the playoff roster. Andreas Nodl has been sent back down to help the Phantoms with their playoff run.
• The teams have each finished the season with 99 points, but the Penguins get the tiebreaker and home-ice advantage.
• Philadelphia has scored 264 goals and let up 238. Pittsburgh has scored 264 goals but has let up 239.
• Martin Biron has a 2.76 GAA and a .912 sv%. Marc-Andre Fleury has a 2.67 GAA and a .912 sv%.

Scoring Breakdowns:

PHI:

1. Jeff Carter: 82 GP – 46 G – 38 A – 84 P – 0.56 GPG – 1.02 PPG
2. Mike Richards: 79 GP – 30 G – 50 A – 80 P – 0.38 GPG – 1.01 PPG
3. Simon Gagne: 79 GP – 34 G – 40 A – 74 P – 0.43 GPG – 0.94 PPG
4. Scott Hartnell: 82 GP – 30 G – 30 A – 60 P – 0.37 GPG – 0.73 PPG
5. Joffrey Lupul: 79 GP – 25 G – 25 A – 50 P – 0.32 GPG – 0.63 PPG
6. Mike Knuble: 82 GP – 27 G – 20 A – 47 P – 0.33 GPG – 0.57 PPG
7. Claude Giroux: 42 GP – 8 G – 12 A – 20 P – 0.19 GPG – 0.48 PPG
8. Danny Briere: 29 GP – 11 G – 14 A – 25 P – 0.38 GPG – 0.86 PPG

PIT:

1. Evgeni Malkin: 82 GP – 35 G – 78 A – 113 P – 0.43 GPG – 1.38 PPG
2. Sidney Crosby: 77 GP – 33 G – 70 A – 103 P – 0.43 GPG – 1.34 PPG
3. Chris Kunitz: 82 GP – 23 G – 30 A – 53 P – 0.28 GPG – 0.65 PPG
4. Jordan Staal: 82 GP – 22 G – 27 A – 49 P – 0.27 GPG – 0.60 PPG
5. Bill Guerin: 78 GP – 21 G – 27 A – 48 P – 0.27 GPG – 0.62 PPG
6. Petr Sykora: 76 GP – 25 G – 21 A – 46 P – 0.33 GPG – 0.61 PPG
7. Ruslan Fedotenko: 65 GP – 16 G – 23 A – 39 P – 0.25 GPG – 0.60 PPG
8. Tyler Kennedy: 67 GP – 15 G – 20 A – 35 P – 0.22 GPG – 0.52 PPG

FLYERS

Gagne – Richards – Knuble
Hartnell – Carter – Lupul
Asham – Giroux – Briere
Carcillo – Ross – Powe

Timonen – Parent
Coburn – Carle
Jones Alberts
Sbisa

Biron
Niittymaki

PENGUINS

Fedotenko – Malkin – Sykora
Kunitz – Crosby – Guerin
Cooke – Staal – Kennedy
Dupuis – Talbot – Godard

Gonchar – Letang
Scuderi – Gill
Orpik – Eaton
Boucher

Fleury
Garon

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