Ann 22008 NHL Playoffs - Eastern Conference Finals: Penguins vs. Flyers Game 3 Preview
May 13th 2008 18:03
This will be short and simple.
By coming back from behind twice in Game 2, the Flyers showed that they can compete with the Penguins when they put some effort into it. In Game 2, the forced the Penguins to use the dump-and-chase strategy by closing the gaps in the neutral zone, effectively preventing the Pens from combining their passes and speed. Now, the only missing ingredient in Philly's play is their number one line. I've said it before, I'll say it again, Danny Brière needs to be the dominating force that he was in previous rounds. Otherwise, comparing the Pens to the Flyers would be like comparing Ferraris to Ford's pick-up trucks. Ford's trucks are big and solid but they sure as hell won't win a race against Ferraris. Brière is Philly's Ferrari so he has to give everything he's got.
It will be interesting to see how the Penguins will react to Philly in the Wachovia Center. Malkin was invisible in Game 2 mainly because he was getting hit every time he touched the puck. He's the kind of player who shies away from contact. However, contact is Philly's game so he'll have to adapt. The Flyers will be missing their top two defensemen for Game 3 (Timonen's been out since the beginning of the series and Braydon Coburn got hurt in Game 2), the Pens will be able to exploit this weakness by using their speed. The rest is up to the goaltenders. Fleury has been solid so far, Fleury has had some moments of greatness, some moments of poor judgement. We'll see which side of him shows up tonight.
By coming back from behind twice in Game 2, the Flyers showed that they can compete with the Penguins when they put some effort into it. In Game 2, the forced the Penguins to use the dump-and-chase strategy by closing the gaps in the neutral zone, effectively preventing the Pens from combining their passes and speed. Now, the only missing ingredient in Philly's play is their number one line. I've said it before, I'll say it again, Danny Brière needs to be the dominating force that he was in previous rounds. Otherwise, comparing the Pens to the Flyers would be like comparing Ferraris to Ford's pick-up trucks. Ford's trucks are big and solid but they sure as hell won't win a race against Ferraris. Brière is Philly's Ferrari so he has to give everything he's got.
It will be interesting to see how the Penguins will react to Philly in the Wachovia Center. Malkin was invisible in Game 2 mainly because he was getting hit every time he touched the puck. He's the kind of player who shies away from contact. However, contact is Philly's game so he'll have to adapt. The Flyers will be missing their top two defensemen for Game 3 (Timonen's been out since the beginning of the series and Braydon Coburn got hurt in Game 2), the Pens will be able to exploit this weakness by using their speed. The rest is up to the goaltenders. Fleury has been solid so far, Fleury has had some moments of greatness, some moments of poor judgement. We'll see which side of him shows up tonight.
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