Pre-Game 1 Jitters

Friday May 09, 2008 @ 05:07 PM EDT

David currently plays FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth on the FOX drama Bones. Though he was born in Buffalo, David will be following his Philadelphia Flyers throughout Stanley Cup Playoffs.


So first of all, my entire blog was going to be about Kimmo Timonen and what he meant to this series. I can’t say enough about how much he’s meant to this team and while I believe we can overcome the loss, I know, and everyone else knows, that it won’t be easy.


Kimmo Timonen getting hurt is a big problem, but hopefully Braydon Coburn will step his game up. After watching Barry Melrose say, “This is the best thing that could happen to Pittsburgh,” hopefully the Flyers will get inspired by that, I just about wanted to punch my TV screen…but this is the playoffs, and you have to take the emotion out of it sometimes.


I don’t know what kind of series this is going to be, but the rivalry is huge. People think that Philly is done because Timonen is out. Timonen played 23-30 minutes a night, and he played in all situations, so yes, his presence is hard, almost impossible, to replace; but if any team left in these playoffs has the depth needed to overcome a huge loss, I believe its our Flyers.


I guess Timonen got hit in the foot in Game 4 and played in Game 5 of the last series, but he couldn’t feel his toes. The doctor’s told him he’s done, because the worst-case scenario is they’d have to cut some of his toes off.


And that isn’t worth it.


The Flyers battled through adversity though and nothing is easy on this wild ride they’ve been on. They were dead last in the NHL last season and this season they are in the Eastern Conference Final. I have nothing but respect for the players and the organization, and it’s a fantastic turnaround story. This is their show and they aren’t going to roll over and you can bet on that.


Pittsburgh has dominating players like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Marian Hossa, but Philly has offensive depth. The Flyers will have to make changes on the power play with Timonen out of the lineup. Who knows how it’ll affect the team? Someone might step up, maybe Randy Jones will be that guy.


If anything I feel for Kimmo because it’s very rare to get the chance to play in the Conference Finals with a chance to play for the Cup, so having to sit out is tough.


Let’s drop the puck and see what happens. Our goal scorers have to step up and the amount of firepower we have is spread out. Scott Hartnell is going to be good in this series, and Philadelphia needs him to aggravate the Penguins and get in Marc-Andre Fleury’s face.


Philadelphia’s defensemen have to play smart and as a cohesive unit. How do you defend against Hossa, Malkin and Crosby?


You just have to – excuse the expression – “punch them in the mouth.”


This is a match up of speed and fitness against size and strength. Each team has both elements, but right now it looks like the match up is Pittsburgh’s skill against the Flyers inspiration and work-ethic.


To come this far shouldn’t be enough! The Flyers want this series and if they can get a split in the first two games in Pittsburgh, it’ll help their confidence, but if they’re down 0-2 to Pittsburgh going back to Philadelphia they will be in trouble. Joffrey Lupul and Hartnell have to step up.


The Penguins entire lineup is amazing and this is the first time these two teams have met in the Conference Finals. Biron and Fleury are two French Canadians and it’ll be interesting to see who will be the better goalie.


Philadelphia’s going to put a little Flyer punch in Pittsburgh and do what they do best.


Let the games begin!

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