Re: The NHL Thread
 

Your woe is me Caps routine is getting real old. Just enjoy the fact that they are the best team in the NHL.

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No one cares about anything you have to say

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*chugs tequila bottle*

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Thank you for this

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This. And stuff.

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Nice answer by Kopitar to tie it up, hopefully LA can cash in in this PP.

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Just enjoy the three games to none lead. That series is all but done IMO.

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Just catching up on the highlights of the Caps. What a disgrace on the ice and in the stands. Bellemare hit was so bad. He will get multiple games. Then poor Orlov gets his with something in the head just as he returns to the bench. Such shitty fans, though, as always, a small percentage making the masses look real bad. Caps need to dress some goons for next game if any are available to deter the nonsense.

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I don't think there will be any nonsense. When shit was first thrown on the ice Ovi and Simmers were standing next to each other both with their hands up as if pleading for the fans to stop. Only way I see something happen if Caps come out for revenge instead of just continuing to beat the Flyers down with their size and skill

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Huge stop by Quick just now!

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Caps are going full curb stomp on the Flyers. Bolts need to pick that shit back up tomorrow night, last night was embarrassing.

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http://www.russianmachineneverbreaks...ng-game-three/

Good look.

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C'mon guys, admit it, when you heard JR talking about the hit on Orlov, you thought of me.

First time in my life that I think I agree with everything JR has said.

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I don't need JR to think of you. I thought of you all on my own when it happened.

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In overtime, is it sudden death?

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God damn. Not enough wine for this OT. Yes, I've moved on to wine.

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Yes. First goal in wins.

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Ain't nothing wrong with wine.

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I know but nothing will calm these nerves.

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For this, you deserve to lose.

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Yeahhhhh!!! Yes! Dustin levels a Shark. Gain zone. Score!!!

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There is no justice.

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Yaaaaaayyyyy

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Boom. Vintage Brown.

https://twitter.com/lakings/status/722299038083588096

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Wow that final clip where both Simmonds AND Ovechkin are asking the crowd to stop. Yikes.

It sort of seemed like the Flyers wanted to goon it up last night, and they tried, but their goon level was no match for that of their fans

I feel bad for the good Flyer fans out there, what happened last night really was embarrassing. On Ed Snider night at that.

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The thing about the Caps is they really don't need goons. They've got Wilson and he's goonish enough on his own. But for the most part their roster is filled with players who can mostly handle themselves when it comes to the physical stuff.

I agree, and I don't expect the Caps to play into all that. I fully expect the Caps to let the Flyers get in their own way again if that's what they desire to do.

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Though I'd generally agree with your assessment, you guys looked to be getting manhandled by Gudas and co during skirmish after the Orlov hit.

A case of the wrong guys being out there maybe but maybe mix up lines a bit if things become a little nuts out there.

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Nah. Let them goon it up if they want. The Caps can handle that. You're right, it was probably our softest line out there when Bellemare threw that hit, but just because they weren't punching anything wearing the other uniform like Gudas and friends were doesn't mean they can't.

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As a Wings fan, you have got to pick your spots. Wings aren't the toughest team out there and I'd like them to be a little tougher but most of the time they handle themselves smartly. Go out and beat them on the next shift (or game).

Impressed with the Caps win and also the Wild. The way that game started it should have been over. Sharks...well here we go again.

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Just wanted to go back to this. I'm rather surprised by this. Another reason I failed to mention in my last post on this is that we often showed up on these, imo, because, if you wanted to get traded to NY, you'd want to go to the Rag$, who ,despite me hating them, recognize they run everything first class.

That said, I'm pretty surprised we are up that high. The players routine for home games are different this year as many live on the Island and so they often take the train in early together on game day for home games but many have said it's not a big deal and that it actually helps them to get focused earlier for the game than when the arena was so close to their home.

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Can't read that list as I don't have ESPN insider, I assume it's Edmonton at #1?

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Man the Flyers fans embarrassed themselves last night. What is it with that city?

I feel for the flyers fans that don't do that shit.

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‎@jerry_gaul
My favorite part of the game was the Flyers' TV booth wondering if Capitals fans were throwing the wristbands on the ice...
8:50 PM - 18 Apr 2016

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Someone just pointed me to Coach's Corner from last night. Grapes blamed both Orlov and Orpik for "not being ready" on the hits that injured them. Basically said the hit on Orlov was Orlov's fault.

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The Caps are up 3-0 in the series. Why would they mix up their lines? They're not going to do something on the off chance the Flyers decide to start a line brawl.

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You are correct sir. Jets 2, Islanders 3, #Lumbus 4.

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There are times where guys turn their backs into players and expose themselves for a hit but Orlov sure as hell wasn't that. He was facing the boards the whole time.

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Yeah, but Cherry probably blames Orlov for being Russian. We all know how Grapes feels about Russians.

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:lol Flyers :lol

:lol Philly :lol

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He does. He's so weird about shit. Somethings he's like we need to protect the players (has wanted the no touch icing for YEARS) but then with shit like this he's like well it just happens and the players need to do better.

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http://www.csnphilly.com/video_conte...ts-cant-happen

Ryan White's comment at the end of this clip :lol :lol :lol

What a fuckwad

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But that is kind of my point. If you guys get up in game 4, I would certainly make sure I don't expose the wrong group of guys out there if things get ugly . Not necessarily to start the game but have a plan in place if things get ugly so you guys make it to round unscathed.

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Don Cherry is not worth listening to in my opinion

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if this happens, and i'm Barry Trotz, i'd pull my guys off the ice

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Yeah I actually said last night about halfway through the 3rd (I think right after the Orlov hit actually) it's probably time to let guys like Kuznetsov, Burakovsky have the rest of the night off

If the Flyers go down and start gooning i think Trotz should at least consider this too

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But go ahead and leave your top goalie in there.

:BANG :BANG

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Oh I misread your comment. I thought you meant prepare ahead of time. Yeah, if the Caps get up, I don't know that I'm changing up the lines, but I'm matching Wilson's line with the Flyers goons whenever possible.

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yea, what a major fuck up by Sullivan

and i love Sullivan, but that was beyond dumb

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Me too. I even tweeted last night that I didn't want the Caps to celebrate the win, just to get off the ice as quickly and safely as possible. I didn't want any post-whistle fireworks.

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best part about last night's game was the ridiculous celebration by the Flyers and the fans after they go up 1-0

you would've thought they won the Cup

then Philly Philly'd

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:thumbsup yep 100% this

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I won't lie I was mega nervous after this

One thing about this Caps team though that's held true all season, they don't get rattled much

The way last night started felt like a recipe for disaster. But the Caps had zero panic. Just kept it rolling and eventually, the Flyers got in their own way again

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Ken Dryden said it best in 1983:

https://twitter.com/emptynetters/sta...57783744245760

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i know you're apprehensive to throw your full weight behind the Caps, because Caps. But honestly, they're a different team this year

Caps might not win the Cup, but they aren't going to be an easy out...and clearly the Flyers don't belong on the ice with them. different level of hockey that the Flyers can't match

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Agreed. 5 on 5 the Flyers have been hanging okay. The problem is the Flyers seem like they aren't interested in playing 5 on 5

I'm just trying not to get ahead of myself ya know. Still gotta win one more game and then it's still only round two.

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Yes to all of this. The history of the team makes everyone hesitant to relax at all, and even being up 3-0 for the first time in franchise history, I'm still nervous because we've blown so many series so many different ways. But at the same time, this team does seem different. It's the first time I can remember that I haven't been overly nervous when they fall behind, because they've shown they can come back. They said on the broadcast last night (can't remember if it was TV or radio, I listened to the beginning of the game on the radio) that the Caps had the highest winning percentage in the league this season when the other team scored first. So they don't get rattled.

I'm honestly just relieved Orlov is OK (although I'm curious how stiff his neck is this morning, and I was shocked that up 4-1 Trotz put him back into the game) and hope that Orpik isn't hurt too badly. I'm sure we won't see him soon, and we shouldn't up 3-0, but I hope that if the Caps close this out, he can be back for the second round. Mike Weber makes me nervous.

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yea i can't remember the last time Philly had 5 skaters on the ice

on a side note, i really hope Brooks Orpik is ok...:( always and forever love Brooksy and i want to fight every Flyer fan that was booing him and throwing things at him while he was clearly concussed/shaken up

same goes for Orlov after his neck was almost broken by an incredibly dirty, unnecessary and dangerous board. guy gets covered in beer as his nose is bleeding...guy was lucky to get up from that egregious hit.

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Yeah, they are like an upgunned Hawks team in a way. They can play physical if it is needed but know that puck possession and skill generally wins out in the end. Sure they can throw their weight around, just like the Hawks can with Ladd, Shaw, Mashinter, Keith and Seabrook but they'd rather not take penalties and just stick to their gameplan and throw skill at the opposition.

As we saw last night in the Caps game playing physical doesn't translate into results, the Flyers tried it and ended up being assessed 53 minutes in penalties - that is nearly an entire game killing penalties. Goon squad days are over in the NHL IMO, you are just not going to win playing that way anymore.

Nonsense, both hits were complete cheap shots.

Why fix what is not broken?

Tonight should be interesting - can Chicago and Detroit get themselves back even in the series? Can the Rangers or Penguins go up a game? Will Nashville even show up or do they follow Phillie and go down 3-0?

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Only 37:42 of the game last night was played 5-on-5.

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Playing a physical game isn't the same thing as gooning it up. The Flyers gooned it up last night.

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I got nervous. I knew they could come back, but still, I got real nervous.

I actually took Trotz putting Orlov back in as a positive sign. If there was any question at all he wouldn't have gone back in.

The Orpik event looked scary. I'm not much Ryan White right now, but I don't think it was a particularly dirty hit. Just really caught Orpik the wrong way. It's clearly a head injury. He couldn't use any part of his body. At first I thought he was favoring his arm/shoulder, then I thought maybe a leg or a knee. But he couldn't push with either leg, couldn't barely step over the divider at the bench door, the way he fell, the confused look in his eyes, etc.

Just looked really scary.

I think Orlov is good to go, Taylor Chorney comes in, Mike Weber never sees the ice. I'd rather call up a Hershey player than put Mike Weber out there

Yeah, that's really classless looking stuff. Can't even imagine how a human being would find this type of behavior acceptable.

Again, I know it's not all Flyer fans. But that was just deplorable last night.

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The Caps haven't been an easy out in a long time.

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But they have been an out every time prior to the Conference Finals since the 2004-2005 lockout.

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I agree, but I'm worried the coaching staff doesn't. I hope they go with Chorney, but they said on the broadcast last night they got Weber for exactly this reason, to replace Orpik in case of injury. They play a similar style (with Orpik being a far superior player), so that's why I think Trotz may turn to Weber over Chorney here. But we'll see.

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Mike Weber is just so terrible though. He's like John Erskine bad. And Chorney played awesome this season. I have to think Trotz sees that too

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Well aware but not an easy one.

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Dumb and dumber.

Yeah, what an ass. Might as well encourage the fans to pull more of that shit tomorrow.

He is a dinosaur, no idea why anyone listens to him.

Yeah, I think you have to. They are up 3-0 and still need 11 more wins for the cup. If shit gets out of hand like that again I'd just pull my guys off the ice even if it meant handing the Flyers the game, then returning to Washington and burying them in game 5.

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yea but its mob mentality that manifests itself in Philly more often than in most places

there were bracelets and beer and booing injured players all over the place last night

uhhh what? well, you're right in a way....they didn't even make the playoffs in 2014 so i guess they couldn't be an easy out that year :lol and they got swept by the Lightning in 2011, but i guess you forgot about that.

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Yeah, that is disgusting.

I know there is a difference, I only meant that both the Hawks and Caps COULD goon it up and play dirty if they wanted to but both teams are smart enough to know that pulling that crap is ultimately unproductive and might cost you a skill guy getting injured.

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Aww, how sweet. If I have accomplished anything of value in this thread, I hope it's helping instill the absolute abhorrence for 3-feet-from-the-boards hits.
This was awesome to see. Seems like it's been a frustrating season for Dustin, so it was nice to see him doing what he does best and being rewarded for it.
I hate to see a warrior like Orpik go down, but that hit was about as clean as could be. Shoulder to shoulder, feet were down, no charging (I counted three strides before he glided into the hit). Hard, but not illegal. I sure hope Orpik is OK though. I love that guy.

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The bracelets thing is just so weird to me. Like that's YOUR fucking guy.

Also, not too surprised the Flyer fans couldn't stay quiet during Snider's moment of silence at Wells Fargo but very much made a big deal about the Pens fans at Consol last week.

:rolleyes

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I don't think this is a big deal. They played most of the season without him so are used to it. Alzner and the other top guys can easily get more ice especially at key times. This is where coaching will obviously be crucial.

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it was 1 idiot fan at Consol

many more than 1 idiot at Wells Fargo

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I agree I don't see much wrong with the White hit. Like I said, just really caught Orpik wrong.

In addition to Sarah I also thought of you when Orlov took his hit. My thought process was something like "holy god, did Orly just die? Man, Matty wouldn't like this hit at all" :lol

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It's amazing right

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What else can be said?......

I still love my team. Hate the fans and what they did. Becomes a mob mentality as was said. And I guess when you've been drinking, you do stupid things. (I wouldn't know) And the drinking probably got worse once Mason f'ed up two more goals in a row. That dude takes serious mental breaks during games. And it's not good.

Flyers will be fine. They just need 3-4 defensemen, 7-9 forwards and a goalie.

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The difference between deciding to play Chorney and deciding to play Weber is massive

Might not cost them a game or anything, but there's a clear winner/loser between those two

But Bobalew makes a good point as to why Trotz might pick the loser

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Let's not go overboard with this. Yes, I heard them. But neither of you know who did it. Could have been a Caps fan too. Probably wasn't. But just saying.

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hate to break it to you, Kev, but people are drinking heavily at every hockey game in every city...

don't blame it on the a-a-a-a-alcohol

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it's a huge deal

Orpik's Stanley Cup winning experience and his ability to calm down a situation by always making the simple, correct play, is invaluable this time of year

it can certainly be overcome with a team as talented as the Caps, but it's still a big deal

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Just don't even reply because anything you say will just be contorted into whatever they're thinking in the first place.

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oh stop it

we aren't making anything up here...

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Yes. And this stuff doesn't only happen in Philly.

A collective of throwing things isn't much different then when people jump the stands and run onto the fields whether being silly or malicious. It shouldn't be done, anywhere. But it happens everywhere.

Philly is just the easy target and that's because of people from the days of the decades of the 60s-80s. It's not like the Flyers fans (or other teams in this city) are doing this every other game...

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Capitals suck-off moment coming. Sorry guys not named Barbs or Bobalew.

I know it's only three games in, but the biggest thing I'm noticing from the Caps this year that's different from previous years is their composure. I think that comes from two things:

1) Coaching. Barry Trotz has really left his mark already on this team. He believes in them and they believe in him. I mean, I saw that Ovie had like 21 assists to go along with his 50 goals. Something like that. Crazy! That's a stat that would normally drive me bonkers. But you know what, despite that, he's still more of a complete player than he's ever been. That's the mark of a good coach - someone who allows a player to be himself, while still convincing him to play within the team system. And he seems to be that way with all his players. They're not a perfect team, but compared to previous years, the strides in the right direction have been immense.

2) The type of players they've brought in. A lot of people kind of scoffed at the Mike Richards signing, but he's been absolutely fantastic in his role on the Caps, earning every cent of that $1 million pro-rated contract or whatever it was. Not a superstar, but not asked to be. Perfect in the role they're playing him in. That's just an example of what makes the Capitals good, I think. Up and down the lineup, you've got guys that are asked to play roles, and they play those roles. There's not a lot of worthless baggage.

And with that, I like that they followed the old mantra of bringing in the "right" players rather than the "best" ones. Guys with championship experience like Richards, Orpik, and Williams. Orpik has lost a step or two, but his experience goes a long way in keeping things calm on the back end. And Williams, I think, is perhaps one of the best signings of this offseason for any team. What an excellent, understated addition to the team.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

yes but this happened last night which is why we're talking about it

and it's more of a trend in Philly than in most places

edit: @Kev

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yeah, it was not an illegal hit (though the head to head contact could make a case for charging) but it was a dumb hit to make at that point in the game - he did not have to follow through like he did. Flyers were on a PP, down only a single goal with over half of regulation time gone. He should have pulled up once Orpik released the puck but instead he followed through on that hit instead of peeling off and trying to keep it one goal game - possibly tying it up on the PP. What he did was essentially ruining any remaining PP momentum out of the power play by halting the game

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:rolleyes

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Idiotic post.

You also can't ruin momentum for something that isn't moving in the first place.

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Agreed, it can happen everywhere. What I do not get is how the fans didn't grasp the rather simple concept that anything thrown on the ice has as much a chance of injuring a Flyer as a Cap - your skate hits a foreign object on the ice and you are more than likely going down. Just happy no one got hurt due to that debacle.

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Ask the rangers if they were an easy out in 10-11, the loss to Tampa was in the conference semi's. They have lost 6 game 7s (God that's painful to write) in 8 seasons. 3 in the second round. Not an easy out.

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because Flyers fans don't think logically

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getting swept is the definition of an easy out

they were an easy out in 2011 & missed the playoffs in 2014

not that long ago

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What? It's true. Because I root for the Flyers and because those fans acted like jackasses last night, I get lumped in with them by default. Nothing either Kev or I say will change your opinion on Flyers fans. Now I can go blue in the face arguing about this with you all but I know better. I don't know the 19,000 fans that were at the game last night. I'm not connected with them. I can't control what they do and how they act. I'm just there to watch my favorite sport.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Great post. The thing about this year's group, and especially Ovie, is it's all about the team. It was like that last year too, but the additions they've made took them over the top (read: my hard on Brian MacLellan). They seem to have the right attitude. They really genuinely seem to like each other a lot and enjoy playing with each other. You'll never hear any of these guys talking about individual stuff and when asked, they'll say it's only about team success. And no they aren't the first to have said it but I sure do believe them.

You make a great point about no baggage. Everyone has a place on this team. I think that really adds to that team chemistry and that balance comes from great coaching. There's a lot of star power and very little ego in that room. It's all Trotz, man.

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no one here thinks YOU personally are an asshole, man

but history speaks for itself. Philly fans, in general, have a tendency to do things like this more often than other fan bases

also, no one is saying it doesn't happen in other places either. but, this happened last night. it's fresh in our minds which is why we're talking about it

it sucks that a few dozen? hundred? thousand? people can give a city a bad name, but it happens. and it happens a lot in Philly

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:lol YES. You know me well, my friend.

I was laying in bed watching the replay, and I said to my wife, "holy crap... I'm actually agreeing with everything JR is saying right now. This is insane."

My wife: "Wait... I thought you liked that guy?" (meaning JR)

Me: :lol
Charging in the NHL is simply defined as an overly violent check. Usually that includes too many strides, leaving your feet, etc. This was not an instance of charging in any way. He took three strides, glided, then delivered the shoulder to shoulder hit. Any head on head contact (I didn't see much from the replays I watched) was incidental to the hit.

Also, there was absolutely no way White could have pulled up from that check after Orpik released the puck. Simple physics.

This was the clip I used for reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twpX25aVKUs

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Oh please, I've literally said like 4 or 5 times that what happened last night was not a representation of the Flyers fanbase as a whole

Should I go find the posts and quote them?

Re: The NHL Thread
 

It certainly did not help the team at all though. If anything it probably galvanized Washington. I get that he was likely trying to fire up both his teammates and the fans but it ended up having the opposite effect.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

No because I'm a Flyers fan and don't know how to read.