Devils vs. Flyers: They can all just rot
by Dominik on Apr 13, 2010 4:51 PM EDT
in New York Islanders Previews
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PrintI have a weird relationship with the Patrick Division. I yearn for its six-team reconstitution. I loved the rivalries it nurtured. In years when it's good, I like using its collective "strength" as a crutch for arguing why the Isles are better than outsiders think they are.
But I have no divisional pride. I cannot do what my dad would do, which is root for those who defeated his team, for the feeble claim that at least he'd lost to the best. No such solace exists for me. I don't want the Islanders' rivals to be best. I want them all to rot.
This is our continuing series of playoff previews for each series. The first one was here. It's in part to get you to vote and share your thoughts on any given series, and in part to gauge your interest in the playoffs. Schedule and stuff is after the jump. For the poll, as usual vote with your head or your heart; I just like pretty moving charts.
| Wednesday, April 14 | at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m. | TSN, RIS, MSG+, CSN |
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| Friday, April 16 | at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m. | TSN, locals etc. |
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| Sunday, April 18 | at Philadelphia, 6:00 p.m. | TSN | |
| Tuesday, April 20 | at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. | TSN2 | |
| *Thursday, April 22 | at New Jersey, 7:00 p.m. | TSN | |
| *Sunday, April 25 | at Philadelphia, TBD | TSN | |
| *Tuesday, April 27 | at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m. | TSN | |
Versus also must hope these two teams will rot, because it isn't touching this first-round series. Though these records never seem to translate much to the playoffs, the Flyers had the better of New Jersey during the regular season, going 5-1-0. That at least gives me pause.
Fun quote from the recently "rested" Jamie Langenbrunner:
"Our power play will have to deliver because they'll take some penalties, that's their style."
Man, he sounds like an Islanders fan!
Reasons to Pick the Devils: They're better. They have Martin Brodeur, who is due another round of "look at this legend!" NHL PR. They have Jacques Lemaire, who worked wonders with the Wild whenever they reached this stage. They have Ilya Kovalchuk, who probably has $10 million dollars riding on his performance. Seriously.
Reasons to Pick the Flyers: They ... are an NHL team.
Reasons to Root for the Devils: To see the Flyers lose.
Reasons to Root for the Flyers: ... ... ... ... I'm sorry, did you say something? I was watching a replay of Nystrom's goal.
* * *
In all seriousness: The way Philly played down the stretch, I can't believe they made it. Then I remember their competitors were the Rangers and Thrashers.
If Brian Boucher captures lightning -- yes, that's Modern Day NHL Shutout Streak Record Holder Brian Boucher -- then the Flyers with their physicality and talent could certainly remove their collective emo-dwelling ennui-stuck heads from their bums and channel their God-given talent toward making this a series, maybe even winning it. It's certainly possible, hardly unheard of. Martin Brodeur's recent playoff/Olympic form is ... unsound.
Officiating -- and by "officiating" I mean "calling the rulebook or not" -- could definitely nudge this series either direction. Do they let obstruction go? Do they let Pronger cheap shots go? Does Pronger make it through a whole series without getting suspended?
Head Says: Devils in six. Heart Says: Both arenas are swallowed into the sea, though hopefully WebBard's roomie survives.
And your pick is...?
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Well, the heart says Devils in 6 but I am thinking that this might go to 7 unless Philly has goaltending / defensive issues. Parise better keep his head up when Pronger is on the ice.
This is the first game that I must say…PLEASE LET BIRON BE A GUEST ANNOUNCER! Oh man, will that be fun. “You see that shot Panger? I could have stopped that with 2 guys in front of me.”
How about Okposo and Gordon going to World Cup? What happened to Torts? Did they forget to extend an invitation to him or is he not coaching because they thought there would be a chance that he might make the playoffs?
They have Ilya Kovalchuk, who probably has $10 million dollars riding on his performance. Seriously.
…and a Russian League if he doesn’t produce…
Please let Roloson and Biron be the guest announcers on some Chicago playoff broadcasts...please hockey Gods!
Heart Says: Both arenas are swallowed into the sea, though hopefully WebBard’s roomie survives.
I died laughing.
I used to like the Devs back in the 90s when they were beating the Rangers and teams I mostly disliked. When the Isles sucked it was fun to see the Devils piss off the whole league with their style of play.
Maybe its years, or maybe its the move to Philly, but the past few years I’ve grown tired of the Devils. Anyone who looks at the stats can see that nearly EVERY Devils goalie has put up the same stats as Brodeur while a Devil and they have all dropped off the map after being traded. For those who somehow thought Clemmensen was going to be the next great goalie, they seemed to forget when such illumanaries as Corey Schwab, Chris Terreri and anyone else that played the Devils net, were going to be the saviors of the franchises they were traded to. After watching him choke up a big one in the Olympics, nothing will make me happier then seeing Brodeur go out on a bunch of first round losses to sully his “great” career.
Of course it would take a miracle, but some of us do remember the run Boucher once had with the Flyers in the playoffs, maybe lightning strikes twice.
Mauldin Played for Columbus a few years ago, He has six career games.
I voted with my heart.
Devils in 4. I really hate Philadelphia.
Perhaps today IS a good day to die.
- Klingon proverb
That's the spirit
Release your anger … only your hatred can destroy the Flyers.
Lighthouse Hockey: Playing the NHL Lotto
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1979-80
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May 24, 1980: Tonelli to Nystrom. At long last, the steady build of the New York Islanders from expansion doormat to surprise semifinalist to annual contender reaches the promised land: Buoyed by a late season trade for Butch Goring that gave the team the depth up the middle GM Bill Torrey had been seeking, the Islanders knock off the Philadelphia Flyers in six games.
The victory justified the faith in coach Al Arbour who guided them from their second season to their first Stanley Cup seven seasons later. The Islanders would not be the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, but they would be the only one capable of a dynasty.
1980-81
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May 21, 1981: This time it was much easier. After falling to "only" 91 points in the 1979-80 season, the Islanders returned to their division title tradition, piling up 110 points -- a whole 13 points over second-place Philadelphia.
Between the quarterfinals (where they beat the upstart Oilers in six games) and the finals, the Islanders reeled off eight consecutive wins -- with a four-game sweep of archrival Rangers in between. As they defeated the Minnesota North Stars in five games for their second Cup, their goal difference in the final was a combined +10.
1981-82
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May 16, 1982: Another year, another landslide title. The Islanders won the Patrick Division by a whopping 26 points over the second-place Rangers, and were seven points clear of their nearest competition for the President's Trophy, the still-not-quite-ripe Edmonton Oilers.
A first-round scare against the Pittsburgh Penguins turned in the Isles' favor thanks to John Tonelli's heroics, and a true dynasty was on its way: Past the Rangers in six games, then an eight-game sweep of the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks to run away with the Stanley Cup.
1982-83
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May 17, 1983: Not so fast, whipper-snappers. The Edmonton Oilers' steadily rising challenge for league supremacy took them all the way to the finals for the first time, where the New York Islanders summarily dispatched them in a four-game sweep. For the Islanders, the Dynasty was secured. For the Oilers, it was a powerful lesson in where talent ends and the demands of playoff hockey begin.
Four years, four Cups, 16 consecutive playoff series wins (a record that would grow to 19 until the rematch with the Oilers the following year). Mike Bossy scored 60 goals yet again, and Wayne Gretzky became acquainted with Billy Smith's crease.
