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    Bitter Rivals Battle for East Title

    By TED STARKEY,
    AOL
    Posted: 2008-05-09 12:26:28
    Filed Under: NHL

    Photo Gallery

    Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

    Breaking Down
    Flyers-Penguins

    1 of 5    

    Offense: Evgeni Malkin is tied for second in the league with 14 points during the Stanley Cup the playoffs, and the Penguins feature one of the most potent offensive lineups in the league.
    Edge: Penguins


    Series Schedule:

    (All Times Eastern)
    Game 1: May 9 at Pitt., 7:30PM
    Game 2: May 11 at Pitt., 7:30PM
    Game 3: May 13 at Phil., 7:30PM
    Game 4: May 15 at Phil., 7:30PM
    Game 5: May 18 at Pitt., 3PM*
    Game 6: May 20 at Phil., 7:30PM*
    Game 7: May 22 at Pitt., 7:30PM*
    *=if necessary

    FanHouse:



    Eastern Conference Finals
    Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins



    2007-08 Records:
    Pittsburgh: 47-27-8, 102 points, Atlantic Division Champions
    Philadelphia: 41-29-12, 94 points, Seventh Place, Eastern Conference

    2007-08 Playoff Results:
    Pittsburgh: Defeated Ottawa, 4-0, Defeated Rangers 4-1
    Philadelphia: Defeated Washington, 4-3, Defeated Montreal, 4-1

    2007-08 Season Series:
    Philadelphia Wins Series, 5-3

    Last Playoff Meeting:
    1999-2000 Eastern Conference Semifinals - Philadelphia Wins Series, 4-2


    While the NHL has had franchises on both sides of Pennsylvania since 1967, the two teams have never met with the stakes this high.

    Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are two in-state rivals who don't care for each other, but they meet for the first time in the postseason in eight years, and they never have met with a trip to the Stanley Cup finals on the line.

    Both teams took radically different paths to reach this point, both in this playoff season and the past couple of years.

    The Penguins finished last overall in 2006, but years of top draft picks finally paid off with the team's first division title since 1998. The young, speedy Pens breezed past Ottawa in a four-game sweep in round one, then had little trouble ousting the veteran-laden Rangers squad in the second round.

    Philadelphia had the NHL's worst record last year, but a series of aggressive trades put the Flyers back in the playoffs after a one-year absence. The Flyers nearly blew a 3-1 series lead in the first round to Washington, but won the deciding game in overtime and then ousted Montreal in five in the second round.

    This series also will provide two contrasting styles, as while the Penguins favor a free-skating, fast-paced tempo game, the Flyers have shown in the first two rounds that they can slow down talented teams and try to throw teams out of their preferred style of play. However, the Flyers' task gets tougher as they will be without All-Star defenseman Kimmo Timonen, as he was one of the blueliners who could keep up with the speedy Penguins forwards.

    The key to the series is how the Penguins deal with the punishment the Flyers deliver to some of Pittsburgh's young forwards, as Philadelphia was able to throw Washington and Montreal off their games through physical play. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will certainly be targets of hits from those in orange-and-black, and how they fight through these checks will say a lot if the Penguins can reach their first Stanley Cup final since 1992.

    Crosby has played well in his second trip to the postseason, although the Pens' young captain Crosby was held without a goal against the Rangers. Still, Sid the Kid added six assists for 12 points in just nine games for Pittsburgh. Malkin is currently tied for second overall in playoff points, notching six goals and eight assists for the Pens.


    On the flip side, Daniel Briere is a big reason the Flyers have advanced this far, notching 14 points, while R.J. Umberger was tremendous against Montreal, notching eight of his nine playoff goals in just five games against the Habs.

    Both goaltenders have also performed well, as Marc-Andre Fleury has a 1.76 GAA and a .938 save percentage in two rounds, while Martin Biron has been solid when the Flyers have needed him to. Both netminders figure to be busy, Fleury with a physical presence the Flyers unleashed on Cristobal Huet and Carey Price, while Biron will have to be at the top of his game against a powerful Penguins lineup.

    Philadelphia will try to wear down Pittsburgh with a constant barrage of hits that they hope will slow down the Penguins and knock them off their game. During the regular season, the Flyers won five of eight from the Pens, and this figures to be a tight, punishing series for both teams. In the end, the Penguins' talent level will carry them to their first final in 16 years, but it certainly won't be the cakewalk the first two rounds for Pittsburgh has been.

    2008 AOL LLC. All Rights Reserved.
    2008-04-06 14:15:45

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    Recent Comments

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    1 - 10 of 18
    18 comments

    ctc1158 10:32:47 PM May 09 2008

    Report This!

    By the way, haha, u lose game 1!

    ctc1158 05:20:02 PM May 09 2008

    Report This!

    Hey, kingbdone, I've got some stuff on my tivo too! 4 Penguins victories at your team's expense! YOU LOSE!!!!

    ctc1158 05:09:41 PM May 09 2008

    Report This!

    Mitch and Joe are perfect representatives of their lame teams and craphole towns. I'd like to kick both their asses! New York and Philthy both suck. New York, loud-mouthed losers! Philthy, low-life losers. Watch a Philthy home game, all they do is cry, whine, and boo.

    All things aside, our division kicks ass!

    kingb1 05:02:05 PM May 09 2008

    Report This!

    I really hope Hatcher destroys Crosby. I will never erase that from my tivo.

    kimmyrutter 03:24:42 PM May 09 2008

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    The Flyers will beat the Penguins, it won't be easy, it will be tough, but then again they were a major under dog against Montreal, can't wait till tonite, seeing Crosby being crushed by Hatcher, fun, fun fun

    dahst 02:47:03 PM May 09 2008

    Report This!

    Cindy Crosby will take his usuals dives and the Flyers will win in fives

    kingb1 12:57:07 PM May 09 2008

    Report This!

    I feel very sorry for the Flyers this year. They have no chance at going to the stanley cup becuase all the calls that are gonna go against the Flyers is going to be way to much to handle. The NHL wants Sid "Panzy"Crosby to hold the Stanley Cup. He is the new face of the NHL and that just sickens me. He is such a punk A$$ bych and hockey is real mans sport. He is going to cry and flop his way to the Stanley CUp. Malkin is a whole lot better hockey player anyhow, i dont know why they keep promoting this sissy. Good luck Flyers, however the refs are gonna make you want to commit suicide.

    ritetiff 10:35:08 AM May 09 2008

    Report This!

    The Penguins will sweep the flyers then they will take the cup, you know it!

    frankman1158 01:43:23 AM May 08 2008

    Report This!

    "NUFF SAID

    frankman1158 01:41:39 AM May 08 2008

    Report This!

    THE FLYERS WIN THE STANLEY CUP

    1 - 10 of 18
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