11/05/24
April 25, 2006
No love lost between Ruff, Hitchcock after Game 2: "Tell Lindy
to [expletive] off, to mind his own [expletive] business."
posted by wingnut4life to hockey at 12:31 PM - 29 comments
Yes, I concur - the yearly Hitchcock/Quinn/Ruff/Torterella/anycoach rants that are supposed to rally the troops and deflect the media are usually pretty entertaining. But if I'm Ken Hitchcock and Bobby Clarke, I have to worry that my team is just a big pile of shit. They're D-U-N done. Woefully slow and totally weak in net. I didn't predict a first round sweep by anyone - but this is the series that looks like it could.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:11 PM on April 25, 2006
It all makes up for quite the welcome when the series shifts to Philadelphia on Wednesday night. You better believe it. My Fly-guys got out played last night for sure but they are far from done with this series.
posted by GoBirds at 01:16 PM on April 25, 2006
Your Flyers have been outplayed like no other team this year in both games. I have been shocked at the level of incompetence and then the terrible decisions they've made when down in the game. I absolutely thought they were a better team than this. Injuries are one thing, but c'mon. Also - going after Tomas Vanek was a totally pussy move. Just terrible. Keep in mind I hate the Sabres more than the Flyers.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:20 PM on April 25, 2006
Esche looked worse than Ron Hextall and Garth Snow put together, the defense looks old and they seem comitted to playing a bull shit chase the puck carrier around the ice game which is going to yield 8 goals a night if they keep it up, and Forsberg is invisble. going after Tomas Vanek was a totally pussy move. Yeah it really it is, I would have like to see someone step up and knock Esche the fuck out.
posted by HATER 187 at 01:33 PM on April 25, 2006
Ken Hitchcock does this every year. That guy really rubs me the wrong way. I don't like his attitude, I don't like his style of play, I don't like the kind of players he ices. I've learned to ignore his media rants. So I don't really have anything meaningful to contribute to this thread.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 01:33 PM on April 25, 2006
Yeah -- Forsberg looks lost. Now all the rumours are that Primeau's coming back for Game 3. Will that really matter?
posted by fabulon7 at 01:38 PM on April 25, 2006
if the coach and the on ice stuff can't rally the the troops maybe Philly should get that fat guy to harass the opposing team's goon again and then fall into the penalty box with him
posted by hb74147 at 01:39 PM on April 25, 2006
You know what's almost lost in all of this? The Sabres look really good.
posted by chicobangs at 01:46 PM on April 25, 2006
Ahh, thank you Chicobangs! I am a Sabres die hard fan and I am more than surprised at how good they look. I think the team playing now is the best team ever to come out of the Sabres organization. The Flyers look their age. Old and slow. There is no need to go to cheap shots, even when you are getting stomped. Chalk that game up as a loss and try to come out the next night and set your pace. Go Sabres! By the way, Devils look pretty tough too.
posted by Stealth_72 at 01:56 PM on April 25, 2006
I loved Hitchcock in Dallas, and I'd be surprised if he was anything less than a stand-up guy in Philly. But next time he drops some obscenities, Hitch should give the papers something that inspires more challenging guesswork, like "tell Lindy to go [expletive] his [relative] with a [racial pejorative's] [expletive]."
posted by rcade at 02:06 PM on April 25, 2006
I think the Flyers had the worst second-half record in the entire league. That in and of itself should tell you alot about this series. The Flyers are lucky to be in the post season. Thank goodness for the Pens and Isles. And if you missed it, check out the Campbell's Smoked Umberger soup can. Northeast division take note. The top teams are now the Sens and Sabres. Leafs and Bruins got passed this year.
posted by garfield at 02:09 PM on April 25, 2006
Yeah -- Forsberg looks lost. Now all the rumours are that Primeau's coming back for Game 3. Will that really matter? Primeau was their best player in the 03-04 playoffs, he can check, win faceoffs and score, and when healthy is one of the better players on their roster. Will it make a difference? No, these guys have already beaten themselves, some of the most uninspired sorry ass excuse for hockey I've had to look at in a long time. They're the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked.
posted by HATER 187 at 02:13 PM on April 25, 2006
Yeah -- Forsberg looks lost. Now all the rumours are that Primeau's coming back for Game 3. Will that really matter? Maybe, as long as he does not pull an Eric Lindros. Keep your head up Keith.
posted by njsk8r20 at 02:27 PM on April 25, 2006
posted by DrJohnEvans at 02:45 PM on April 25, 2006
Didn't the Philly braintrust try this same tact against the Lightning two years ago? How many times do you have to play the "We've Been Disrespected By The Opposing Teams Coach" card before it will finally work?
posted by 86 at 03:11 PM on April 25, 2006
Northeast division take note. The top teams are now the Sens and Sabres. The way Montreal is playing now, I'd probably put them ahead of Ottawa. Granted, it's only two games thus far. It wouldn't be a surprise if the final will be a Northeast vs Northwest affair. Would be deserving, too, as these are likely the most competitive and tough divisions to be in (though the Atlantic might make a case against that).
posted by mkn at 03:51 PM on April 25, 2006
Woefully slow and totally weak in net. Woefully slow: Yes, but that's what happens when you go out and get guys like Derrien Hatcher. Totally weak in net: Absolutely not. Anyone who says that obviously didn't see the game. The Sabres skated circles around the Flyers, made the extra pass. There was no chance for Esche on the first couple goals, then he got frustrated when it was obvious it was over.. And if wasn't for Esche, they would have lost game one 8-2. No heart, no jump, no speed, no pride: All true... but you can't say no goalie. Plus, Buffalo's good. The Flyers made a run, but the loss of Primeau and Johnnson finally caught up with them.
posted by SummersEve at 04:13 PM on April 25, 2006
I'm not surprised by the results of this series. I picked a Buffalo/NJ semi-final, so it's looking pretty good so far. That check-from-behind stuff has got to stop. Gauthier's a punk-bitch who needs to be suspended (again) for that shit.
posted by grum@work at 04:25 PM on April 25, 2006
Will that really matter? I don't think that it will matter, either. When has Primeau played last? October? He is a very gifted player that can motivate his team, but he hasn't been in a game for six months. Nobody will have their legs after that long. They're gonna need to "buckle down" and "circle the wagons," or "this could get ugly."
posted by wingnut4life at 04:42 PM on April 25, 2006
This just in -- Crawford Fired!
posted by wingnut4life at 05:31 PM on April 25, 2006
Primeau's not playing. And Hitchcock says sorry for the potty mouth.
posted by SummersEve at 05:38 PM on April 25, 2006
Can't wait to comment here when the series is over. This Philly team is without it's best 2 way player and captain (Primeau, who by the way has been in full contact workouts for a few weeks now) and it's best defensemen (Johnnson). There is no excuse for their play the other night. It was in fact horrible. Props to the Sabers who are playing their A game right now. But lets keep this in perspective. This is the same Flyers team that beat the Devils 2-1, Rangers 6-3, and the SENATORS 6-3 in 3 straight games in late March. Then went to Buffalo and beat these same Sabers 4-2 on 4/07/06 with Forsberg and Nedved both sitting out that game. Buffalo had 4 PP goals. They have the top or 2nd best PP unit in the league. Philly has the worst PK in the league. Philly will not take anymore foolish penalties. They will play more 5on5 hockey and most likely even things up after the next 2 games. If you think Forsberg will be "lost" this entire series, you are sadly mistaken.
posted by Bishop at 05:58 PM on April 25, 2006
Agreed. Primeau is not the answer. Forsberg will come back, and the Flyers might steal a game, but none of the first round series look more over than this one. (Cue the Rocky theme and order me some crow for next weekend just in case, but this seems pretty safe.)
posted by chicobangs at 07:20 PM on April 25, 2006
I am the most casual of hockey fans and I am fired up for game 3. I don't know how the real Philly fans can hold themselves together.
posted by mbd1 at 07:57 PM on April 25, 2006
(by the way, if you're not watching it, tonight's Ottawa-Tampa game is kind of out of hand.)
posted by chicobangs at 08:54 PM on April 25, 2006
Oh, I'm watching it, alright. Lecavalier is really damned lucky that Chara is a gentle(ish) giant.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 01:49 AM on April 26, 2006
You've got that straight. And Dany Heatley should remove his frigging visor when he wants to fight. How about those Wings, eh?
posted by qbert72 at 07:12 AM on April 26, 2006
On game two I have to say to Esche if you want to fight someone take your helmet off so they can at least get a piece of you come on.
posted by buffalo will never win at 06:07 PM on April 28, 2006
Man, you gotta love playoff hockey. My team's not in (Kings), but if you follow the game or are just a casual fan, there's nothing more intense than playoff hockey. These guys are the toughest athletes in pro sports. Good stuff.