"It Would Be A Big Deal If It Was A Scrimmage"

With everyone in local and league circles ready for what is probably the most anticipated first round series in the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Penguins and hated Flyers, I couldn't help but think back to a quote made famous in Pittsburgh parts just about 3 months ago, in mid-to-late January, 2009.

"It would be a big deal if it was a scrimmage".

That, folks, was Pittsburgh Steeler coach Mike Tomlin talking about the hype surrounding his AFC Conference championship matchup with the Steelers' arch-rival Baltimore Ravens.

The theory is equally applicable here.

In this series, the Penguins will be looking to break recent history and become just the 2nd team in the last 12 years to lose a Stanley Cup Final and win a single playoff round the following season. Half the teams who have gone the distance and lost one year don't even make it to the dance the next.

The 2001-02 Dallas Stars are the only team to win one round the next season after losing the Cup Final the year before, and they got bounced in round 2.

It will be a challenge for Pittsburgh, but they're certainly capable. Like any other series, it will be good for them if they get a great start tonight at home.

The Flyers do come into this series as the underdog (even if they may not think so), and with serious questions surrounding their goaltending. They've only played .500 hockey in their last 25 games or so. Even their own writers are picking the Penguins to win. To wit:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=20652

If the Penguins are able to get up on the Flyers early and rattle Martin Biron, it could go a long way towards potentially making this a quick series like the Eastern Conference Finals were last season.

Penguins' interim coach Dan Bylsma will have some interesting lineup decisions to make tonight and throughout this series.

It looks as if he's going to open things by dressing RW Eric Godard, rather than mucker Craig Adams, and I'm not sure that's the right move.

There's no question that the series will be physical, but you rarely need an enforcer come the post-season. When things get edgy in the playoffs, its more about team toughness, rather than any individual pugilism.

I believe that Adams is more likely to make an impact in the series than Godard is, whether it be making a key defensive play, killing a penalty, or scoring a goal (even if that's not terribly likely). But Godard can't really give you any of those things.

What I don't expect to see Bylsma do is dress W Miroslav Satan tonight, who was recalled from Wilkes-Barre last week and successfully put through re-entry waivers.

As most recall, Satan and his 3.5 million dollar salary were demoted in February right before the trade deadline because the Penguins didn't expect to have the cap space to keep him. Sure enough, after acquiring RW Bill Guerin, there was no room for Satan's salary. Because nobody claimed him, the Penguins had no choice but to send him down to the Baby Penguins, where they would still pay his salary, but it wouldn't count against the cap. The Penguins promised at the time to recall him for the post-season when the cap wouldn't count.

True to their word, the Penguins brought him back.

If I were Bylsma, I'd scratch Satan and keep him handy in case things start badly in this series. Then, he can insert Satan in the lineup and potentially look for a little boost from him.

Aside from all that, the skilled forwards have meshed very well together, so why tinker with things?

I also don't expect to see Philippe Boucher in the lineup tonight either. Despite looking good in the last few games, I think Bylsma is going to start with the six horses who played so well for him in the final 27 games, and that includes Mark Eaton, who sat for Boucher on the final night of the regular season against the Montreal Canadiens.

It's going to be a great series tonight. There's always so much energy for the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which is why first round series' are always among the most contested and most intense. The fact that the Penguins and Flyers are kicking things off will only make it better.

Personally, I can't wait to see Sidney Crosby and Mike Richards match up. Playing head-to-head against Richards will easily get Crosby going.

One final thing before I go ....

Here's hoping the Penguins goad Flyers' knucklehead Scott Hartnell into some stupid penalties.

I can't STAND Hartnell.

Hartnell is a cheap player who tends to run around and take late shots at your players. Even though he's tallied 30 markers this year -- thanks to playing with the Flyers' stable of skilled centermen -- he's still susceptible to dumb infractions, so I'm hoping the Penguins are able to get him off his game and get him in the box, then score on the power play.

Detailed recap tomorrow morning.

Let's Go Pens!