After the Pittsburgh Penguins' celebrated into the night following their 5-3 game six and 4-2 series victories over the Philadelphia Flyers' on Saturday, leaving their fans with their mouths open in shock and with their heads in their hands in disbelief and disgust (SEE ABOVE), the team will have several days to recuperate, reflect on the series, and get ready for their next opponent.
They may have a little more rest than usual, for 2 reasons. First, their series against the Flyers was about the only one in the league to be on a consistent every-other-day schedule. They played 6 games in 11 days and didn't get a single 2-day break throughout. In part because of that, other teams are still playing.
Also, there are 2 other series' in the East which will go 7 games -- the Washington Capitals/New York Rangers series, and the Carolina Hurricanes/New Jersey Devils series. The Carolina/New Jersey series doesn't finish until tomorrow night, with the end result being that the 2nd round probably won't begin for the Penguins until Thursday. The Penguins won't even know their opponent for sure until tomorrow, although the list of potential victims will be reduced somewhat depending on what happens in game 7 between the Rangers and Capitals tonight.
The Penguins need the rest they're going to get, because they were seriously tested by the Flyers this year, unlike any Eastern Conference playoff series they had on their way to the Stanley Cup Final last season. First round series' are often among the most difficult, and the Pens' 6-game triumph over Philadelphia was no exception. That should harden them somewhat for further challenges they are likely to face.
The biggest reason why the Penguins prevailed over Philadelphia, despite being outplayed by the Flyers for at least half the series, was their star power.
Centers Sidney Crosby (8) and Evgeni Malkin (9) combined for 17 points in the six games, while the Flyers top 2 centers and big guns Mike Richards (6) and Jeff Carter (1) combined for only 7 points.
After scoring 46 goals to finish 2nd overall in the league in goals during the regular season, Carter only potted 1 in this series. He finished the round more known for the goal he didn't score -- the one that Fleury just robbed him on with 8 minutes to go in the 3rd period of a game 2 the Penguins' were down in and ultimately came back to win in OT -- than the one he did.
Richards was a decent player in the series, especially with how physical he played, but he didn't shut Crosby down -- or even come close to it. His line was minus 4 in the series, which isn't all that becoming of a guy who is counted on to center a shut-down unit.
Fleury also was another big reason why the Penguins' won. He doesn't have the statistics that some other goalies in the playoff field -- like Jonas Hillier in Anaheim or Simeon Varlamov in Washington -- have, but there's no disputing that he played a direct, if not leading, role in the Penguins' victories in game 2 and game 4.
His counterpart in the opening round, Martin Biron, didn't play poorly. In fact, he probably was solid enough overall throughout the series for his team to win, but he didn't steal a game like Fleury did in game 4. Even in game 5, when Biron shutout the Penguins, he didn't single-handedly win the contest for Philadelphia. Then, in game 6, with his team up 3-0, he came up lame when his team needed him most. It looked like he couldn't stop a beach ball in the 2nd period.
Another area the Penguins' excelled in against the Flyers was in the face-off circle.
Pittsburgh controlled almost 56% of the draws in the series, which leads the playoffs so far, and Crosby led the way with about 63%. Jordal Staal -- who had an excellent series overall -- won about 57%.
That's just difficult to match up against.
Philadelphia also had problems throughout the series with their in-game focus. For Flyer followers, that's nothing new. They'll tell you that has been going on all season.
But it really hurt them in the playoff series. If it wasn't the penalties in games 1 and 2, it was blowing the big lead in game 6. You simply can't have lapses like that and expect to win, especially against a team like the Penguins that can make you pay.
Here's a few excellent post-series articles about game 6 as well as the rivalry between Pittsburgh/Philadelphia going foward:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs/2009/news?columnist=burnside_scott&id=4100195
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/43707657.html
Clearly, the Penguins' can gain a lot from their victory over Philadelphia.
According to those in Philadelphia, so can the Flyers:
Nightmares.
Of the team that consistently reinforces a single theme:
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