Saturday Afternoon Showcase
- Saturday, Apr. 19/03
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Philadelphia Flyers vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Series tied 2-2
by Rink Rat
If you are seeking evidence of the genius of Philadelphia Flyers' coach Hitchcock, look no further than the great immobile lump he has playing in goal. Netminder Cechmanek might be just about the worst skating goalkeeper in the NHL these days. He doesn't so much as set himself for a shot as take root. He's slower going post to post than an arthritic mailman. When his teammates break down and a goal is scored he hangs his head in despair; when he blows one he flaps his arms as if he were trying to apportion the blame to others.
Yet Chechmanek had fabulous numbers throughout the regular season and will without doubt garner votes for the Vezina trophy. His save percentage and goals against average were so good because his fanatical teammates kept the shots down to a minimum, seldom allowed second shots, cleared rebounds like demons, and kept forwards to the outside. Those defenders were able to perform so well over 82 games because Hitchcock showed them how.
Hitchcock is a good coach. But even his coaching and the frantic efforts of the Flyers' skaters can only do so much. Philly's goals against average in their series with the Toronto Maple Leafs has bloomed - to 2.75. Cechmanek's save percentage has plunged to .892, or a level usually associated with a backup keeper.
The Leaf power play is operating at 20%, which is healthy, having scored three goals on 15 chances. The good news from the Flyers' point of view is that they aren't taking very many penalties - they have allowed fewer power play chances as a team than winger Bertuzzi has taken by himself in the Blues- Canucks series. Philadelphia isn't being helped by scoring droughts from players expected to score. Leclair has one goal while Amonte and Kapanen have none. They are being carried right now by another winger, Recchi, who has been a bundle of energy so far in the series.
Toronto looked to be running out of players there for awhile. Antropov, Roberts, and Mogilny have been hurt. Roberts is back and Mogilny might be for this game. Power forward Nolan has been his usual in and out self, mostly out, but is due to have an in and now would be a good idea. Captain Sundin is showing grit and wildman Tucker has lived up to his reputation. The coaching staff finally came to its senses and hauled overmatched defenceman Housley out of the lineup. Defensive zone bungles were becoming an epidemic with him on the ice.
Defenceman Lumme is having a fine series. So too is goaltender Belfour. He was heroic in the three overtime thriller Wednesday night until letting in a soft one and losing the game. His save percentage to this point is a substantial .928. He did appear to be grinding down as the night wore on.
This series has been a rough, all out war but perhaps surprisingly not a special teams series. The Leafs have conceded 21 power play opportunities, but as we've seen when referee Marouelli is in charge, a team can be assessed that many in one period.
Flyers hold a 10-7 edge in goals scored even strength. Goalkeeper Belfour has been under siege in the four games played so far and might be again in this one. However the Rat thinks he has one last big effort and Saturday night will be it. Rough again, tight again, but the Leafs squeak one.
Play on the LEAFS Money Line.
- Saturday, Apr. 19/03
-
Philadelphia Flyers vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Series tied 2-2
by Rink Rat
If you are seeking evidence of the genius of Philadelphia Flyers' coach Hitchcock, look no further than the great immobile lump he has playing in goal. Netminder Cechmanek might be just about the worst skating goalkeeper in the NHL these days. He doesn't so much as set himself for a shot as take root. He's slower going post to post than an arthritic mailman. When his teammates break down and a goal is scored he hangs his head in despair; when he blows one he flaps his arms as if he were trying to apportion the blame to others.
Yet Chechmanek had fabulous numbers throughout the regular season and will without doubt garner votes for the Vezina trophy. His save percentage and goals against average were so good because his fanatical teammates kept the shots down to a minimum, seldom allowed second shots, cleared rebounds like demons, and kept forwards to the outside. Those defenders were able to perform so well over 82 games because Hitchcock showed them how.
Hitchcock is a good coach. But even his coaching and the frantic efforts of the Flyers' skaters can only do so much. Philly's goals against average in their series with the Toronto Maple Leafs has bloomed - to 2.75. Cechmanek's save percentage has plunged to .892, or a level usually associated with a backup keeper.
The Leaf power play is operating at 20%, which is healthy, having scored three goals on 15 chances. The good news from the Flyers' point of view is that they aren't taking very many penalties - they have allowed fewer power play chances as a team than winger Bertuzzi has taken by himself in the Blues- Canucks series. Philadelphia isn't being helped by scoring droughts from players expected to score. Leclair has one goal while Amonte and Kapanen have none. They are being carried right now by another winger, Recchi, who has been a bundle of energy so far in the series.
Toronto looked to be running out of players there for awhile. Antropov, Roberts, and Mogilny have been hurt. Roberts is back and Mogilny might be for this game. Power forward Nolan has been his usual in and out self, mostly out, but is due to have an in and now would be a good idea. Captain Sundin is showing grit and wildman Tucker has lived up to his reputation. The coaching staff finally came to its senses and hauled overmatched defenceman Housley out of the lineup. Defensive zone bungles were becoming an epidemic with him on the ice.
Defenceman Lumme is having a fine series. So too is goaltender Belfour. He was heroic in the three overtime thriller Wednesday night until letting in a soft one and losing the game. His save percentage to this point is a substantial .928. He did appear to be grinding down as the night wore on.
This series has been a rough, all out war but perhaps surprisingly not a special teams series. The Leafs have conceded 21 power play opportunities, but as we've seen when referee Marouelli is in charge, a team can be assessed that many in one period.
Flyers hold a 10-7 edge in goals scored even strength. Goalkeeper Belfour has been under siege in the four games played so far and might be again in this one. However the Rat thinks he has one last big effort and Saturday night will be it. Rough again, tight again, but the Leafs squeak one.
Play on the LEAFS Money Line.
