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Thu May 15, 2008 10:32 pm EDT

Thursday's three stars: Flyers shuffle up and steal one

By Matt Romig

No. 1 star: Daniel Briere, Philadelphia Flyers
It was a Briere rush up the left wing boards that drew a Sergei Gonchar hold to set up the Flyers' first power play. It was Briere who knifed between Pens goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and 6-foot-7 defenseman Hal Gill to corral a rebound and deposit it into the net for a 2-0 lead. It was Briere who responded well to a lineup shuffle to invigorate an attack that didn't quite get it in Games 1-3. Just one point landed on the scoresheet for Briere, who statistically is still having a quiet series, but Thursday he was a force all night, drawing penalties and creating chances with the man advantage despite Philadelphia's lack of a healthy PP quarterback.

No. 2 star: Jordan Staal, Pittsburgh Penguins
It's already been an emotional series and Staal provided some inspiring moments in Game 4, scoring a pair of goals in the third period a day after attending his grandfather's funeral in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Staal snuck both goals just inside the near post, almost single-handedly willing the Penguins to a miraculous comeback. If anyone deserved a weekend off after a four-game sweep, it was Staal.

No. 3 star: Scott Hartnell, Philadelphia Flyers
If Briere is the Flyers' hiding-in-the-weeds forward, Hartnell is the in-your-face pest. The grit in Philly's No. 1 line Thursday, Hartnell picked up three hits and three assists after going scoreless in the first three games of this series.

Major penalty: Our resident Puck Daddy didn't draw three stars duty tonight, but we darn near ran this pre-game post as our Game 4 recap. Coach John Stevens' line adjustments did work, Briere and Richards did click, Martin Biron did rebound and the Penguins did stink. Nice calls, P-Daddy. Pittsburgh sure did skate like a team with a sense of entitlement Thursday. While the Flyers won puck battles and created traffic in front of Marc-Andre Fleury, the Pens treated Game 4 like a skills competition. While they are the more skilled team in this series, that only goes so far when the opposition draws a line in the sand.

Minor penalty: You know you're digging yourself a hole penalty-wise when a rare clipping call surfaces. The Pens took five minor penalties in the opening period, which led to a pair of power-play goals for the Flyers. Not much to complain about back in Pittsburgh. The Pens were simply outworked in the opening 20 minutes.

Conn Smythe watch

1. Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings
2. Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
3. Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
4. Chris Osgood, Detroit Red Wings
5. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
6. Johan Franzen, Detroit Red Wings
7. Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins
8. Marian Hossa, Pittsburgh Penguins
9. Daniel Briere, Philadelphia Flyers
10. Brenden Morrow, Dallas Stars

Related: 3 Stars

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97 Comments

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  1. Steven S
    1. Posted by Steven S Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:29 pm EDT

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    BTW, Lupul had the first goal on a poor save with a slapper from the circle.
  2. sxus_tiorted
    2. Posted by sxus_tiorted Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    Oh well, every once in awhile a squirrel gets a nut. those cryer fans were on the edge of their seats with their buck-eyes puckered tight when the pens made it 2-3. it's just the lion playing with its food before the kill because it's over saturday. good game cryer fans. i think pittsburgh just wanted you to travel all the way back to the burgh to get your butts kicked here. plus pittsburgh can use the extra revenue because big fat rendell diverts a lot of state funds to that crap-hole philly cause that big boy loves him some cheese steak.
  3. thecol5
    3. Posted by thecol5 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:03 pm EDT

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    Lupul's shot deflected of Gill's stick, not Fleury's fault. The Flyers need to keep it up!
  4. thecol5
    4. Posted by thecol5 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:03 pm EDT

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    Lupul's shot deflected of Gill's stick, not Fleury's fault. The Flyers need to keep it up!
  5. Robert W
    5. Posted by Robert W Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:04 pm EDT

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    Lupul's shot was deflected by defensman stick, wouldn't call that a poor save.
  6. blanx218
    6. Posted by blanx218 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:09 pm EDT

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    this blog is for the 3 stars from 2nite. if i were a flyers fan(THANK GOD IM NOT!!!!) i would give the 1st star 2 the refs...the non calls were a bit on the ridiculous side. im not gonna sit here and cry like flyers fans. im gonna say it was crap and be done with it. im gonna tell all the flyers to BRING IT!!! game 5 in pittsburgh...u dont have a chance!!!
  7. G-Man
    7. Posted by G-Man Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    Wow, this game was remarkably similar to Wednesday's bout between Dallas and Detroit, only without the controversial officiating.
    Face it Pens fans- Philadelphia outplayed you by a long shot. Pittsburgh tried to keep it interesting towards the end, but they deserved to lose this game.
    Good work Philadelphia, but (just as I said about Dallas) it's not smart to show up for a series halfway through. History has not been kind to teams who bring their A-Game this late.
  8. Robert W
    8. Posted by Robert W Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:04 pm EDT

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    Hey blanx218...................What BS, you state I'm not crying and then go on to cry anyway. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Suck it up, the Flyers wanted it more tonight....the Pens mailed it in! On to game 5
  9. John C
    9. Posted by John C Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:48 pm EDT

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    lenzi...flyers fans hate versus as well...at least i do because although they may bias flyers fans i moreso here there terrible, unemotional voices over there bias...BRING BACK GARY THORNE
  10. Dutch
    10. Posted by Dutch Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:07 pm EDT

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    Filly played well to open it up, the Pens looked like crap. Officiating was pretty weak, I mean "Clipping" really? Thought that was a 15 yd. penalty in Football! Anyway, the Pens problem in the playoffs has been allowing the opposition to score in a flurry, usually 2 goals, tonight 3, avoid that and they've been very solid. Pleased with the comeback, too bad there wasn't 22 minutes in the 3rd, Oh gee there I go sounding like a Flyers fan! As for Vs. Thumbs down on the Comcast connection, didn't know that, but for complaints I do have with them, they do a he!! of a lot better job than ESPN did, showing a couple NHL Playoff games a week and spending the rest of time with the NBA. Pass!
  11. Paul
    11. Posted by Paul Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:14 pm EDT

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    Face it Pen fans. U thought sweep, but not with this team. They will go down fighting, and fighting they did . I think they looked better then ever, and say they still have solid shot . Let's Go Flyers!!! Put those brooms away baby!! hahahaha. This team will be hot on your tail! Watch out Penguins, Flyers are coming to Pitt. And let me add anytime the Flyers team where down 3-0 they have never one the next game -this team did - with guts and determination by these guys. I'm telling u there not dead yet . They are going to suprise alot of people on Sunday!
  12. sxus_tiorted
    12. Posted by sxus_tiorted Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    I am going to use my broom to clean up that dirty cyst pool called Philly. The Ranger fans were saying the same thing Paul L. You can call them at home and ask them. Clean out your under-roos for game 5 cause it's over and you shouldn't be wearing soiled shorts cause your team almost blew one. It's funny cause after game 3 there were no Cryer fans to be heard from. Now they win 1 game and there going to the PROMISE LAND. Losing a game helps to bring you back to reality. What do you think is going to happen when the PENS are regrouped at home. You won't get the match ups you want. Hatcher may have a heart attack at any moment unless you cut down on his minutes. At least when you lose....RJ Hamburglar will have a short drive to Plum to go suckle his mom's tit and cry.
  13. sxus_tiorted
    13. Posted by sxus_tiorted Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    I am going to use my broom to clean up that dirty cyst pool called Philly. The Ranger fans were saying the same thing Paul L. You can call them at home and ask them. Clean out your under-roos for game 5 cause it's over and you shouldn't be wearing soiled shorts cause your team almost blew one. It's funny cause after game 3 there were no Cryer fans to be heard from. Now they win 1 game and there going to the PROMISE LAND. Losing a game helps to bring you back to reality. What do you think is going to happen when the PENS are regrouped at home. You won't get the match ups you want. Hatcher may have a heart attack at any moment unless you cut down on his minutes. At least when you lose....RJ Hamburglar will have a short drive to Plum to go suckle his mom's tit and cry.
  14. sxus_tiorted
    14. Posted by sxus_tiorted Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    I am going to use my broom to clean up that dirty cyst pool called Philly. The Ranger fans were saying the same thing Paul L. You can call them at home and ask them. Clean out your under-roos for game 5 cause it's over and you shouldn't be wearing soiled shorts cause your team almost blew one. It's funny cause after game 3 there were no Cryer fans to be heard from. Now they win 1 game and there going to the PROMISE LAND. Losing a game helps to bring you back to reality. What do you think is going to happen when the PENS are regrouped at home. You won't get the match ups you want. Hatcher may have a heart attack at any moment unless you cut down on his minutes. At least when you lose....RJ Hamburglar will have a short drive to Plum to go suckle his mom's tit and cry.
  15. El Becko
    15. Posted by El Becko Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

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    Flyers in seven. Shutup all you Penguin whiners. You'd think Sidney Crosby himself was making all these posts. For the record Vs. sucks and is far from Flyers biased! Tonight was the first time in forever Brian Engblom had anything positive to say about the Flyers (probably because it hurt him less than talking about how bad the Penguins looked). And are those two knuckleheads calling the game really the second best they have? Yikes!
    Truthfully, no matter what happens in the rest of this series, the Flyers played a great game in what could be their last home game of the season. Of course, if they keep playing like that there might just be a few more home games for Philly over the next couple weeks! Either way, I am thrilled with the Flyers effort compared to last year, as should every Flyers fan.
  16. sxus_tiorted
    16. Posted by sxus_tiorted Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    Good point el retard
    that was the last home game for philly.
    you are correct
  17. El Becko
    17. Posted by El Becko Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

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    I think you mean cesspool Mr. Itchy Enter key finger. Or is it Mr. Pot calling the kettle black? The Pens can have all the fun they want in the promise land, winners go to the promised land.
  18. El Becko
    18. Posted by El Becko Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

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    I knew your writing skills were limited, now I know you have trouble reading too. I said it COULD be their last game. I also said there MIGHT be some more games. Drink some more Iron City pi$$water and turn off the PC.
  19. El Becko
    19. Posted by El Becko Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

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    Not intimitdated? Didn't you see your hero Crosby turtle when Smith was coming at him in front of the net. He turned a good scoring chance into a laughing stock!
  20. K-Mart
    20. Posted by K-Mart Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:49 pm EDT

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    so wait, as soon as your superstars stop getting bogus calls, you complain? seriously, the officiating hasn't been that bad this series and the pens also get away with a lot of crap. stop pissing and moaning, the pens didn't want to play tonight and thats why they lost. flyers won't win the series, but they finally showed some of the heart and determination that got them this far. besides, they went from worst in the league to the conference finals in a year. pretty rare for that to happen, and it doesn't happen on accident. the flyers will remain a force to be contended with for years to come. they are a team, not just two superstars and a team of tag alongs (though, fleury has become a solid netminder, i'll give you that). and seriously pittsburgh, you guys lose your "moral high ground" (i can't count the number of times people have complained that flyers fans are too crass etc.) when you make comments like "that dirty cyst pool called Philly" or "RJ Hamburglar will have a short drive to Plum to go suckle his mom's tit and cry." or "the Orange Baboons soiling their panties". if it makes your over inflated egos feel better so you can sleep at night, then i'm not gonna stop you. just saying you guys sound like the very fans you complain about whne you make those comments. you can't have it both ways.
  21. G
    21. Posted by G Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:36 pm EDT

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    If the refs deserved 1st star game 4, the refs deserve 1st star everytime crosby hits the ice.
  22. Paul
    22. Posted by Paul Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:14 pm EDT

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    Totally agree El Becko! Remember Flyers took 4 straight from the Habs, and they can do it again to the Pens with pure effect and drive. They have done it all year. This a team playing with there two top defenseman gone. Think about that. Even if they don't win game 5, what a determined team not to fall the sweep that everybody excepted to happen. Yesssss!! But I have feeling they are getting there legs back and looked better then ever. I think changing the line up helped alot, and believe it will be a good effect on there part on Sunday. Go Flyers!! This team has Guts!!
  23. sxus_tiorted
    23. Posted by sxus_tiorted Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    El retard
    i am typing not writing.
    i like to post more than once because i know all the philly tards are slow.
    they do have one of the lowest literacy rates in the country.
    that's why rendell needs to pump so much money into the education system in that area.
  24. K-Mart
    24. Posted by K-Mart Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:49 pm EDT

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    @dutch
    the thuggery is all a matter of viewpoint. malone went flying in after who knows when upshall hit the one pen (never did catch who it was). malone just started chucking fists and he happened to get tangled up with hatcher. as for the richards/crosby incident, again not thuggery. crosby was running his mouth and richards wanted to shut it. crosby is lucky the refs jumped in quickly on that one however, because richards is a much better fighter than crosby is.

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