Four Points

The Flyers played two good, rather intelligent and determined, games the past two nights- and emerged with four points against division rivals who can play. That is four wins in five games- vaulting them back into a tie in points for first place in their division.

Neither win- over New Jersey at home or the Rangers in New York- was shocking. But the Flyers struggled for a good portion of 2006, so it is heartening to see that they seem to be righting themselves in time for the play-offs and, more importantly, getting a potential division title that means definitely avoiding being tormented by Buffalo for two weeks in the conference quarterfinals.

The Flyers should beat New Jersey in their own building. Yes, the Flyers are slow and oh-so-languid defensively. But more than any other decent team in the East, the Devils lack the team speed and offensive grace to torture the Flyers in their own end. The teams almost seem to like to play each other- both have a good portion of the roster devoted to the old NHL-style players who seem to relish one more chance to slug it out along the dashers. Both teams managed a bare twenty or so shots, few scoring opportunites. Both referees- Martell and Watson- seemed overjoyed to be able to call penalties other than vague “obstruction” offenses. Martell almost chirped “Boarding” pointing at a luckless Carter. Other guys went off for holding! And high sticking! Good clean decent fouls- the kind of unlazy penalties you absolutely do not have to apologize to the coach for.

The Flyers then whipped the Rangers 6-3 in New York. I was not as comforted by this win as one might think. The Rangers took a real bad major penalty in the first period. New York had just gone ahead 2-1; Jagr had immediately answered a Flyers’ goal that had brought the.game even. This five minute power play gave the Flyers to score two quick ones before the first period ended- and they played from in front the rest of the way.

So, okay.... the Flyers proved that they can go on the road, overcome a hat trick by Jagr, and beat the Rangers- if they can score not only six goals but also three on the power-play, the Rangers do some stupid things and Lundqvist is terrible. Well, I can’t see a series with the Rangers where the Flyers score lots of goals- let alone on special teams- and Lundqvist is as bad as he was last night. Conversely, watching Desjardins (he’s what passes for a match-up defenseman on crafty talent these days in Philadelphia) get humiliated by Jagr last night, I don’t know how the Flyers keep that guy from a big series.