Civil War

by BSD on May 4, 2008 9:03 PM EDT in Other Sports

I know this is a Penn State blog, but this series is going to be a lot of fun.

In case you're wondering which team I'll be pulling for, GO FLYERS!

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GO PENS!!!!

8-1 in the playoffs. All that needs said.

God Created the World Out Of Nothing, Paterno Built A National Superpower On Cow Fields...

by Adam Bittner on May 4, 2008 10:19 PM EDT reply actions

Outside of an Eagles-Steelers Super Bowl, this truly is one of the best things a PA sports fan can hope for. Pittsburgh doesn't have an NBA team, and the Buccos stink, so really, what better is there than the best American hockey rivalry for an Eastern Conf. Final. Should be fun.

God Created the World Out Of Nothing, Paterno Built A National Superpower On Cow Fields...

by Adam Bittner on May 4, 2008 10:23 PM EDT reply actions

Let's Go Pens!!!

This is gunna be crazy. I wish penn state was still going to be in session for this.

Roar Lions Roar

by rmcmillen50 on May 4, 2008 10:50 PM EDT reply actions

Whatever

Wake me up in August.

by MarkoMancuso on May 4, 2008 11:12 PM EDT reply actions

haha

it's a shame that school won't be in session for more than one game...

pens win in five and remain undefeated at home.

Fight on State

by mikeissurreal on May 4, 2008 11:42 PM EDT reply actions

It would get violent

if school were in session for most of this series. The venom is crazy up here.

JoePa is my hero.

by psuphiman80 on May 4, 2008 11:44 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah

Philly fans are crazy...I went to the sport cafe a couple years ago during the Sabres vs Flyers series was going on (and Buf dominated by the way) but I was the only Buf fan in there and I had a flag wrapped around me and I had several threats to be burned with the flag...I was just happy a couple of my friends were Flyer fans or I might not have gotten out in one piece...I loved it though b/c there is nothing better than putting a Philly fan in there place hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

by Lion Alum on May 5, 2008 8:01 AM EDT up reply actions

LET GO PENS!!

The Flyers needed a Pittsburgh Native (RJ Umberger) to make it this far...Its going to be a crazy series... GO PENS!

Linebacker U

by LaVaR on May 5, 2008 12:31 AM EDT reply actions

Should be a fun series to watch...

Heading into the playoffs, I was thinking Pens/Wings in the finals, but don't count out the Flyers. As long as they're Buckeye-powered (Umberger)...

This Sharks/Stars game is pretty crazy now in the 3rd OT.

by eleventy on May 5, 2008 1:38 AM EDT reply actions

Civil.. I think not.

There will be nothing civil about this war. Go Pens!!!

by Galen on May 5, 2008 8:17 AM EDT reply actions

Go Pens

...Pens in 6!

Pat Devlin in '08

by Nick7 on May 5, 2008 8:45 AM EDT reply actions

The Flyers have already lost.

Dear Philly fans,

You know that feeling you have in the pit of your stomach? That thought in the back of your mind? It's not doubt, it's certainty. The Flyers don't have a chance, and the whole city of Philadelphia knows it. Just like the Eagles in the Super Bowl, the Phillies last year, and the Sixers just a few days ago, you're being set up for the inevitable failure. I admire the persistence of the Philadelphia sports fan, but their lot in life is suffering, that much is certain.

Even if the Flyers were better than the Pens, and they're not even close, they would choke. That's what they do. That's what they always do.

So let the cheap shots begin. Bring on the whining about Sidney Crosby diving and the BS about his preferential treatment. But this series won't go six games. It's been a long time since your last title, and I'll be pulling for you ever gat another chance, but the waiting will continue.

Respectfully,

Your friends in Pittsburgh.

For the Glory National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994,

by jesse. on May 5, 2008 10:23 AM EDT reply actions

Well, at least you're right about 1 thing...

it is going 6 games...only the Flyers are winning it.

by Screen Name 20 on May 5, 2008 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Penquins in 6

The only reason we don't sweep is because the Flyers have one of the hottest goalies in the playoffs...but then again, they haven't faced an offense like this in the playoffs yet.

by blt on May 5, 2008 10:42 AM EDT reply actions

The only reason...

the Flyers don't sweep is b/c the Pens D has been playing really well...but then again, they haven't faced the 2nd best offense in the playoffs yet. :)

by Screen Name 20 on May 5, 2008 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions

That doesn't matter when you are the best offense.

Philly = Losers

We may have the Pirates, but you have a whole stable of losers.

Philly doesn't even have the best sandwich...

You have the cheesesteak and we have Primanti's!

Enjoy the series and maybe we will invite Philly to look at the Stanley Cup as it spends the next 12 months in Pittsburgh

Pat Devlin in '08

by Nick7 on May 7, 2008 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Not to nitpick, but....

Philly had a better offense in the regular season and so far in the playoffs.

Flyers have only missed the playoffs 8 times in their existence...Penguins have half that much this DECADE.

But seriously, I'm glad the Pens fans started turning out so they weren't relocated and we can keep the rivalry!!!

by Screen Name 20 on May 7, 2008 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not

even sure this will go 6...I think it will be a 5 game series. The Pens will take care of buisness at home, and then take 1 of 2 on the road.

The Pens just have too much going for them right now.

by carolinaeasy on May 5, 2008 10:45 AM EDT reply actions

Philly = losers

Philly is full of losers and disappointments.

Not even Smarty Jones could win the Triple Crown!

Pennsylvania should just sell Philly to New Jersey or New York.

Pat Devlin in '08

by Nick7 on May 5, 2008 11:29 AM EDT reply actions

Philly = Losers

Ha, that's good! It's true, tho. Philly fans have two things that make their identity: losing and poor sportsmanship. The first begets the second: they've lost so much that just being losers hasn't provided enough historical identity. So, they try to make it cool to be an asshole at the stadium.

Selling Philly to Jersey is an excellent idea! That would do nothing to diminish the city's colonial historical importance at all, but would put it in a proper modern context. We could start it off in pop culture, like the anti-french renaming movement (remember Freedom Fries?), and redub the sandwich a Jersey Cheesesteak. This is some of your best work, Nick!

Lastly, it will be quite a delight to watch the skating & skills of the Pens dominate the all-we-got-is-thuggery game of the flyers, who thugged there lucky-arse way over the Caps in the first round anyways.

by jtothep on May 6, 2008 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

5-3....

season series with the Flyers taking 5 games. I like our chances.

Hopefully Sidney doesn't flop too many times in this series.

Go FLYERS!

Flyers in 5!

PSU Softball

by QBsneak12 on May 5, 2008 12:08 PM EDT reply actions

Yup

Just like Ottawa and New York liked theirs, for the same reason...

Hope springs eternal.

For the Glory National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994,

by jesse. on May 5, 2008 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions

you..

cannot base your chances off of the season series, when you take into account Crosby was hurt most of the year, and Hossa and Dupois were both late additions...The two teams are playing totally different right now.

by carolinaeasy on May 5, 2008 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

New look

last time i checked the Flyers played the new look Penguins the last game of the year and came out on top 2-0.

never look past a team that has nothing to lose. They've already beat the nubmer 1 seed. If i was a betting man I would bet all of Morelli's $12,000 signing bonus on the Flyers.

PSU Softball

by QBsneak12 on May 5, 2008 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Threw it

Philly won the game that the Pens got in trouble for throwing so they could get Ottawa in the first round...big deal. How did the game before that go when the Pens didn't throw it? That's right, they whooped Phily.

by JGuiher on May 5, 2008 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions

threw....

it because they fear the Orange and Black. They didn't want to deal with them in round 1. The league didn't want Sid the Kid to be knocked out in round 1 again. That would be like having LeBron knocked out of round 1 every year. The league needs superstars. I hope Sidney doesn't hurt himself taking all those dives this series.

PSU Softball

by QBsneak12 on May 6, 2008 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions

That is good and all...

but the Pens are so much more than a one trick pony. Malkin, Hossa, Staal, Fluery (maybe the best goalie in the playoffs right now). Not to mention Gonchar, and Dupois are playing well right now...

The Flyers need some "role" players to step up and answer the bell big time if they expect to win.

by carolinaeasy on May 6, 2008 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

ugh

way to be shortsighted.

not counting the last game of the year, the flyers still won the series 4-3.

by psudrozz on May 6, 2008 8:47 PM EDT up reply actions

you've got to be kidding me

"Even if the Flyers were better than the Pens, and they're not even close, they would choke. That's what they do. That's what they always do."

that's pretty big talk coming from a fan backing a team that has never beat the flyers in a playoff series.

"The only reason we don't sweep is because the Flyers have one of the hottest goalies in the playoffs...but then again, they haven't faced an offense like this in the playoffs yet."

that is debateble-we faced oveckin, semin, a dominating huet, backstrom, and green in round 1. not quite the pens level, but up there in talent. round 2 was played against the habs (koivu, kovalev, the kostitsen bros, etc) who had the number 1 ranked PP in the league. they might not be the talent of malkin, cindy, gonchar, hossa, and fleury et al., but were capable winning the top cede in the conference despite the best efforts of the pens.

what has impressed me (and what i think most fans are overlooking) with this pens team is the way the defense has stepped up-this will be the biggest factor in this series. the pens d is still prone to bad defensive zone turnovers, but when they have stumbled the offense has picked the slack.

the pens haven't lost at home since february. the flyers just beat the habs up north twice on hockey night in canada. if any team can win in pitt, it is the flyers.

and for all those who believe philly is full of disappointments and losers, just remember-your country was born there and so was PSU.

and yes, thank you for umberger.

by psudrozz on May 5, 2008 12:23 PM EDT reply actions

Big talk?

Yup.

It's also true. And you know it.

For the Glory National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994,

by jesse. on May 5, 2008 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

of course

i know that pitt has never (knock on wood) beaten us in a stanley cup playoff series. why else would i post it?

by psudrozz on May 6, 2008 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions

keep knocking.

For the Glory; National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994

by jesse. on May 13, 2008 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Hockey

I'm definitely looking forward to this one. Playoff hockey is outstanding, and a matchup of these two teams for a Stanley Cup berth is going to be nasty. It's definitely a matter of skill vs. thuggery, and the Pens have already shown they can outdo a team of goons. Pittsburgh in 6, only because it's a rivalry matchup.

As an aside, I never used to hate Philadelphia teams. In fact, I used to cheer for them. But then I went to Penn State and discovered that Philly fans, for whatever reason, hate Pittsburgh teams with a jealous passion. Never really understood why. I remember the Steelers SB celebration in Beaver Canyon. There was a handful of Eagles fans in the midst of it, trying to start up an Eagles chant and mother-effing all the Steelers people. I admire the resilience, but shake my head at the idiocy. Your teams suck. At some point, you really ought to just shut up. At least Patriots fans didn't get annoying until after they won a few championships.

Luring recruits with my new "Posting HD" scheme since '08.

by 06Lion on May 5, 2008 12:32 PM EDT reply actions

I totally agree

I've had the exact same experience. Before coming to psu, I had no reason to hate Phily, but then Phily kept on hating on Pittsburgh. i didn't get it. i think they're just envious.

Roar Lions Roar

by rmcmillen50 on May 5, 2008 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Of course Philly fans are envious:

Pittsburgh: City of Champions, baby!!!

And I'm not even a hockey fan.

I mean, ain't Philly the only city that has a team in each of the four major pro leagues that hasn't won a championship of any sort in 25 years (75ers in '83)? Yeah, I'd be a bitter, pissed off sum bitch, too.

by Ab4PSU on May 5, 2008 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Exactly!

That is the reason they hate Pittsburgh so bad. That's why I take it as an insult when they even try to compare their teams to ours. How about win a Super Bowl before you start that Eagles chant. LET'S GO PENS!

by WPIALkid22 on May 5, 2008 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Philly fans...

just dislike all teams not Philadelphia. I could care less about the Stillers, I just hate the Cowgirls and G'nats.

by Screen Name 20 on May 5, 2008 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

you

couldn't be more wrong. many of us grew up liking the steelers and pens.

and then we got to state college.

note: i have no idea who started the inferiority complex between then cities, but trust me, a good portion of pitt fans are no prize either.

by psudrozz on May 6, 2008 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, but that's just...

Penn State Philly fans. The rest of Philly doesn't care about the Stillers or Pirates.

by Screen Name 20 on May 8, 2008 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I was in attendance

until 2:15am for the 5OT game (May 4, 2000). Time for some payback. The Flyers don't have enough firepower to stay in this series, Pens in five.

by Joe 96alum on May 5, 2008 12:56 PM EDT reply actions

Dear Pens fans

Keith Primeau says hi!

I'd like to see the coaches put a Bounty on Sid...like the old Buddy Ryan Eagles days...

by psu1313 on May 5, 2008 1:01 PM EDT reply actions

OMG!!!

Nobody ever thought about trying to bully the Pens out of the playoffs!

If only the Rangers had a bully/cheap shot artist, then they would have beat them for sure...oh wait? They have Sean Avery, who is the reigning king of the cheap shot arists.

Nevermind.

For the Glory National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994,

by jesse. on May 5, 2008 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Go Flyers!

Should be a hell of a series.

Remember one thing:
Pittsburgh was supposed to be here, which gives us the advantage.

by nittanynutz on May 5, 2008 1:08 PM EDT reply actions

I Always Liked........

Philadelphia teams........until I started listening to John Kincade on ESPN radio down here. He is one of these idiots that will remind the Cowboys fans how they haven't won a playoff game in 13 years, but then doesn't want to hear how the Eagles are right there with the Browns, Cardinals, etc with teams that haven't won anything in their entire existence.

I know it isn't fair to lump all Philly fans in with him, but he really turns me off........that plus he takes every possible crack he can at Penn State and in particular Paterno.

Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

by ech2os on May 5, 2008 1:20 PM EDT reply actions

Super Bowls.......

I know the Browns won a lot of championships in the 50s.

Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

by ech2os on May 5, 2008 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Kind of like the Phillies fans at PNC Park

last week, who were busting on the Pirates for being awful. You'd think that given the Phillies history they would be more understanding.

For the Glory National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994,

by jesse. on May 5, 2008 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, the Pirates do suck.

But since our World Series wins (and the Phillies Series WIN (note singular here)) are so far in the past, nobody can bring up recent history because we both suck, we yinzers can say:

WE HAVE MORE RINGS THAN YOU-OO!!
WE HAVE MORE RINGS THAN YOU-OO!!
WE HAVE MORE RINGS THAN YOU-OO!!

by Ab4PSU on May 5, 2008 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually...

I was a fan of the Philadelphia A's in the early 1900's, so no, no you don't. But now I'm a Phils fans since the A's have since moved. :)

by Screen Name 20 on May 5, 2008 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions

So you're counting World Series trophies

that no longer reside in Philadelphia?

by Ab4PSU on May 6, 2008 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions

That was...

a tongue-in-cheek response to reverting back to years past (1930's) instead of talking about the present.

by Screen Name 20 on May 6, 2008 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions

and by the end

of this season, you will have more losses in your history than us as well.

by psudrozz on May 6, 2008 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions

And that's a fact

Philadelphia is full of jerks and a-holes
Florida is where they all will move to die
But I'll be getting drunk for seven dollars
In a classy little joint on the South Side

Ceann, "Pittsburgh Makes Me Drunk"

http://www.difm.net/cnc/audio/pittsburghmakesmedrunk-live.mp3

by spakajewia on May 5, 2008 3:40 PM EDT reply actions

I got the same plans.

Maybe get a little Primanti's to go with an Iron City beforehand

by WPIALkid22 on May 5, 2008 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Please Tell.........

me its an IC Light, "HEY!!!, Gimme an IC Light":) There is a local chain down here called Taco Mac. They have 430 different bottled beers on hand. They have Iron City (which even as big of a Pittsburgh Homer as I am I can't gag those things), but no IC Light.

Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

by ech2os on May 5, 2008 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions

You've got to rock the Iron

every once and a while to show you haven't sold out. It's the way yinzers represent. Someimes the a nasty headache is the prize you've got to pay.

For the Glory National Champions 1982, 1986, 1994,

by jesse. on May 5, 2008 10:13 PM EDT up reply actions

There is only one thing that needs to be said....

WWGRD!

Gary Roberts isn't afraid of the dark, the dark is afraid of Gary Roberts!

Pat Devlin in '08

by Nick7 on May 7, 2008 12:44 PM EDT reply actions

Much as I can't stand Philly...

I have to give credit where it's due, in their willingness to dismantle the team and re-tool.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2008/columns/story?columnist=cox_damien&id=3385331

Some stuff on Pitt-Philly rivalry:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3385494

by Joe 96alum on May 8, 2008 1:06 PM EDT reply actions

Kieth Primeau

I believe in 2000 the Flyers were down 2 games to none when the penguin killer himself took the team on his shoulders! Who will be the next Primeau in this series?

by Jborg10 on May 13, 2008 9:18 AM EDT reply actions