What If Series(Flyers 1991) (FHM6)

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Re: What If Series(Flyers 1991) (FHM6)

Penguins Win Fourth Straight Cup

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The Dynasty continues....


AWARDS:
HART: Mario Lemieux(PIT)
CONN SMYTHE: Mario Lemieux(PIT)
RICHARD: Mario Lemieux(PIT)
ART ROSS: Mario Lemieux(PIT)
TED LINDSAY: Mario Lemieux(PIT)

+/- Award: Paul Coffey(PIT)
NORRIS: Paul Coffey(PIT)
SELKE: Mike Ricci(PHI)
CALDER: Paul Kariya(OTT)
BILL MASTERSON: Doug Gilmour(CGY)
JACK DAMS: Jim Schoenfeld(BUF)
VEZINA: Patrick Roy(MTL)
JENNINGS: Chris Osgood(DET)

[Nickflyers]

Re: What If Series(Flyers 1991) (FHM6)

Lockout Ends, Game On!!


https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/1995-nhl-lockout-ends-after-103-days

Flyers Eager to Build on Postseason

The Flyers returned to the Playoffs last year before falling to the Buffalo Sabres in six games. The season was a success to many with the development of youth finally bearing fruit. Peter Forsberg took over as 1C late in the season and a bold trade to get rising star Pavel Bure paid dividends as well. The offseason was successful as well with the Flyers adding backup goalie Garth Snow(1.5/2) and forwards Shjon Podein(1.5/1.5), Craig Conroy(1/3) and Keith Jones(1/1.5). The youth on the team got their feet wet in the playoffs and now are eager to contend with the elite teams in the League. The top line of LeClair-Forsberg-Renberg will be relied on, but the depth up front will provide oppositions with a load of problems. 2nd line is projected to be Zhamnov-Brind'Amour-Bure, Brind'amour's outstanding two-way play will allow Zhamnov and Bure to focus on the offense. The defense is still very young, but has grown together so that chemistry should allow them to hold teams at bay.

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Re: What If Series(Flyers 1991) (FHM6)

FLYERS WIN ATLANTIC DIVISION TITLE

Tough shortened season, but we clinched our first division title in a while. Blueline got banged up a bit with Malakhov and Desjardins missing a few weeks in the middle of the season. We're still a ways away from Pittsburgh, Boston and Quebec in the East, but with a healthy team we can fight our way though the playoffs!

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Re: What If Series(Flyers 1991) (FHM6)

Flyers draw the New York Islanders, who finished with a 22-22-4 record to earn the 7th seed.



OFFENSE: The Islanders are heavily reliant on their top line of Derek King-Ray Ferraro-Ziggy Palffy, as all three scored over 15 goals and had over 35 points. Everyone else was under 20 points. Meanwhile Philadelphia had three 20+ goal scorers(Forsberg, Renberg, and Bure). Pretty easy to determine who has the advantage.
ADVANTAGE: Philadelphia

DEFENSE: The Islanders only allowed 126 goals and play a very stingy game so if they are to have a chance this series they will need to continue the stingy defense. With five players with over 50 hits, they aren't afraid to throw their weight around. The Flyers still have one of the youngest bluelines and they are getting healthy at the right time with Malakhov and Desjardins returning.

ADVANTAGE: Draw

GOALTENDING: Ron Hextall and Garth Snow were 12th and 13th in GAA, but they are Mark Fitzpatrick was in the Top five and held down a 92.0SV%. If Fitzpatrick can keep that pace up he could lead an upset of the Atlantic Division Champs. Hextall has experience in his corner and can turn his game up a notch come playoff time.

ADVANTAGE: Draw

Prediction: Flyers in Six

[Nickflyers]

Re: What If Series(Flyers 1991) (FHM6)

Flyers Win Series in Five, Onto the Semi Finals


Eastern Conference
#1 Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 #8 Buffalo Sabres
#3 Boston Bruins 4-2 #6 New Jersey Devils
#4 New York Rangers 2-4 #5 Quebec Nordiques

Western Conference
#1 Detroit Red Wings 4-1 #8 St. Louis Blues
#2 Calgary Flames 4-2 #7 Dallas Stars
#3 Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 Vancouver Canucks
#4 Winnipeg Jets 0-4 #5 Los Angeles Kings

[Nickflyers]

Re: What If Series(Flyers 1991) (FHM6)

#2 Philadelphia Flyers vs #3 Boston Bruins

OFFENSE: John LeClair is leading the playoffs with six goals in five games, while Peter Forsberg leads the team with nine points. So look for the top line of the Flyers to continue. Meanwhile in Boston Craig Janney and Ted Donato are supplying the offense. Cam Neely is recovering from an injury and should be available for Game 1. He could provide some much needed offense for Boston in this series.
Advantage: Philadelphia

DEFENSE: Bruins are led by All-Star defenseman Ray Bourque and it'll be his and Garry Galley's task to control the Legion of Doom in Philadelphia. Glen Wesley and Don Sweeney will also be called upon to deal with the lethal Philadelphia offense. In Philadelphia, the Flyers will be without Malakhov as he suffered a bruised foot in Game 4, but the top line of Sandis Ozolinsh and Sergei Gonchar should be able to handle the Bruins top line. Terry Carkner will provide some experience in Malakhov's place until he returns. The young defense held the Isles top line in check and the Islanders could only get six goals in the five games.

Advantage: Draw

GOALTENDING: Ron Hextall has been lights out for the playoffs allowing just six goals while posting a 95.5SV% and a 1.20GAA. Jim Carey handled the New Jersey offense enough to lead his team to victory allowing 15 goals and a 91.7SV%.
Advantage: Philadelphia

Series Prediction: Flyers in Seven

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Re: What If Series(Flyers 1991) (FHM6)

Sergei Gonchar's Game 7 OT Winner Sends Flyers to Conf. Finals!

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Re: What If Series(Flyers 1991) (FHM6)

OFFENSE: The Penguins will be without Jaromir Jagr (Torn Hamstring), but that doesn't appear to slow the Pens down as they handled Quebec quite easily in a four game sweep. Lemieux leads the Pens with 17 points in 10 games with Recchi and Francis providing secondary scoring. Igor Kravchuk has five goals from the blueline as well. Philadelphia is scoring a lot as well with Peter Forsberg leading the way with 17 points in 12 games. The Flyers will need more scoring from their secondary lines if they want to keep up with the Penguins.
ADVANTAGE: Pittsburgh

DEFENSE: The Penguins handled the Nordiques and their high powered offense pretty easily and with Larry Murphy and Paul Coffey leading the way it'll be a tall task for the Flyers to break through. Philadelphia's young blueline will have to be on point to shut down Super Mario and Mark Recchi. If they can do that, they have a chance to return to the Stanley Cup Finals
ADVANTAGE: Pittsburgh

GOALIE: Ron Hextall is still holding his ground with a 93.1SV% but he will need to return to his 1987 Playoff level to give the Flyers a chance to take down the dynasty. Tom Barrasso is playing at his usual level with a 91.4SV% and a 2.06GAA.
Advantage: Draw

PREDICTION: Penguins in Six

[Nickflyers]

Re: What If Series(Flyers 1991) (FHM6)

Flyers Bounced in Five
They were too good.....Super Mario took over a few games and we had that crushing Game four loss.

[Nickflyers]

Re: What If Series(Flyers 1991) (FHM6)

Penguins win fifth straight Stanley Cup..........4-1 vs Detroit (God that hurts to write)


Awards:
Hart: Brian Leetch(NYR)
Conn Smythe: Mario Lemiuex(PIT)
Vezina: Tom Barrasso(PIT)
Norris: Larry Murphy(PIT)
Calder: Mike Torchia(CHI goalie)
Selke: Mike Ricci(PHI)
Rocket: Jaromir Jagr(PIT)
Art Ross: Steve Yzerman(DET)
Lady Byng: Martin St. Louis(SJ)
Bill Masterton: Ron Francis(PIT)

[Nickflyers]

Re: What If Series(Flyers 1991) (FHM6)

OFFSEASON

Penguins let Mark Recchi walk, so we were quick to scoop him up after Ed Snider opened up the piggy bank. Recchi is the first NHL player to have a salary of over $3M making him the highest paid player. The other marquee free agent was Zigmund Palffy, who went to Tampa Bay.


We had the 22nd draft pick and selected Wade Redden, other than that nothing too exciting. But the "Experts" have Philadelphia as the favorites to end the Penguins historic reign.

Historical Changes: Quebec moved to Colorado and became the Avalanche

[Nickflyers]

Re: What If Series(Flyers 1991) (FHM6)

Flyers Acquire The Great One

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With the Flyers chasing Pittsburgh and Los Angeles falling down the standings, GM Rittflyers went for a home run acquisition in "The Great One" Wayne Gretzky in a blockbuster deal prior to the Trade Deadline

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Re: What If Series(Flyers 1991) (FHM6)

Flyers Win 2nd Straight Atlantic Division Title

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The Flyers were able to match pace with the Pittsburgh Penguins(2-1-1 record) and Detroit Red Wings(1-1-0 record) and they became a huge topic of discussion after acquiring Wayne Gretzky and going 16-2-1 down the stretch after the trade. Wayne Gretzky scored 32 points in the 19 games and was a huge catalyst in the surge of offense the Flyers had down the stretch, scoring 5+ goals in 9 of those games. Garth Snow ended up getting most of the starts as he and Ron Hextall were interchangeable(Snow: 35-11-4 2.48GAA, 91.1SV%/Hextall: 22-8-2 2.52GAA and 91.1SV%) and the duo will more than likely share the net in the post seasons.

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Re: What If Series(Flyers 1991) (FHM6)

#2 Philadelphia Flyers vs #5 Hartford Whalers

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Playoff Results:
EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS

#1 Pittsburgh Penguins 4-0 #8 Washington Capitals
#2 Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 #7 New York Rangers
#3 Boston Bruins 2-4 #6 Buffalo Sabres
#4 Montreal Canadiens 2-4 #5 Hartford Whalers

WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
#1 Detroit Red Wings 4-0 #8 Toronto Maple Leafs
#2 Colorado Avalanche 4-1 #7 Vancouver Canucks
#3 Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 #6 Dallas Stars
#4 St. Louis Blues 2-4 #5 Calgary Flames


Series Preview:

Season Recap 2-1-1 HARTFORD:
November 5th: 1-1 Tie
November 18th: 3-1 PHI
December 23rd: 2-1 HFD
March 25th: 3-2 HFD

OFFENSE: The Flyers balanced and powerful offense was on display vs the Rangers with Peter Forsberg, Pavel Bure and Mikael Renberg scoring 4+ goals in the five game series. Leading the Whalers is Pat Verbeek(4-5-9) and Bobby Holik(3-5-8), but their offense is just as balanced as the Flyers as they scored 3+ goals in all six games vs Patrick Roy and the Montreal Canadiens.
ADVANTAGE: Philadelphia


DEFENSE: The Flyers were led by the pairing of Sergei Gonchar and Sandis Ozolinsh as the two combined for a +2 and 6 points vs the Rangers. Eric Desjardins(56GR) struggled vs the Rangers and will need sto step it up vs the Whalers. Veterans defenseman Gord Murphy broke his pelvis and will miss the rest of the post season, so Terry Carkner will be relied on in the third line position. The Whalers are led by Zarley Zalapski(2*)(16G-35A-51PTS) and 21-year old Chris Pronger(3*)(13G-32A-45PTS) and they will be called upon for a majority of the games. Both defenseman averaged 23 minutes a night vs Montreal with the 2nd line of Marc Bergevin(1.5*) and Frantisek Kucera(2*) averaging 20 Minutes.

ADVANTAGE: DRAW


GOALTENDING: Ron Hextall took over after Snow floundered in the 2-1 Loss to the Rangers in Game 1 and never looked back. His 4-0-0 record with a 2.44GAA and 92.6SV% put him in the top five for goalies. Whalers Goalie Roman Cechmanek did enough to hold the Canadiens at bay. 3-1 record with a 3.35GAA and 88.8SV% is nothing to brag about and he'll need to be better.
ADVANTAGE: PHILADELPHIA


Prediction: Philadelphia in Six

[Nickflyers]

Re: What If Series(Flyers 1991) (FHM6)

#1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs #2 Philadelphia Flyers

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Alas we meet again you flightless birds.


Season Recap Flyers won series 2-1-1:

November 4th: 7-4 PHI
December 17th: 5-5 Tie
January 27th: 6-5 PIT
March 31st: 7-3 PHI

PREVIEW


OFFENSE: The Flyers are starting to heat up after a blowout series vs the Whalers. Four players have over six goals. Forsberg has been playing some of the best hockey around with 18 points in 9 games, averaging 21 minutes a game and has a 59.3 FO%. Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr are 1-2 in the Playoff Scoring race with 22 Points each, the next closest is Paul Coffey with 13 points so the balance that was once there is starting to dwindle. Ron Francis only has one goal in the 9 games the Pens have played.
ADVANTAGE: DRAW

DEFENSE: Both bluelines have injuries that may keep them out of the lineups. Larry Murphy is currently out with a Strained Groin for the Penguins and Eric Desjardins is day to day with groin tightness. Top to bottom the Flyers have a more talented defense corp, while the Pens have the higher talented players in Coffey and Murphy.

ADVANTAGE: Philadelphia


GOALTENDING: Tom Barrasso vs Ron Hextall again. Hextall is the hotter goalie right now, going 8-0 with a 2.22GAA and 93.1SV%. Barasso is 8-1 with a 2.39GAA and 90.6SV%. If the Flyers can put a lot of rubber on net they'll win the series.
ADVANTAGE: PHILADELPHIA

PREDICTION: FLYERS IN SEVEN