Marty Coughs Up a Great Game

Yep. That just happened.

The Flyers dug out from a 3-1 deficit, then tied the game at 4 late in the third period, only to have Marty Biron throw it away. It's not easy to come down hard on Biron, who is by all accounts a nice guy and a great teammate. But after a subpar performance for most of the game, one in which he ranged away from the goal on a few occasions, he took a major risk for no discernible reward, and he got burned. The Flyers lost, 5-4.

We've seen similar plays from Biron a few times before, but today's was particularly backbreaking because it completely erased a resilient effort from his team, led as usual by Mike Richards. Richie had a goal and two assists, with his goal coming on a Penguins powerplay—his seventh shorthanded goal of the season. Braydon Coburn scored again, as did Joffrey Lupul and Mike Knuble.

But it wouldn't matter.

Biron was a brick wall in the first period, but weak at best in the second and third, ultimately blowing the game, giving Sidney Crosby of all people an easy tally, his second of the day. And how about ol' insult-to-injury Ruslan Fedotenko? He's the R.J. Umberger of this season's Flyers-Pens series. Last year, Umberger torched Pittsburgh but didn't score too often against other clubs; this season, Fedetenko, a former Flyer, has three of his 13 goals against Philly. Just what we needed today.

The Flyers have been facing the question of whether their goaltending is good enough all season, just like pretty much every season in recent memory. Today, Biron was not only not good enough—more importantly, he wasn't smart enough. If he keeps his starting job, the trainers need to tether him to the cage, because he just can't help but stray out after the puck, and he has no idea what to do with it when he gets there.

Marty's postgame remarks:

And here's the fight between Riley Cote and Eric Godard. Looked like both of 'em would have wanted to go for round 2, but it never happened.

Comments

[Mike]

I've been saying this as long as Biron's been in town. Every time he goes after the puck, it's an adventure. And then today, he pulls out the dumbest bone-headed play I've ever seen out of anyone in a Flyers uniform. It's inexcusable.

It pains me to jump on the guy because I've always liked him a lot as a person, and from what I hear, he's a great teammate. But when it comes playoff time, and we need a goaltender to steal a few games to win series after series, are we convinced that Biron's the guy that can lead us to the Promised Land? Or do we have to sit back and let the broken hearts stand as the price we've gotta pay? I submit that Biron's not the guy we need. But I'm not convinced that the answer is out there via trade. I'm not big on Fernandez and Khabibulan is getting old. Maybe it's just time to give the nod to Niity and hope for the best. Niity's a known solid if unspectacular goaltender and that to me is a step above an unknown at this point. Plus I wouldn't want to break up this team to bring in a goalie (because we know we're not going to be able to just swap Marty).

Here's jumping on the Niitymaki bandwagon. Who's ready to jump with me?

[theoldsport]

Does anyone remember when Marty stole a whole mess of games in the playoffs last year? There's not really any evidence that shows he's ready to do it again, but he has it in him.

Even though today doesn't really make a case for him staying, I don't think it's time to run him out of town so soon.

[PhiPhan5648]

Guh... I was at this game, in section 205. Truly painful to watch after the Biron fuck-up.

Some highlights from the game though... Cote kicking the shit out of... I want to say Jordan Stahll? Maybe? Also, pissing off the douchebag with a Crosby jersey in front of me... and the best has to go to the Flyers fan that kicked the ever living shit out of a Pens fan half-way through the second.

Well... that's all I have from the game.

Oh... wait, I also forgot... I pissed off a ton of Pens fans by ripping on them, and telling them to "Go eat their French-Fry Sandwiches." Anyone who's ever been to Pittsburgh, and has any "Friends" from there, has tried their nasty, disgusting concoction called "Primanti's Sandwiches" which they try to claim are just as good, if not better than a Philly Cheesesteak. One of them even tried to pull the whole "Have you ever even had one?", and I responded yeap... and it sucked.

I mean, Cole-slaw + Rubbery Steak + French-Fries + Two pieces of bread = Six Pound Sandwich, that tastes like ass.

[Matt P.]

@TOS: I don't think any of us will forget what he did in the playoffs last year. Everyone knows what he's capable of doing in stretches, particularly because he reminds us throughout the season. We don't need to go back that far—just last weekend he stood on his head. But in a lot of games, he's just not as good as he needs to be. Hopefully he can put together another strong stretch in the postseason, but it's a major gamble to count on him to play above his season average over another month-long playoffs.

@PhiPhan: I was in 202. That fight was nuts... Lots of Pens fans there today. Guy next to me with his girlfriend... both really annoying. He was some kind of bookie, and was arguing with his deadbeat bettors for the entire second period until someone told him to get the hell off the phone, he was missing his team winning the game. Then he told me he was from Philly, used to be a Flyers fan and all, but years ago, maybe 1989 or 1990, he just started really liking the Pens. I told him that was pretty convenient, considering what was going on in Pittsburgh at the time.

[David F.]

Say what you will about the goalies, but I don't think that is the most pressing issue the Flyers have to deal with.

Yeah I'm going to throw in an advertisement for the Philly sports blog I'm working on, but the post is very much on-topic.

http://www.phinallyphilly.com/2009/02/21/identifying-the-flyers-real-problem/

[PhiPhan5648]

Check out Dave's Blog, ain't too bad.

He does make some sense on the column about the Flyers too.

[Tartan69]

My season tickets are in section 120, about 30 feet from where the fight was (aisle between 120 and 121). Best donnybrook I've ever seen in the stands, including all those Mets/Phils fights. Really wish I would have pulled my phone out and recorded it. The Wachovia center security was worse than worthless in breaking it up. If you think about it though, this kind of stuff seems to only happen when the Pens come to town.

That being said, I went to college in the Burgh and love Primanti's. Then again I hate Philly cheesesteaks. Personal preference I guess The REAL best sandwich in PA however is the Tony Luke's roast pork with sharp provolone and broccoli rabe. No questions asked.

[PhiPhan5648]

@Tartan69

Aye, aye, aye dude... every now and then you're cool... then you say something like, liking Primanti's Sandwiches, and hating Cheesesteaks, and your stock goes back down.

LOL!

[Shaggy]

Anyone else get the feeling that Marty is becoming Robert Esche?

Also, any YouTube link of the fight yet?

[J.P.]

Mike I'm def with you my man Nitty gives this team the best chance to win any given night. Isn't that what it means to be a starter not what you did last year??

[Matt P.]

@Shaggy: posted.

[Sal]

he's gone from costing us games to gift-wrapping them and handing them to the most hated player in Flyerdom. i was unaware that we traded him to Pittsburgh between the first and second period. sure could have fooled me with that orange jersey he was sportin.

not only is he not as athletic as Nitty, he just flat out isn't as good of a goaltender. this was a pretty important game that he just handed over. i wouldn't be surprised if he got moved to the bench permanently or traded. good riddance.

[dc]

if my defensemen played like the flyers did today I'd probably skate all over the ice like marty too. the fourth and fifth goals were both completely blown defensive responsibilities.

[will.H]

im down in FL. catchin the wfc in person, and i caught a bit of the panters/bruins game. at the end, the dickleg panthers anouncer says the panthers are taking on the 2008 playoff hero ovechkin vs the flyers. he called the caps great in the playoffs. i might be drunk, but, holy fuck? Did i drink rum or bleach?

[Mitch]

Primanti's don't and never will compare to a Philly Cheesesteak. I am with all you guys. I go to college out in this shit hole that is Pittsburgh and have successfully avoided Primanti's all year. I will never go there optionally.
---------------
Heres my feeling on the goalie situation: Both Nitty and Marty are good but not great. Neither of them are gonna be that brick wall that the Flyers are going to be able to lean on to carry them through the Playoffs. So, what does this mean? That the Flyers need to put less of an emphasis on goaltending and focus more on defense. This team can score obviously. But the defense is what worries me. There are huge holes and they really struggle at times. Biron gets blamed for being a dumb ass but I really feel like most of the goals today were because of failed clears, dumb passes and poor positioning. Obviously Kimmo and Coburn are legit but after that its Parent, Jones, Vaananen, Alberts and Carle. I just feel like they are so mediocre. The only saving grace is that the Flyers probably have the most reliable group of offense men that can play defense too (i.e. Richie, Gags, Knubs).

The Red Wings won the Stanley Cup last year because they had great defense. Osgood isn't spectacular but he did what was asked of him.

[PhiPhan5648]

@Mitch

That's the exact feeling I have. On the Defensemen situation. The Primanti's thing goes without saying, they're just big heap-fulls of disgusting shit.

[Dan]

horrible play and im in state college so penguins idiots try to gloat about the win but i just tell them that right now they arent in the playoffs and that they are terrible fans because their team barely survived and we had the worst record in the league a couple years ago and still sold out every game...i love philly

[Dan]

it is true biron did play fantastic against montreal and wash in the playoffs and we cant judge him on this one play. however...it is true, how great would it be to have a legit #1 goaltender for once in recent memory. Im pretty sure we would have won a cup by now

[ill]

ESPN had an article up last week about Foyers goaltending in the last 10 years or so that was dead on. I like that we have another battle for our goalie, and Biron may have lost himself a couple starts with that play, but coming out of the net like that was a good move, dropping it like that was now. Shit happens and it will be even bigger for the next time we go against the Pens. Biron and Nitty have a good hold on the job, I am not worrying about them not performing when the time comes.

[Ted]

It's possible that pitthole has possibly the worst fans in sports. I go to penn state and am from right outside philly and never had a real problem with pitt until i came out here. Their such a joke from their sloppy sandwhiches to no longer recognizing the fact they have a baseball team and hell the pens are lucky there even an organization, good thing super mario bailed them out cause there fans just gave up on the team.

Goalies: Nitty should be the starter going in to the playoffs and trade biron for D fense, u cant bank on him going off in the playoffs again thats to risky.

[bigmyc]

That Primanti thing is such a gimmicky novelty sandwich. I can't say I've had one, but I've seen a few through a close angle lens and it ain't pretty. I understand how the fries got in there but even if it was decent, how could it possibly compare to cheesesteakery? Primanti's monster sounds like the Schmitter sandwich aka; the the Shitter Sandwich, which, if done outside a ballpark, could have potential...but yuk.

[jd]

pitt fans will always be with the steelers.

they will only be with the pens or pirates if they are winning.

the pens have only two wins on the road in '09. both are against us. this is disturbing.

lastly, the caps should thank us for helping them blow out the pens.