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Post by Melindaaaaaa [26] on May 7, 2008 16:11:36 GMT -5
THAT'S AMAZING!
Point for you!
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Post by Treici on May 7, 2008 16:16:00 GMT -5
I LOVE IT!!!!! :lol2:
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Post by turncoat on May 8, 2008 9:43:12 GMT -5
That is good!!!!! LOL
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Post by mscaniac on May 8, 2008 13:58:20 GMT -5
Awesome article. I can't wait for this series!
Quote: Mike Richards must have felt like he was in an episode of Mission Impossible yesterday.
As far as we know, the Kenora-born Philadelphia Flyer didn't find a hidden tape recording with instructions from his superior that would self-destruct five seconds after he heard it.
But the rest sounds eerily similar to a script from the old TV series or the movies it spawned.
Richards' mission for the Eastern Conference Final, beginning tomorrow -- and it appears he's decided to accept it -- is to shut down Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby. That's all.
"I got the assignment this morning," Richards said from Philadelphia yesterday. "Me and Sid are going to see a lot of each other."
And while world peace isn't at stake, the result will go a long way to determining which team advances to the Stanley Cup Final.
It's a delicious matchup, this Pennsylvania Turnpike series, and there's no better game within the game than the Richards/Crosby showdown.
A fierce leader and one of the best shutdown artists in the game against a fierce leader who's also one of the best players in the world.
They happen to be friends, too.
"I know him quite a bit," Richards said. "I'll definitely have a beer with him. Quite honestly, he's a good guy to be around. But I don't want to fall into the trap where I give him too much respect. I've got to go out there, try to play physical on him and slow him down."
Richards and Crosby actually go way back, to the 2004 and '05 World Junior Championships, the latter of which produced a gold medal in Grand Forks.
They were two of Canada's leaders, Richards a 19-year-old future Flyer, Crosby a mere lad of 17, yet to be drafted but with superstar written all over him.
"He was young. But the biggest thing I remember is the turnaround from the '04 to the '05 (tournament)," Richards said. "He matured so much as a player in that one year, it was pretty astonishing, actually."
Like so many juniors who win gold for Canada, the two formed a bond. A few months later, Crosby was drafted by Philadelphia's state rival.
"I didn't really know the rivalry, yet," Richards recalled. "But now with both of us having long-term deals with rival clubs, I'm going to see a lot of him over the next little bit. It's going to be a challenge. But it's exciting that I get to play against one of the best guys in the world."
Call it the Crosby and Richards Show, likely to run at least the next dozen years -- the length of Richards' contract with the Flyers.
If this first playoff meeting doesn't test their friendship, there will surely be another.
Then again, with the stakes so high, it shouldn't take long for the instincts to take over, the sticks to get higher and the trash talk to hit full throttle -- buddy, or not.
"He's a very competitive guy, and I'm very competitive," Richards said. "So I don't see it being a problem."
Just wondering, what evil thing do you say to Sidney Crosby to get him off his game?
"I've got a couple of things planned," Richards said. "But nothing I'm going to say right now. I've got a lot of respect for him. Even on the ice, I respect him. But I'll do everything I can to try and shut him down."
The Penguins, of course, are more than Crosby. Evgeni Malkin and Marian Hossa have done plenty of damage through two rounds, too.
But if you want to throw a scare into the opposition, you go after the leader.
If the Pens see fear or frustration in Crosby's eyes, the Flyers are halfway home.
"He's your perfect hockey player," Richards said. "I've got my work cut out for me. But I think I can handle him. I hope I can."
It's too late to back out, now.
The tape has self-destructed.
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Post by Melindaaaaaa [26] on May 8, 2008 16:52:38 GMT -5
I hope he rips Sid a new one.
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Post by turncoat on May 8, 2008 17:59:25 GMT -5
The thing with that - as other teams who have tried it found out - is that Sid puts in a lot of ice time and the other player sometimes has a hard time keeping up and gets tired faster.
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Post by mscaniac on May 8, 2008 18:24:33 GMT -5
Yea Turn.. Sid is younger and probably has a lot more stamina than the average aged player... just another reason why I can't wait for this series to start... that and enjoying the lovely vampire eyes of Marty Pancakes.. LOL
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Post by dewaltgirl on May 8, 2008 19:26:42 GMT -5
Loved the thing VS just had on Biron. Blowing in his skates? Lordy I'm cracking up. Love Little Lusty Vampire Marty Pancakes. Could he HAVE more nicknames? /chandlerbing
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Post by Melindaaaaaa [26] on May 8, 2008 20:31:48 GMT -5
Yea Turn.. Sid is younger and probably has a lot more stamina than the average aged player... just another reason why I can't wait for this series to start... that and enjoying the lovely vampire eyes of Marty Pancakes.. LOL Richards only has 2 years on Sid. I don't think it will be that much of a big deal. Richards might not be on him every single shift, but he will be out there enough to cause a problem for Sid.
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Post by Freaky for JWillie on May 8, 2008 22:34:14 GMT -5
Yea Turn.. Sid is younger and probably has a lot more stamina than the average aged player... just another reason why I can't wait for this series to start... that and enjoying the lovely vampire eyes of Marty Pancakes.. LOL Richards only has 2 years on Sid. I don't think it will be that much of a big deal. Richards might not be on him every single shift, but he will be out there enough to cause a problem for Sid. And if it isn't Richards than it could be Jeff Carter or they could put that pesky devil Scottie Upshall on him. He's been pissing everyone off lately...lol.. Philly got a bit of bad news on Thursday, Kimmo Timonen will be out the remainder of the playoffs with a blood clot in his ankle This is the worst possible news ever. He is their best defenseman. Keith Jones was quoted as saying on Wednesday night before all this news broke "There is one player that Philly can't afford to lose and that is Kimmo Timonen" He was on Ovechkin in the 1st series and Alex Fedorov in the 2nd series and I think he was supposed to be on Malkin this series. This totally SUCKS!!!!
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Post by turncoat on May 9, 2008 7:11:58 GMT -5
I read about that...it does suck.
Game 1 tonight...should be an awesome series.
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Post by mscaniac on May 9, 2008 13:14:12 GMT -5
That is too bad about Kimmo, I think they are really going to need him.. *sigh* hopefully someone else will step up! I read an interview done with him today and he is just so upset about not being able to be there for his team now when they need him so much, the hockey gods can surely be cruel..
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Post by mscaniac on May 9, 2008 18:13:58 GMT -5
So we have a "war of the Roses" going on at my house.. hubby has decided to pull for the Pens and I am pulling for the Flyers. This could get ugly! LOL Let's start this out right with some good Vampire goalie mojo!!
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Post by dewaltgirl on May 9, 2008 18:23:44 GMT -5
Seriously...I swear if he'd just snarl you'd see fangs. I love it!!
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Post by mscaniac on May 9, 2008 18:29:51 GMT -5
Seriously...I swear if he'd just snarl you'd see fangs. I love it!! I know isn't he just surreal........
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