The battle lines were indeed drawn in the state of Pennsylvania. At the conclusion of the NHL game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, held at Pittsburgh's Consol Energy Center, a heated exchange between Flyers coach Peter Laviolette and Penguins assistant Tony Granato, standing in for head coach Dan Bylsma, highlighted the end-game war.
Though the Flyers won 6-4, the intensity of this possible first-round series even got to a head. First it was Joe Vitale leveling Danny Briere, which led to a bench-clearing brawl. Then at the bench area separated by two layers of Plexiglas and NBC commentator Pierre McGuire, Laviolette and Granato began shouting at each other, with Laviolette going as far as demanding a piece of Bylsma in the exchange. At the Flyers bench, a Hulk Hogan look-alike even taunted Scott Hartnell. Finally, Brayden Schenn cross-checked Sidney Crosby, concluding a wild and frantic final minute.
The Flyers have so far dominated the Penguins all season, leading in the season series 4-1, in large part to two ex-Penguins, both of whom were Stanley Cup winners: Max Talbot (2009) and Jaromir Jagr (1991, 1992). That experience factor helped the Flyers remain in contention, even as their wild mood swings endured during some stretches. As for the Penguins, a dominant March pulled them into contention, but will it be enough to at least claim fourth place and home ice?
The game on April 1 was only the beginning of an even more intense war between two teams with proud traditions. The two teams meet again in Pittsburgh on April 7, the final day of the season, but for many, the playoffs between the two have already begun.
Though the Flyers won 6-4, the intensity of this possible first-round series even got to a head. First it was Joe Vitale leveling Danny Briere, which led to a bench-clearing brawl. Then at the bench area separated by two layers of Plexiglas and NBC commentator Pierre McGuire, Laviolette and Granato began shouting at each other, with Laviolette going as far as demanding a piece of Bylsma in the exchange. At the Flyers bench, a Hulk Hogan look-alike even taunted Scott Hartnell. Finally, Brayden Schenn cross-checked Sidney Crosby, concluding a wild and frantic final minute.
The Flyers have so far dominated the Penguins all season, leading in the season series 4-1, in large part to two ex-Penguins, both of whom were Stanley Cup winners: Max Talbot (2009) and Jaromir Jagr (1991, 1992). That experience factor helped the Flyers remain in contention, even as their wild mood swings endured during some stretches. As for the Penguins, a dominant March pulled them into contention, but will it be enough to at least claim fourth place and home ice?
The game on April 1 was only the beginning of an even more intense war between two teams with proud traditions. The two teams meet again in Pittsburgh on April 7, the final day of the season, but for many, the playoffs between the two have already begun.
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