Game-day thread: 1/19 Penguins vs Flyers 3:00 PM

By
Posted on at 11:38 am

Courtesy Lady Neat http://www.flickr.com/photos/neat1325

…and then there was hockey! Today the Flyers kick off the shortened 2012-2013 season at home versus the rivaled Pittsburgh Penguins. This will be one of four meetings between the two clubs during the modified 48 game schedule.

The Flyers were 4-2 against the Penguins last season, going 2-1 on home ice.

This year at Flyers Faithful we will be providing game-day threads for each game as a place where fans can provide their thoughts and insights in the comment section, and interact with other fans at the Flyers Faithful staff.

Let’s open with a prediction, who’s your star of the game today?!

  • http://twitter.com/marcs797 Marc Siciliano

    I’m gonna have to go with B Schenn but that feels too easy.

  • http://flyersfaithful.com Marcello

    I fully expect the Giroux/Crosby rivalry to pick up right where it left off. It’s going to be an explosive game and, as unlikely as it may seem, it wouldn’t surprise me to see those two drop the gloves.

    • http://twitter.com/marcs797 Marc Siciliano

      I thought of this the other day – imagine if Luke Schenn lays out one of Sid/Malkin/Neal in the first 5-10minutes of the game. The place would go nuts

      • http://twitter.com/marcs797 Marc Siciliano

        *will

      • http://www.flyersfaithful.com/ Kevin Christmann

        I really, really, really, want someone to get Neal with an incredibly hard, clean hit.

  • http://www.flyersfaithful.com/ Kevin Christmann

    I’m going to go with Couturier. I’m mostly expecting another stalwart defensive effort against Malkin.

    • http://flyersfaithful.com Marcello

      I was thinking about that but I expect Malkin to outplay Couturier today. I don’t know whether playing for a bad Phantoms team helped or hurt Couturier and Schenn. We’ll see, though.

  • http://flyersfaithful.com Marcello

    Atlantic Division Standing Predictions:
    1. Penguins
    2. Flyers
    3. Islanders
    4. Rangers
    5. Devils

    • Marc

      I think you’ve had one too many of those Long Island Ice Tea’s my friend

      • http://flyersfaithful.com Marcello

        Hah. I know I’m in the minority here but I think the NYR lineup works better on paper than it will on the ice. Gaborik is overdue for an injury plagued season and the offense doesn’t scare me beyond the first line.

        • Craig F

          I think Nash was a big fish in a little pond. Idk if he’ll pan out as expected (at least for this season) and I think the departure of Dubinsky may hurt more than expected.

          • http://flyersfaithful.com Marcello

            Definitely agree about Duby.

    • penaltykiller

      I don’t expect the Devils to be that good, but the Isles over them?

      • http://flyersfaithful.com Marcello

        I really like the young teams this season. Isles have talent. They just need to put it together. Visnovsky will reluctantly help them too.

  • Craig F

    I think Luke Schenn. I feel like what Marc is hoping for is exactly what will happen. He’ll have a good day defensively as well. I’m feeling it.

  • http://twitter.com/Estebomb Estebomb

    Standout star of the game prediction is Matt Read. I don’t know why, but I have a good feeling about him this year.

  • penaltykiller

    Going with the homer pick of Couturier

  • http://www.facebook.com/justin.g.brennan Justin Brennan

    I’m hoping James Neal tries to jump over a Flyer again…

  • http://flyersfaithful.com Marcello

    Bleacher Report’s Top 10 Flyers starting today’s game: 10. Michael Leighton 9. Jody Shelley 8. Matt Walker 7. Tom Sestito 6. Andreas Lilja 5. Ian Laperriere 4. Oskars Bartulis 3. Jeff Carter 2. Mike Richards 1. Chris Pronger

  • http://twitter.com/marcs797 Marc Siciliano

    Almost game time – who pots the first goal of the season for the flyers?

  • Duffy

    I hope this banner-raising ceremony isn’t as obnoxious as Boston’s….. I’m guessing this will take half an hour tho ugh

    • http://www.flyersfaithful.com/ Kevin Christmann

      Yea the Boston one was so bad.

  • http://twitter.com/marcs797 Marc Siciliano

    Getting way too fancy on the PP..

  • penaltykiller

    Can we pretend the first period didn’t happen?

  • http://flyersfaithful.com Marcello

    Glad the Flyers joined the game for the second period.