For longtime observers of the Flyers, it's as if the first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against Buffalo is being played in an alternative universe.
There was Sabres coach Lindy Ruff in Buffalo on Thursday calling the Flyers whiners because Mike Richards was not complimentary of the officiating in Wednesday's 1-0 Flyers defeat.
That loss left the best-of-seven series even at two games apiece with Game 5 on Friday at the Wells Fargo Center.
"They're really doing a lot of whining," Ruff said. "I didn't hear a lot of whining when they had 10 power plays in Philly, and I didn't hear them whining when the power plays in the first game were lopsided. But all of a sudden there's all this whining about we're getting away with murder. That's a bunch of crap. That's for the media. That's for the officials to read. That's for, 'Here, let's get the next call.' That's a bunch of crap. Let's just play."
When Ruff's comment was relayed to Richards, who was miffed because he was whistled for a major elbowing penalty against Patrick Kaleta, the Flyers captain responded, "That's fine. That's fine. We're focused on [Game 5].
Ruff "seems to have a way with the media," Richards said. "He does this, I think, every time they're in the playoffs. We're just focused on [Game 5], getting a good start, and getting some licks in on their good players and not letting the other stuff bother us."
So the skate seems to be on the other foot. Typically in the playoffs, it's the Flyers accusing their opponent of whining and the opponent griping about how the Flyers are getting away with the nasty, gratuitous stuff.
There's no doubt this series has taken on a snarling tone. After all, it's rare when Kimmo Timonen, as poised and calm as they come, is throwing punches in a pileup of bodies after the final horn.
"I don't usually get mad, but once things get out of control and there's hitting from behind and hitting to the head, hitting after the whistle, those are things I can't take, and sometimes you get emotional about it," the Flyers veteran defenseman said Thursday. "But that was [Wednesday]. I'm focused on [Friday]. I'm expecting us to come out hard, really hard. I don't know how many hits we had, but I'd say we have to double it for [Game 5]. It's going to be our fans and our rink, and we're going to come out hard. Trust me."
