Why don't we stop worrying about urinals and try talking hockey? As in... where are we in the series? In my opinion, this is what i have:
- Pens threw the first punch and knocked the Flyers down.
- Flyers got up, took a few more punches, but landed some nice ones and stole Game 2.
- Flyers came out on fire for Game 3, probably deserved the game, but lost once the Pens started to click.
I think the Pens have carried the majority of the play but I think this is still wide open. As we talked about early in the discussion thread, the Flyers need the bounces. In Game 2, they got 'em. In Games 1/3, they lost the lucky bounces to the Pens. I don't think Elliott is playing laughable or anything like that. the shots that are going in are solid. Mur weathered one heck of a storm in Game 3.
This is a lot closer than many want to believe albeit these games aren't even close.
I think the Flyers basically came out of the corner throwing haymakers hoping to land one in Game 3.
I'd said about 10 minutes into the game that the Flyers couldn't keep that pace up. Once the first period ended and they didn't have the lead - I was pretty sure they were cooked. Every game, you can point to a few things and say "Well, if [x, y, or z] happens, then this could have been totally different" but I try to look at each teams' success and see if one method is more sustainable than the other.
The Pens won Games 1 & 3 following their blueprint. Forecheck, speed, superstars being superstars, solid goalie play. That's completely sustainable because that's exactly what they've done since Sully came to town.
Philly won Game 2 by Elliot standing on his head and getting a lead which forced the Pens to play without as much attention to detail defensively. It's not impossible for them to repeat this formula but I just don't think they were really dictating terms for that one (which is strange to say when they won 5-1). I don't think the Flyers can outpunch the Pens. Having Elliot stand on his head and getting leads is really the only way I can see them winning games in this series - and even when those things happened for them, they were still outplayed pretty easily.
So while I think the Flyers still have a chance, I don't think it's been a very even series overall. Even if there are handfuls of plays that can swing entire games - it's pretty much going to come down to Elliot playing like Game 2 in at least 3 more games for the Flyers to win and I don't see that happening.