Saturday, May 17, 2008

Latest NEWS -- 5/17/08 - Nightime Edition

Gary Roberts May Play Tomorrow

*Kudos to The Sidney Crosby Show*

By Shelly Anderson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Penguins winger Gary Roberts, who has been battling pneumonia, practiced with the team today and said he could be ready to play tomorrow against Philadelphia in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final.

Article: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08138/882810-100.stm

By Paul, KuklasKorner.com

Q. How did Gary Roberts feel after practice today?

COACH THERRIEN: He felt pretty good we’ll see tomorrow.

Q. Think he’ll play tomorrow?

COACH THERRIEN: We’ll see tomorrow.

Article: http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/coach_therrien_today/

Malkin and Sykora Miss Practice

By Kevin Gorman, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Penguins center Evgeni Malkin and right wing Petr Sykora, both out sick, did not skate today at the RMU Island Sports Center.

Both are expected to play against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Eastern Conference final Sunday at Mellon Arena.

In their absence, Kris Beech and Jeff Taffe skated with Ryan Malone on the second line.

Article: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_568050.html

By Paul, KuklasKorner.com

Q. I guess is there any concern about Malkin and Sykora for tomorrow?

COACH THERRIEN: They should be ready for tomorrow. They should be there.

Q. Is it just a sickness?

COACH THERRIEN: A sickness. And we believe at this time of year rest sometimes can be more important than practice, and they should be there tomorrow.

Article: http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/coach_therrien_today/

Q&A with Michel Therrien

By Paul, KuklasKorner.com

Q. How important is home ice advantage throughout the playoffs for you guys?

COACH THERRIEN: Home ice is huge. And you work really hard through the course of the season to get home ice. We felt comfortable in that building. We like to play in front of our fans. Our fans have been great, and we’ve got their support. And that’s why we’re glad that Game 5 is going to be home. We’re glad that we have home ice advantage, because we’re a tough team to play in our building.

Q. What do your guys have to do to avoid playing the kind of game that Philly likes to play, as they did for a period or so?

COACH THERRIEN: Well, they played really well in the first period. They were desperate. And we had a hard time in that first period to match that desperation. But I believe in the second and third we started to play the way we’re capable of playing, and we’re going to need to bring that to the next game.

We’ve got momentum, especially in the third period. We could have tied the game. We got some great chances. Biron was good, obviously. So we’ll try to bring the momentum that we got especially in the third period to the start of tomorrow’s game.

Q. Timonen and Coburn, if they come back does that have much impact?

COACH THERRIEN: We focus on our team, how we’re supposed to play. Timonen is a good, obviously, he’s a good defenseman for them. But when we played Ottawa we had a similar thing. They got Alfredsson back in the lineup and it brings some energy.

But it’s demanding for players. Especially when you’re missing so long, you lose your game shape. This is playoff hockey and a playoff game. They’re demanding.

But, for us, Timonen is going to have to be ready to play a playoff hockey game. In the meantime, it’s not about them, it’s about us. And we’re going to play, and we’re going to focus on the way we’re supposed to play.

To Read the Rest of the Article: http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/coach_therrien_today/

Timonen Will Play; Coburn Might Play

From CBC.com

TIMONEN IS BACK

The Flyers will have Kimmo Timonen (blood clot) back for Game 5. He has full medical clearance to play and he says he is ready.

“I’m ready to go,” he said, coming off the ice today at practice. Later he said, “I hope to be on the ice. I got to trust the doctors that there is no risk at all if I play. The symptoms won’t be gone, they will be the same but it felt pretty good today at practice and that’s why I’m pretty confident I’m ready to go. I talked to is the doctors and our trainers in the last [week]. I just want to make sure there is no risk of me going out there and then something bad happens. I don't want that to happen."

COBURN IS IFFY

Braydon Coburn still has some depth perception issues in his left eye. He may or may not have some concussion symptoms, such as a headache. There have been some hints at such, but Coburn hasn’t been specific. He took a deflected puck to the eye in Game 2 and has not played since. Yet he does expect to suit up tomorrow. “There’s a good chance [I’ll play],” he said. “Everything felt pretty good [at practice]. I felt like I've been off the ice for a couple of days. Wearing the visor is a little bit of an adjustment as well. But it's something I'm going to have to do right now.”

COACH JOHN STEVENS SAYS

Asked what it would mean to his club if both Timonen and Coburn were on the ice for Game 5, he replied, “They're a big part of our team all year, but I think that's true of all the guys. It's great to have these guys being able to be around. But Kimmo's an elite player in the league. He's not just a great player, he's one of our leaders. To lose a guy like that, they're not easily replaced.
"You need a lot extra from everybody in your lineup just to try to close the gap that was left behind when he was out. Cobe's a big guy, plays in all situations, creates speed, good defender. And Kimmo plays in every situation that there is in the hockey game. So to get one or both back would be a great lift for us in a lot of ways.”

Article: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hnicplayoff/2008/05/timonen.html

Game 5 on NBC

1 comment:

zday02 said...

This is stupid on both sides, a blood clot is a very serious injury and to only miss about a week and a half is too soon. Let him sit out for the rest of the year, I know this is the playoffs, but a blood clot can not only end your career, but can end your life.