Cheering For The Flyers? Say It Ain’t So!

Katebits: I had an amazing revelation about the Caps/Flyers series. I hate both teams, and I want them both eliminated. I think the Caps are a way better team and are more likely to win another round if they advance. The Flyers on the other hand are pretty bad, and there’s NO WAY they could wind up winning the conference or something (right? right?). SO, I’m rooting for the Flyers in this round because they will SURELY be eliminated by whoever comes next.

Pookie: Katebits, that’s brilliant reasoning! In fact, it’s reasoning that I’m going adopt as my own! (I was starting to dance close to outright cheering for the Flyers watching today’s game. And that’s not a good idea.)

Katebits: The other great part of the plan is that we can viciously cheer against the Flyers in the next round. Just when they thought they had won our love, we can yank it cruelly away. We’ll cheer them on to victory only to CRUSH them in round two!

Schnookie: That’s a FANTASTIC rationale. Because you’re absolutely right — they won’t advance. (I’m tailoring my choices on who stands the best chance of beating the Rangers, though. I’m not sure. I feel like Montreal is ALLEGEDLY a juggernaut that wouldn’t break a sweat against them, but I didn’t like what I saw from them last night. And I know that the Rangers gave Pittsburgh fits this season. So I’m hard-pressed to pick my next opponent for the Rangers. I think I want them to get beaten by the juggernauty Caps from the second half of the season, but I hate those Caps almost as much… It’s just so DIFFICULT! Basically, I’m throwing up my hands, letting go and letting playoffs, and I’m living in the moment. GO FLYERS! Heh.)

Pookie: I think the Rangers would be capable of beating themselves after crushing the Devils. They’ll get all full of themselves (Gomez? Avery? Jagr? Never!) and expect their next opponent to be as crappy as the one they beat without breaking a sweat. (See: Senators, Ottawa v. Ducks, Anaheim.) Washington, Philadelphia, Montreal, Pittsburgh and Ottawa are all plenty capable of scoring at will. (Boston? No. Not as long as Julien’s around.) So we’ve got a really good chance of the team matching up against NY next round giving them a harder time then they were expecting. Also, whoever does match-up against them will surely set a game plan of shooting low and shooting a lot, thereby driving Devils fans everywhere to drink.

Schnookie: No worries there — I’m already drinking.

Heather B.: But… But… THE FLYERS?! No, I can’t do it. I can’t cheer for anyone in that series. I’m just going to close my eyes and refuse to look until it’s over.

I think pretty much everyone who will be left standing can beat the Rangers unless Lundqvist goes nuts. And even then I don’t think they have it.

Katebits: I’m not cheering FOR the Flyers, I’m cheering AGAINST the Caps, who are a FAR FAR bigger threat to make a serious run, in my opinion. (It’s not savory, but it’s what must be done.)

Schnookie: Exactly. It’s the same as it was for me in the SCF last year (and the WCF) — I’m cheering for the more venal team’s opponent. It’s a small step up from just cheering against the Caps, to be fair, but I’m not sitting here hoping for vast Flyer success.

Heather B.: But I want them both to looooooose. Why can’t they just both lose?

I will admit that I’m a little scared of this series because, deep in my heart, I like and miss Danny Briere. I’m afraid if I watch it at all, I’ll end up cheering for him especially if I’m rooting AGAINST the Caps. I don’t want to be the girl who cheers for Danny!

Schnookie: You wouldn’t be that girl! You’d be the girl who, out of necessity, is cheering for that guy on the Flyers whom you don’t entirely hate, as he endeavors to pull an upset against a team you hate. There’s a big difference!

Pookie: Heather, why don’t you try to channel Marty Brodeur and say, “I don’t worry about Danny Briere because he’s not a Sabre anymore.” Then look at the Flyers and go, “Hey, that Daniel Briere is quite the little player! I like the cut of his jib!”

Katebits: But Heather, as soon as the series is over, you can VICIOUSLY turn against him! There is NO WAY you’re going to want to keep cheering for the Flyers! They’re the freaking FLYERS!

Pookie: It’s like anti-cheering! You get their hopes up, you hold up proverbial signs for them to see cheering them on during skate around. Then next round, they’re there expecting your signs — and you won’t be there! It’s a beautiful, cunning, dastardly plot!

Katebits: I think making them think we love them and then doing a cruel about-face is WAY meaner than rooting against them from the beginning. This is psychological warfare.

Pookie: EXACTLY! It’s so cruel! It’s just what the Flyers deserve!

Heather B.: Okay, you’re right. I’m not cheering for Danny, former Sabre. I’m cheering for Briere, Caps killer. And when the Flyers move on I’ll cheer for Saku to Koivu his hobbit ass.

Pookie: [In the cheery tone of a dancer in a 50's musical] Now you’re getting it, Heather! Now you’re getting it! Yeeee-haw!

Heather B.: Is this where we break into a group song/dance number?

Katebits: Playoff Goggles!: The Musical

Pookie: The Overture is starting, but getting into the sad motif from “The Devils Getting Swept Theme”. Fortunately that motif is very short. It then segues into “The Undisciplined Penalty Waltz as performed by The Ducks Dancers”.

Heather B.: At the very end can we get Sweeney Todd on Pierre?

Pookie: You bet.