The Philadelphia Flyers once again have a chance to eliminate the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night in Pittsburgh, holding a 3-1 series lead and hoping that the Penguins' Game 4 rout doesn't lead to a resurgence.
One player that would love to lead the Flyers to the Penguins' demise: Forward Claude Giroux, who is four points away from tying Tim Kerr for the most points scored in a playoff series against the Penguins. Giroux has 5 goals and 5 assists in four games.
He also had some thoughts to share before Game 5. Via Seth Rorabaugh of Empty Netters, Giroux on Penguins fans:
"We don't really like the fans here. It's like something we have to prove to the fans that we're better than them."
And specifically on two Penguins fans that agitated him:
"They were making signs with their hands. I can't really say on TV... but they kind of got me going a little bit."
Of greater concern to Giroux: The officiating. The Flyers for 64 penalty minutes to the Penguins' 36 in their Game 4 loss. Said Giroux, via Frank Seravalli of the Philly Daily News:
Surprisingly, Claude Giroux said he was going to check on who the referees for tonight's Game 5 would be, after the way Chris Lee and Wes McCauley called Game 4: "I think it is important we know who is reffing. Different guys call the game different ways. We know who is going to let us play a little bit and who's going to call everything. Last game was the case of calling everything. I think they did a good job but we'll have to look who is working."
And they'll no doubt be looking back. If it means anything to you (doesn't for me), Paul Devorski and Dan O'Rourke are working the game.