Game on

(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

I was all set to recap Saturday's game against the Islanders, but who cares about the Islanders? Honestly. This week is perhaps the biggest week of the season for the Flyers, and it kicked off last night with a 6-1 beatdown of the Ottawa Senators. This game had been hyped for months after Steve Downie laid out Ottawa's Dean McAmmond during the preseason. Sens fans even went so far as to call for swift retribution against young Downie, with some knuckleheads actually wanting to see his career end (I will never understand that level of stupidity among sports fans, Philly included). And wouldn't you know it, less than five minutes into the game, Riley Cote and Brian McGrattan dropped the gloves at center ice. McGrattan hurt his shoulder, both got five for fighting, and Ottawa pretty much gave up after that. True, the Senators were without their top two scorers, with both Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson out due to injuries. That's why you need more than one scoring line, kids.

Sunday's win moved us into a temporary tie for first place in the Atlantic division with Pittsburgh and New Jersey (temporary because the Penguins picked up a loser point tonight against Washington). The reason why this week is so important is because both the Devils and Penguins are up next for the Flyers, with the Devils in town tomorrow and the Pens on Thursday. I'm not too worried about Pittsburgh; we seem to be in their heads and Sidney Crosby is out for a month with an ankle injury. It's the Devils I'm worried about. Win against New Jersey and we set the tone. Lose and the Devils keep a firm psychological hold on us going into the second half.