Last night, in front of the 41st sold out game at home, the Pens dispatched the Flyers 4-2 in a brutal, physical game that featured several fights, vicious hitting and a playoff intensity.  It's apparent that these two teams hate one another - not just that 'healthy dislike' that people talk about, or the playoff anger that builds over a 7-game series.  No, these two teams HATE one another, and nothing makes the Pens feel better than beating the Flyers, and vice versa.  I mean, I think that the Flyers could go 8-74, but if those 8 wins all came against Pittsburgh they'd be able to pull some silver lining out of an otherwise abysmal season.  Trust me - these two teams utterly hate one another.

Which leads us to this point.  The Pens final game is this Sunday against (who else) Philly in (where else) Philly.  Depending on the actions of the Montreal Canadiens, the Pens could either have the Eastern Conference crown sewn up, or could have to win their last game to get it.  The Flyers situation is far more desperate.  With the Caps stalking them like a rabid animal, the Flyers essentially must win out in order to guarantee a playoff spot.  If they do, they're in.  If they don't, there is a very real chance that the Caps pass them in the last 2 games of the season to secure the 8th and final playoff spot in the East.  So, all that being said, if you're Therrien, do you rest your big guns on Sunday?

No.

1.  The Penguins have played spectacular hockey at home since about November.  They have the 2nd or 3rd best home ice record in the entire NHL, with 26 wins against 15 losses (regulation and OT).  They are nearly unbeatable at home of late, and a lot of that is because the Pens simply love playing in their aging building with their rabid fan base.  Pens fans have a nice appreciation for hockey - not just the goal scoring and the fights.  Being that most Pens fans are also Steeler fans, every time a big hit is delivered, a huge cheer goes up.  Every time the fourth line cycles on the opposition for 90 seconds, a growing crescendo of cheering goes up.  Of course, when Sid or Geno or Sergei or Marian or Petr or anyone else gets a goal the place goes nuts.  If it's Ruutu, that goes double.  So having home ice through the entire Eastern playoff race is very important, especially if the Pens live up to expectations and face a very, very strong Montreal team for the Eastern title.  Trust me - the Pens want four at home against the Habs, because I just can't see that series ending in less than 5 games.

2.  Sidney Crosby's lengthy absence due to injury has left him behind in critical areas like game conditioning, management and timing.  Crosby needs this final game before the crushing pressure of the playoffs to keep working these things out.  Last night he looked like the Sid we're used to seeing, but there are still times when he doesn't.  I think for that reason alone 20 minutes of hockey is going to do him well.

3.  Hatred, pure and simple, will pretty much dictate that the Pens regulars play Sunday.  The only way that they won't is in the unlikely event that a: the Habs lose a game and cannot overtake the Pens for the Eastern Conference crown and b: the Flyers are somehow already out of the playoffs.  I don't think that can happen - at least the Flyers being knocked out.  I think that the Caps have to win both of their remaining two games, and the Flyers have to lose the NJ tomorrow night, but since the Flyers have a point in hand against Washington, if the Caps lose even one, then the game's up for them.  So assume Washington wins both (which they should, playing Florida and Tampa) and the Flyers likely lose to NJ tomorrow night.  If that happens, a massive game is set up Sunday - the Flyers desperate to get into the playoffs, and the Pens sitting atop the East, but also with the opportunity to knock their most hated rivals right out of the playoffs.  Think Geno won't want to take advantage of that? 

The Pens regulars will play Sunday.  Maybe short shifts.  Maybe the 3rd and 4th lines have some different people in them to play a more grinding, physical brand of hockey.  But the big guns play, and trust me, come Sunday at 3PM, the battle in Philly is going to be a big, nasty one.  Just how it should be.