The Flyers and Penguins hate each other, just as much as Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant did in their heyday. Peter Laviolette called the Penguins “gutless” for throwing their checking line out on the ice in the closing minutes and trailing by two goals. The fired-up Flyers coach also chucked a broken stick at the Pittsburgh bench. The ensuing on-ice brawl was settled only after 52 penalty minutes and 15 infractions were handed out.

“It was a gutless move by their coach,” Laviolette said.

“Their coach [Laviolette] didn’t like the hit [on Danny Briere] and took a stick and broke it over the glass. And that stick ended up on our bench,” said Penguins coach Dan Bylsma.

Yesterday, the NHL fined Laviolette $10,000 and Penguins assistant coach Tony Granato $2,500.

The two teams will be back at each other’s throats this Saturday in Pittsburgh, in what should be a no-holds barred, playoff preview in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Flyers credit the ribs

The Orange and Black are thanking their post-game meal for their recent success in Pittsburgh. Following Sunday’s 6-4 win over the Pens, the Flyers are 5-0 in CONSOL Energy Center. According to Laviolette, it’s due to the take-out ribs they order from Dee Jay’s restaurant in West Virginia.

“We buy ribs from Dee Jay’s in Weirton [West Virginia] after the game and have them delivered to the plane,” said Laviolette. “And those ribs seem to be doing the trick. It went back to last year. Whenever the ribs are ordered, we win. I want to thank Dee Jay’s.”

Dee Jay’s is a former car wash and night club that was recently re-modeled, according to their website. And yes, they have a rib hotline.