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Of all people, Ben Eager leads Blackhawks past Flyers in Game 2
In his 2 ½ seasons with the Flyers Ben Eager was hardly a star. He was a tough guy, but hardly the most relevant player on the ice. The left winger scored just nine goals over that span, including posting a big zero in 27 games in 2007, before he was shipped off to the Blackhawks.
However, he now has a reason to be remembered by Philadelphia fans.
Eager scored what turned out to the game winner in Chicago’s 2-1 win that gives the Blackhawks a 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals. The goal came on a soft wrister late in the second period that gave his team a 2-0 lead. The Flyers fought back valiantly in the third period sending puck after puck toward the Chicago net, but could only manage a single tally.
So once again the Flyers are backed up against it. And once again we will see how they respond.
Here are a few other observations from the game:
- Michael Leighton checked out mentally and it cost the Flyers big time. Leighton was great for most of the night but after allowing the game’s first goal off the stick of Marion Hossa at 17:19 of the second, something must have shut off on his mind. There is no way a goalie that has helped his team get to the Stanley Cup Finals can let in that wrister by Eager just 17 seconds later. It ruined what had been a nice bounce back from a dreadful Game 1 showing. Soft goals happen from time to time, but this one really stings.
- The third period was one of the most exciting periods of hockey I have seen this postseason. The Flyers were all over the Blackhawks and it seemed almost a certainty that they would get the equalized over the frantic final 10 minutes. Antti Niemi stood on his head in a performance nothing short of spectacular.
- Tonight’s game was a treat for hockey fans who love a physical brand of hockey. Right from the first face-off, big hits were delivered. There was a ton of back-and-forth jabs with each team landing some big hits. It wasn’t quite the Broad Street Bullies but I was happy to see the players come out with an edge to them. Outside of a few cheap shots, the physical stuff was clean, which made it that much better. A lot of the physical play has been stripped from the NHL since the lockout and it was good to see a game that had a bit of old feel to it.
- Did anyone else catch the close-up the camera put on Chris Pronger when he was mimicking a Chicago player by opening and closing his hand to saying “you’re all talk”? The facial expression from Pronger was priceless.
-The Blackhawks are good a blocking shots – we get it. But, by the way, the Flyers are pretty good at that too. There was so much emphasis put on Chicago’s shot blocking despite the fact that the Flyers blocked just about the same number of shots. I’m sure both teams got an earful after all of the goals that found their way to the back of the net in Game 1 and both teams looked inspired to lay their bodies on the line.
- Game 3 is Wednesday and the Flyers need to win it. True, they came back from a 3-0 deficit already once this postseason, but the Blackhawks are too good to let a lead like that slip away. It will be one more gut check for a team that has had a dozen of them this year. We will find out if they can answer the bell one more time.
Blackhawks take Game 1
The Flyers scored five goals in Game One of the Stanley Cup finals.
But in the end, Chicago scored 6.
The Blackhawks land the first blow of the best-of-seven series, winning Game One 6-5.
More will follow on phillysportsblogs.com
On a night where Roy Halladay threw a perfect game it’s hard for the pure Philly sports fan to feel good.
The Flyers had their chances but couldn’t put away the game. Now an immediate question arises for Game Two Do you start Leighton or Boucher?
Stanley Cup Finals prediction
And then there were two.
The Flyers and Blackhawks take the ice tonight at 8 p.m. in Chicago in Game One of the Stanley Cup Finals. What an improbable matchup this truly is. Just three years ago the Blackhawks and Flyers were two of the worst teams in hockey. Now one of them will be remembered as the best.
This series has plenty of matchups to keep an eye on. Chris Pronger and his 6-6 stature against Chicago’s 6-4 Dustin Byfuglien; Michael Leighton vs. Chicago’s highly-skilled offense; The battle of first round picks Patrick Cain and JVR; The Blackhawks red-hot power play against the Flyers suddenly stifling penalty kill.
There is enough drama here to fill a season, but the outcome of these matchups will all be determined in seven games or less
Philadelphia is clearly the underdog here as a No. 7 seed and it’s no surprise Vegas has the Flyers as underdogs in Game 1. But being an underdog is nothing new to this team or this city. So it’s time for the Flyers to once again rise up and prove the doubters wrong.
As for predictions, it’s hard to go against a team that has so much going right for them at the right time. I’m talking about the Flyers. In what will be a gritty series, highlighted by the occasional sensational goal, the Flyers finish their remarkable playoff run with a Stanley Cup win in the seventh game.
Now, we stop this blog for an important PSA courtesy of Kate Smith and Lauren Hart.
Leighton’s Role in Philadelphia
After the injury to Brian Boucher took him out of the lineup early in the playoffs, the Flyers looked to Michael Leighton to protect the net, and give the team a chance to win. Leighton exceeded expectations, putting together two shutouts, and helping them overcome a 3-0 series deficit, on the way to the NHL Finals.
But with rumors surrounding Boucher’s return, Leighton’s future is naturally in question. The soon-to-be free agent is waiting until the season is over to make any decisions, but hopes for stability in his next contract, whether or not it be with the Flyers.
I am confident that the Flyers will handle the situation well, and do whatever is bets for the team, but it is a little sad to think that the goaltender who has been such a large part of the team’s success, in the most crucial part of the season, could be with another team in 2011. it’s the way the business works, but hopefully Leighton can help bring Philadelphia a championship and cement his place in the team’s history.
Flyers going to Stanley Cup!!!!!
The Philadelphia Flyers are going to the Stanley Cup!!!!
A 4-2 win finished off a 4-1 series win over the Montreal Canadiens sending the Flyers to the Stanley Cup finals for where they will look to win their first cup since 1975. They will face the Chicago Blakhawks, who took out the San Jose Sharks in four games.
Bellow is the schedule:
Saturday, May 29: Philadelphia at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Monday, May 31: Philadelphia at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 2: Chicago at Philadelphia, 8 p.m.
Friday, June 4: Chicago at Philadelphia, 8 p.m.
x-Sunday, June 6: Philadelphia at Chicago, 8 p.m.
x-Wednesday, June 9: Chicago at Philadelphia, 8 p.m.
x-Friday, June 11: Philadelphia at Chicago, 8 p.m.
PhillySportsBlogs will have you covered throughout the finals run.
Until then, celebrate Philadelphia. You are four games away from having another champion.
The roof may come off the Wachovia Center
Those lucky enough to have tickets for tonight’s Game between the Flyers and Canadiens will be heading to the Wachovia Center with hopes of witnessing a remarkable event.
With one win, the Flyers will be heading to the Stanley Cup.
Expect the Wachovia Center to be shaking tonight as fans of this starving franchise anticipate a historic night. The Flyers lead the series 3-1 and are on the verge of heading West to Chicago to take on the Blackhawks, who swept the Sharks out of the Western Conference Finals. Everything seems to be pointing in the Flyers direction right now. Ian Laperriere and Jeff Carter returned in Game 4 and both played well enough to warrant significant ice time once again. Meanwhile, Michael Leighton continued to be the out-of-nowhere hero, posting his third shutout of the series. Right now the Canadiens have to be wondering what it will take to get a puck past him.
If this playoffs has taught us anything it’s that a series is not over until it’s over. Montreal taught that lesson to Washington, coming back from a 3-1 deficit in the first round and the Flyers taught that lesson to the bruins, erasing a 3-0 hole.
So technically Montreal does still have hope. I just don’t see them coming into Philly and beating the Flyers tonight in front of what is sure to be the most amped up Flyers crowd in years. I mean the roof might really come off tonight.
Sam Carchidi talks about the team’s Closer’s mentality in today’s Inquire. The players talk about not being over confident and understanding the task that is ahead. For us fans, we don’t have to have that type of mentality. We can dream about the Stanley Cup, because it is now so close – five wins away to be exact.
Every fan has felt the heartbreak from a team losing when it was so close. God knows Flyers fans have over the years. But tonight should be a night of celebration.
Tonight the Flyers can make the Wachovia Center becomes the happiest place on earth.
Canadiens fight back
Two wins are still in need after the Flyers could not keep their hot play going in Montreal, falling to the Canadiens, 5-1 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.
The loss is not stunning as Montreal has played well both at home and with its back against the wall all playoffs. The key to the series will be what happens in Game 4 on Saturday. The Flyers will put a stranglehold on the series with a win or the Canadiens will draw even and come back to Philly with some momentum on their side.
With so little going right Thursday night lets not reflect on that loss. Instead lets step back for a moment and admire what Michael Leighton and the team’s defense was able to do during the early part of this series.
Michael Leighton’s shutout streak lasted 172:05. That’s a ridiculous feat for any goalie let alone one that has been referred to a journeyman and a career backup. His story is the type the Hollywood makes movies about.
So what if he and the defense had one off night? I expect him to be right back in top form on Saturday as the Flyers go up 3-1 in the series.
Thursday night was nothing more than a small bump.
Welcome to Philadelphia
With the Flyers traveling to Montreal tonight for their match up with the Canadiens, one can only hope that our sports writers will be treated nicer. Apparently, when a 66 year old Montreal writer, who has been coming to Philadelphia for more than 20 years, parked at the Wachovia center to see the games, he had some trouble. Pat Hickey was not exactly welcomed by Flyers fans, finding his car (with a Quebec license plate) had been trashed and slashed. Although, having been in Montreal for their series against Pittsburgh, win or lose, the city goes crazy. Read more
Flyers continue their postseason tear.
The Flyers are having a fairytale ride.
Down 3-0 in the Boston series, then 3-0 in game 7, then coming out strong against the Canadians in game 1 to win 6-0.
In Sunday’s game, Michael Leighton was strong in a slow first period and then throughout and finished with 28 saves in his first NHL playoff shutout. Van Reimsdyk, Briere and Gagne scored in 9:23 of the second to turn it into a rout.
To maintain the home ice advantage, they need a win tonight at the Wachovia Center. These Flyers have gone from being a long shot to the real deal.
Philly has won 5 straight and is 5-1 at home but still have their hands full. Montreal has come from behind in each of their last two series.
The 7th seeded Flyers had the home ice advantage for the first time since the second round of the 2004 playoffs and took full advantage of it. Coburn scored his first career playoff goal and, in fact his first goal of 2010. Hartnell and Giroux also scored in the third period to ice it.
Tonight the Flyers came out obviously ready to dish out more of the same. Briere scored a power play goal less than 5 minutes in to give the Flyers the early lead. Leighton continued his stellar job in net turning away nearly a shot a minute throughout the first period as the Canadians pressed every advantage early. Leighton extended his shutout streak to 5 periods by the first intermission.
Gagne scored a power play goal in the second period as the Flyers continued to shut the Canadians out.
In the third period it was Leino’s turn to score. The first even strength goal of the contest put the Flyers ahead 3-0.
Leighton ended the game with his second straight shutout as he made 30 saves and the Flyers won game 2 by a score of 3-0.
Suddenly the Flyers are looking like a team that will be hard to beat 4 out of 5 games. Montreal has got to be feeling the heat. 13 straight unanswered goals by the offense in the playoffs. Go Flyers !!
Flyers playing the part of 2004 Red Sox
On October 16 2004 fans of the Boston Red Sox went home from Fenway knowing their team’s season was on the verge of coming to an end. The Red Sox had just been buried 19-8 in front of their home crowd and had fallen into a 3-0 hole against the hated New York Yankees.
What happened next went into baseball history as the Red Sox won the next four games becoming the first baseball team to erase an 3-0 deficit and win a series.
I bring this up not just because of the fact that the Flyers recently came back from a 3-0 hole to win a series, but also because of what happened next for the Red Sox – and may happen for the Flyers.
With all of their momentum from coming back on the Yankees, Boston went to the World Series and steamrolled the St. Louis Cardinals, in the form of a 4-0 sweep.
Steamrolled is the perfect word for what happened last night as the Flyers dominated every facet of the game, beating the Montreal Canadiens 6-0.
Everyone knew the Flyers were the bigger team in the series, but few could have expected that kind of whipping. On Tuesday we will find out if Sunday’s performance was just carryover from Game 7 or it was a sign of things to come. I don’t expect the Canadians to just roll over the way the Cardinals did , but it’s also hard to imagine the Flyers losing Game 2 at home.
Of course if this playoffs has taught us anything, it’s that nothing will go as planned. But here’s hoping the Flyers follow the same path as those 2004 Red Sox.
HISTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Down 3-0 in the series
Down 3-0 in the game
The Flyers came back again and again.
Simon Gagne scored in the third period to cap an exhilarating 4-3 win that gave the Flyers a 4-3 series win over the Bruins. And as a reward, the eastern Conference Finals will be waiting when they get back into Philadelphia.
This series will go down in history as maybe the greatest comeback — and choke-job — in sports history. How does a team come back from a 3-0 series lead and a 3-0 hole in Game 7? How does a team not win a series when it is up 3-0 in the series and 3-0 in Game 7?
What an incredible night for Flyers fans. Get the beer flowing, wake up your neighbors. This stuff doesn’t happen often enough for you to let this moment slip away.
Four wins is all that separates the Flyers from the Stanley Cup finals. In any other season it would seem surreal but almost nothing surprises me with this team any more. They look so bad one day and so good the next. Flyers fans can only hope for eight more games of good stuff.
What a night for hockey fans. Soak it in Philly, your hockey team will forever be in the history books.
Who wll be the Game 7 hero?
With apologies to Metallica there will be a new “Hero of the Day” by the end of the night.
As the Flyers and Bruins get set to engage in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, it’s only right to ask, Who will be tonight’s hero?
Truthfully it could be anyone.
It could be one of the stars such as Mike Richards, Simon Gagne, Marc Savard or Milan Lucic.
Or it could be a role player such as Dan Carcllo, Aaron Asham or Michael Ryder. Maybe it will be one of the goaltenders. Michael Leighton anyone?
So much is on the line tonight. If the Flyers win they will be just the third team in NHL history to come back from a 3-0 deficit . They will also host Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals as a No. 7 seed against No. 8 Montreal. If Boston wins, its struggles this week will be long forgotten.
But there can only be one winner, and history will remember one hero.
If I had to venture I guess I would go with Richards, who has been in the middle of everything this postseason. And how fitting it would be for the captain to complete the remarkable comeback. Who s your pick for the hero of the day?
While you think about it, enjoy this clip of the most memorable Game 7 moments in NHL history.
Flyers want to party like it’s 1942
1942 and 1975
Those are the only two years a team fell behind in an NHL playoff series and came back to win it.
Could 2009 be the next?
The Flyers continued their remarkable comeback quest defeating the Boston Bruins 2-1 to force a decisive Game 7 Friday in Boston. One week ago this series had virtually no chance of being entertaining as the Bruins built a 3-0. Flyers fans were looking for their team to save some face and win one game.
It looks like the players were looking for something a lot more.
It’s hard to pinpoint what exactly has changed. It looks and feels like everything has. The defense has been much stingier, keeping quality shots away from Brian Boucher and now Michael Leighton. (Leighton hadn’t allowed a goal in six periods, until the Bruins managed one with 1:00 left in regulation). Their penalty kill has ben phenominal, playing smart, yet agressive hockey. Danny Briere is playing like a man possessed and Mike Richards is showing why the team gave him a 10-year contract.
It all may not matter if the Flyers don’t complete the quest on Friday. If they lose Game 7 it will be a valiant effort, but none the less a shortcoming. Winning a fourth straight won’t be easy, especially on the road.
If they win — well, then we have history.
And the prize will be a home game to open the Eastern Conference playoffs against Montreal, who was equally stunning, knocking off the Penguins, one series after beating the Capitals.
These playoffs are showing that anything can happen and that’s a good thing for the Flyers.
Teams simply don’t craw out of 3-0 holes.
Of course that’s what was said in 1942 and 1975. In two days we will find out if 2009 is added to that list.
Flying high! Gagne helps force Game 6
Ladies and Gentleman, we have a series.
Simon Gagne continued his remarkable comeback with a pair of goals and Villie Leino had a goal and an assist to lead the Flyers to a 4-0 win over the Bruins.
The win cut the Flyers deficit to 3-games-to-2 with Game Six coming in Philadelphia on Wednesday.
In case you missed the greatness that took place on the ice, here are a few of the Highlights.
— Who was that guy wearing No. 19 on Monday? Did we really have our first Scott Hartnell sighting of the season. Hartnell played his best hockey since — well I can’t even remember the last time he played well. He was active all night, scoring a goal and putting four shots on net. Him and Leino actually had a great bit of chemistry out there.
— In Leighton we trust? The goaltender carousel continued as Michael Leighton returned between the pipes, subbing in Brian Boucher who left the game at 4:35 of the second period. Leighton wasn’t tested often but when he was he came up with the saves — 14 in total.
— What a boost Gagne has been. One game after scoring the game-winner in his return from a foot injury Gagne buried the Bruins with the final two goals of the game. He also showed a little fire injecting himself into a scrum when a teammate was getting pounded on. Like Hartnell, this is the best I have seen Gagne play all season.
— Final Thought. Montreal beat Pittsburgh today to force a Game 7. If Montreal wins that game and the Flyers make history by winning two more against Boston, the Flyers will host Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
About all you can say to that is WOW.
Welcome back Gagne!
Simon Gagne returned to the lineup just in time.
Gagne scored in overtime to give the Flyers a 5-4 win over the Bruins and life in the series, as they clawed to within 3-1. He was playing for the first time since suffering a foot injury in Game 4 of the series against the Devils.
As a team. Philadelphia gave the type of performance fans were hoping for in Game 3 – now they just have to hope it’s not too late.
It wasn’t the perfect game by an means as the Flyers squandered a 4-2 third period lead, including allowing the tying goal by Mark Recchi — yea that guy — with 31.5 seconds left in regulation.
The goal instantly quieted the fans at the Wachovia Center as disbelief took over. However once overtime started up the fans were right back in it and erupted when Gagne found the back of the net in OT.
For all of the talk about how great the Penguins fans are, the Flyers’ faithful showed why they are the best in the league Friday night. With their team down in the series 3-0 there was plenty of reasons for empty seats and tempered fans. Instead the fans brought the same type of intensity they always do, almost willing this team to a victory.
It’s all the more reason for the Flyers to gut out a win in Game 5 and bring the series back to Philadelphia.
That would really give fans a reason to make some noise.
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