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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.
Despite Briere’s best Flyers in 2-0 hole
The Flyers 3-2 loss in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals stings deep as the team is now staring at a 2-0 deficit and in serious jeopardy of having its playoff run come to an end.
The effort was there and so was the play, but at the end of the night the scoreboard was not in their favor.
Though the loss was tough one, one of the more encouraging signs for the Flyers was the play of Daniel Briere who has stepped up his game over the last two weeks with Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne out with injuries. It’s no secret that Briere had a disappointing season but in the playoffs he his play has been a lot sharper. On Monday he had a goal and an assist and did all he could to give the team a chance to even the series. It was the fourth straight game he has produced at least two points.
I can’t change the stats to give Philadelphia a win in the series but I can at least remind Flyers fans how good Briere is when he plays to his potential.
That will have to do for now, until Game 3 on Wednesday. That’s when we get to watch the Flyers get back in the series.
Flyers-Bruins breakdown … sort of
The unlikely second round playoff series between the Flyers and Bruins begins today at 12:30. Who would have thought while watching the Winter Classic that this would be a matchup that determined who goes to the Eastern Conference finals?
Plenty of opinions and breakdowns have taken place over the last week, but here at PhillySportsBlogs we will bring you the one I feel is the worst.
I thought Matthew Baranby was a terrible hire at ESPN and he has done nothing to change my view this season. In his breakdown of the series he says the Flyers can win by blowout, while their questions come on defense and goaltending. He called Brian Boucher “good” in the Devils series. Last time I checked, he had the best save percentage and in the first round. If that’s just good, what is great?
Check out the youtube video of the breakdown.
And then there’s his whole slicked hair and whatever he is growing on his face that just looks ridiculous. The guy has to go.
Oh, and as for the Flyer-Bruins Series: I like the Flyers in six as Mike Richards is the star with four goals, including two game-winners. And maybe Boucher will even be “good again.
The East becomes wide open
Goodbye Washington
Hello Boston.
The Washington Capitals had one of the biggest collapses in sports history, running away with the league’s best record and then being eliminated by the No. 8 seed Montreal Canadians. Somebody better make sure Ovechkin has a ride home tonight or else the crazy Russian will be heading down 495 at 150 mph as he likes to do.
Not only did the Caps blow a great regular season, but they blew a 3-1 series lead.
So just to clarify: No. 1 Washington; No. 2 New Jersey; and No. 3 Buffalo are all gone.
That’s good news for the Flyers as they will open the second group on even footing with a Boston team that they can certainly play with. Not to say that beating the Bruins will be a cake walk, but it seems a lot more likely than taking down the Caps did.
The last two weeks showed why the NHL playoffs are the most exciting in all sports in the eyes of many fans. Jaroslav Halak has become the name of the playoffs stopping 41 shots a game after stopping 58. If you had to pick a goalie that you thought would standout in the East, the names Ryan Miller and Martin Brodeur would have topped the list. As it turns out, those two goalies will be in front of their TVs for the rest of the playoffs.
As crazy as things have turned out in the East, it suddenly seems conceivable that the Flyers could end up in the Stanley Cup. How ridiculous would that have sounded a week ago?
Pittsburgh will be the favorite now as the Penguins go fir their second straight Cup. But if Halak can stop Ovechkin and the Caps, he might just be able to take down Crosby and co.
What a playoffs it is shaping up to be. I can’t wait for the rest of it to unwind.
Flyers send the Devils to … golf course
Farewell New Jersey. Hello Washington?
The Flyers did what seemed unthinkable just two weeks ago getting past the first round of the playoffs and doing so in convincing fashion.
Claude Giroux showed why he will be a star in this league for a long time, scoring two goals and assisting on a Danny Briere tally.
And as he has been all series, Brian Boucher was sensational in net giving the Devils nothing in a 3-0 Flyers win that closed the series at 4-1.
The Flyers will play the Capitals in the next round assuming Washington finishes off the Montreal, who they lead 3-1 in their series.
It’s not so surprising that the Flyers won this series, it’s how they won it. After playing inconsistent all season long Philadelphia managed to play quality hockey for five straight games. The Flyers looked better in a Game 2 loss than they did in a Game 1 win, and have gotten better each game. This is the exact style of play fans expected when this team was picked to win the Cup in the preseason.
Does Washington scare me? Absolutely, especially with Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne out of the lineup. Ian Laperriere could also miss time after taking a slap shot to the face while sliding to block a shot. He was bloodied and may have a fractured jaw, but he is a hockey player in every sense of the word, so expect him in back in the lineup for the next game.
This win and this series showed the style of play Philadelphia fans expect out of their hockey teams. The Flyers were gritty, tough, hard-working and did any thing and everything to make sure the team would not be denied.
So sure I fear the Capitals a little. But right now, Washington should also fear Philadelphia.
The Flyers were never supposed to be underdogs. But now that they are, they are certainly rolling with it.
Flyers lead Devils 3-1, but history will not repeat itself
Here we are again: Flyers 3, Devils 1:
Is it 2000 all over again?
No.
Eric Lindros is not coming back to mess of the chemistry of the team and the Devils aren’t going to suddenly stop committing penalties. For that matter, neither will the Flyers.
Comparisons have and will continue to be made between the two playoff series with Brian Boucher as the biggest common denominator. About the only other similarity is that Simon Gagne is still in Orange and Black and Marty Brodeur is still the No. 1 enemy. The rest of the seriesw is noithing like 2000. Right now Philadelphia is playing at a levil way above New Jersey.
Speaking of Gagne the Flyers got a bit of scary news after Tuesday’s 4-1 win about both him and Jeff Carter. Both suffered injuries while blocking shots and their status for Game 5 is up in the air according to this report by Philly.com.
Gagne will be day-to-day and probably a game-time decision for tomorrow night.
The real injury to watch today, in my opinion, is Jeff Carter’s.
Carter said he took Chris Pronger’s slap shot off his shin, which bounced behind Marty Brodeur for the Flyers’ fourth goal. Carter was severely limping as he left the Wachovia Center last night.
Now is not the time for these type of injuries. Hopefully they can both go on Thursday and a crisis will be avoided. I said before the series that this matchup favored the Flyers and through four games it has rang true. Now, whether with or without Carter and Gagne, the Flyers need to put an end to the Devils on Thursday in New Jersey.
If the Devils win, the they creep to within 3-2 and those whispers of the 2000 season will grow stronger.
New Jersey has been outplayed all series long. If the Flyers can continue that trend for one more game, the ghosts of 2000 may finally be laid to rest.
Then there’s the Capitals. But one step at a time. That’s a lesson that was learned a long time ago.
Devils tie series 1-1; Now we head home
The Flyers power play looked as active as it had all season.
Brian Boucher was spectacular.
But in the end it wasn’t enough. And as a result we have ourselves a series.
In a back-and-forth, action-packed hockey game it was the Devils who landed the biggest blows, taking a 5-3 decision to even the series at 1-1.
As far as hockey games go this one had it all. The Flyers had plenty of opportunities to steal a pair in New Jersey, but Martin Brodeur reminded us that he still is Martin Brodeur.
This series has all the makings of a classic. You have the great goalie (Brodeur) facing off against a goalie looking to be great (Boucher), even if just for a couple of weeks.
You have the young goal scorer (Zach Parise) against the grizzled star defenseman (Chris Pronger).
You have Scott Hartnell … well forget that, he just stinks.
As tough as it was to swallow Friday night’s defeat the main goal of taking a game in New jersey has been accomplished.
Now the focus turns to Philly, a place where the Flyers have played so well in previous playoffs, but so average as of late.
There are a few things we can expect on Sunday at 6 p.m. You can expect the fans will be amped up. Expect an appearance by Kate Smith on the jumbotron and Lauren Heart on the ice.
Expect Marrrtttiiiiii Maarrrtttiii chants all game long.
Expect a victory.
The Flyers went nose to nose with the Devils for two games on the road. Now they are coming home. Fans have waited all season to see the real Flyers. Games 1 and 2 were a taste. Expect even better at the Wachovia Center.
Penalty kill helps Flyers skate away with Game 1 victory over Devils
There are many great things that Flyers fans can take away from Wednesday night’s 2-1 win over the New Jersey Devils in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.
Brian Boucher was solid when called on, making 23 saves.
Chris Pronger showed why the team showed him a big check with a goal.
The offense built a 2-0 lead and rather than sit back and play passive, the team kept pressing on.
However there is one thing to take away from this game above all else.
With a 2-0 lead early in the first period the Devils had 4:00 of power pay time to get themselves back in the game. Four full minutes.
And during that time, what did they get? Only two shots. Two shots!
It was the kind of defense Flyers fans have been waiting to see from their team for years. The combination of positioning, shot blocking and clearing made it one of the most impressive penalty kills I have seen in quite some time.
Boucher will dominate the headlines tomorrow, but that penalty kill was one of the biggest reasons the Flyers will look to build a 2-0 series lead on Friday.
Flyers should have a Devil of a good time against New Jersey
It wasn’t so long ago that a playoff matchup with the Devils was the last thing Flyers fans wanted to see in the postseason.
The thought of the 200 playoffs still stings Flyers fans as they watched their beloved squad squander a 3-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals by dropping three straight.
Even after the 2004 playoffs when the Flyers gained a form of redemption, pounding New Jersey four-games-to-one in the opening round of the playoffs, there was still something about the guys up north that made fans uncomfortable.
Maybe it was their style of play. The way the team would get a quick lead and play defense for the next two periods and squeeze out a boring — although effective — win.
Or maybe it was Martan Brodeur, who for the last two decades has been one of, if not the, greatest goalie in the league.
But as Bob Dylan once titled an album, and the movie “Anchorman” later quoted:
The times, they are changing.
If I could hand pick one team to face the Flyers in the postseason it would have been New Jersey.
For whatever reason the Orange and Black have played the Devils extremely well this season, beating them in five of six games.
The Flyers may not have been at their best this season, but the Devils haven’t been themselves in the postseason for quite some time.
Check their last three years out:
2006: Lost in second round to Hurricanes (4-1)
2007: Eliminated in second round by Senators (4-1)
2008: Eliminated first round by Rangers (4-1)
2009: Eliminated first round by Hurricanes (4-3).
When the puck drops Wednesday night for Game One, don’t expect the Flyers to be intimidated. This isn’t the 2000 Devils. It isn’t even the 2008 team.
This New Jersey team can be — and if you ask me — will be beat by the Flyers.
The NHL is a game of matchup’s and in the first round the Flyers hit the jackpot.
The power of Kate Smith lives on
There are many great things about playoff hockey. There’s great goaltending, timely scoring and big hits. There’s the drama of the late power play and the excitement of overtime.
But for Flyers fans there’s an addition thing to love about the postseason. Something that happens before the puck is ever dropped.
It something that gives fans chills and makes them feel like they could climb a mountain like The Italian Stallion in Rocky IV before slaying Drago.
It’s amazing what the power of two women’s voices together can create.
Before Sunday’s “playoff” game against the Rangers, Flyers fans were treated to a “God Bless America” performance from Lauren Hart and Kate Smith. Chills soon followed.
A quick crash course for those unfamiliar with the song’s tradition from Flyerstradition.com.
On December 11th, 1969 when Flyers vice president Lou Schienfield ordered the playing of Kate Smith’s “God Bless America” in place of “The Star Spangled Banner”. He tested several Patriotic songs in an empty arena earlier and it was Kate’s song that sounded the best. This was a day when American patriotism was at an all time low and to spark fans that had appear to be disinterested earlier during the playing of the national anthem, a different song was played. There were several angry comments during that first playing, but a Flyers 6-3 win over Toronto changed their tune as well. The Flyers lost their next home game without Kate, but the subsequent home game and Kate’s song resulted in another win – and the legend started.
It was up to Lou Schienfield to choose which games to play Kate. Generally it was a game by game decision – with Lou deciding on instinct or if the game was important. The first 3 years saw an incredible difference in the home records – 19-1-1 with Kate and a losing 31-38-28 record without Kate (including playoffs) .
The numbers were stunning. The team’s all-time record with Kate singing is 78-21-4. Actually you can make that 79-21-4.
Lauren Hart, daughter of former Flyers announcer Gene Hart, was hired during the 1997-98 season, bringing her in credible voice to the franchise.
Several years ago, with Smith since deceased the idea to merge the two great voices was born. And Flyers fans have been thankful ever since.
If you haven’t heard the duet you are missing something truly great. If you have heard it, there is no way you don’t want to hear it again.
Thank God the playoffs are here.
Carcillo punished for being Carcillo
Driving to work today I got a flashback to 2004. Stopped at a red light I noticed a bumper sticker on the Honda Accord directly in front of me.
That bumper sticker read: “Vote Kerry/Edwards.”
Do people even check what they put on the back of their cars these days? How can I vote Kerry/Edwards, when the election has been over for more than five years?
These people need to get with the times. Heck, they’ve won now as a democrat is in office. The great dream team (sarcasm on) of Kerry/Edwars will never be together again.
Get over it Accord driver.
Now on to what is really grinding my gears.
A couple of weeks ago my PSB colleague Jason Weisbecker posted a blog about the inconsistencies coming from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman’s office. His points were dead on — except in one case it seems.
When it comes to the Flyers’ Dan Carcillo, Bettman and his axman are always handing out the same thing: A bunch of crap.
For the fourth time in two seasons the NHL’s disciplinarian Colin Campbell has suspended Carcillo, this time for two days after a cross check made during the team’s win over the Devils.
For the cross check Carcillo received a match penalty and a game misconduct. A match penalty — which is given for intent to injure — comes with a mandatory hearing with the NHL’s discipline committee.
Carcillo said it was an accident and replays lead me to believe him. But he has been a bully in the past and that alone is enough for the NHL to make it’s move.
For his part, Carcillo saw it coming.
“I didn’t mean to do it. But knowing me, I’ll probably be suspended,” Carcillo said to Philly.com.
Carcillo is not being penalized for the check; he is being penalized for being Dan Carcillo.
This is the way the NHL has always done things and it needs to stop.
Just once I wish the league would dish out punishment for the plays on the ice and not the names on the jerseys.
Backlund gets start for Flyers, it’s chicken wing time!
Look out for the Chicken Wing, Penguins!
OK, if you have no idea what I am talking about check out this clip here. Bob Backlund was a famous wrestler for the WWF and his special move, the chicken wing, was one of the best in the business.
Tell me it wouldn’t be great to see Sidney Crosby locked into this move.
Back to seriousness now. The Flyers will be turning to their latest net-minder today, Johan Backlund when they take on Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins at 1 p.m. While he is not a household name, Backlund was having a solid season in the AHL, posting a 2.79 goals-against average, with a .906 save percentage with the Adirondack Phantoms.
For complete details on Backlund read Philly.com’s article.
Ah, it seems so long ago that Flyers fans were pumped up for the season, with hopes of a Stanley Cup and faith in newly-acquired Ray Emery in net. Now fans are just hoping the team can sneak into the playoffs. Things can change in a hurry in the NHL, so maybe the Flyers will do another 180 in the final month of the season and catch fire. Maybe Jeff Carter comes back for the playoffs, healthy and on a mission. Maybe Backlund is a hidden gem that will be the next Ron Hextall.
Or maybe they will end up like one of Bob Backlund’s opponent when the chicken wing gets locked in – limp and lifeless.
Boucher a better fit with Union
Two Philadelphia sports teams had problems last night and a contributor to these boards, King Ed found a solution to both of them.
Problem No. 1: Brian Boucher can’t save a shot to save his life. This was evident yesterday in the Flyer’s 4-3 loss to the Wild where the team squandered 2-0 and 3-1 leads.
Problem No. 2: The Philadelphia Union are lacking goal scorers. In the team’s debut, offensive chances were few and far between in a 2-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders.
King Ed’s solution: Trade Boucher to the Union. For those of you wondering why that would make any sense check out the game clip here from nhl.com. The moment comes at the very end of the clip. In overtime Boucher had a shot go off his glove and behind him. When he went to slide back into his crease he inadvertently kicked the puck in the net. That’s right he scored on himself.
The way Flyers fans feel about Boucher right now I don’t think they would mind one bit if he got shipped off to a team that could use better use his goal scoring touch – or should I say, kick.
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