Flyers Lose in OT

The Philadelphia Flyers have lost in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals to the Boston Bruins. When it was all over (13:52 into overtime) the Flyers had come on the short end of a 5-4 game. The Flyers fought hard after being down two goals not once, not twice, but three times. Both goalies impressed in the overtime period, but the Flyer defense fell apart in overtime

The first period was dismal for the Flyers. They gave up 2 goals, and managed just 8 shots on goal. They looked sluggish after their nine day layoff. The team was uninspired. Chris Pronger and Mike Richards really performed admirably the whole game, but the rest of the team looked terrible in the first period.

Coach Peter Laviolette on the first period: “Clearly, the first period affected us. I think from a live game situation, [the layoff] affected us. We didn’t move the puck efficiently. We didn’t seem to have our legs. When you sit for a long time you try and simulate things, with the competitiveness and the skating and the battles on the ice. It’s hard to simulate.”

In the second period, the Flyers showed much improvement. Ryan Parent scored a goal to narrow the Bruins lead to one. But the Bruins answered back with a goal by Miroslav Satan on the power play. Chris Pronger notched his third goal of these playoffs with a one-timer from the point on a power play. The Flyers were within one goal again.

The Flyers really broke out in the third period. The scoring started when David Krejci put Boston on top by a score of 4-2. All hope looked lost for the Flyers, but they moved within one when Mike Richards scored on the power play. Danny Briere has been a clutch player all playoffs, and he came up big late in the third. He weaved his way through two Bruins on his was to the goal. That goal tied the game at four.

Early in overtime, the Bruins dominated. The Flyers were tired and it showed, as the Bruins launched shot after shot on Brian Boucher. Thankfully for the Flyers, Boucher answered those early chances. The Flyers finally got it together and had a few scoring chanced on goalie Tukka Rask. It was not enough. Marc Savard, in his first game back from injury, got the game winner in front of his hometown fans. The Bruins outshot the Flyers 15-4 in the overtime period.

Chris Pronger, who seems like he doesn't leave the ice, had an outstanding game. He showed why he is one of the best defenseman in the game.

The Flyers showed remarkable resilience but, at the end of the day, they are down 1-0 in the series. The Flyers have to build on this performance for game two Monday night. If it weren't for that horrible first period, the Flyers would have won this game.