Amazing Flyers

The Flyers have pulled off the unthinkable in Game 7 of their second round series against Boston. They have become the third team in the history of the NHL to comeback from a 3-0 series deficit and win the series. Not only that, but they came back from a three goals to win in the final game. This series will go down in history as one of the best comebacks in the history of sports.

The Bruins jumped on the Flyers early, completely dominating them throughout most of the first period. Less then fifteen minutes into the game, the Flyers were on the bad end of a 3-0 score. I thought that would discourage them, and I was disgusted with their play. Goalie Michael Leighton looked like he could have had stopped at least one of those goals. The Flyers were down but not out.

JVR (James van Riemsdyk) did get a goal back late in the first period, leaving some hope for the second period. Even still, it was a tall order to come back from two in a Game 7. The Flyers would do just that in the second period.

The Flyers came out on fire to begin the second, firing many shots on goalie Tukka Rask. Scott Hartnell, who had made some blunders in the first period, put the Flyers within one on a beautifully placed backhander over the shoulder of Rask. Then, Danny Briere showed us his one-man show, when he wrapped the puck around the net and then put it in the net.... tie game.

So it all came down to the third period. Whoever won the period would win the series. The Flyers got a power play about midway through the period, and they were not going to waste it. Simon Gagne scored the game-winner on the power play for the Flyers. Finally, the Flyers had taken a lead in the game. It was just up to them to hold it.

They did hold that score, 4-3, for the rest of the game, propelling the team into history. The only other teams in NHL history to come back from 3-0 deficit were the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs and the 1975 New York Islanders. It is amazing when a team can when four straight games against the same team that it lost three straight to.... simply amazing.

The Flyers will now encounter the Montreal Canadiens, with the winner getting a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals. It should be a good series. The Flyers will get home ice advantage because Montreal is the #8 seed and the Flyers on the #7 seed. Imagine that. The lowest seeded teams in the conference make it to the conference finals. Expect the unexpected.

Flyers Even Series

Just a week ago I'd never thought I'd say this words: The Flyers have tied the series 3-3 against Boston. The Flyers dominated Game 6, winning 2-1. They were winning for the whole game, and held Boston scoreless until the final minute of play. Goalie Michael Leighton played outstanding filling in for Brian Boucher. Clear your calendars for Friday night. Game 7, Flyers-Bruins in Boston, it's going be a wild one.

The Flyers jumped on the Bruins from the beginning. Mike Richards scored on a rebound about 7 minutes into the first period. That got the fans going at the Wachovia Center. Leighton held down the fort in the first. He looked really, really solid, never out of control.

In the second period, the Flyers capitalized on a chance on the power play. Danny Briere maneuvered around in the Boston zone before rifling the puck into the top corner. It was a perfect shot from Briere, who has really stepped up his game in the playoffs. The Flyers have a number of guys who step up in the postseason: Briere, Chris Pronger, and any net minder the Flyers put out there.

The Flyers looked good for most of the third period, but at the end, Boston started to get chances. The Bruins pulled their goalie late in the game. Playing with an extra skater, the Bruins' Milan Lucic stuffed one between Leighton's legs, breaking up the shutout. The Flyers did hold out one more minute for the win.

Coming back from a 3-0 deficit is quite an achievement. Not many teams in the history of sports have done it. I did not believe they could do it. Now, the focus for the Flyers must be on Game 7. They have won three straight so they have the momentum. It's just a matter of going out and doing it. We'll all be watching.

Flyer Force Game 6

Their will be a Game 6 Wednesday night in Philadelphia. That's what we know after the Flyers 4-0 victory tonight over the Boston Bruins. The Flyers dominated the Bruins in front of their home crowd. I think the last two games may give the Flyers the momentum they need going into Game 6, especially tonight. Not only did the Flyers not allow a goal, they shelled the Bruins defense for four goals.

The opening period was pretty good for the Flyers. Ville Leino got credit for a goal that I think Scott Hartnell should have been credited with. Both players were in front of the net for a rebound, and both players got their stick on it. Leino was falling backwards and shooting at the same time, but Hartnell provided the power that was needed for the goal.

So the Flyers had a 1-0 lead going into the second period. A little more than halfway through the period, Hartnell finally did get his first official goal of the playoffs. He swatted the puck out of the air and into the net on a perfect pass from Mike Richards. The Flyers finally hurt the Bruins on the power play, when Simon Gagne's wrist shot beat Tukka Rask. It was Gagne's second goal in as many games.

In the third period, Gagne again put the icing on the cake by getting the Flyers fourth goal. The game got chippy during the third period. The Bruins were clearly trying to hurt the Flyer players. They succeeded by knocking out Claude Giroux, who did not play in the final period. Also, when Mike Richards nailed Bruins star Marc Savard, Savard and a Boston goon hopped on Richards. They jumped him like a thug in an alley. They both got penalties but I think the NHL should take further action..

The Flyers did lose goaltender Brian Boucher late in the second period. Boucher apparently injured his knee when clumsy Ryan Parent fell on his leg. Boucher had to be helped off the ice. Michael Leighton, in his first game back from injury, filled in admirably for Bouch, holding onto the shutout.

The way I see it now, the Flyers probably aren't getting Boucher back. Leighton will need to step in and perform. The Flyers are one game away from a Game 7 to decide the series. They can do it, but they have to keep up the momentum and pressure. Boston has the pressure on them now, the weight of embarrassment sitting on their shoulders. Game 6 will be Wednesday night.

Gagne Wins it for Flyers

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dan4th/ / CC BY 2.0

A little less than 15 minutes into overtime, Simon Gagne scored to finally give the Flyers a win in this series. It was a great moment for Gagne, who is in his first game back from an injured foot. He had not played a game in this series, but he certainly delivered for the Flyers tonight at the Wachovia Center.

Mark Recchi (playoff extraordinaire) has been killing the Flyers all series. Even late in his career, Recchi (above) is still great at getting in the right position at the right time. He scored with about five minutes left in the first period to put the Bruins up 1-0. The Flyers answered before the period was over. Daniel Briere put a low shot past Boston goalie Tukka Rask.

Chris Pronger, who has been money for the Flyers in the playoffs, opened the second period with a goal. That was his fourth of the playoffs. Claude Giroux put the Flyers up by two not too long after Pronger's goal. The Bruins did narrow the lead to one before the end of the period.

Milan Lucic tied the game for the Bruins early in the third period. The Flyers had their work cut out for them. With less the 6 minutes left, Chris Pronger fired a shot that was deflected into the net by Ville Leino. That was Leino's first goal of this playoffs. The Flyers could not hold onto that one goal lead though. Mark Recchi scored from point blank range with 32 seconds left in the third period.

That's where Gagne comes in. His and Recchi's goals were very similar. Both were scored from point blank range with a lot of net in sight. So the Flyers will now travel back to Boston for a Game 5. Boston still has a commanding 3-1 series lead, but maybe this win will light a fire under the Flyers. I'll sure be rooting for them.

Daily Roundup: 5/5/10

Flyers Lose Again: It doesn't look good for our Philadelphia Flyers. The Bruins put a whippin' on the Flyers, as the 4-1 score indicates. The Flyers out shot the Bruins 35-20, but they only managed one goal against Bruins' goalie Tukka Rask. Rask really stole this game for the Bruins. He was outstanding in net tonight.

The Flyers took their only lead of the series early in the first period. Arron Asham scored that early goal for the Flyers. Less than 4 minutes later, the Bruins had themselves a 2-1 lead after goals from Blake Wheeler and Miroslav Satan. The second period went by scoreless. In the third, former Flyer Mark Recchi scored on the power play. Maybe Brian Boucher could have stopped a one of those goals, but it's too late now.

The Flyers put much more pressure on the Bruins offensively this game, but unfortunately their was a rock in the net. It will be very hard for the Flyers to come back in this series down 3-0. It would be historic if they did, but even I believe they're done.

Phils Shut Down Cards: Kyle Kendrick pitched 7 shutout innings for the Phillies in their 4-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Kendrick gave up 6 innings and struck out 3. Maybe this is a sign that Kendrick is coming around, and that he can become a valuable pitcher in the rotation.

The Phillies didn't get a hit until the 4th inning, when Shane Victorino singled off Brad Penny. Placido Polanco followed that up with a home run to break the scoreless tie. Shane Victorino then homered to lead off the 6th inning. Greg Dobbs hit an RBI double in the 7th to cap the Phillies scoring.

Sixers Update: Mark Jackson's agent has informed the Sixers that his client has declined an interview for Sixers head coaching job. Jacksons agent had this to say: "It’s just not the right situation for him at this time." Well, no kidding! Why would Jackson want his first head coaching job to be with a team that stinks, draws small crowds, and has their money tied up.

According to philly.com, the Sixers are trying to schedule a meeting with former Sixer Monty Williams. Williams is an assistant coach with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Coming Tomorrow: Phillies wrap up series against Cards with a Halladay

Bruins Take 2-0 Series Lead

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cubesbyamanda/ / CC BY 2.0

The Philadelphia Flyers have dropped their second game in a row to the Boston Bruins. The only difference was tonight's game didn't require overtime. When the final horn sounded, the Flyers were on the wrong side of a 3-2 score. They will now have to come back from to games down, a very tough task to say the least.

The night started off wrong for the Flyers. Boston took a 1-0 lead a little more than five minutes into the contest. The Flyers answered back with a goal from Mike Richards to even the score before the end of the period. The Bruins again jumped out in front in the second, with a goal from Miroslav Satan. Satan is really killing the Flyers this series. Danny Briere jumped out of the penalty box late in the second period, and tied the game at two.

So the two teams went into final period tied at two. Through the first 17 minutes of the period, that's how the score remained. But the Flyers poor defense allowed Milan Lucic to score the game-winner late in the period.

I thought the Flyers would build upon their Game 1 and improve their play. That didn't happen. The Flyers defense looked sluggish and the offense couldn't keep the puck in the Boston zone. On the power play, the Flyers were simply terrible. They barely managed shots, let alone scoring chances.

The Flyers now must tie the series at home. I feel the only chance they have is if they win Games 3 and 4 at home. They can do it, but they would be much more comfortable heading back to Philly with the series 1-1.

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.

Flyers-Bruins Preview

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ekilby/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

The Flyers second round opponent was determined last night when the Montreal Canadians closed out the Washington Capitals in Game 7 of their first round series. The Flyers will get the Boston Bruins. The Flyers have to be happy they don't have to face Washington's high-powered offense. Still, they shouldn't overlook the Bruins.

The Flyers were 2-2 against the Bostonians during the season, including a 2-1 loss in the Winter Classic game at Fenway park. I think this will be a pretty even-matched series. Both team's starting goalies were not starters to open the season. The Flyers have a hot Brian Boucher and the Bruins have a young goalie starting in front of Tim Thomas, Tukka Rask.

The Bruins are not a high-scoring team, but their defense is one of the best. The Bruins have killed 19 of 19 penalties in the first round. The Flyers will have a tough time scoring against Boston, especially with Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne out. They will need Claude Giroux (above, during the Winter Classic) to step up like he did in round one. They will also need Chris Pronger to have another big series.

Overall, this is my prediction. I'm going to say that the Flyers win in six games and advance to the Eastern Conference finals. This team really played well against the Devils and I think that will carry over even with the loss of Ian Laperriere, Jeff Carter, and Simon Gagne.