Bryzgalov flubs, Flyers fall
Devils 3, Flyers 1
Bryzgalov flubs, Flyers fall
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
And so, this is how it ends, one of those only-in-Philadelphia nights. It is a story that we pass down through the hockey generations, like baldness. The Flyers lost a playoff series to the New Jersey Devils and this will be the enduring symbol from the final game:
Flyers goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, trying to shoot a puck away from the front of his net, away to safety, instead seeing the puck picked out of the air by Devils forward David Clarkson and ricocheting behind him and into the goal.
It was impossible, and it happened.
It was Cechmanek-esque, or burlesque.
It joins the pucks that impossibly sneaked in through John Vanbiesbrouck that year against Toronto, and the Roman Cechmanek meltdown against Buffalo, and the Cup-losing goal that somehow eluded Michael Leighton in 2010, and the dizzily-spinning carousel that was the three-goaltender situation in 2011.
When that goal happened Tuesday night, it was only the first period. The Flyers’ deficit was only 2-1. But as soon as everyone realized what had happened, and that the puck was in the net, it was obvious that another chapter in the endless municipal tragicomedy was being written.
The final score was Devils 3, Flyers 1. The series was over in five games. Pinning it on Bryzgalov would be more than unfair. At the same time, nobody is ever going to forget how that second one got behind him.
The truth is, he played well in the series overall. Really, he has played well since he allowed five goals on 18 shots in Game 4 of the Flyers’ first-round series against Pittsburgh. In the first four games against Pittsburgh, his save percentage was an awful .844. In the next six games, going into last night, his save percentage was a credible .909.
He was good enough for them to win games, but it was the strangest thing during the series. In the games where Bryzgalov was at his best, the team was timid in front of him. They could never get it synced up.
On Tuesday night, playing without suspending star Claude Giroux, the Flyers came out hitting everything. Zac Rinaldo was a human missile. The Flyers took another 1-0 lead, as they seem to do every night -- but they couldn’t hold either that lead or their early emotional edge.
Overall, they played a much better game than they did in Games 2, 3 or 4 of the series. They did not struggle nearly as much with either getting the puck out of their end or with keeping possession in the New Jersey end. It was a much more even game.
But they were playing from behind because of the goal that went bump in the night. They could never overcome the shock.
And so it will be told.
- Where was Claudia Bryz and Hartless this series?Lovie said Claudia was the best player in hockey?Far from it.It looked like Lovie was going to cry after Jersey scored to tie the score at 2-2 in the last game.I think he better worry about a goal tender instead of labeling his players.Like I said before the Flyers played their hearts out just to beat the Penguins. That didn't get them the cup did it?Boo Hoo Hoo.
— Failureagain - 'To safety'? The Bryz tried to pass it through Clarkson like he didn't exist. Corner? Behind the net? That would be 'safety.' Wow -- that was classic.— Tangerine
- Looks good on ya Philly! Flyer fans are the lowest class in the history of the sport. They are stupid, slow, overweight louts that hide their own Easter eggs. Fear the Fist t-shirt campaign? Now they can use those shirts to advertise free fisting services to each other.
My favourite recollection of a typical fat Flyer fan is the stupid idiot who fell under his own massive girth into the Maple Leafs penalty-box when Tie Dome was trying to wash the stench of this dirt-pig away from him.
Better luck next year, trash-boys!
— Martin Bonis - I have more respect for someone like Devsrule above and their classy comment than someone who spews filth and cowers behind their keyboard without saying who there team is. What a piece of trash. — camtheman
- The Flyers need a goalie in the worst way.— fanup
- And non bandwagon fans too! Seriiously, kinda embarrassing they are hocking tix during every commercial. Btw, the Pirates have a championship since the flyers have a cup.
Ha ha ha— PoPoPhilthy - Looks good on ya Philly! Flyer fans are the lowest class in the history of the sport. They are stupid, slow, overweight louts that hide their own Easter eggs. Fear the Fist t-shirt campaign? Now they can use those shirts to advertise free fisting services to each other.
My favourite recollection of a typical fat Flyer fan is the stupid idiot who fell under his own massive girth into the Maple Leafs penalty-box when Tie Domi was trying to wash the stench of this dirt-pig away from him.
— Martin Bonis - Can't blame Bryz since the game could've been another hour and the Flyers still wouldn't have another quality scoring chance. One goal isn't enough unless Bernie Parent is back there. Sigh, Phillies suck too. Let's go Sixers? Maybe more opponent injuries will extend their run.— burholme
- Thanks for a great season that exceeded expectations and beating the pens, that again exceeded expectations. devils were the better team this series.— P Even
- Bryz stole the life from the team tonight. After that goal, the first was weak too, the team had no fight. But they weren't going to win the series anyway. The refs were awful, but to be expected. And now in the playoffs it is legal to interfere with forecheckers at the blue line when it wasn't legal during the season.— fjarmstrong85
- How typical of philly -- you beat the Penguins in a first round series and your coach declares that giroux is the best player in the world, and you acted like the cup was on its way. Typical of the "contact" sport philly teams Flyers/Eagles. Frontrunners who always choke in the end. How many cups since 1975? How many super bowl victories? Well I guess you have the phillies -- stick to the "soft" sports Philly. Leave the contact sport championships to New York and Pittsburgh!— penswincups1963
- Painful way to end a fun season.
go Phils!— raoool - HA HA HA LOOSER FLYER FANS. U DIED LIKE THE PIGS THAT U R.— msgeis
- I was surprised we lasted this long...in the series that is.— Eagle1Vegas
- The real heart of the Flyers was
Mike Richards, but the Philly press
just have to give the C to Pronger
aka "Captain Cripple".— olneyboy
