Flyers force Game 7
On to Game 7.
Flyers force Game 7
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
Game 7. Really.
The Flyers have now climbed out of the deepest hole that a playoff team can dig. The Flyers are now on level ground with the Boston Bruins again, some way, some how. In the last week, impossible has become improbable, and then improbable has become possible, and then on Wednesday night at the Wachovia Center, possible became reality.
Flyers 2, Bruins 1.
Game 7, Friday night in Boston.
For the first time in 35 years, an NHL team has gone from 0-3 to Game 7. Sensing the historical possibilities, the Wachovia Center crowd did the berserker thing, right from the start. The Flyers came out storming, and Mike Richards scored the first period goal that gave them the critical 1-0 lead. The goal was a cinch for Richards, a rebounded puck sitting quietly in front and a vast expanse of open net in front of him. He did not miss, and it was a good thing.
Because for the last few minutes of the first period, and nearly all of the second period, the Bruins pressured the Flyers pretty relentlessly. They did not get a ton of great chances against Flyers goaltender Michael Leighton, but they logged a bunch of time in the Flyers' end and really controlled the play in a way that they have not done for most of the series.
Then came the back-breaker. The Flyers were on a 2-man advantage after penalties to the Bruins' Marc Savard and Daniel Paille. Then it was a 4-on-3 advantage after Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger knocked down Boston defenseman Zdeno Chara in a heavyweight battle in which Chara went down like a lightweight. And suddenly gifted with the extra bit of open ice, the Flyers' Danny Briere scored his sixth goal of the playoffs on a play when he lost control of the puck momentarily to Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk, then got it right back and beat Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask high to the glove side.
Soon after that score, the out-of-town scoreboard updated for the final time: Montreal 5, Pittsburgh 2 in Game 7 of the other Eastern Conference semifinal. The eighth seed in the East has now advanced. The Flyers are now one win away from having the home-ice advantage in the conference final.
But it wouldn't be a Flyers playoff game without an injury update. In this case, it is penalty-killer/backbone guy Blair Betts, who did not play a shift in the third period after skating to the bench in obvious pain near the end of the second period. As of the end of the game, the Flyers had made no announcement about his status.
I remember when we lost all those years. It really hurt. This is Richards time to win. I think he has it in him to do it. He doesnt have the talent but he has the heart. Isnt that all of us who have made a good life for us. He and Pronger are what we want. I love it!!!— rgreen72- Has anybody put any thought into who will be inserted into Betts' place. Ross is useless. It needs to be somebody with defensive skills and defensive mentality...should it be Kalinski or maybe play Bartulis as a forward ?— bsbullie
- Flyers!! Then 8 more wins after that!!— sawgrass
Thank you, Matt, you have class. Fig Newton, our team has now become a team of destiny, so I'm not so sure they're going to come down for a while! Whatever the outcome Friday, I am proud of this team and their accomplishment. They have morphed before our eyes from an inconsistent collection of hockey players to an honest to goodness TEAM, not unlike the other championship team in this city! It is now a one game series, and anything goes. So, GO FLYERS!— DaveCicc- Not a word from the General? That's weird. He's probably hiding in his closet.— jtgallagher1
- GO FLYERS!!! Boston has proven to be a bunch of dirty cheapshot players (Savard chief among them) who have to dive like babies (Chara is a buffoon) to generate anything. Let's go up to Boston and put this pathetic excuse for a hockey team out of its misery. BOSTON DOESNT DESERVE TO BE HERE - SEND 'EM HOME IN UTTER HUMILIATION BOYS!!!— thomaspfoolery
- There is magic in the air.— LuckyDog
- LuckyDog There is magic in the air. YES LuckyDog there is Magic in the Air, Pure Magic— rgreen72
- Lets GO FLYERS CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP...what a ride— Crosbysucks
- brotherman1,LETS GO FLYERS,WIN BABY JUST WIN............— brotherman1
- Awesome Team effort, the Habs putting the pens out of their misery was a nice extra. Keep it up FLYERS for game 7!!— psumet51
- What a great ride its been. Even watching from Chicago, this former Philadelphian has enjoyed every minute of this series. Nice to care about hockey again!— bjps1353
- Who am I? Who am I? Well Bob, Pronger did give Chara a funny look. That was definitely a penalty. He's lucky he wasn't given a game misconduct on that one. He certainly deserved it. I'm SO glad this series is almost over. I'd kill myself if I had to listen to those crappy homer announcers more than once more. Be that as it may, awesome win! 30+ blocked shots?!?!? Nothing against Boucher. I love the guy, but the FLYERS play WAY better hockey in front of Leighton.— NYFootballGIANTS
- for all the doubters about the Flyers... writing them off... hope you eat your words now...win or lose game 7... this has been a great season...GO FLEYRS!!!— nixman101
- Great gutsy play by Richards through this whole series. Leino has been a surprise. Leighton was awesome. A game 7 win is within reach for sure. If the Flyers move on, the Habs will be tough. They are the giant killers this postseason. Beyond that series, San Jose looks pretty unstoppable.— metapede
