Flyers dig another hole
Blackhawks 2, Flyers 1
Flyers dig another hole
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
CHICAGO -- Twenty-eight seconds. Shorter than a television commercial, longer than eternity.
How long does it take to lose a hockey game? How long does it take to challenge the fates, again?
In one 28-second span of the second period, the Flyers lost Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. In just that amount of time -- less time than it takes to sing a typical anthem, more time than it takes to recognize a dirge -- Flyers goaltender Michael Leighton went from the star of the game to just another player on a team that is in an 0-2 hole in the biggest series of their lives.
The final score was Blackhawks 2, Flyers 1. The series now shifts to the Wachovia Center. The odds now are much longer than they were on the day before.
The Flyers have seen worse, of course -- just a couple of weeks ago, when they trailed the Boston Bruins by three games to none in the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals. They survived that, making history. To count them out is to ignore what just happened. At the same time, to pretend that the Blackhawks aren’t better than the Bruins, and that a deficit in the Final is not more emotionally crushing than any other, is to ignore the truth.
And the thing is, for 35-or-so minutes in Game 2, it appeared as if Leighton was going to lead them to something much greater. After being pulled in the second period of Game 1, after allowing five goals on 20 shots and never making a big save, Flyers coach Peter Laviolette stuck with Leighton and was rewarded with the kind of performance that a team needs to win a typical Stanley Cup game.
He just looked sharp again, in command of his crease again. And while he did not have to withstand nearly the kind of onslaught that he faced in Game 1, Leighton was good and precise as the first period melted into the second period, as the nervousness of the night built upon itself, multiplying and then multiplying again in the United Center.
And then it happened. Twenty-eight seconds.
The first Chicago goal was scored by Marian Hossa, on a rebound in front. Troy Brouwer took the shot, Leighton made the save, and then the rebound came out to Leighton’s left. Flyers defenseman Lukas Krajicek took a swipe at it, futilely, and it was Hossa instead who made contact with the puck.
That was a tough one, clearly. But it was the next one that determined the outcome. Twenty-eight seconds. Former Flyer Ben Eager, on the rush, with defenseman Matt Carle contesting, fired a rocket over Leighton’s glove. It was unclear if Leighton had a great look at it or not. It was like most goals in hockey, just a goal.
But in a game of this magnitude, it was crushing.
Leighton could no longer be the star.
The Flyers, to their credit, did not give up. Quite to the contrary, they dominated the third period in a way that neither team had really been able to dominate a period in the first two games. Simon Gagne scored with 1 second remaining on a power play, at 5:20 of the third period, to cut the deficit to 2-1. And the truth is, the Flyers had a half-dozen good chances after that -- Gagne, Mike Richards, Claude Giroux, a bunch of them.
But here is the other truth: in the defensive mess that was Game 1, Blackhawks goaltender Antti Niemi competed better, and in the much tighter, much more traditionally-played Game 2, Niemi was better again.
Comments (110)
Richards - Elbowing 2 mins— Happy Hawks Fan- Richards - Elbowing 2 mins— Happy Hawks Fan
- Richatrds - Hooking 2 mins— Happy Hawks Fan
- If there was ever such thing as a must win, Game 3 will be it— Flyers1975
- to be fair, Richards - assist on a PP— Happy Hawks Fan
- this hole might be to deep, start Boucher— largato
- this hole might be to deep, start Boucher— largato
- The luck hawks are up 2-0 this is a very different series than the score. Good lusk luck hawks you will need it!!!— rgreen72
- Richards - coming on strong when you need him, oh wait, Flyers down 2-0— Happy Hawks Fan
- Well the Flyers played a heck of a game and again played well enough to win. Maybe karma is just on the Hawks side......even though we all know that those Chicago fans have been fans for what? A month? I know they've waited freaking 49 years but the majority of that time nobody cared about them! Philadelphia deserves this more....— PAJames
- hey rgreen, the score is all that counts, lol— Happy Hawks Fan
- Leino and Coburn had great games. Hartnell looked lost . . . again. Carter is very clearly not even 80%. Leighton played fine - Krajicek and Asham made errors, and the Hawks capitalized.— BlairW
- Niemi says NO— ChiTown23
- Now its time for me to say, all you Flyers fans sound like the Sharks fans and we know how that turned out— Happy Hawks Fan
No problem...Flyers take 2 in Phila. and go from there.— dogman5
Comment removed.- Heh-Hawks fan-how long have you been watching your Chicago team? Because I know they drew about 4 thousand per game only 2 years ago. The Flyers? Even in the year they were dead last they always drew a good crowd. I agree with rgreen-they're just lucky so far in this series. You want proof all you had to do was watch the third period. The Flyers freaking dominated.— PAJames
- Hey dogman, no problem? you must have not seen the first 2 games— Happy Hawks Fan
- I agree dogman-we'll be back in Chicago for game 5 all tied up. The Flyers have played well enough to win both of these games.— PAJames
- Hey HHF good luck in the next games. You know the Redwings went up 2-0 in two really close games last year and lost in 7. So good luck. Oh and please go back to Chicago!!!— rgreen72
- You have to stop that Ben Eager (Ben Eager?) shot...difference in the game.— djw26
- grrr— lukebonbon
- Hey PAJames, the Flyers played a better 3rd period but the Hawks won because of Niemi!!!— Happy Hawks Fan
- Comment removed.
- Carle is lazy. He swipes, glides on his skates and screens his own goalie when he should be skating, checking, hitting, blocking on holding the blue line. His poor play in the last 2 games will ultimately cost the team the series. Hawks are a better team. Only a repeat miracle can save the flyers. I smell a sweep everytime Carle is on the ice. It's obvious that the Hawks look to attack the weak side, Carle's side. Depressing to go this far and blow it.— love park
- Happy Hawks fan-come on now. I know you have smart people that live in Chicago-you cannot say that the Flyers didn't dominate the majority of game 2. Flyers will be fine and make it an even 50 years for the Hawks.— PAJames
- A forty foot whiff— lukebonbon
- How did we lose that game when we clearly carried play by such a wide margin? We don't have an NHL goaltender in there. A goal off a bad rebound. Big surprise there. And then, Ben Eager. Ben Eager! Meanwhile, Niemi was superb.— eagle1971
- THE HAWKS PLAYED WELL ENOUGH TO WIN BOTH GAMES ... AND THEY DID, the Flyers didn't.— Happy Hawks Fan
- Nice game by Phylly....the Hawks do it again with Neemo...just call him flipper. Sorry folks Chicago ain't a weak Boston team...you are not coming back against this team. Carcillo...does he actually play hockey...what a mope but he put hit of the game on Carter. Now he can go back to the press box.— chicagostyle
- The second goal was just crushing. The Flyers played well tonight, but didn't get it done. Hopefully they can rebound and turn this around.— NickFromGermantown
- Flyers thuggery with Carcillo didn't work, the moron had his biggest hit of the night on a teammate! Pronger is a cross-checking primadona the officials chose to ignore. I think the penalty discrepancy clearly indicates the officials are doing their best to try to keep Philly in the series....— ChicagoSports1
- I really feel like that 2000 series when Primeau won game 3 in ot. I am feeling a great comeback and HHF taking it in the A## but he is a true hawks fan and that is what they usualy do!!!— rgreen72
- PAJames, you are why I hate Philadelphia fans. You act like you deserve a win and that Philly is a huge sports town but the people of this city know nothing about the leagues outside of the teams in their city. Thats because of the homer writers and sports casters that do nothing but talk up the teams. Fans are allowed to go to othetr city's websites if they have interest though and see what's goin on in the sport. Philly has the biggest collection of bandwagon fans in the country.— jbruder02
Tough game. The second goal was soft. Other than that it was a tight game both ways. Game 3 should be a good one. F that must win sh__ too. Remember the Bruins series?— Poppys- Eager 2 minutes interference on Kratjek (late hit)— sawgrass
- Eager 2 minutes interference on Kratjek (late hit)— sawgrass
- "The Hawks have skill, but they haven't seen a team as physically tough as the Flyers"..."The Flyers are going to throw the Hawks around the ice and keep them off their game"..."The Broad Street Bullies are going to beat up the Hawks". Blackhawks 2, Flyers 0. GO HAWKS!! AND -- the Hawks play even better on the road!! Good luck PHI, you're going to need it.— MadhouseOnMadison
- HHF - if we were up 2-0 we would be on the Chicago sites, its all good, 2 great games at the start of a great series!— lukebonbon
- Auntie Em played well for the Chickenhawks tonight. The first 2 games were well played. Flyers are not being manhandled like everyone thought they would. If Flyers win at home, it's a series again. Chickenhawk fans will see what real hockey fans are like. Fans that have followed the sport more than 3 years.— awl
- The Hawks are a joke. How did they only win 3 Cups when there were only 6 teams for many of those years?— Flyers1975
- Suck it, Philly! Congratulations on the all-time worst MLB franchise having some success the last two years. Today you were shown your place. Atlanta took 1st in the NL East, and the CHICAGO FREAKIN BLACKHAWKS showed you how to play hockey
- Not all holes are created equal.....this aint boston.— cedman
- 2001— jbruder02
- why was the whistle blown when you can see the ref looking down and it was loose the entire time then it went in the net. OH i get it now!!!— sawgrass
- happy hawks fan...I know you guys are up 2-0 and that is nothing to overlook. However; take a good look at your team and see that they were totally dominated when the game was on the line. They managed to play for 28 seconds and came away up 2-0. Is that being lucky or good?? Niemi played good, but that's about it.— bwt112
- Phillies attendance in 2001 was 22,000. Last year it was 44,000 Crazy how that works you fair weather losers. Facts from espn.com— jbruder02
- The Flyers did everything but win the game tonight. They played a near perfect road game and deserved a much better fate. That third period was men among boys. It was incredible how dominant the Flyers were in that period.— matty177
- 0ooooops again!— ChiTownBullet
- Leighton is no Parent!!— sawgrass
- These ain't the Bruins.— jibberjabber
- 04 attendance was 40,626 average as well and didn't win until 08, NOw what?— sawgrass
- Sawgrass the SanJose & Vancouver fans said the same thing.— ChiTownBullet
- happy hawks fan, how are your ankles? did the blackhawks fully welcome you onto their bandwagon? they one this game because niemi was great. For the second game in a row the flyers dominated 2 of the 3 periods. Keep thinking its over, just like the bruins did.— xMikelaw19
- Relax Hawks Fan. Don't forget you still live in Chicago, which is know for choking horrifically when you have a chance to win anything (Bulls w/ MJ excluded). The Flyers outplayed the Hawks for all but 28 seconds and came up short. But with two 1 goal wins, you can't believe this is over. No go try and pick up another fat chick and watch the Cubs take it in the can once again.— el nino
- Series is OVER. Hawks in 4. Congratulations Chicago. Turn out the lights when you're done celebrating at Wachovia. Championships and this city don't get along except for a few freak instances— klew
- You had a new stadium. Even the Pirates got people into a new stadium genious. Think for a second. Philly= fairweather.— jbruder02
- Blackhawks attendance in 2007 was 12,700 (29th it the league out of 20 teams). This year it is 22,000. Crazy how that works for you fair weather losers. Facts from espn.com— awl
- Comment removed.
- why not just face it flyer fans...the Hawks aint no Boston....if they split in Philly....series over in 5 back home!! We are beating you guys with our 2nd and 3rd lines..— glenhall
- Biggest collection of bandwagoners??? I've been a Flyers fan since I was 13 years old. They've always been my 2nd favorite Philly team (behind the Phillies-who I've followed since I was 8 and they were in the World Series in 93). And Jbruder-were you ever at the Vet? The place was a dump. Phillies attendance picked up as soon as they moved into Citizens Bank Park in 2004. They didn't make the playoffs until 2007 in there new park. Try again man. And Philadelphia is and always has been a huge sports town. Do not EVER think otherwise. It's an insult to myself and my fellow Philadelphia fans. How does the Linc sell out every game when the Eagles fumble their chances year after year? That's not being a bandwagon fan my Chicago friend....— PAJames
- Comment removed.
- Blackhawks attendance in 2007 was 12,700 (29th it the league out of 30 teams). This year it is 22,000. Crazy how that works for you fair weather losers. Facts from espn.com Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/hofmann/Flyers_dig_another_hole.html?viewAllLatest=y&text=#comments#ixzz0pZJuSWie Play fantasy sports and win cash prizes instantly. Philly.com's Instant Fantasy Sports Games— awl
- Hey awl, glad i can introduce you to a site other than philly.com for learning about sports. Save that in favorites. I wasn't saying that Chicago wasn't fair weather, I'm saying every city is.— jbruder02
- I love how the 'Hawks Fans" are talking as if they have supported the team for years. I lived in Chicago from 2002 til 2008 and you couldn't give a Hawks ticket away. The games weren't even televised bc no one cared. The Flyers are constantly sold out and a huge draw on local tv. Hawks fans are fair weather fans who don't deserve a cup.— el nino
- 2007-the Blackhawks average attendance was 12,000 per game. The Flyers, who were terrible that year also, were still 7th in attendance at 19,000 + per game. Chicago fans much more fairweather than Philly.— PAJames
- Philly played tough tonite BUT,.....— cedman
- Comment removed.
- I can't stand people who say Game 3 will be a "Must Win" game...let's think about this, people: the only "Must Win" games are if the other side has 3 wins already...— J H
- Down 2-0 in series? Over.....— jibberjabber
- yeah losers, keep dreaming, even if they win, it make you pathetic lives better how...? Chumps...— ursad&pathetic
- You beat me to it awl!! But thanks for making my point for me. The Flyers are in a hockey town and the Blackhawks won't know what hit them when they come over for game 3.— PAJames
- Who cares what a stadium looks like. Your fan base sold out eagles games in the vet, fact is you didn't care about the Phillies untill they won. That's all their is to it. I live in Philly and was in school here in the last years of the vet and went to more games then most "fans" did. Don't act like your city isn't fair weather.— jbruder02
- Give me a break. Chicago is not a bunch of fair weather fans. The Bulls sold out for a decade after Jordan, are now again. The Cubs sell out every game despite being an international embarrassment. The only reason the Hawks were abandoned for most of the last decade is because Bill Wirtz went out of his way to do it. I think was a tax write-off thing
- Some people might be jbruder-I"m just saying do not assume that I am. I watched the Phillies field truly awful teams in the late 90's and watch them come close to the playoffs from 2001-2006 and I was still a fan. But if you look at the attendance it clearly shows that Flyers consistently have drawn more than the Blackhawks-good years and bad. Now the Hawks are up 2 games to 0. I'm not taking anything away from them. They're a great team. I'm just defending my favorite city.— PAJames
- Very premature to count this one over. Meaningless to say it. Game 3/4 will either be a rebalancing for a best out of 3, or Hawks in 4 or 5. Third period set a very good tone for Game 3. Hawks now know they can be outplayed - badly. 16 - 4 in shots in the 3rd is not indicative of a team brimming with confidence. Flyers will own game 3.— 2stepbay
- I will give you though, jbruder-that the Cubs haven't won a World Series in 100 years and still sell out every game. Although that might just be because Wrigley Field is a gorgeous field (I was there myself when I was younger-still have the Cubs hat I got that day).— PAJames
- Hawks are MONSTERS on the road! THIS IS OVER!— honk
- Chicago fans craw back under the rocks where you slithered out from!— Budman13
- Also jbruder-you say we didn't care about the Phillies until they won-then why did their attendance start to rise in 2004-4 seasons before they made the playoffs?— PAJames
- PAJames, not calling you or anyone on here fair weather. Just saying every city has it. Yeah there are a lot of new jerseys out there in the crowd and there would be in every city. Your first comments call people in Chicago fair weather, you were not defending your city. The hawks management traded away their entire team and made money off of the fans of that city. I'd stop paying attention and paying money to support such a thing as well. The Flyers have been a playoff team for a while now. Haven't had many bad years where they haven't made the playoffs. With one push I can't turn on the radio without hearing people who a month ago didn't care start talking about a team and sport they know nothing about. That's all, I've said my bit.— jbruder02
- Every city has fairweather fans, that's a fact. But for a Blackhawk fan to call Philly fairweather (in a different sport, mind you!) is foolish. In 2006-07, when the Flyers had the WORST record in the league and the WORST record in the franchise's history, the attendance was STILL the fourth best in the league, averaging over 19,000 a game. The Blackhawks that year ranked 29th in attendance. A little over 12,000 a game.— awl
- Attendance started to grow because they got a new stadium. It happened in Pittsburgh too untill going to the new stadium was not longer a reason to sit and watch a minor league team get rocked every night.— jbruder02
- awl, i'm not a hawks fan. I just don't like Philly teams because of their fanbase and i work here so i have to put up with it.— jbruder02
ditto— nt2ux- I believe the Flyers 3rd period dominance and coming home gives them a boost. Win game three and we are back in. Take two at home and all the pressure shifts back to the Black Hawks.— ameadie
jbruder02, you're a hypocrite. You don't like the Philly fanbase because, why? Yet you come on here like a chicken sh*t and start heckling? Just exactly what fanbase do you like?...by the way, best for you to pack your bags and leave Philly, cause most of the city is a fan of one team or the other, genius.- series will be tied Friday... just need to get 1 of 2 in Chicago— Sillies
- happy hawks fan- i'm an unhappy flyer fan who lives in chicago. i like it here- great city, nice people- but i have to say the people here aren't jerks, generally. what happened to you?— stopbooing
- is anybody really surprised with the results? the 3rd period is the only period the flyers play. if we working people constantly showed up to a 9am-5pm job at 3pm. we would be fired. professionals find a way to win. the miracle was use up in boston. the flyers need play every single minute as if their job and their lives are tangling on the line. a well played 3rd period is garbage without outstanding effort in the first two periods and the FFFFFF'ing WIN !!!!! hawks deserved both games. flyers will deserve the win when they actually win a FFFF'ing game.— love park
- Dear Chicago fans, be aware of these Philly sports fans, they are pathetically the most classless (by far), most angry, miserable, downright eternally-unhappy fair-weathered people in the country. They simply don't deserve a SC championship. As for my sport (football), here's to keeping their Super Bowl trophy case ETERNALLY EMPTY! :) :) :) ... Go Hawks.— JerseyExit63
- Hope the Flyers lose. That Palin loving Snyder does not deserve to win.— JonKap
- JerseyExit63, "they are pathetically the most classless (by far), most angry, miserable, downright eternally-unhappy fair-weathered people in the country." Congratulations, in trying to put down a group of people, you just showed your true colors...god, do people even take into account the drivel they spew? Pathetic...
- If quoting attendance totals to each other gets you guys excited, by all means, go ahead. When the Blackhaks finish thier business and raise the Cup in the Wachovia center in front of you, tell me how comforted you are that you had more @$$es in the seats in 1973. If that is your argument, you are as stupid as you appear and deserve to lose. Hell, the Cubs fans have been making excuses for 100 years. By the way, Hawks home games were never televised because Dollar Bill Wirtz never wanted to "cheat" the season ticket holder, but he did nothing more than suffocate hockey in Chicago that used to dominate the city in the 60's and 70's. He killed off a whole generation of fans. I can sincerely tell you that hard core, disaffected Blackhawk fans were dancing in the streets when they heard the old man died. While he may have been loyal and generous to his family and lackeys, he was horrible for the sport overall.— Todd M
- Well I've been a die hard Flyers fan since the cups of 74 and 75. But like every cup final series, great goaltending is the ultimate equalizer and produces champions. It can erase all those turnovers, missed clears, and lack luster play. Forget all the analysis on Comcast Sportsnet and the local sports media. There is nothing positive to take out of games 1 and 2 for the Flyers. Leighton and Boucher took us as far as we can go. Addressing the goaltending issue is paramount this coming off season. Its the only way to win a cup. Just ask any former Flyers player from the cup years about Parent.— whsbuss
- Not again. Hey Flyers, maybe you can win one game, make it a little interesting. How about it— Gold
- whsbuss, buck up friend. This series is not over. Yeah, this loss sucks, but if any team can shake this off, it's this team. Despite down 2 games, they can easily take that momentum from the 3rd period, combine that w/ desperation and the home crowd, then 2 straight wins isn't out of the question. If they do get those 2 wins, then it's a whole new series. Don't believe me, then ask the actual Hawks players. I'm sure they're not thinking this series is over.
- ain't over yet— petemagoop
- I am a Flyers fan, and I love this team. But, for any other Flyers fans out there that think the Flyers are still in this are insane. The Flyers are so outmatched and it shows the minute that puck is dropped. Thanks for the memories (and history!).— PhillySteve21
- PAJames:"I know they've waited freaking 49 years but the majority of that time nobody cared about them!" Clueless...the attendance only dropped within the last decade as Dollar Bill proved he could build incompetence. They ALWAYS sold out every game at the Stadium and UC till the turn of THIS century...— Hawklabs
- More from PAJames: "Even in the year they were dead last they always drew a good crowd." LOL...THE year? Hawks had over a decade of misery with a bleak outlook till Dollar Bill died. And of course the Flyers dominated the 3rd - their backs were against the wall. I'd hope they'd come out firing...— Hawklabs
- I did not know the Hawks had cheerleaders. You need to win two more games before you put the diaphragms in girls.— coloradoeagle
- JE63-how about them devils! you a muts fan, too?— coloradoeagle
- PhillySteve21, you can't say the Flyers are outmatched based on those two games. The first game was a slopfest that the Hawks won. Last night's game was a closely contested game throughout that was decided by one bad goal. 2-0 is a big deficit to overcome, but in no way have the Flyers been overmatched. Like I said, tighten up a few things, correct some mistakes, come back with an overall better game and they can win Game 3, then build from there. It's not insane at all to think that can happen.
- like i said last game, start boucher.— chrissays
- ok, i am from phoenix and therefore unbiased, i have no connection to either city. but, from what i know on sports from both cities, and the game of hockey, here is my two cents. First, the fact that the flyers came back against the bruins means nothing, different series, different team. The haeks have been better on the road throughoutt he playoffs. Second, u may say the flyers played a better game, which you can make a strong argument for, but the fact is they lost and are down 2-0. It is very unlikely they will come back, sorry. ONt he fair whether thing, every team ahs them. The hawks r not comprised mostly of fair whether fans. They are comprised of fans just out of hibernation. The previous owner ran the team in the ground and destroyed the franchise. there were fans before "Dollar Bill" Wirtz destroyed the team. NOw they are coming back and the team wins again. The games were not taken off tv because nobody watched them, the owner thought if people want to watch them, they should come to the stadium (this is when the stadium was still full.) BTW, Philidelphia fans do nto look good right now, ie the kid who ran on the field— cmac15
- Hawks have been just a little better when it counted. A little luck, good timing..whatever...Hawks have capitalized at moments and the Flyers just couldn't get it done. I think in general though they've done a great job this series. 3rd period tonight was amazing. Shame they couldn't tie it. They really could've. The ice SUCKED unfortunately and that definitely played into it. Must've been like slush out there. Seeing how they played, and yes even considering the Hawks road record these playoffs, I think it's completely possible to win both home games. I'm not positive they'll do it, but it's completely possible. I think Wednesday they win for sure. It's a must win and they'll carry over the desperation from tonight's 3rd.— danflyers
- @dogman5 ---and go where from there? There's no there, there.— hockeygirl11
- Richards undoubtably is the worst player to ever wear the Flyers 'C'.— Leron
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zjzxP3utNM— Happy Hawks Fan
1
Classifieds:
Site Services:
Partners:
Powered By:
