Flyers finally fall
Blackhawks 4, Flyers 3
Flyers finally fall
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
Thirty-five years. It is hard to believe sometimes that it has been that long since the Flyers hoisted the Stanley Cup. They just pushed us all to the brink with a playoff run that none of us will soon forget. It was thrilling, startling, indelible. But it is over, two games short of the goal.
Outplayed for much of the night but not out-efforted -- not last night, not for the last 8 weeks -- the Flyers’ dream run ended with a 4-3 defeat to the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. After reaching heights that no one predicted, maybe not even them, maybe not even in their hearts, the ending was so shockingly sudden.
Scott Hartnell tied the game at 16:01 of the third period with his second goal of the game, and the Wachovia Center exploded one more time after one more comeback from what seemed like inevitable defeat. But Patrick Kane won it for the Blackhawks at 4:10 of overtime on a weird goal, perfect in a way, as everyone was stuck for a few seconds of suspended animation before it was determined that the puck indeed got past Flyers goaltender Michael Leighton.
It was as if no one wanted to believe it was over.
Thirty-five years. Few will recall that it was Don Earle with the television call when the Flyers won their last Stanley Cup. Everyone remembers the year before, when Gene Hart said, his voice soaring, “Ladies and gentlemen, the Flyers are going to win the Stanley Cup!” Earle, though, had no such operatic aspirations.
And so, he said:
“Faceoff, won, it’s all over! The Flyers have won their second in a row! The Flyers have won their second consecutive Stanley Cup, and the whole Flyers bench is on the ice. I’ll tell you, they fought from adversity when they had to, and they won the big ones when they had to, and Bernie Parent was big tonight when he had to.”
It was May 27, 1975. No one then could have predicted how the voice would echo over the years and the decades and the empty canyons of a franchise’s memory.
Since then, all of this has happened: Leon Stickle. The jersey on Billy Penn. The “choking situation.” J.J. Daigneault. Ron Hextall and the Conn Smythe. Dave Poulin’s two-man shorthanded goal in Quebec. Ed Hospodar and the pre-game brawl in Montreal.
Now, this year has happened. It cannot help but be remembered fondly -- even as the details of the final game fade.
Somehow, the Flyers were tied at 1-1 at the end of a first period in which they were outshot 17-7 -- and it really wasn’t that close. All of the energy in the building at the start, from the singing of “God Bless America” on, meant nothing. The Blackhawks took the play to the Flyers early -- and goaltender Michael Leighton, who had been yanked out of Games 1 and 5, was very solid early.
As it turned out, each team scored a power play goal in the first. With Chris Pronger serving his second penalty of the period, it was Dustin Byfuglien in front, on a pass from Jonathan Toews, at 16:49. Then, at 19:33, with the Blackhawks’ Brent Sopel serving his second penalty of the period. it was Scott Hartnell getting knocked down in front, struggling to his feet, and deflecting in a shot from Danny Briere.
So, 1-1. For Chicago, the barrage continued in the second period but, to their everlasting credit, the Flyers hung around and then took a 2-1 lead on a beautiful goal, a great play by Ville Leino, knifing through the Chicago defense, holding on, and getting the puck over to Danny Briere -- who dismantled Blackhawks goaltender Antti Niemi, rifling the puck high and hard.
That was at 8:00. At 9:58, the Blackhawks tied it on a shot from the right circle by Patrick Sharp that sneaked through Leighton’s legs. It was not a great goal for Leighton, but it was still only 2-2, despite an overwhelming advantage in shots for Chicago.
But then Chicago took the 3-2 lead at 17:43 of the second on a fine deflection of a Niklas Hjalmarsson shot by Andrew Ladd. And that’s where it stood as the second period became the third period and the shot total kept rising in the Blackhawks’ favor; it was 27-13 after the second.
In the middle of the third period, though, the Flyers began to build one last round of momentum. The team that came from 3-0 down against Boston to win in seven games dominated the middle stretch of the third, and then then the final stretch. The breakthrough finally came on the Hartnell goal, and the building shook. It will be one more enduring memory, one among many.
But in the end, there was only silence. And then, a cheer of “Let’s go Flyers” before the Blackhawks received the Cup.
Talk about the game in our Flyers forum 
Funny thing is, the Flyers were sworming before the fluke final goal with Chicago finally starting to look a bit rattled. Just a weird, anticlimatic way to loss.— phillyfury
Comment removed.- The Flyers need major changes for the 2011 season. We need speedy defensemen, a new captain, a new goalie (for certain). I am embarrassed to be a Flyers fan tonight. By the time the Flyers win another cup, I will be collecting my social security check, not. You guys stink. You disgrace the "Broad Street Bullies" Legacy.— flyers stink
- all right negativists....forget the goalie...he was part of the collective effort that got the TEAM to the brink and took our hearts along for a great sports ride. Winning and losing is not everything...winners beat their chests, but the play was even in 6 games, the effort relentless...all you can ask. I remember the '64 Phillies and think of them as fondly as I do the '80 and '08 teams. Leave Leighton alone...without him, they don't get to overtime in game 6. Go yell at your wife— retzlaff
- Congratulations Blackhawks, You beat the best TEAM in the NHL. Thank you FLYERS. Most incredible post-season I've ever seen. Great job by Laviolette. Incredible efforts from Richards, Pronger, Brierre, Lappy, Leighton, Leino, Kimmo, Coburn, and all the guys. Even Hartnell who I cursed at on more than one occasion. Sorry you didn't get to hoist the cup yourselves, but no regrets. Cheers.— jjfggg
- You can't forget the boston series, but Leighton's bad goals in games 1, 5 and 6 are what I'll be thinking about all summer...— jgreenberg
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- Goalie let the team down, not being ready or set for that last/OT goal. It went under the entire length of his body, what was he thinking? The team deserved a better effort from him!— lerze77
- It was a heck of a run but the better team won. But our Flyers were warriors throughout the playoffs. Granted we caught some breaks along the way, especially with the Great 8 Ovechkin and great Crosby and the Caps and Penguins getting upset. If not for that, we probably aren't here anyway, but we did what we had to and did the city proud. We may not have the superstars like Washington and Pittsburgh but you have to like the character of this team moving forward if they can keep in together. From barely making the playoffs to being 2 games away from the Cup...wow...thanks for the ride!— brendanflyer
- Hey gruntsar and other Chicago fans, go away. Go enjoy your victory and leave us Flyers fans alone. Doesn't your city paper have a comment page where you can gloat? As for the Flyers' bright notes, Leino has quietly become a dominant player for this team. That he couldn't get ice time just a few months ago, is shocking.— phillyfury
- What a pathetic group of Flyers fans here to bash the team and guys like Richards and Leighton. Every player gave every ounce they had. Leighton wasn't good enough in this series but he is a guy who was out of the league when the year began. The better team won, simple as that. I still couldn't be prouder of the Orange and Black. Can't for camp in September!— Gigs1777
- A 7th seed with two backup goaltenders and they came one goal and one win from hoisting the cup. This team actually showed heart and it was one hell of a ride. Re-sign Leino, tweak Leighton's approach and we have a great shot at winning the cup. Briere earned his money and Richie acted like a captain. A ton of positives to build on. It sucks that the season is over...crap...its now baseball season and the phils cant hit!— ConservativePatriot22
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- Thanks for showing up Captain Mike. Give the C to Pronger next season.— Gmilst1
- REALLY Flyers?? Leighton you gave up some VERY soft goals in this series...think they need to evaluate your goal tending! Hartnell I love you! Maybe next yr?? On to the Phillies...STILL a Philadelphia Fan by injection! LOL!— jbasho
