Flyers storm back into series
Flyers 4, Bruins 0
Flyers storm back into series
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a series.
For only the 11th time in the 155 series in which an NHL team has fallen behind by three game to none, there will be a sixth game. And if no hockey team in 35 years has pulled off the greatest comeback in professional sports since the 1975 New York Islanders -- we are still beginning to tread on the edges of historic ground.
Stunningly, the Flyers are back in this thing. They suffered the loss of goaltender Brian Boucher to an injury early in the second period of Game 5 against the Boston Bruins, but they are back in this thing. Trailing the series by three games to none, the Flyers have now won two straight -- and that includes a 4-0 victory in Game 5 on Monday night in which they pretty definitively ran the Bruins out of TD Garden.
They are only halfway to a historic comeback; miles to go, etc. And there are new complications springing up all over. The first is Boucher's injury -- unspecified as of now, but it looked serious. With a puck just trickling through the crease and wide, a pileup in the crease left Boucher on the bottom and not moving. When he eventually was being helped off of the ice, supported by defenseman Chris Pronger and athletic trainer Jim McCrossin under each arm, it appeared as if Boucher could put no weight on his left leg.
Michael Leighton, playing in his first game since suffering a severe ankle sprain on March 16th -- he hadn't even backed up in the playoffs until this very night -- looked steady. The truth is, he really wasn't tested all that hard by a Bruins team that really, really got pummelled by a Flyers team that looked pretty fresh all of a sudden.
But there are other complications as well. Claude Giroux was boarded by the Bruins' Steve Begin with 3 minutes remaining in the second period and took a couple of minutes pulling himself together before skating off. Giroux was not on the Flyers' bench in the third period, and the nature and the extent of the injury are currently unknown.
Shaken, stirred, doesn't matter, though -- the Flyers are still alive. And while the odds still favor the Bruins, well, the current vibe does not. Such was the way this thing flipped in Game 5.
Comments (48)
Ron Hextall is only 45 years old. If Bouche can't go,Holmgren should give him a call.Either him or Douggy Favell.— Dr. Michael- Someone needs to ask Devorski what Richards did to get two minutes in that late-game mugging. What an absolute disgrace - even when the power plays heavily favor the Flyers, the refs still stink on ice... History has been made and will continue to be made, so enjoy it...— Brian F.
- Boucher's injury is rough, but the Flyers can roll with Leighton. Giroux, however, is another story. How many forwards and goalies can a team lose in one season?— hunsinator
- begin should be hung for that hit on giroux.— prominal88
Comment removed.- and how good is gagne? great man beard too.— prominal88
- Boston is frustrated and they were trying to take Giroux and Pronger out of the game. Nothing like intentionally trying to injure their top players, so they can win the series.— Mohave_Sun
- WOW!!! Looks like BOS has already given up! It's not even close talent wise we skated circles around them and they have no offense without Krecji. Leighton will be fine even though he wasn't really tested at all at least he got in a good warm-up. I am a little worried about Giroux however.... Now all you haters can jump on LuckyDog's bandwagon! Think we will see a post from Flyers Losers/General/Supreme/Big Tom I doubt it HA!!— BleedOrange
- They keep knocking the Flyers down, and they keep getting back up. All they do is win when they have to. This is a good time to be a Flyer fan. Go Flyers.— LuckyDog
- Adding giroux to a lost of flyers done for the post season would hurt tremendously.— xMikelaw19
- Great game Flyers! Keep it going. Giroux you better be okay. Get well soon Boooooosh. Remember guys, one game at a time...— malaysian mink
- Yep, bet no media outlets mention the classless Bruins fans throwing things at Pronger. Or the runs the B's were taking at our players. Get frustrated and they try to take out our team. Lot of respect for Gags going in to help Richie in the jumping by Savard and Lucic. You'd think Savard would have a little more restraint with hitting others in the head. If the Flyers and their fans had done what the B's and their fans did tonight it'd be all over sports center.— Hype97
- Are there any reports on Giroux yet? He has had a concussion before and that is usually the type of injury sustained in a boarding penalty. If the Flyers lose Giroux, Begin should be suspended for that hit. And Lucic should have received a game misconduct for his second man in attack on Richards. But even more so, it is time for the Philly fans to reign down on the Bruins on Wednesday!!!! Make them wish it were still mother's day!!!— The700Level
- Giroux will be back. He just got his bell rung. We all know the Flyers like to put their players back out too early from concussions. He will skate Wednesday and say he is fine. All that being said, someone should level Lucic and/or Savard on Wed. after we go up three goals. Also, the Bruins were never that good. They were the new Devils. Boring trap/defense hockey with a good goalie. Going to the net solves that problem every time. The Flyers did that tonight with Hartnell. All you guys were bombing him, but I knew he would step up. Just go to the net, Rask wilts. If we pull this out, we could actually get home ice against the Habs...are you kidding me???????— DrZ88
- Well done Flyers. Showing heart and never quitting. Get well soon Boosh and Giroux. On to game 6. B's fans are classless idiots, throwing things on the ice and at Flyers players. Losers define people from Boston in general, but this is Washington like behavior, when fans threw things at Flyers players after game 7 OT in 2008. They don't deserve an original 6 team up there.— cnova000
- Comment removed.
What an effort! These guys are playing with so much grit and heart, guys are stepping up and filling roles when guys go down to injury... wow. This realistically could be history in the making. Hoping for a matchup against the Habs in another nail biting series. The Penguins would be way too annoying to watch again, not to mention they seem to have our number. The hate is on for the Bruins. Way to go Ville Leino!! Let's go Leighton atta boy get back in there and shut 'em down. Pronger, Carle, Hartnell, these guys are playing great.- Comment removed.
- FLYERS LOSERS FOR 36 YEARS I do not believe you would ever voice your opinions in person at actual live games or in places where you might encounter real live Flyers fans. How old are you anyway? You should change your handle to 'LOSER FOR WAY LONGER THAN 36 YEARS'.
- Being a Flyers goalie is like being one of the guys in the red uniform on the old Star Trek show: It's not a question of whether or not you're gonna get cut down. It's only a question of when.— riles1875
The Flyers kicked the Bruins in the teeth! Wachovia Center will be bumpin' on Wednesday... Go FLYERS!!— cange30- Boston was a complete classless act tonight, both on ice and in the stands, though may I say the poetic justice of beating the Bruins 4-0 after the dedicated a statue to their #4 was epic and hilarious. I feel so horrible for Boucher but never imagined we could upgrade through injury. Maybe just maybe we can freak the world of hockey out of its brain— Phillyaddicted
- Man i can only imagine what this team could do with Carter on the ice with Gags. The difference Gags has made is amazing....and I personally am fine with Leighton in the net, all the best to Boosh hope he is OK he gave us a great series against the Devils, but I have confidence in Leighton. And Kudos to Harts glad to see him get a goal, he needed that....we needed that...FLYERS believing in the dream— flyersfanatic
- @Hype97: Not only that, but the Bruins fans were chanting "bullsh*t" after Giroux got boarded as McCrossin was checking him. Absolutely classless display on the ice and in the stands tonight. ESPN would be going absolutely crazy if it was in Philly. But it was their beloved Boston, so rest assured you'll hear nothing from it.— phillyfan412
- It seemed that the Flyers were energized by the booing and generally uncivilized behavior of the Bruins fans.— PaJC
- Comment removed.
- Wearing their heart on their sleeve and never giving up... just like a true Philadelphian— fry2dawg
- Hopefully this is not a repeat of a few years ago, when the Flyers went down 3-0 to Pittsburgh in the Eastern Conf Finals. If you recall, they won Game 4 at home, then unexpectedly won Game 5 on the road, just as they have done in this series. Unfortunately, in that series they came home for Game 6 and played half-heartedly, blowing a 2 goal lead in the process. That was the infamous Carcillo-Talbot fight swaying the momentum. So while I am excited for this team and their resiliency, keep in mind Game 6 is no gimme. Only look to recent history for further evidence....— UncleEddie
- If Giroux is hurt, I don't see how it could be anything but a head injury. Best case is he was just a little foggy. Bruins seemed more concerned with hurting people than winning. Finally their nothing offense lived up to its name with no goals scored.— bobbyd24
- Uncle Eddie, that was last year, in the first round, we won Game 3 at home, lost 4, won 5, and then that happened in Game 6. And they were up 3-0 in the game We have never been down 3-0 in a series and made it 3-2. Last year was misery, this is special.— seaonasdad
- Brian F. - Looked to me like Richards cross-checked Savard into the boards. That was how it started. Halfway between a crosscheck and clean check.— roadtriptoday
- Uncle Eddie, in 2008 the Flyers were down 3-0 to the Penguins, won game 4, and lost (no, got blown out) in game 5 to lose the series. Last season(2009), the Flyers lost games 1, 2, and 4, and won game 3. They then unexpectedly shutout the Penguins in game 5 last year before the Carcillo events in game 6, where they blew a 3-0 lead (a game I was at unfortunately). You are right though, that game 6 is no gimme and the Flyers need to bring this same level of effort (especially in their own zone) if they expect to keep this series going.— cnova000
- Imagine the national outcry if the situation were reversed and Flyers were taking cheapshots all game and Flyers fans were tossing debris onto the ice? Then Santa skated onto the ice while Ed Rendell and the Easter Bunny threw snowballs at him and JD Drew fired batteries at his head.— toccheyhockey
Well done Flyers you guys were hot tonight, but now you have to be even hotter. Always liked yoall so good luck and just mix it up and get the wins. Daniel .. Toronto, CANADA .. http://my.opera.com/dandmb50toronto/blog/— dandmb50- Thanks for showing up this year Hartnell! that's one! You owe us about 20 more. Fingers crossed Giroux's ok and Leighton can hold it down. Is it me or has this team been cursed with major injury every season this decade?— thrilladelf
- Where are all the Bruins fans today? Not only did your team lose, they rolled over. Flyers come out huge Wednesday, and if they win that one big, the Bruins are cooked.— phillyfury
- If Giroux is out the FLYERS are in trouble. Gotta feel bad for Boucher, but the truth us the team plays WAY better in front of Leighton, so in a sick way the injury to Boucher could work to their advantage. Gotta love the way Gagne has played since his return. And how about Hartnell?!?!?!? He's had his two best games in the last 3 months. And Leino has been fantastic. The guy looks dangerous every time he touches the ice.— NYFootballGIANTS
- Great game overall for the Flyers! I really hope Giroux is okay. Look out Bruins....Pronger will be on the hunt Wednesday. Better keep your head up!— LCHS
- Boston fans boooing their team at the end of the 2nd....or was that boo,hoo,hooing. By the middle of the 3rd there were a lot of empty seats at the garden. At least Philly fan boos until the end of the game. Wishful prediction: Giroux feels fine and shows JVR how to live in the playoffs.— Blvd Al
- A momentous occasion - the unvailing of #4's statue at the garden, followed by a complete and total pummeling by our guys. Enjoy the post-game feast, Boston fans. It's crow.— Blvd Al
- Bruins fan saying welcome to the series. Huge thumping by the Flyers. Hope Leighton is ready, no true fan of hockey wants to win because the other team runs out of goalies. Each team has had a no show at home. The Bruins are still one of the better road teams in the league, but the Flyers are hungry. Looks like 7 game series now. No better sporting event than a seventh game in hockey— fmd
- We will not see a game seven I am sorry to say, whill I hope I am wrong, I don't see it happening!— dan39564
- Leighton is better then Boucher. I'm not worried.— ChrisM
- We have all beaten up this team all year. Most nights they deserved it. But Wednesday night needs to be very, very loud and very very raucous. Earn your stripes fans. This team has endured and pulled together like nobodies business. I am proud to call myself a fan all the way from Atlanta (grow up in S.Jersey) Thank you Lappy. Thank you Boosh. Thank you guys for not quiting. It will be a Wednesday night to remember. I can't be there but will be cheering and raucous from afar!!!!!— keith7470
- Here's a thought. Savard OBVIOUSLY cross-checked Richards in the face. Could we see a suspension over it? I almost think it could happen, especailly if you include Carcillo's claim that Savard bit him. Plus, I had forgotten this, but Savard was suspended back in 2003 for biting Darcy Tucker. The NHL needs to look at a few of these things. Considering Savard is just coming back from a concussion due to a hit in the head, I would hope he of all people would have the sense not to cross-check anyone in the head. All in all, this has been a fun series. The Flyers should have won Game 1, but I see them winning Game 6. Anything can and will happen in a Game 7.— buttermilk67
I guess the statue of bobby orr didn't help the bruins ha-ha go flyers— chalton harley- nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.— JHerzog
- Flyers, one more win here, come on now— Gold
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