Three things to look for in Flyers' Game 4
Three things
Three things to look for in Flyers' Game 4
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
The Mission Impossible version of Three Things...
1) Get a lead. And hold on to it for more then 1 minute, 39 seconds -- which is how long the Flyers held the lead in Game 3. This qualifies as, well, duh. But the really alarming thing for the Flyers has to be the way the Bruins trapped the life out of the game in the third period, and how even when they're not trapping, they can build a wall in front of goaltender Tuukka Rask when they have the score in their favor. A lead is essential.
2) Boosh. Despite the claims of some emailers, Brian Boucher has been good in this series. He might have to be really, really good in Game 4. While people think the Flyers might be able to rally around the return of forward Simon Gagne from a broken toe, if Gagne decides he can play, history suggests there is no greater rallying point than a goaltender who is stopping everything. For a night, or a period, or even a particularly-perilous sequence, goaltenders really can be the breath of life for a hockey team.
3) Blinders. They put them on horses, not hockey players, in order to focus the vision and block out distractions. It is what the Flyers need to do. In the paper today, I wrote about growing up as an Islanders fan in 1975 when they came back from an 0-3 deficit against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Their captain, who scored the game-winner in Game 7 of the comeback, was Ed Westfall. In Joe Starkey's book, "Tales from the Pittsburgh Penguins," Westfall is quoted about what it took:
"It's not about winning the next game, it's about winning the next shift. It really simplifies it. I remember that idea resonating from practice the day before the fourth game right to the last shift of the seventh game, and that's all we thought about -- taking it a shift at a time. It was almost to the point of sickening. When you think about it, it's so repetitious.
"I was always worried we would have too many men on the ice, because guys were just dying to jump over the boards. We almost had to sedate guys between periods."
So that's what it takes.
Boosh might have been good. but he hasnt been good enough and the goals have been soft for the most part. That lucheech shot that beat them game two has to be stopped. Also, it appears to me that the b's are just better which isnt hard to fathom given who we are running out there....betts, carcillo, leino, ashem, nodl, powe, ross..........WHO???........And I cant even start on Hartnell, he cant even keep his balance on the puck....And Timonen has been bad....you see him lookin stupid standing next to Recchi last game for his goal that iced it....cmon fellas...........soft soft soft.......boooooooooo!!!! might not even watch tonight.....but probly will.....— ILUVPHILLYCITYOFLOSERS- Soft goals? Have you actually watched the games, Iluv? Get lost.— PenAquote
- how about a single good play from scott hartnell?— main liner
- I would say the Bruins are catching all the bounces right now and Boosh has played well. That Savard shot in OT is such a lucky shot. Bouncing puck lands perfectly flat and he snipes one short side right over boosh shoulder. That's a 1 out of 10 shot. Recchi's "put away" goal last time hits one of our defensemen hops up in the air and lands next to the net with Recchi right there. Not much you can do about it. First out played them the 1st and 2nd period last game. They just need a bounce to go in the net.— mattparis
- the team has been playing pretty good. What they need to do is simply - capitalize on their opportunities. They have had plenty of chances, they need to hit the back of the net! This series is not over, do not give up on the team yet!— therev
- i want carle, coburn, parent and hartnell off my team.— prominal88
- i want carle, coburn, parent and hartnell off my team.— prominal88
- i want carle, coburn, parent and hartnell off my team.— prominal88
- Fact is its not boucher's fault but he is a backup goalie who will never win you a playoff game, let alone a series. The problem is we play with the puck way too much in our own zone, we have horrible 5th and 6th defenseman, Coburn is playing like a girl and Hartnell is horrible and needs to waive his no trade. Also fyi- Carter isnt playing. but hey at least the coach, gm and the NHL realize the Giroux is the real deal and maybe just maybe we can be smart enough to play him as a top guy. P.S- get a young stud goalie!— fman727
- Fact is its not boucher's fault but he is a backup goalie who will never win you a playoff game, let alone a series. The problem is we play with the puck way too much in our own zone, we have horrible 5th and 6th defenseman, Coburn is playing like a girl and Hartnell is horrible and needs to waive his no trade. Also fyi- Carter isnt playing. but hey at least the coach, gm and the NHL realize the Giroux is the real deal and maybe just maybe we can be smart enough to play him as a top guy. P.S- get a young stud goalie!— fman727
- fman727, please start watching the games. Boucher out played Brodeur, you know, a future hall of famer... Their problems run much deeper than the goalie.— Danno
- Bring out the Brooms......— flyigglesfly
- Carter for the goalie with Briere in the package. Briere will go to Montreal or Adirondac. I think he choses Montreal. Boooosh did more than anyone expected but he won't be there tonite. Why not Syvret? Kri was available for a reason and Parent is just young and should be in Adirondac with JVR. SOft, soft, soft!— LaCroix,Nolet,Gendron
- This is really irrelevant to the topic but has anyone else noticed that when discussing the Flyers goaltending for next season, the thought seems to be that the Flyers will be in the market for a starting goalie and the names that keep popping up are Quick (Unproven), Bernier (Unproven) and other unproven goalies... Why have I not heard the name Nabakov??? As of now... He is slated to become a free agent and the Sharks are up against the cap with having to still resign Marleau, Setoguchi, Pavelski, Malhotra and others, including Thorton in 2011... Why havent I heard Nabbys name out there... He is in the top of every statistical category year after year...— broadstbu11y
- Rich, can you somehow post this quote in the locker room? I believe in my heart, and my mind, that if they actually did this, they'd come back. "It's not about winning the next game, it's about winning the next shift. It really simplifies it. I remember that idea resonating from practice the day before the fourth game right to the last shift of the seventh game, and that's all we thought about -- taking it a shift at a time. It was almost to the point of sickening. When you think about it, it's so repetitious. "I was always worried we would have too many men on the ice, because guys were just dying to jump over the boards. We almost had to sedate guys between periods."— jjenkins
