Flyers stun Pens in OT
The Flyers, a.k.a. the Comeback Kids, overcame an early 3-0 deficit and stunned the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-3, in overtime on Wednesday.
Flyers stun Pens in OT
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
PITTSBURGH -- One word: Wow.
The Flyers, a.k.a. the Comeback Kids, overcame an early 3-0 deficit and stunned the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-3, in overtime on Wednesday.
Jakub Voracek scored the game-winner early in OT in the opener of the series.
This was such a gut-wrenching loss for Pittsburgh that one wonders if it can recover.
The Flyers sent the game into OT on third-period goals by Danny Briere and Brayden Schenn, knotting the score at 3-3.
Briere scored two goals in his first game back from an injury.
Wow again.
And again.
* * *
(Earlier....)
This is not a recording: The Flyers allowed the game's first goal.
And the second.
Sidney Crosby scored on a backhanded rebound as he was falling down tio the ice, giving Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead after just 3:43 on Wednesday in Game 1 of the playoffs.
It marked the 11th time in the last 13 games that the Flyers have surrendered the initial goal.
About four minutes later, Tyler Kennedy finished off a two on one and made it 2-0.
If you're scoring at home, the Flyers have fallen into a 2-0 hole in eight of the last 13 games.
So, another BRUTAL start for the Flyers, who have had Sean Couturier's line against Crosby and Evgeni Malkin's units in the early minutes.
It got even more brutal as Ilya Bryzgalov _ who was so brilliant in March _ allowed a goal with 36.9 seconds left in the first. Steve Sullivan threw a pass from behind the net, and it went off Bryzgalov's stick and pads before Pascal Dupuis knocked it out of the air and into the net.
That gave the Penguins a 3-0 lead, and the Flyers appeared headed to a lopsided loss.
Danny Briere, after taking a slick pass from Brayden Schenn, scored on a breakaway with 13:38 left in the second, cutting the deficit to 3-1. (Replays showed Briere was offsides when he took the pass, so the Flyers got a huge break.)
Still, the Flyers had a mountain to climb because of an ugly first period in which they were outshot, 13-6.
The defense, including Nick Grossmann, had their shaky moments early. Ditto Bryzgalov.
They regrouped nicely, putting together a comeback for the ages.
* * *
Here are my picks in the NHL series:
Penguins over Flyers in 7. Too much Crosby.
Rangers over Senators in 5. Blueshirts barely break a sweat.
Bruins over Caps in 7. Tempted to pick an upset.
Devils over Panthers in 6. The seedings are a joke.
Canucks over Kings in 6. Luongo picks up his game.
Sharks over Blues in 6. Upset special.
Blackhawks over Coyotes in 7. Will be a classic.
Preds over Red Wings in 7. Nashville's D is the story.
Pens in 5— blaqjaq- TROLL - crawl back under your rock!! — Daddio
- Wow! I can't believe what I'm watching. The Pens look better prepared, hungrier, more energetic and more motivated than our guys. Game, set and match.— fentonhardy
- Wow! I can't believe how big a moron you are. Go away you stinking TROLL! — Daddio
- Boy, does Briere earn that contract in the playoffs...this guy is an absolute playoff gamer.
- Pens fans should crawl away now.— Digityman
- "This was such a gut-wrenching loss for Pittsburgh that one wonders if it can recover." This might be one of the most idiotic statements made. It's one game, and a team with Stanley Cup experience knows how to turn it into a series.— aisaac
- Was out and missed the game, sure hope my recorder didn't have any hiccups! Just sayin'...— DJ
- Flyers: Guts, Heart, Relentless. I love everything this team has ever stood for. So many other teams would have folded - Not the Orange & Black. Bryz held his own after the 1st period to give the Boys the time they needed. Awesome. Interesting, but not surprising to watch TSN analysts reiterate over and over how Briere was off-side for the Flyers 1st goal. No such attention for the fact the Pens 3rd goal should never have happened as the play should have been called Icing when Coburn touched the puck behind the net. Suppose the opposing goals cancel out in the end. Refs need to be better. Outstanding game Boys! Let's finish off these Primadonna Pens as quickly as possible.— OrangeFury
- SUCK IT SAMMY!!! You cover the damned team & even YOU wont pick them. Glad they disappointed you. Looking forward to them doing that 3 more times.— thomaspfoolery
- All penguin fans prefer the company of men.— recneps420
- LET'S GO FLYERS!!!!!!!!!!!!— Darryl Cofield
- Where is F_the_Flyers kid - in Moms basement yanking it??? FLYERS!!! Only one game but what a freaking game!!! GO FLYERS!!!— OnlyTheLordSavesMore
- Something mysterious happens when you win in OT in the playoffs, Flyers in 5!— Fabulous
- The Flyers snuck up on everybody. The pundits had them losing this game before the first period onslaught. When they started playing Flyers hockey somewhere in the second period, the game took a 180 degree swing and it was only a matter of whether they could climb out of a 3 goal hole. Watching Bryz, once Danny Briere scored, something changed in his demeanor. You got the feeling that nothing was going to get past him. He just needs to start the game at that tempo and not wait until after he has looked like a SEPTA turnstile for 20 minutes. If Bryz can play like he played the last month of the season, these Flyers could be a team of destiny. During OT, Pittburgh looked like a choose-up team at the local pond. The didn't act; they just reacted, and the Flyers treated them like they were traffic cones.
The kids were alright! Paul Holmgren should be Executive of the Year, hands down.— gotedge - Too much Crosby? Too much c**k sucking. Get off Crosby, his time came and went. This Flyers team is too fast, too young and too RESILIENT!!!!!!! Flyers in 5.— girouxforpresident
- Comes down to Sunday....win and we are set...lose and we are done.— Romus
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