Flyers survive and advance
Survive and advance. Among the oddities of this series, one that stands out is this: Some of the most dominating periods have also been the most fruitless.
Flyers survive and advance
Sam Donnellon, Daily News Sports Columnist
Survive and advance. Among the oddities of this series, one that stands out is this: Some of the most dominating periods have also been the most fruitless.
Take tonight’s 3-0 Flyers victory in Game 5 in Pittsburgh. Looking to bury their cross-state antagonizers, Pittsburgh fired 15 first-period shots at Marty Biron, created all kinds of turnovers in the offensive zone – and came up with nada.
The Flyers survived thanks to Marty Biron and some lucky breaks. Biron, who deserved a better fate in his 46-save effort of Game 2, stoned Evgeni Malkin twice and Sidney Crosby once close range in that first period – each after a Flyers giveaway. He also had a little luck. Tyler Kennedy botched a wraparound into a wide open net, hitting the post.
With the Penguins on a power play midway through the third, the puck bounced off Biron’s back pad, hovered endlessly in the crease, and was finally covered.
The second period had none of that early intensity, and the game began to even out. The Flyers in fact, held an early 6-1 shot advantage when Arron Asham blasted a slapshot over the left shoulder of Marc Andre Fleury at 6:32, giving the Flyers the first goal and a huge shot of confidence.
Malkin momentarily tied it a few minutes later, but a replay clearly showed he had kicked it into the net. Mike Knuble had the Flyers best chance of that period after that, trying to settle a bouncing puck as he swerved towards the middle of the crease, but he couldn’t muster anything on the shot.
The Flyers outshot the Penguins 11-5 in the second. Knuble had four of those shots, six over the first two periods. Malkin, who had three great chances in the first period, was held to one shot in the second period. Crosby, who had two shots in the first period, did not register one in the second.
They haven't "advanced" anywhere yet Sammy.— duffers- Period 1 of game 4 is another good example. Flyers dominated and had nothing to show for it.— tokar
- Gi-ROOOOOUUUUUX!— AreaMan
- Sammy, you are a moron...— MAF29
- wow...he covers so much football he thought one game was enough :D— Prego614
- Some of us thought it would take 7 games to beat Pit. The Pens are a good team, so we didn't expect to sweep them. A couple of losses were expected. We win (easily) at home then advance to the second round on their ice. Here we go.— LuckyDog
- The pens outshot us in the first, but it was far from the domination that idiot beat writers say who have never played hocket. That was a perfect road game. Bend but don't break, wait for your chances, capitalize on them, and the sit back and wait for them to press, then finish them off. As hate as I hate them, that has been the Devil's formula for years (of course add some Marty), But this time Biron as opposed to Brodeur... That is how you win in the playoffs. NOW JUST DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN— klimaye
- Flyers have outplayed the Pens for 4 straight games, but have been unlucky. Game 6 is at home where we will force game 7. In game 7, anything can happen. Flyers have never come back from 3 games to 1, so they are due. Flyers in 7— mikeyhigs
- I don't usually feel the need to defend Sam Donnellon. I think he means that they have one more win against Pittsburgh than last year, so it's a step up? I have to believe that Biron will be in the net next playoffs. Knuble finally scored with 7 shots. Under the heading of depth, it's time for Lupul, Briere and Timonen to score. Giroux is definitely not a star in the making; he is a star right now.— Fandink
- the silence from the pens' fans is deafening...— beetle
- Fleury won game four and Biron won game five. The first period was the game I said six and now Im not sure. Good luck NOT you cry baby losers. I still like yor team. Hate you sad arm pit dwellers— malkinmvp
- actually the armpit of america is dirty jersey not philly, and if we are the armpit you idiots aren't that far (4-5 hours) so you would be the armpit as well by inhabiting the same state, and i love the name "malkinmvp" you probably didnt even know pitt had a team until you had cindy and molly.— PhoenixFlyer
- So...who do the Flyers play now that they've advanced?? More importantly, since the Pens haven't beaten anyone yet, who do they get to pley now?— Tomahawk37
- The Pens and their fans looked past the Flyers after Game 5. This Flyer team is looking like they can complete the 3-1 comeback.— Repubrebirth
- What was the point of this article?— lit22
- Hey Phoenix........easy on the Jersey man!! (Even though I am in Virginia now) What's wrong with Camden????— PhillyInVa
- Go home Flyers. Chant Crosby suck some more u morons! He beat u today!— BlackNGoldMan
Reach Sam at donnels@phillynews.com.
