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Needing just one victory to close out the Eastern Conference quarterfinals in Game 5, they squandered two games in succession. The Flyers finally won the series in an exhilarating Game 7, 3-2, in overtime last night at the Verizon Center. Joffrey Lupul's goal eliminated the feisty Washington Capitals.
The hard-fought series victory followed a pattern. When the Flyers had to put distance between themselves and others in the Atlantic Division in February, they proceeded to lose 10 straight games before a sense of urgency kicked in.
That has become the Flyers' trademark. They often give something less of themselves until they are pushed to the brink.
"It's not the first time; how many times have we done that this year where everybody thought we were out of it?" center Danny Briere asked. "Every time you come back and accomplish something, the way we finished the season and this series . . . it's just another step for us. Our confidence keeps growing."
It will have to grow more. Montreal presents a formidable challenge. The Habs have more playoff veterans throughout their lineup and can easily match the Flyers' toughness on the puck over a long series.
"We'll get to look at the Boston [series tape] because they did a good job getting their power-play percentage down," Stevens said. "Their goalie [Carey Price] has been very good. Their back end is strong and they have balanced scoring up front."
Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau wisely allowed Saku Koivu's fractured left foot more healing time before bringing him into the series for Game 6 against Boston. More significant, Carbonneau made two lineup changes that enabled Montreal to win the series in seven games.
In Game 6, Koivu centered Chris Higgins and Sergei Kostitsyn. Higgins scored a pair of goals. In Game 7, Carbonneau moved a struggling Alexei Kovalev to Koivu's line, with Higgins. Kovalev had two assists. Higgins, who had no goals in the first five games of the series, scored two while playing with Koivu in the final two games.
Carbonneau's other move was pairing the Kostitsyn brothers - Sergei and Andrei - with Tomas Plekanec. They were simply flying in Game 7 and had five points (three goals, two assists) among them.
Given the job Jeff Carter's line did on Washington's Alex Ovechkin, Stevens may match Carter's line against Plekanec's or use Mike Richards' line. One of them will draw Koivu's line; the other Plekanec's.
"I've played against [the Kostitsyns] a few times and they're skilled guys," Carter said. "They have a real puck-possession mind-set whoever they play with. They cycle, cycle, and try to make plays. We have to play hard on them, take away their time and space. This series was a great challenge for myself playing against [Ovechkin], and it helps in the next series."
Price, a rookie goalie, had some shaky moments against Boston, but like Marty Biron, was very sharp in Game 7, earning a shutout.
While Kimmo Timonen did a fine job on Ovechkin in the Caps series, Michael Komisarek shut down Boston's Milan Lucic in the first-round matchup. Timonen has played internationally with Koivu and should match up against him.
"We're good buddies, and it's going to be a battle again," Timonen said. "He knows when we step onto the ice, we're not friends anymore. That's how it works. I know what he tries to do and what kind of player he is."
Like the Flyers, Montreal's checkers can skate, but they have more skill on their fourth unit.
The Flyers will be challenged to win this series and will come in as heavy underdogs.
"We're going to have to do a job on their good players," Richards said. "Montreal is a puck-possession team much like Washington with some highly skilled forwards."
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