Bruins crush Flyers, 5-1
Bruins 5, Flyers 1
Bruins crush Flyers, 5-1
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
BOSTON -- Any resemblance to last year is nothing more than a mocking coincidence. Let us begin there, as the Flyers again contemplate history.
Twelve months ago, they fell into an 0-3 hole against the Bruins in the second round of the playoffs; same as now. And while they do not award style points in the NHL, especially not in the springtime, the reality is that the Flyers played very well in those three losses in 2010 but have gotten thrashed in two of the three losses in 2011. The identity of the more complete team is not currently in doubt. The probability that the Flyers could pull off another miraculous comeback, playing at their current level, is approaching nil -- which is why they call them miracles, after all.
We will talk a lot about goaltending, because that is what we do. And, yes, Brian Boucher was pulled Wednesday night from the 5-1 loss in the second period -- the sixth time in 10 playoff games that the Flyers’ starter was taken out of the game. It is worth a long discussion, clearly.
But the only howler Boucher allowed was the last one, when the score was already 3-0 and the Bruins were wringing the life out of the game, and the Flyers, with their neutral-zone trap. They lost this one long before Nathan Horton shot the puck through Boucher’s legs and forced Flyers coach Peter Laviolette to go to his bullpen, again.
The only reason the Flyers struggled to beat Buffalo in seven games in the opening round was their goaltending. But this situation, in this series, is much more complicated than that. The Bruins, top to bottom, appear to be the sturdier and more persistent team. A Flyers team with scoring on three lines and lots of capable defensemen has begun to wilt.
Maybe they do miss defenseman Chris Pronger that much; another topic worthy of discussion. Pronger, with his mysterious series of undisclosed ailments, has played in only three games in the playoffs. They are 2-1 with him and 2-5 without him. Again, this is something that will be picked over at length, one would assume, after the season is over.
But it seems like more than that. The Flyers came out in the first period and had nothing. They had played very well in Monday night’s overtime loss in Game 2 and had reason to think there might be something to build upon. But they came out flat-footed for Game 3 and the Bruins ended up scoring twice in the game’s first 63 seconds.
The first was a rocket launched by Zdeno Chara, the Bruins’ mammoth defenseman. The second was scored by David Krejci. Neither was remotely Boucher’s fault. And one would presume that that is just what Laviolette told his goaltender during the timeout that he called right after the second goal. It was an odd scene -- the rest of the team gather around assistant coach Craig Berube, and Laviolette and Boucher conversing, alone.
The Bruins, with a lead, with their trapping style when leading, and with their emphasis in this game on hitting, just seemed to keep the Flyers from skating at all. There were none of the breathtaking rushes in transition from Game 2. There was little doubt who was going to win the game -- especially when you add in the fact that Tim Thomas is a better-than-pretty-good goaltender.
Little doubt. It really isn’t like last year.
it's like no team i've ever seen. how do they cash their checks? guess they just mail them in too.— raoool- If they have cashed any checks dated "2011" then they should be arrested for fraud!
Someone please tell Lavy that we can't stand his constant "deer-in-the-headlights" expression!!
Lavi you misunderstood...
...we want you to resign! NOT re-sign!!— FlyersHatTrick - Ride Bob to another comeback!— psurockz35
- They should all remove that P with the wings from the jersey. Just put on a black T shirt, you bums. You should be ashamed.
Get rid of Lavy, Clarke and 1/2 the team. But keep Homer. He knows how to wheel and deal.— Poppys - who cares? the players certainly don't. No sense in us fans getting all worked up if they aren't.— Bartender214
- Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. I hope the Bruins take them out of their misery in game 4 because there's no way they can achieve the same comeback like they did last year. I will always be a fan and support them but I am also being practical and realistic. A comeback is just not happening. The Flyers are not playing the same the way they did last year. It was incredibly rare for them to come back last year. It will be even more rare to accomplish the same feat two years in a row. No team has ever done that and only 4 teams have come back from an 0-3 deficit. They have no motivation, effort, or passion. The Bruins are not the same team they were last year. They're much better. Thomas is no Rask. And the Flyers energy is spent. They have no goaltender to steal a game.— Flyers Dude 18
- Embarrassing….. Down right shameful! Go Phils!!— The Philly Shadow
- who cares what happened 12 month ago?— Nitroglycerin
- Okay, so no pressure on Philly, all on Boston. When does that idiot coach Lavy say: "We've got them right where we want them". Ha, ha...— Blacklegs
- No leadership. No heart. No NHL caliber goalie. No Stanley Cup.— robertthomas
- Carter/Briere two goal scorers in top 8 in nhl... Superstar Giroux. Jvr soon to be Star.. Richards great two way guy (people need to realize he is 20 goal scorer nothing more). Versteeg 24yrs old.. Mazeros 24 and very good. Timme and Carle very good... So whats the issue??? GET A GOALIE! or stick with bob and let him grow. we never just let young guys blossom... UGH!— fman727
- It's to the point now, I don't care if we win a game, I just wanna play a game where our goalie isn't pulled....IN THE FIRST PERIOD !!
This is getting a little embarrassing !
— Apollotwo - CAN THERE POSSIBLY BE any team anywhere, more maddeningly frustrating than are the Flyers? Much talent, but listless effort. Can't pinch a puck to keep it in the zone. Can't get it out of the defensive zone. Giveaways by the dozens. Overskating pucks, leaving them on the ice, flailing away pathetically with one hand on a useless stick. Defensemen out of position. Forwards out of position. A starting goaltender that has no idea how to play his position. Look at their faces, their eyes. They are dead in the water. After the start they had this year, please tell me how and why this happened?— JosephL
- There is no way to win this series, but a coaching point has to be made for the future of this team. You cannot dress Versteeg for Game 4,if he plays it will send the message that blowing your coverage and turning over pucks in the neutral zone consistantly game after game is a acceptable way to play in the playoffs. Lavy absolutely must scratch Versteeg in game 4 for him to be get any type of a positive response from the corp of this team— kadhia
- I agree, I think that'll go down as a bad trade. It's a shame he'll be here next year and Zherdev won't.
