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.
its for people to be held accountable. when you havent won a ring since what? 1976? there's something wrong. ok? its time for ownership to admit the obvious. they have no clue! ok? LOL! they really dont! its not just injuries. its that they have no clue! they are completely INCOMPETENT! I feel so bad for this city and its fans who support this team like crazy. Ownership, SELL! please. SELL! You're just effin KILLING US!!!!
u so effin STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'
same old flyers. same ole flyers. same ole flyers.
why I actually stopped caring a long time ago.
Only the Phils can get something done. yep thats its. only the phils.
- Lev, should were a paper bag on his head for Game 4....Man, how in the hell, can a presidents trophy canadate team, just Emplode. Hoomer should just fire the lot, and start from scratch...They have the talent to get a number 1 Goalie.....I know, Vancouver and LA have a few extra goalies.......I still think Vukoon would be a great pick up.— shmoo
- Something happened to this team AFTER the All Star Game, something that they were never ever able to recover from! Before the All Star Game and after they were like two different teams. The first half of the season they were running on ALL cylinders as everything fell their way. The second half of the season they were listless, couldn't score, couldn't play defense, the goalies waved at shots and the power play vanished. I don't think that Coach L. even knew how to straighten them out. I think they really believed that they could simply push a button during the playoffs and all of the bad would go away. W-R-O-N-G!!!!!!!!! #1 Offseason priority.......a TOP NOTCH GOALTENDER who can stop pucks in OT during the regular season, stop pucks during shootouts and stop shots during the playoffs. Say goodbye to Booooosh and Leyton and keep "Bob" as the backup to a #1.— Mughunter2009
- Photos of the dead Flyers will NOT be released.— Blacklegs
- Try to trade Carter for Antero Niittymaki. Bring him back.
I'm serious.
Niittymaki has the best post-season save percentage of any netminder in the NHL. He's faced 30 shots in parts of two games, stopping all but one of them. A save percentage of .967. Niittymaki also has the NHL's best goals against average for the playoffs at 0.66.
He played well for Tampa and would be playing full-time for the Sharks if Niemi wasn't standing on his head for them.— PillyFanInMass - Versteeg has been awwwwful in the playoffs. I was pretty positive earlier about the trade but its pretty obvious that was a bad one. If I see him try to stick handle through 5 people again im gonna scream. Its almost like he is doing it on purpose, he is 1yr removed from winning the cup why would he be motivated? Prongs is a joke im sorry, if he really wanted to he could be out there. I dont blame Lavy, he was giving the goalies we have. I do disagree with giving up on Bob so soon should have given him a chance against Buffalo. Well maybe next year...again.— shanehockey28
- They're done... period.— TerryW
- Holmgren and Snider panicked in 06-07 and went for the quick and easy Bob Clarke fix with free agents and even lost out (at least until JVR matured) in the so called lottery which Bettman fixes, like the NBA did with Knicks and Ewing (which is where he came from)
NO #1 Goalie
NO "heart & soul"players like Asham and Laperrie on ice this year
Look how good the hated Penguins energy/bump em line with Rupp/Asham and I forget who else, was in this playoffs. Asham was the beefy role player we dont have, grit, experience size and nastiness
We have too many undersized smooth players who get bumped off along the boards and dont hate other players enough to WIN AT ALL COSTS
Sorry Lukko, this team sucks for the payroll and expectations
Get a fracking #1 goalie and players who will do anything to win
Jettison some of your alleged core leader party boys who are damaged goods- so is Richards still wearing slings on both arms and is that why he doesnt take slapshots or play the point on the PP anymore?????
Maybe if the team sucks and is danger of leaving a major market Bettman and all the cronies will lift the blackballing of the allegedly "good partner" Flyers team and allow them to win the cup unlike screwing them in 80 and letting a team with several cocaine users win the cup in 1987 instead of suspending them, because they played with the golden Gretz (moderator it was reported by sports illustrated in 1987 and there were retroactive suspensions by the NHL particulary in Grant Fuhrs case when his wife tesitified in divorce court) No all they want is the fans money and to sell them the latest garbage like a record company selling a band to teenage girls. As long as the Flyers are profitable and viable they are too valuable not winning but being competitive. Settle in for another lifetime of losing so teams in the expansion belt can win to justify Bettmans plan for getting TV $— Steelmanpa - I saw NO heart out there tonight. I am not sure Richards is good wearing the C. I think Carter needs to be dealt. I am wondering if Pronger's leg is falling off or not but he could have given them a few minutes and maybe some lift on the bench. All in all this is very disappointing.— TKL008
Comment removed.- bOSTON SURE LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE UNDER ALL THE PRESSURE. LOL— timagain
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Versteeg reminds me of Éric Desjardins,
a Flyers defenseman who usually turned over the puck
whenever he was harassed by the opposition.
Pathetic .
Put a fork in the boys.
Boosh is a scary fraud.
He plays well in 1 out of every 4 or 5 games.
The rest of the time he is incredibly incompetent ,
and here’s that word again : pathetic.
- Why are Boston fans so GAY?— Voytas
- I blame Ed Snyder. He has no clue any longer. Been living on the history of Bernie and the Broad Street Bullies for 30 years now. I wish he'd sell both the Flyers and Sixers.
I knew he had bad priorities when he invited Sarah Palin to drop the puck a few years ago. Focus on politics instead of his team show bad judgment. I'd say the same thing if he had Joe Biden do it. He's now a loser in my book. Time to go Ed. Sell the teams, take the money and run.
- I call on eddie snider. i call on comcast spectacor.
SELL!!! baby SELL!! you loser freaks have disappointed us way too many times!!! there is no fan that care more than the philly freak. and there is no fan that has been disappointed more than the philly freak. time for u losers to man up eddie. u have FAILED! ok? u have FAILED! and I'm so effin SICK OF IT!!! I want an elite team. I want a championship. I want something to be proud of! OK?! SELL to somebody who know what they are doing!@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
