Flyers Notes: Van Riemsdyk goal got it all started

BOSTON - It won't be remembered like the epic, late power-play goal scored by Simon Gagne, the one that enabled the Flyers to become the third team in NHL history to win a playoff series after losing the first three games.

But, make no mistake, rookie left winger James van Riemsdyk's first-period goal Friday night paved the way for the victory and was one of the most vital scores of the Flyers' remarkable postseason.

Van Riemsdyk scored his first career playoff goal - it deflected off defenseman Mark Stuart - and just his second in the last 32 games with 2 minutes, 48 seconds remaining in the opening period.

More important, it cut Boston's seemingly insurmountable lead to 3-1 and gave the Flyers some hope at the intermission.

"JVR played very well tonight. He carries us for most of the game," Mike Richards said after the Flyers rallied for an unforgettable 4-3 win over Boston. "That goal gave us momentum at the end of the first period."

"When a young guy plays like he did . . . you feed off his energy," defenseman Chris Pronger said.

Van Riemsdyk's goal started a streak in which the Flyers netted the game's final four scores and sent home Bruins fans - hundreds threw their rally towels onto the ice during the postgame handshake - in an angry mood.

"It feels nice to finally get one after I don't know how many games it's been," said van Riemsdyk, who hadn't scored in 16 consecutive games. Claude Giroux "made a great play to get me the puck. I just threw it on net and the puck hit a stick and went in."

Added van Riemsdyk, who scored 15 goals during the regular season: "We talked about getting one before the period was over and to . . . keep chipping away at their lead."

Been there, done that.

That was the message Flyers coach Peter Laviolette delivered during a news conference Friday afternoon as his team prepared to play what he called "our fifth Game 7."

Laviolette was referring to the fact that the Flyers, in effect, were getting ready for their fifth elimination game since April 10.

It started with the final game of the regular season. They needed to win that game just to sneak into the playoffs, and they did. Barely. They outlasted the New York Rangers, 2-1, in a shoot-out.

In the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Flyers fell into a three-games-to-none series hole. They staved off elimination with three straight wins, setting up Friday night's showdown.

"It really is our fifth time facing elimination," Laviolette said. "I feel like we're ready for this. The message hasn't changed from day one since I've been here until where we are right now. Everything has stayed the same. The meetings are the same. The message is the same. What's expected is the same."

"When we start to mention a Game 7, there's this buildup, because somebody's going home, but like I said, we've been faced with that for a while."

Defenseman Chris Pronger was preparing to play in his seventh Game 7, the most on the team.

Pronger was acquired in an off-season deal with Anaheim just for this type of game.

"I feel like we're still here today because of what's in our room - and a guy like Chris Pronger," Laviolette said. "Not only has he proven it in the past, he's proven it already here. Our team has been in survival mode; we've been fighting. And you don't win those fights unless there's great type of people in the locker room. Mike Richards. Danny Briere steps up. Chris Pronger plays his minutes. Guys who have proven they can get there and handle the pressure of an elimination game, and that's where we are tonight.

"There's no question that Chris Pronger can be a difference tonight."

Pronger played 31:42 and blocked four shots.

The Flyers won 56 percent of the face-offs. . . . Entering Friday, Boston had been outscored, 28-22, in even-strength situations during the entire playoffs, while the Flyers had outscored their opponents, 21-16, in those situations.