Devils should be worried
Flyers 4, Devils 3 (OT)
Devils should be worried
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
The Flyers won a game, just a game, just one of the four games that they will need in order to get past the New Jersey Devils in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. But the way it happened should leave the Devils wondering -- because this was a great chance for them to take the series opener, and they didn't.
Think about it. The Devils had the first 11 shots of the game -- the Flyers didn't have one for almost exactly 10 minutes -- but they only had a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period. Part of that was because Ilya Bryzgalov was very good at the start. Part of it was because the Devils weren't good enough.
Then the Flyers came back. They began to take over the play in a very significant way in the second period, and they only gave it up sporadically after that. Their forecheck was relentless. Whatever rustiness they had acquired over a week-long layoff following their first-round victory over Pittsburgh was gone. If Bryzgalov hadn't allowed Petr Sykora to rifle a shot between his pads in the third period, the Flyers would have won in regulation.
But the Devils could not take advantage of Bryz, just as they could not take advantage of the Flyers' slow start. You do not advance in the playoffs if you do not take advantage of opportunites, and the Devils whiffed on both of those in Game 1.
Then there are the side issues. Danny Briere, with two goals -- including the game-winner in OT -- continues to be a post-season magician; bad for the Devils. Claude Giroux, with a slapshot goal from the half-boards on a power play, continues to lead by leading; bad for the Devils. Ilya Kovalchuk, the Devils' premier scoring threat, did not have a shot on goal and was a minus-2.
Repeat after me:
Bad for the Devils.
Someone asked Devils coach Peter DeBoer about taking too many penalties (six), and he said that wasn't the reason the Devils lost. He said, "They took the game over in the second half. And when you're just hanging on, that's what happens."
One game, yes. But it seemed -- for many reasons, but mostly because the Flyers were able to dictate their style of play -- like more than that.
sweep
— largato- sweep— largato
Comment removed.- The play of Bryz in the first period cannot be overstated. The Devils came out hot; the Flyers were skating in molasses. Bryz stopped several point-blank shots, and the Devils could have been up 4-0 by the time the Flyers shook off their layoff funk. When they came alive, you knew the Devils were in trouble. But Bryz kept them in the game until they woke up.— JosephL
- Agree with all of your points, Rich, although I'd like to add one more. JVR played like the JVR many expected this season. He was possessed and if that continues, I don't see how the Debbies can match up to the Flyers. However as you said, its only one game.— txflyer
- Love Wellwood....his speed on the forecheck is awesome and that line with Couts and Talbot is tough.
- But Bryz DID let up two bad goals. As did Brodeur with his sloppy attempt to clear the puck, which led directly to JVR's goal. I think it's a safe assumption that both goaltenders will play a tighter game. However, it will come down to special teams and goaltending. The Flyers have a much better power play, and as much as people don't like to admit it, Brodeur is a more proven goaltender. I don't think this will be as short of a series as people think. Again, this was just one game.— aisaac
- One game at a time.— cm3737
- Danny B = Money in da bank!!!— bigdaddyG
- The more I watch this team, the more I like it.
Keep it going, boys!!— Nicher - Lets just call this series off and start the real Stanley Cup playoffs ..Rangers vs Flyers....this series is going to be too easy and dont want to see anyone get hurt before the showdown— flyers1000
- Long way to go. Great win...— Ssteve115
- One game at a time is right. I still remember back in 2000 I believe when the Flyers went up 3-1 in the conference finals against Jersey, only to lose the rest of the games. That hurt big. Can't discount the Devils.— Fir_Na_Tine
- The replay of Briere's OT goal makes it look like it deflected slightly downward after hitting Voracek's stick.— wte9
- 2000 was when Primeau won the Pittsburgh series in game 4 in 5x OT. I don't think this is going to come down to special terms and goaltending at all. I think that's just the nifty hockey cliche' that everyone expects someone to say. I think this series, like the last one comes down to just how many lines the Flyers can roll, how relentless they are on the forecheck, and whether or not the Flyers can keep up that pace over the duration of the series. They did it against Pittsburgh, they can do it here too. I stand by my Flyers in 5 prediction. I DO think the Devil's "D" is better than Pittsburgh's was though. I'll give them that. Still, it isn't perfect and this game showed that.
I'm thinking Bryz may allow an average of 3 goals/game and until we play a "real" playoff goaltender (Lundquist or maybe Rinne) that few teams will have a chance.
I know defense wins championships in nearly all sports, but this team is just... RELENTLESS. It's a thing of beauty. I suspect this is our chance to take the cup. Let's take it one game at a time, and not blow it.
Bryz... hang tight buddy, hang real tight. Remember that "team-game" thing you were talking about after 24/7.— WestonF01
