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Penguins Can’t Fly, Flyers Win Series With 5-1 Victory At Home

In front of the faithful at the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday afternoon, the Philadelphia Flyers advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals with a 5-1 win, sending Sidney Crosby and his Pittsburgh Penguins packing. After Philly’s loss in Game 5 on Friday, Scott Hartnell said it was time for the Flyers’ defense and goaltending to get the Orange and Black a win. With Ilya Bryzgalov’s 30-save effort and 40 blocked shots from the defense, Hartnell’s words seemed to properly motivate the club. “It takes a sixty minute, full team effort. Everbody chipped in,” said Bryzgalov after the game. “It was …

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Fleury Comes Up Big In Third Period, Flyers Lose 3-2

In the first game of the series that produced less than seven goals total, the Pens held on for a 3-2 victory in Pittsburgh tonight. After they fell into a 3-0 hole in the series, the Pens have rattled off two straight wins to force Game 6 after their first win in a game of importance against the Flyers at the CONSOL Energy Center since it opened. Marc-Andre Fleury didn’t let the Flyers even the score in the third period despite the fact Philly out shot Pittsburgh 14-8 in the final frame. With several crucial saves throughout the contest, Fleury has seemed to …

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Flyers Dominate Disgraceful Penguins, 8-4, Lead Series 3-0

The Philadelphia Flyers came out and beat the Pittsburgh Penguins today at the Wells Fargo Center 8-4 to move to within one victory of an Eastern Conference Semifinals’ appearance. After Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier stepped up for the Flyers in Games 1 and 2, it was Matt Read in Game 3, as the rookie put home his first two playoff goals in the NHL. His power-play goal late in the second period was the game-winner for Philly. “You look at a guy like Matt Read stepping up with the goals,” veteran Max Talbot said about Read before he commented …

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Couturier And Giroux Record Hat Tricks, Flyers Complete Another Comeback For 8-5 Win

Down 2-0, 3-1, 4-3, and 5-4 in tonight’s contest, the Flyers overcame every deficit they saw to ultimately win Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against the Pittsburgh Penguins at CONSOL Energy Center. Jaromir Jagr produced the game-winner 9:13 into the third period, while both Sean Couturier and Claude Giroux posted hat tricks to increase the Flyers’ lead to 2-0 in the series. Couturier added on an assist for a four-point night, while Giroux was credited with three assists for a six-point night — one which set a new franchise single-game playoff record. Max Talbot notched a short-handed goal …

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Voracek Drills Home Game-Winner In Overtime, Flyers Take Game One, 4-3

Trailing 3-0 after 20 minutes, the Philadelphia Flyers embarked on a comeback for the ages, rallying for a 4-3 overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins to open up this Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series on Wednesday. Jakub Voracek displayed hard work, and received some luck, on his game winner which halted the action 2:23 into the fourth period. The Flyers carried the momentum gained from their monstrous third period into the extra frame, as Voracek found himself in the corner of the Penguins’ defensive zone to start the series of plays that led to the deciding score. With a wrap-around pass …

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Atlantic Watch: 4/4-4/10

The Flyers finished their 2011-12 regular season with a pair of games that didn’t have any kind of effect on the standings, as they beat the Buffalo Sabres and lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s those same Penguins that the Flyers will play in the 2012 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, which starts tonight. Philly’s final home game of the regular season was also their final win, as they beat the visiting Sabres 2-1 on Thursday night. Ville Leino may have had a disappointing year, but he recorded his eighth of the year and second against the Flyers in the second period …

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RICE & MICE: Back Spasms

Oh, Danny Boy…. Danny Briere is out indefinitely with an upper back contusion after absorbing a malicious, yet clean hit from Pittsburgh’s Joe Vitale. Briere said yesterday, that his back was in spasm and there is no timetable for his return. He is hopeful that he can return for the playoffs. Muscle spasm result from inflammation in or near the muscle. When it occurs in the back, it can be excruciatingly painful and particularly debilitating. The nerves that carry pain signals in the back also connected to the nerves that control the muscles of the back. So when the nerves …

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Atlantic Watch: 3/28-4/3

In their four-game schedule this week, the Flyers posted a record of 2-1-1 and picked up what might be there most intense victory of the 2011-2012 regular season with their win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday. It’s those same Pens that the Flyers trail by three points for fourth in the conference and the chance for home-ice advantage in the clubs’ first-round playoff series. The Orange and Black still have a shot for fourth, but they’ll need to beat a team fighting for their playoff lives along with the Pens this week. The Broad Street Bullies started off the week with …

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Point/Counterpoint: The other side of Shanabanning

Welcome to the newest edition of “Point/Counterpoint,” where a pair of Flyers Faithful scribes present both sides of one particular issue with their own unique view and flair. This week, Nick D. and Bob H. square off over whether or not players who are constant victims of questionable hits should also feel the wrath of Brendan Shanahan. First up, Nick: This season has seen a marked change in how the National Hockey League deals with infractions that are deemed suspension worthy. Shanahan has been doling out suspensions in an effort to change behavior, not just discipline players for their actions. …

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Good News/Bad News

First, the good news… Ilya Bryzgalov was rightfully honored for the tear he’d been on for the last month,   named this morning as the National Hockey League’s First Star for the month of March. Bryzgalov enjoyed the finest span in his brief Philly tenure, going 10-2-1 with a 1.43 goals-against average, .947 save percentage and a league-best four shutouts. The 31-year-old Russian won seven consecutive starts to begin March, and posted his four whitewashes in a five-start span in the middle portion of the month. In the process, Bryzgalov set a new franchise record for scoreless play at 249 minutes, …