The Bruins aren’t the Sabres and the Flyers learned that the hard way Saturday afternoon, dropping the opening game of the Eastern Conference Semifinals 7-3. Tim Thomas had 31 saves on 34 shots while both David Krejci and Brad Marchand had two-goal games to help the Bruins win. Patrice Bergeron had three assists as Boston grabbed the 1-0 lead in the series. It was the first time since 1988 that Boston scored at least seven times in a playoff game, and it was the first time in five years that Philadelphia allowed that many. In front of their home crowd, …
Flyers Fight Back, But Fall Short In Overtime
After falling in a 3-0 hole before the end of the first, the Flyers fought back to tie it at three only to lose in overtime. Tyler Ennis opened the scoring and closed the scoring for the game netting the overtime winner 5:31 past regulation. Ryan Miller had 36 saves while Michael Leighton (yup, that Michael Leighton) gets the loss in a relief appearance for Brian Boucher. Nothing takes the energy out of the home crowd faster than an early soft goal. Ennis let the Flyers experience that with a weak shot to Boucher’s right that found it’s way in …
Counterpunches
The first in an occasional series, in which Flyers Faithful scans the papers of the opposition to see how they’re portraying events. We make no assurance of journalistic integrity here. On Thursday, with the Flyers and Sabres deadlocked at two games apiece, we have our first instance of Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff going to the papers and complaining about what the other team is complaining about. Ruff generally slips into this mode any time he senses his team is about to lose the actual edge on the ice, which, in his 14 year tenure, has been about a zillion …
Philly Ties Series In Hectic Game 2
Six first period goals, 54 penalty minutes, and one goalie change were all elements of the Flyers’ 5-4 win in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals matchup with the Sabres. Brian Boucher made 20 saves on 21 shots in a relief appearance for Sergei Bobrovsky as five different Flyers scored to tie the series at one. Claude Giroux had a goal and an assist while Matt Carle, Andrej Meszaros, and Kimmo Timonen all had two assists in the crucial win for Philly, whose power play was more spirited than in Game 1 but still ended up just 1-for-10. The …
Can Zherdev be this year’s Leino?
Snubbed by coach Pater Laviolette, Nikolay Zherdev found himself sitting as a healthy scratch for game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Buffalo Sabres. Laviolette apparently wants more defense from his team and the Ukranian winger is, well, not exactly known for his backchecking prowess. However, Zherdev, who cannot escape the “enigmatic” tag, does have a few things going for him. He is a supremely talented scorer who can be just as dazzling as he is frustrating to watch. In short stretches, he can perform at peak levels, like he did during the preseason (6 points in 6 games) …
Five Questions: With the exceptions of ’75 and ’76 the year after a Cup Finals appearance has been disastrous. Will that hold true this year?
Flyers Faithful asked Travis Hughes from SB Nation and Broad Street Hockey, Matt P. From The 700 Level, Mark Trible from The Checking Line and our very own Pavialax five questions about the playoffs. We are very grateful that they took the time to share their opinions and predictions with us. Each day of this week, we will run the answers to one of those questions. Today’s question is: With the exceptions of ’75 and ’76 the year after a Cup Finals appearance has been disastrous. Will that hold true this year? Travis Hughes: Really good question. I mean, I …
Five Questions: We’ve heard already who should be the starter in the playoffs. Who shouldn’t be the starter and why?
Flyers Faithful asked Travis Hughes from SB Nation and Broad Street Hockey, Matt P. From The 700 Level, Mark Trible from The Checking Line and our very own Pavialax five questions about the playoffs. We are very grateful that they took the time to share their opinions and predictions with us. Each day of this week, we will run the answers to one of those questions. Today’s question is: We’ve heard already who should be the starter in the playoffs. Who shouldn’t be the starter and why? Travis Hughes: Interesting twist. I think Brian Boucher should ride the pine to …
Tapping the Pipes
I looked at my calendar today and did a double-take at what I didn’t see. March, on my calendar, wasn’t labeled “Flyers Goalie Controversy Month”. I was shocked. How could this be? The time in the stretch run of the NHL season where the historical goaltending woes of the Flyers rear its ugly head. Since the start of the month, the goaltender play which had been relatively solid throughout the season has started to fall apart. In the month, the Bobrovsky/Boucher tandem (as that’s the order it seems Coach Laviolette wants it to be) has combined for a .889 SV%, …
Carter’s Pair Carry Flyers To 3-2 Win Over Florida
For the second time in eight days, a pair of goals from Jeff Carter gave the Flyers the boost they needed to win as a trip to Florida resulted in a 3-2 win over the Panthers. Carter’s pair within an eleven minute span in the second period along with a first period goal from Scott Hartnell gave the Flyers a win after a terrible loss on Saturday. The Flyers’ win improves their record to 43-19-7. The Flyers didn’t start the game as they planned as the Panthers had a very strong first shift. However, the Flyers did produce the …
RICE & MICE: Is it really the Flu?
“A team without energy, if the physical part is there, the mental part goes, and there was just nothing yesterday. I think we were drained. To get a day off, even though it’s under the toughest of circumstances and a tough loss like that, I really feel that the benefits will be seen on Tuesday by not having to mentally and physically come in to the rink.” The comments above are those of Peter Laviolette when asked about his decision to give his team the day off following their 7-0 defeat at the hands of the New York Rangers. He …