Flyers Poised for a Playoff Run
By Kevin K
With the shootout victory over the Stars on Saturday the Flyers clinched a playoff berth. Last season, the Flyers also clinched the Playoffs after a shootout win; however, that win occurred on the final game of the season and now the Flyers have three more weeks on the schedule.
There should be no reason for the Flyers to let up on the gas pedal. Yes they are in the playoffs but that is all the clinching game gave you on Saturday, a playoff berth. The Flyers cannot let up on the gas pedal. They need to continue to play strong because they do not want to go into the playoffs on a losing skid.
There is also another reason for the Flyers to continue playing strong, home ice.
“We’ve never talked about clinching a playoff berth. We’ve always talked about home-ice, all rounds, starting in our building, Game 7 if it comes to that. That’s why we continue to push," Laviolette said.
The Flyers need to take their coaches mindset. Lavy turned the Flyers into the Eastern Conference Champions last year and will not let up until Mike Richards raises Lord Stanley's Cup over his head.
Playoff Goalie
Lavy has yet to announce a Playoff goalie. He says he will continue to work them like he has been. Lavy also said that he will have a goalie for game one, but that's it.
Sam Carchidi of the Inquirer thinks differently. Carchidi believe that Sergei Bobrovsky is going to be the playoff goalie with Boucher stepping in if Bob falters.
Both goalies have played consistently well this season; however, neither of them have recorded a shutout yet.
Leighton Set to Start? By Kevin K Thanks to CrossingBroad for the original post. A team source told the Daily News yesterday, confirmed by Peter Laviolette today, that Goalie Michael Leighton will appear in his first game of the season for the Flyers tonight in LA versus the Kings. Frank Seravelli of the Daily News writes, “Coach Peter Laviolette would not confirm or deny the move yesterday - though he has never been one to announce his lineup ahead of time”. Leighton had a herniated disk in his back surgically repaired on Oct. 11 and first returned to practice on Nov. 20 before completing two rehab stints with the Phantoms in early December. After Boucher was pulled the other night after allowing four goals versus the Canucks and Bobrovsky is still a rookie and a huge question mark is still out there on “Bob”. The Flyers are looking for consistency at the goalie position with Pronger and now likely Timonen out for a little while on the defensive end. Leighton was 17-9-2 in the regular season last year and 8-3 in the playoffs with a .916 save percentage and 2.46 goals-against average before signing a 2-year, $3.1 million contract extension on the eve of free agency. But Flyers fans will always remember the goal that dribbled by him in Overtime of the Stanley Cup. Read more of Frank Seravelli’s post in the Daily News here
Moment 5: The Save
By Kevin K
The Philadelphia Flyers advanced to the playoffs on April 11th in dramatic fashion against the New York Rangers. The Flyers went down 1-0 early, but outplayed the Rangers throughout the game. It took up to the third period for Matt Carle to tie the game.
The Flyers went into Overtime with the Rangers, and then ultimately a shootout. Danny Briere amazed us with the first goal for the Flyers to put them up 1-0. The The Rangers came back with a goal of their own, after Richards wrist shot was slapped away. Claude Giroux came up and scored! Jokinen was the Rangers last chance, and Boucher comes up with the save to push the Flyers into the Postseason.
Now known as "the save", Boucher saved the Flyers season and kept the Playoff hopes alive. We all know what happened next as the Flyers went past three teams and made it to the Stanley Cup finals. Remember, it all started with "the save".
Flyers Win 2 in a Row, Down 3-2
By Kevin K
The Flyers offense and defense showed up tonight against the Bruins in another must win for the Flyers. The players who we said needed to step up (Hartnell, Gagne, Leino) all scored tonight for the Flyers in their 4-0 victory over the Bruins.
You want luck? How about this for luck. The first game Michael Leighton is activated for, Boucher goes down with multiple knee injuries. Leighton stepped in big time for the Flyers and was able to keep the shut out going for them.
Here is my worry, over the past few years, when both the Flyers and Phillies go down 3-1 in a series, they usually break out the offense in game 5 and totally out play their opponent (like the Flyers did tonight). The problem is when game 6 is upon us, both teams usually lay an offensive egg and lose the series.
I have been saying it since the beginning of the playoffs, I believe in this team, but we have to take it one game at a time.
I believe that this team can come back and win the series, but we have to take one game at a time starting this Wednesday.
Flyers Injuries:
Brian Boucher (knee Sprain), Braydon Coburn (Shoulder and Ankle), Giroux (TBD), Carcillo (knee)
Paul Holmgren said Brian Boucher hurt both knees and will be out for several
weeks and Claude Giroux was held back. Expects to play WednesdayNext Game: Wednesday at 8 pm
Bruins Lead Series 1-0
By Kevin K
The Flyers fell in Overtime today 5-4.
After nine day layoff the Flyers game out of the first period flat. Not exciting at all. The Flyers completely didn't look as if they wanted it.
They came out in the second and third clawing back in this game. They went down by two three different times and were able to get the game tied late in the third period. Danny Briere had the game tying goal, one of the most beautiful goal I have ever seen. However, Briere gave up on his man earlier in the game, which cause Boucher to get beat.
Boucher was standing on his head in Overtime, but was finally beat by Savard.
The Flyers were 2 for 5 on the Power Play today. The penalty kill was big for the Bruins, who, before today, didn't allow one power play goal versus the Sabres.
The Flyers are looking to get back into this series on Monday against the Bruins.
Although the Flyers started, and ended a little flat, they came out of the first and second intermission hot and ready to.
Get ready for these Flyers to come out strong on Monday for game two.
LETS GO FLYERS!
FLYERS TAKE DEVILS OUT IN 5 GAMES
By Kevin K
Flyers fans were worried heading into last nights game five against the Devils. Why? Because Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne, two of the Flyers top scorers, are both out with foot fractures. Danny Briere put those worries to rest three minutes into the hockey game putting the Flyers up 1-0 and never looking back.
The Flyers are the number seven team in the Eastern Conference and knocked off the number two team last night.
Claude Giroux put home two goals of his own in the second period.
Ten years ago the Devils came back from being down three games to one. Brian Boucher and Marty Brodeur were both in net a decade ago.
"It's nice to end this tonight," said Boucher. "When you're up 3-1, they're looking for any sign of life that they can get. We did a great job."
Boucher saved 28 of 28 last night in his shut out victory.
1st Star: Claude Giroux
2nd Star: Brian Boucher
3rd Star: Daniel Briere
Flyers Lead Series 3-1
By Kevin K
The Philadelphia Flyers went down 1-0 after one period, but after that the Flyers took off sending the Devils back to hell. The Flyers took game four tonight with a 4-1 final. Jeff Carter scored twice, Danny Briere (1), and Danny Carcillo (1).
Jeff Carter, who was never good in the postseason, finally broke through tonight for the Flyers with a two goal game.
Brian Boucher had 30 saves on 31 shots, an amazing game out of Boosh.
According to CSN Philly's John Boruk the Flyers are 17-2 throughout history when hold 3-1 series edge, last time they blew it was against the Devils about 10 years ago, both goalies (Boucher and Brodeur) were in net then as well.
Boruk also said that Simon Gagne has a lower body injury, did get X-Rays and was wheeled out of locker room. It does not look good. Gagne will most likely not play game 5.
Note: The Devils are the only hockey team this postseason NOT to win a road game. The Flyers have taken a 3-1 series lead and are now one win away from making the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Flyers Back On Top
By Kevin K
Last night the Philadelphia Flyers took a 2-1 series lead on the New Jersey Devils. The Flyers completely outplayed the Devils in the third period and worked well together out playing the Devils solid defense. Marty Brodeur could only stand on his head for so long in this hockey game.
Brodeur was challenged from start to finish. The Flyers kept putting the pressure on the Devils goal keeper.
Boucher was playing solid as well, but so did the defense in front of him. Braydon Coburn could have saved the game back in the first period. At one point a shot was trickling past Boucher, Coburn grabbed in from behind Boucher and cleared the puck out of the zone. That goal could have been a game changer, but the defense did their job.
It finally took Overtime to end the game. Mike Richards had three solid shots on Brodeur, one that got right to the stick of Danny Carcillo who put it home on the empty net.
The Flyers won the game 3-2. Goals scored by Claude Giroux, Mike Richards, and Danny Carcillo.
The puck will drop on Tuesday in Philadelphia for Game 4 at 7:30
Series tied 1-1
By Kevin K
The Flyers lay in egg in game 2 of the Series against the Devils and fall 5-3 tonight. After the first period the Flyers took a 2-1 lead, however, the second period wasn't so nice for them.
The Flyers fell behind 3-2, but were able to tie it up by the end of the period (3-3).
With just under four minutes to go in the game the Devils Zach Parise scored to take the lead. The Devils never looked back as Kovalchuk iced it with an empty net goal to take the 5-3 win.
The main problem in this game was the defense for the Flyers. Matt Carle played a bad game tonight, and once again is the reason for the Flyers loss. We mentioned it last week that in order for the Flyers to be successful in the playoffs Matt Carle and Scott Hartnell had to step up their game. They didn't tonight as the series is now tied 1-1.
The Flyers are .500 in the playoffs when the series is tied 1-1/
They return home Sunday at 6:00 on Comcast Sportsnet
Flyers Take Game 1
By Kevin K
The Philadelphia Flyers took over the second period in New Jersey earlier tonight.
Before the game Martin Broduer said that the one thing he was worried about was the Flyers powerplay, and that is exactly what hurt him when Chris Pronger gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead.
A tremendous pass from Ian Laperriere to Mike Richards gave the Flyers a 2-0 lead.
The Flyers played behind Boucher the entire rest of the game. Boucher came up solid in the last 10 seconds of the game when he made a tremendous save and was able to cover the puck.
69% of the teams who win the opening game of a 7 game series go on to win the series, the Flyers hope that they can continue this trend.
They play again Friday in New Jersey at 7:30 on Comcast Sportsnet.
Keep it up Flyers ! LETS GO FLYERS !!!!!
We at the Phans are Flyered Up !
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