will we ever win?

Flyers win in OT

1st period
After getting beat on Wednesday night by the Bruins, the Flyers traveled to Boston to again face off against the team that just defeated them. Instead of coming out fast and trying to establishing their forecheck, the Flyers eased into the game. The trapping, boring Bruins were more than happy to play this style, and eventually took a 1-0 lead on a bad angle goal by Marc Savard. This goal was weak. Marty Biron should have saved it but he came up small, leaning off the post and letting the puck squeeze by. Of course Milan Lucic was sitting in the crease as no Flyers defenseman except maybe Andrew Alberts ever thinks about clearing the porch. I am sure somewhere Eddie Van Imp is having an annuerism watching this weak defense. After a strong shift by their 4th line, the Flyers were awarded a power play. This is the only area of the game where the 54 million dollar bust, Danny Briere is missed, as the Flyers have poor puck movement and really do nothing to threaten. However once the power play expired the Flyers continue to play strong hockey and pick up another power play. This power play was doing a little better, and then some Burin took a bad penalty and the Flyers had a 5 on 3 advantage. Good puck movement and a sweet pass by Mike Knuble to Simone Gagne and the game was tied. Hartnell then took a dumb penalty (his specialty) and the Flyers had to kill off a Boston power play, which they did thanks to some strong goaltending by Biron. The game then went back and forth, until Randy Jones made another weak clearing attempt (the Flyers had about 5 of these during the period) that Brad Stuart picked up at the blue line, and fired a wrist shot that beat Biron. Well Stuart actually just hit the cross bar, but Byron Bitz was standing all alone in the crease (sound familiar) and placed the puck into the net for a 2-1 Boston lead. 8 seconds later, Biron lets in a Hextalesque softie from the face off circle and it is 3-1 Boston. Inexcusable goal. The Flyers outdid themselves by letting in 2 goals in the final minute of a period. The Flyers have no answer to the trapping Bruins, and really haven’t had an answer for over 2 years, as Boston has dominated them over that period of time.

2nd period
Biron sits and Antero Niittymaki is in goal. Excellent move. Flyers begin to take control of play with some good forechecking. The Flyers establish “the cycle” and Aaron Asham makes an excellent pass to Glen Metropolit for a goal. Asham, Powe, Giroux, Metropolit, and The Hartnell all played well, and Stevens is rewarding them with more ice time. Flyers continued to play well and Boston continued to take bad penalties. The Hartnell scores a garbage goal on a power play. The Hartnell has everyone on the Bruins pissed at him- Shawn Thornton, Lucic and Zdeno Chara all took runs at The Hartnell. The period ends in a 3-3 tie. A very good period by the Flyers.

3rd period.
Flyers dominate the first 10 minutes but cannot score. Boston then dominates the next 10 minutes but can’t score. Boston had a power play during the last minute (delay of the game on Niittymaki), but the Flyers get some great scoring chances while shorthanded, but Gagne and Carter are unable to score.

OT
Boston starts on the power play and get a few good shots on goal. After the power play the Bruins continue to dominate play. Randy Jones (who was booed all game by the Bruins fans) scores a goal on a fortuitous bounce. Jones shot was at least 5 feet wide but it hit Andrew Ference and bounced straight into the net. Total lucky goal, but still a great win for the Flyers. Biron’s soft goals nearly cost the team this game.

Notes
Scottie Upshalll and Mike Richards missed their second game in a row with the flu. Jared Ross skated on the first line to start the game.

Flyers played with 7 defensemen, though Vaananen saw about 1 shift. I think Stevens was worried that Braydon Corburn may still be too sick to play, but that proved not to be the case. Because the Flyers dressed only 11 forwards (and one of those was Riley Cote who played about 3 minutes), lots of Flyers who rarely see the ice played significant amounts of time. Metropolit, Asham and Giroux really stepped up. Jared Ross did not, making lots of turnovers.


Watch the highlights at NHL.com.