Monday, May 3, 2011
Posted: 1:16 p.m.
By Jim Jackson
CSNPhilly.com Contributor
Somehow, you get the feeling the hockey gods had this in store for us. One year after the Flyers make their historic comeback from down 0-3 to topple the Bruins, here are the same two teams heading down a familiar path.
The Flyers deficit is 0-2 after Mondays frustrating 3-2 overtime setback. Certainly, there is no reason to panic since the Flyers have proven on several occasions in recent years that they can dig themselves out of holes.
However, they now have to win four out of the next five games against the Bruins. Given the way Tim Thomas played in Game 2, four out of five this year might be as impressive as taking four straight from the Bruins, then backstopped by Tuukka Rask, last year.
Here are some observations as the series shifts to Beantown for Game 3 on Wednesday.
The fine line
Game 2 was a stark reminder of the sometimes tiny margin between victory and defeat, and the tremendous ramifications that go along with it.
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Witness Danny Brieres glorious scoring opportunity at the end of regulation. One of the true clutch scorers in the game had a Flyers victory, and an even series, within his grasp as the puck trickled his way with a wide open net yawning at him. If he pops it in, chances are were thinking about the gutsy win by the guys in Orange and Black, and how they would be heading to Boston feeling very good about themselves.
Instead, Briere could not finish it and the series is shifting to Boston with the Flyers in a very deep hole. One bounce of the puck has that kind of huge impact. That fine line between a win and a loss is one of the aspects of the Stanley Cup Playoffs that make them maddening and thrilling at the same time.
Tackling Thomas
Thomas, the Bruins acrobatic netminder, stole the show in Game 2. He made 52 saves, including 46 in a row to end the game. He stopped some of the Flyers best offensive weapons in point blank opportunities. The Flyers got in his face, jammed the net, and still had no rewards to show for it from the middle of the first period on.
All the Flyers can do is keep plugging and hope some of the pucks find their way through him. If you are a glass half full person, perhaps Thomas has already given his best performance of the series, and from here on out, he will look at least human. I suspect, though, that he will be a tremendous obstacle moving forward, too.
JVR finds yet another level
Through the first eight games of these Stanley Cup Playoffs, James Van Riemsdyk had clearly lifted his game to a new level. He had 12 more shots than any other player in the playoffs, and was a consistent scoring threat. Then came Monday nights Game 2.
The second year forward, somehow, found yet another level to reach. Every time he touched the puck, he seemed dangerous. His drive and determination toward the oppositions net was incredible. It was a dominant effort that had the crowd chanting his initials almost as loudly as they chanted U-S-A during the pregame buildup.
Its actually hard to believe, given how good he was, that he didnt end up on the winning side of things. We can thank Thomas for that.
Pronger-less?
News leaked out that Chris Pronger was not going to play in Game 2 shortly before the game. I think fans and media members were more surprised than the Flyers and their coaches.
Watching Pronger in Game 1, he seemed to be laboring. His movement seemed restricted. There was a school of thought that he was probably just struggling to get acclimated to the pace of playoff hockey after so much time off. Turns out it was something more than that.
His availability for the remainder of the series would appear to be in doubt. Thus, the Flyers could be once again in the position of trying to win without their horse on the blue line. They are back to a Big Four on defense as they were last year. They are capable players, for sure, but when the Big Four no longer includes the playoff tested Pronger, there is a drop off without question.
On the road again
The next two games are in Boston. Perhaps thats a good thing for the Flyers. Thus far in these playoffs, they are just 2-4 at home, while they are 2-1 on the road. Overall, road teams in the playoffs are 31-26 (through Monday). I cant explain it. However, it seems road teams are able to play their systems more comfortably away from home.
As for the Flyers, they set a franchise record with 25 regular season road victories. I get the sense they settle into an us against the world approach when they go on the road that serves them well. It adds to their desperation level which makes this team so much better. They will have to be road warriors again to get back in this series.
E-mail Jim Jackson at jjackson@comcastsportsnet.com
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