Flyers Soar Past Bruins In Dramatic Game 7
As if playing a Game 7 in Boston wasn’t tough enough, the Flyers got themselves in an early 3 goal deficit. Yet, somehow someway they are the ones heading to the Eastern Conference Finals. Philly had already surpassed a 3-0 series deficit to force a Game 7, but to also comeback from being down 3 goals has to make this one of the greatest comebacks in sports history.
Flyers replacement goalie Michael Leighton allowed three goals in a ten minute span in the first period, but didn’t allow another goal for the rest of the game. The Bruins on the other hand, didn’t allow their first goal until after the 17 minute mark in the first period, but couldn’t hold on to a two goal lead. By the time 9 minutes had gone by in the 2nd period the Flyers had tied the game up, and the air was out of the Bruins sails. A too many men on the ice penalty in third period broke the tie for the Flyers, and will send them to the next round. As Simon Gagne scored a power play goal with 12 minutes remaining.
Everyone knows that penalties can be killers, but there are such a thing as good an bad penalties. Good penalties can be those that stop a great scoring opportunity, and can still be considered good penalties even if the opponent scores on the resulting power play. Bad penalties are those usually taken in the offensive zone because they waste your own scoring chance. But even bad penalties while frustrating are part of the game and the natural course of play. That is why a too many men on the ice penalty falls into a third category ‘stupid penalties’. There is no such thing as a ‘good’ too many men on the ice penalty, and it really isn’t a part of the game as say cross-checking or high sticking. All it involves is the inability to count, and there is no excuse for that. Especially when you are at home in Game 7 of the Playoffs. The Bruins shot themselves in the foot, and while it is possible the Flyers would have won it anyways, they handed it to them on a silver platter.
Now 7th seeded Philadelphia can celebrate with home ice advantage over the 8th seeded Montreal Canadiens (not having home ice hasn’t slowed them down yet), a tremendous comeback. Unfortunately for Philly fans, I think their stage coach is about to turn back into a pumpkin, because they are facing an 8th seeded team that knocked off the President’s Cup winning Washington Capitals and the defending Stanley Cup Champions Pittsburgh Penguins. I don’t think the Flyers magic will scare the Canadiens easily. And it will take more than luck or magic to get enough goals past Jaroslav Halak, who is playing incredible hockey right now. Although I don’t like Philadelphia’s odds in this series, today though they can be proud for what they accomplished.