The Flyers season could’ve been over in game number 82 of the regular season. Hosting the New York Rangers in the season finale at the Wachovia Center, the scenario was simple. The winner is in the playoffs, the loser goes home. And if Olli Jokinen took a different path to the net to beat Brian Boucher on the last shot of the shootout, the Rangers might have been in the playoffs and the Flyers could be home right now.
Elimination Game? Nothing New For Flyers
That’s the wonder of sports, really. One little bounce or one split second reaction can completely change the course of things. As a result, the Flyers made the playoffs, drawing a highly favorable matchup in the New Jersey Devils, a division rival who they had much success against all season long.
After rolling through the first round against those Devils, the Flyers wound up losing three straight games to the Boston Bruins. Oh, hello elimination, how are you? Nice to see you again. In Game 4, Philadelphia was literally a Bruins bounce away from being swept out of the second round. Boston failed to capitalize on an overtime power play and the Flyers made them pay, scoring minutes later to force a Game 5 in Boston.
Again, with their backs against the wall, the Flyers rolled over the Bruins at TD Garden, where B’s fans rained boos and giveaway towels onto their team. 3-0 in elimination games, were the Flyers. Coming home for Game 6, the orange and black were clearly confident. After jumping out to an early lead, though, Boston took the play to them in the second period, dominating most of the game from there on out.
Somehow, the puck stayed out of the net though, and the Flyers would escape with the 2-1 win and their playoff lives.
That brings us to tonight. Game 7. The Flyers are facing their fifth elimination game, currently 4-0 in them on the year. Should they win, they’ll not only make history by coming back from a 0-3 hole, but they’ll head to an Eastern Conference Final where their opponent has also staved off elimination five times.
But you know the best part about all of this? The Boston Bruins can make none of this matter with one game.
For more on the Flyers, head over to our Flyers blog, Broad Street Hockey.
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