(Sports Network) - In just a week's time, the Philadelphia Flyers have clawed back from what seemed like certain elimination to force tonight's decisive Game 7 in Boston.
History Will Be Made? Once Down 3-0, Flyers Look To Shock Bruins, Advance In Game 7
The Flyers entered last Friday's Game 4 in Philadelphia trailing three games to none in this best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series. Philadelphia won Game 4 in overtime and the seventh-seeded club has followed with two more victories to go from the brink of elimination to the cusp of history.
After posting an easy 4-0 victory on the road in Game 5, the Flyers had to work harder for a 2-1 decision Wednesday night in Philadelphia. Michael Leighton turned aside 30 shots in his first career playoff start to help the Flyers become just the sixth team in league history to force a Game 7 after trailing a series 3-0.
Mike Richards and Danny Briere scored for the Flyers, who are trying to join the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs and the 1975 New York Islanders as the only clubs to come back and win a playoff series after the losing the first three games.
Philadelphia can complete the improbable journey Friday at TD Garden..
“We know what’s at stake, and it’s pretty special, but the toughest is yet to come,” Briere said. “That Game 7 in Boston will be tough. We expect them to come out with a lot of desperation, so we have to match that.”
Leighton made his postseason debut in relief of an injured Brian Boucher during Game 5, stopping all 14 shots he faced to post the second combined shutout in NHL playoff history. It was Leighton's first appearance between the pipes since March 16, when he suffered a high ankle sprain in Nashville. Boucher is expected to miss at least a month with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee, as well as an injury to his right knee.
Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask finished with 25 saves and stopped Philadelphia from building a 3-0 lead in Game 6, denying Ville Leino's penalty shot attempt with 7:21 left in the third period.
Milan Lucic spoiled Leighton's shutout bid with one minute left in regulation, driving the net and banging home the rebound of a Dennis Wideman point shot, but the Bruins squandered another opportunity to put away the Flyers.
“I thought we played very well for spurts,” Wideman said. “We created some offense. They did a good job of keeping us on the outside. We have to try to get more shots through and get to the net a little better.”
While the Flyers have made the long journey back to tie this series, the Bruins are in the same spot they were this time last week -- still just one victory away from securing a trip to the conference finals for the first time since 1992.
The Bruins are 9-9 all-time in Game 7s, but have failed in their last three tests in this situation. Boston hasn’t won a Game 7 since defeating visiting Montreal, 5-3, to win a 1994 conference quarterfinal series.
Philadelphia is 7-6 all-time in Game 7s and won its last decisive game, beating Washington in overtime to take a first-round series in 2008.
Boston is 5-1 at home in these playoffs, with the only setback coming in Monday’s Game 5. Boston was just 18-17-6 at TD Garden during the regular season.
Meanwhile, the Flyers were just 17-21-3 on the road during the regular season and are 3-3 as the guest since the start of the playoffs.
Whether the Flyers or Bruins take tonight’s final test one thing is certain, the team that prevails in Game 7 will have home-ice advantage in the conference finals thanks to eighth-seeded Montreal ousting Pittsburgh in the East’s other semifinal series.
On the injury front, Philadelphia is hoping forward Blair Betts can play tonight after hurting his shoulder in Game 6. Betts is probable for this evening's game.
Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid is questionable again tonight after missing the last three games with a lower-body injury.
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