Flyers Vs. Sabres, Game 6: Mike Richards Hit Overshadows Ville Leino’s OT Winner

Connolly had the inside position, and as Richards came in after the puck, he wrapped his arm around the Sabre. Instead of fully wrapping him up and riding him into the boards, he pushed off and Connolly took a head-first stumble. He didn’t return to the game, although there are reports that it’s not a concussion issue. Either way, he’s out for Tuesday’s Game 7.

The question remaining, then, is will Richards be out as well?

Sabes blog Die By The Blade thinks there’s a good chance Richards will get suspended:

Meanwhile, Flyers blog Broad Street Hockey recognizes that their team has many faults, but they’ve got one thing going for them...

With the win, the Flyers became the first team in the series to win after giving up the game-opening goal. The game-winning goal was also the first time all game they led.

For more on the series, check in with our blogs: Broad Street Hockey on the Flyers and Die By The Blade on the Sabres.

As a result of their win, Buffalo had a chance to close out Philadelphia with a victory on Easter Sunday, and after getting out to another big lead thanks to some horrific goaltending in the Flyers crease, it looked as though that would happen. But as Philadelphia has proven in the last two years, they’re never out of a game, and that’s exactly what happened against Sunday.

The Philadelphia Flyers fought back and tied the score in Game 5 on Friday night in Philadelphia after falling behind 3-0. In Game 6, a similar comeback was mounted from a two-goal deficit early in the second period, as Danny Briere and James van Riemsdyk beat Ryan Miller to tie the game at three goals a piece.

But as was the case following the tying goal in Game 5, the Flyers sat back a bit and the Sabres stepped up, asserting their will once again in the Philadelphia offensive end. In Game 5, it resulted in an overtime tally from Tyler Ennis, and in Game 6, it has resulted in a tie-breaking goal by Nathan Gerbe.

Peter Laviolette opted to go with Michael Leighton as his starting goaltender in Game 6, a must-win game for his Philadelphia Flyers against the Buffalo Sabres. It appears that was the wrong decision.

Leighton allowed three extremely soft goals on just eight shots in the first period, while Ryan Miller easily outdueled him at the other end with one save on 17 first period shots. Of course, Miller probably had his eyes closed in the process. The Sabres lead, 3-1, after one period.

You wouldn’t expect anything less when it comes to the goaltending of the Philadelphia Flyers, and as they face a do-or-die, must-win Game 6 against the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday afternoon, they’ll start their third different goalie in this first-round series.

Michael Leighton is in goal for the Flyers, getting the nod over Brian Boucher after No. 33 was pulled after a soft start in Game 5. Until that point, Boucher had the best numbers of any goalie in the 2011 postseason. He came in to relieve Sergei Bobrovsky in Game 2 and earned the start in Games 3, 4 and 5.

Speaking of the power play, the Flyers lack of execution with the extra man is one of the reasons they’re down in this series. Losing three one-goal games is frustrating enough if you’re Philadelphia, but when scoring on the power play could fix that problem rather simply, it’s even more frustrating.

For more on Sunday’s Game 6, check in with our blogs: Broad Street Hockey on the Flyers and Die By The Blade on the Sabres.