Ann 22008 NHL Playoffs - Eastern Conference Finals: Penguins vs. Flyers Game 4 REVIEW
May 16th 2008 18:23
Flyers stay alive with a 4-2 win over Pittsburgh.
Like the Stars two nights ago, the Flyers have forced a fifth game in the Eastern Finals by winning Game 4. One question must be asked, though. Why did both Dallas and Philly wait until they were down 3-0 to finally wake up and play hockey?
Anyways, there isn't a lot to be said about last night's game. The Flyers led 3-0 (goals by Lupul, Briθre, and Carter) after the first period so the Penguins were pretty much going through the motions after that. It was nothing like the Detroit-Dallas game which is a real shame finals aren't supposed to be boring but the Eastern finals have been a real snooze-fest. It's also weird that a boring game had 22 penalties, the refs were a bit trigger-happy.
The Pens woke up in the third period thanks to two goals by Jordan Staal (that kid is great, by the way, very underrated). But I'd seen this scenario before when Philly were playing Montreal. It's like the Flyers can't play without a comfortable lead. They are so afraid that the other team is going to come back that they start making all these little mistakes that ultimately allow the other team to come back. Does that make any sense? Take last night for instance; they were leading 3-0, playing efficiently in both the first and second periods. However as soon as the third started, it was like a mental switch had gone off. They reduced the pressure on the Penguins, letting the Pens come at them instead of taking the fight to them, and losing the puck at every turn. When Pittsburgh made it 3-1, panic settled in. Instead of taking control of the puck, the Flyers simply threw it out of their zone, giving it back to the Penguins over and over again. And the Penguins came right back at them each time the Flyers turned the puck over. It was like watching waves crash onto rocks, the Flyers just weren't moving. They were taking the abuse and hoping for the best. They were lucky that the Pens ran out of time because Crosby came very close to make it 3-3. Just a couple more minutes and Pittsburgh could have tied that game. Lupul gave a bit of breathing space to the Flyers by scoring an empty-netter with thirty seconds left to the clock. When that happened, I'm pretty sure that everyone on the Flyers' side muttered to themselves, Whew, that was close.
Like the Stars two nights ago, the Flyers have forced a fifth game in the Eastern Finals by winning Game 4. One question must be asked, though. Why did both Dallas and Philly wait until they were down 3-0 to finally wake up and play hockey?
Anyways, there isn't a lot to be said about last night's game. The Flyers led 3-0 (goals by Lupul, Briθre, and Carter) after the first period so the Penguins were pretty much going through the motions after that. It was nothing like the Detroit-Dallas game which is a real shame finals aren't supposed to be boring but the Eastern finals have been a real snooze-fest. It's also weird that a boring game had 22 penalties, the refs were a bit trigger-happy.
The Pens woke up in the third period thanks to two goals by Jordan Staal (that kid is great, by the way, very underrated). But I'd seen this scenario before when Philly were playing Montreal. It's like the Flyers can't play without a comfortable lead. They are so afraid that the other team is going to come back that they start making all these little mistakes that ultimately allow the other team to come back. Does that make any sense? Take last night for instance; they were leading 3-0, playing efficiently in both the first and second periods. However as soon as the third started, it was like a mental switch had gone off. They reduced the pressure on the Penguins, letting the Pens come at them instead of taking the fight to them, and losing the puck at every turn. When Pittsburgh made it 3-1, panic settled in. Instead of taking control of the puck, the Flyers simply threw it out of their zone, giving it back to the Penguins over and over again. And the Penguins came right back at them each time the Flyers turned the puck over. It was like watching waves crash onto rocks, the Flyers just weren't moving. They were taking the abuse and hoping for the best. They were lucky that the Pens ran out of time because Crosby came very close to make it 3-3. Just a couple more minutes and Pittsburgh could have tied that game. Lupul gave a bit of breathing space to the Flyers by scoring an empty-netter with thirty seconds left to the clock. When that happened, I'm pretty sure that everyone on the Flyers' side muttered to themselves, Whew, that was close.
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