Ann 22008 NHL Playoffs - Eastern Conference Finals: Penguins vs. Flyers Game 3 REVIEW
May 14th 2008 23:49
Penguins take a 3-0 lead in the series after defeating the Flyers 4-1.
Game 1 was Malkin's show. Game 2 was dominated by Crosby. Guess who showed up for Game 3? Marian Hossa. The Slovak winger scored two goals last night including the game-winner and was everywhere on the ice, also helping out on the defensive front.
With Coburn and Timonen out, the Flyers could only try to limit the damages. They managed to limit Malkin to one assist, Crosby had two assists, but they forgot Hossa. The Penguins scored their first goal while on the powerplay. Just like in Game 2, the puck deflected off a defenseman before going to the back of the net. I guess now the Flyers know what it was like for the Habs during the second round. The second goal was all Hossa as he took the puck at his blue line and skated up ice while the Flyers backed into their zone. He got rid of one Philly player with some nice stickhandling, then, fired a snap shot in between a defenseman's legs. Biron was screened by said defenseman and couldn't see the puck until it was too late. The Flyers reduced the score at 2-1 thanks to R.J. Umberger but it was all they could do for the rest of the night. They couldn't risk opening up the game since it would've turned to the Penguins' advantage but, at the same time, they had no choice. Not opening the game meant that the Flyers forwards didn't have enough freedom to express themselves and have an impact. They were locked in a defensive mode when they needed offense. By the time John Stevens changed strategies, i was already 3-1 and Marian Hossa added an empty-netter at the end of the third period.
The Flyers simply have run out of luck. Timonen and Coburn's injuries were severe blows to the team but they also couldn't manage to cash in on the many rebounds offered by Fleury (which was too bad, really, Fleury usually doesn't give that many rebounds). Biron is getting involuntarily beaten by his own defensemen and isn't as dominant as he was against Montreal. Finally, the “intimidating” Philadelphia crowd was kept silent last night after the Penguins went 2-0, so the Flyers had no moral/emotional support to fight in a losing cause. The series is now 3-0 and the Pens are one win away from a spot in the Stanley Cup finals.
Game 1 was Malkin's show. Game 2 was dominated by Crosby. Guess who showed up for Game 3? Marian Hossa. The Slovak winger scored two goals last night including the game-winner and was everywhere on the ice, also helping out on the defensive front.
With Coburn and Timonen out, the Flyers could only try to limit the damages. They managed to limit Malkin to one assist, Crosby had two assists, but they forgot Hossa. The Penguins scored their first goal while on the powerplay. Just like in Game 2, the puck deflected off a defenseman before going to the back of the net. I guess now the Flyers know what it was like for the Habs during the second round. The second goal was all Hossa as he took the puck at his blue line and skated up ice while the Flyers backed into their zone. He got rid of one Philly player with some nice stickhandling, then, fired a snap shot in between a defenseman's legs. Biron was screened by said defenseman and couldn't see the puck until it was too late. The Flyers reduced the score at 2-1 thanks to R.J. Umberger but it was all they could do for the rest of the night. They couldn't risk opening up the game since it would've turned to the Penguins' advantage but, at the same time, they had no choice. Not opening the game meant that the Flyers forwards didn't have enough freedom to express themselves and have an impact. They were locked in a defensive mode when they needed offense. By the time John Stevens changed strategies, i was already 3-1 and Marian Hossa added an empty-netter at the end of the third period.
The Flyers simply have run out of luck. Timonen and Coburn's injuries were severe blows to the team but they also couldn't manage to cash in on the many rebounds offered by Fleury (which was too bad, really, Fleury usually doesn't give that many rebounds). Biron is getting involuntarily beaten by his own defensemen and isn't as dominant as he was against Montreal. Finally, the “intimidating” Philadelphia crowd was kept silent last night after the Penguins went 2-0, so the Flyers had no moral/emotional support to fight in a losing cause. The series is now 3-0 and the Pens are one win away from a spot in the Stanley Cup finals.
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