The Flyers fought hard enough to make Philly proud.


Well, we’ll have to wait at least another year to witness the Philadelphia Flyers hoist Lord Stanley's Cup as they dropped Game 6 against the Chicago Blackhawks Wednesday night in overtime, 4-3, watching Chicago celebrate their first Stanley Cup since 1961.

And, as much as it hurt to watch Jonathan Toews carry the Stanley Cup on the Wachovia Center ice in person, I cannot be anything more than grateful for what the Flyers have accomplished this spring.

The Flyers weren’t even supposed to make the playoffs, but they found a way in; beating one of the game’s top goalies in a shootout on the season’s final day. They upset the No. 2 seeded New Jersey Devils with much thanks to great goaltending by their backup, Brian Boucher.

Then they completed one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, winning four straight games against the Boston Bruins after finding themselves down 0-3 in the series, and 0-3 in Game 7. And, they lost Boucher to injury in Game 5 against the Bruins, leading the way for Michael Leighton to take over the starting duties.

But none of that stopped them as they tossed aside the Montreal Canadiens in five games to win the Eastern Conference, and get the chance to play in the Cup Finals for the first time since 1997.

In the final chapter of what could have been one of the greatest storybook seasons in the history of the sport, the Flyers ran into an opponent too strong in the Blackhawks. A team that was atop the NHL for the majority of the regular season, a team that had six Olympians, including three Gold Medal winners.

A team that posed too big of a challenge for the ever so resilient Flyers.

Chicago, who entered the Finals as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, took the first two games of the series. The Flyers were facing another deficit coming back to Philadelphia, this time down 2-0 to the Hawks, but they proved once more that they don’t believe in quitting, winning the next two to even the series 2-2.

The Blackhawks had their way with the Flyers in Game 5 in Chicago, and carried the momentum into Game 6 in Philadelphia until the final 10 minutes of the third period when the Flyers finally woke up, forcing overtime when Scott Hartnell scored his second goal of the contest after a Ville Leino pass deflected off his stick.

In overtime, the Flyers run came to an end when Patrick Kane scored from an awful angle, beating Leighton to end Chicago’s 49 year championship drought. The tank was empty, but they didn’t go down without a fight.

While all I want to do is to rip Leighton a new one for letting that puck get by him in OT, allowing a very soft goal to Patrick Sharp in the second period and the few other weak ones he gave up against the Hawks or call out Chris Pronger for playing terrible in the final two games of the series, I can’t be disappointed in this team.

All I, and every other Flyers fan, can be is proud.

This Flyers team never gave up, never quit, and kept fighting. No matter how bad it got, they kept going, kept believing. They proved to kids what their parents and coaches preach to them everyday, never give up because anything is possible.

They earned respect for a franchise that was widely known around the league as a bunch of goons by changing their style of play once Peter Laviolette took over as coach. They brought respect to a fan base who have been behind them since day one.

Today, I’m proud to be a Flyers fan.
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Boucher should be the guy for the Flyers in Game 6.


Flyers coach Peter Laviolette has a very difficult decision to make in the coming days on who will be his starting goaltender for Game 6 against the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Finals.

According to Laviolette, he has already made up his mind on who will be the starter but will not say whether it’s Michael Leighton or Brian Boucher.

Leighton has been absolutely remarkable since taking over for Boucher when he was injured in Game 5 against the Bruins. The numbers he has posted are very impressive considering he was coming back from injury himself.

In fact, when Leighton entered the game in the second period against Boston, it was his first game back on the bench. He had not played since Mar. 16th after suffering a high ankle sprain against Nashville.

As it stands today, Leighton is leading the playoffs in goals against average, 2.34, shutouts with three and fifth in save percentage, .918, but his numbers against the Blackhawks are very disturbing.

Through five games, Leighton possess an abysmal .867 save percentage along with a 4.01 GAA. The numbers are also deceiving as he has been two different goalies at home and on the road.

While playing behind his home crowd, Leighton was steady and calm. He made key saves at key moments, and allowed only six goals on 61 shots.

However, in three games at the United Center, Leighton has been pulled twice and was shaky in the other. Chicago has scored 10 goals on 59 shots when on their home ice, including three on 13 shots in Game 5.

His numbers on the road could be skewed due to the Flyers lack of defense in both games he was pulled, which was Game 1 when he gave up five goals on 20 shots and in Game 5.

With that said, Leighton has allowed several very weak goals that should have been saved. For instance, Ben Eager’s game winner in Game 2. Leighton has to make that save if you want to win the Cup.

And then the other night, Leighton cannot allow Dave Bolland to bank the puck off his skates to make it a 2-0 game on a delayed penalty, but he did.

Then Kris Versteeg scored on a laser from high between the circles with no traffic in front, while it was a snipe job by Versteeg, there’s no excuse why Leighton didn’t make that save. He saw it all the way, and didn’t get it.

Leighton has rebounded nicely after poor games thus far in the playoffs, and while that may have earned him the right to finish the series, I believe that Boucher should get the nod in Game 6 for two reasons.

Let’s not forget who’s responsible for the Flyers making the playoffs, who led them past the No. 2 seed New Jersey Devils in the Quarterfinals. It’s not Leighton, it’s Boucher.

While it’s true that Leighton played a huge role for the Flyers during the regular season, when he went down to injury against the Predators, it could have been doom for the Orange ‘n’ Black.

Already losing Ray Emery and no cap space nor the will to part ways with Claude Giroux or James van Riemsdyk, Paul Holmgren put all his trust into a goalie who led the Flyers to the Conference Finals in his rookie year.

Boosh answered the call, especially in Philadelphia’s final four games. With needing to win almost every game at that point just to get in, Boucher won three of the Flyers final four with great goaltending.

Boucher posted a .928 save percentage, and 2.01 goals against average in the Flyers most important games of the regular season. It was his save on Olli Jokinen in a shootout that clinched a playoff berth.

He was even better against the Devils in the first round of the playoffs, helping the Flyers advance in five games. Boucher had a 1.60 GAA, and a .940 SV % against New Jersey.

Boucher has shown in the playoffs and down the stretch that he can play under pressure, that he can make the big save when the team needs him to.

While that’s not saying that Leighton cannot play under pressure, it’s saying that Boucher also has earned the right to have a say in the Stanley Cup.

The biggest reason why Boucher should start Game 6 is that if the Flyers extend the series to seven games, I think it’s too risky to go with Leighton in Chicago.

From what I’ve gathered in the three games he’s played thus far in the Windy City, he’s getting rattled to easily, he’s letting the crowd get to him. If you want to win the Cup, and you’re the goalie, you can’t lose it after giving up one goal.

Leighton hasn’t looked comfortable in net at anytime in Chicago, which is quite surprising considering how well he played in Game 4 in Montreal. I don’t think you can rely on him in a Game 7 situation in hostile territory.

I don’t have a problem with playing Leighton in Game 6 since he has been a much better goalie at home this playoffs, but I don’t think you can bench him for a Game 7 in Chicago if he wins on Wednesday.

Laviolette has the opportunity to justify making a goaltending change after Leighton’s horrid performance in Game 5, and taking his play in Games 1 and 2, no one will can blame him for going with Boucher.

Now, if the Flyers start Leighton on Wednesday night and they beat the Blackhawks, it’s going to be a heck of a lot harder to go to Boucher for Game 7, but it’s a move that might be necessary if the Flyers want the Cup.
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Leino and the Flyers need only two wins for The Cup.


Ville Leino has been an unsung hero for the Flyers ever since entering the lineup as an injury replacement for Jeff Carter in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, and he penciled his name into the history books Friday night.

Leino scored his seventh goal of the postseason in the Flyers nail biting 5-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game Four of the Stanley Cup Finals to send the series back to the Windy City tied at two.

The 26-year-old rookie’s goal moved him into sole possession of the Flyers playoff rookie scoring record with 16 points, surpassing Brian Propp, who scored 15 points in the 1980 Stanley Cup playoffs.

“It was a special moment,” Leino said. “It was a fun game. It was a nice little moment. I will remember it always. Good win there too, so it was a great game.”

His story is an amazing one to follow considering how the Flyers acquired him, and what he has become from where he was at the start of the playoffs for the Orange ‘n’ Black.

The Flyers traded away defenseman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen and a fifth round draft choice to the Detroit Red Wings for Leino on Feb. 6th, a move that was going to provide Philadelphia with another scoring threat.

Instead, Leino had difficulties cracking Peter Laviolette’s lineup as it appeared that the coach and GM Paul Holmgren had different opinions about the Finnish winger, who had been a fourth liner for the Wings.

It took Leino nearly a month to play his first game with Philadelphia—not that bad if you account for the Olympic break—and couldn’t play with enough consistency to stay in the lineup for more than one or two games.

Simply put, he wasn’t showing anything to Laviolette to justify taking Arron Asham or Darroll Powe out of the lineup, who both play important roles for the Broad Street Bullies.

Leino scored only four points in 13 regular season games with the Flyers, and was an extra forward entering the opening round of the playoffs against the New Jersey Devils.

Despite playing in seven postseason games with Detroit, including the Cup Finals, Leino didn’t have a chance to play until center Jeff Carter broke his foot in Game Four versus the Devils, opening up a spot for the Savonlinna native.

With Carter out of the lineup, the Flyers needed Leino to put together some consistency while providing them with another scoring threat. They have received far more than what they were asking.

Leino has scored seven goals and nine assists in 17 games playing with Danny Briere and Scott Hartnell. In the Finals against Chicago, Leino has four points in four games.

It was his Game Three performance that informed the hockey world that he’s no joke, and pretty much guaranteed himself a spot on the Flyers second line next year.

Leino scored the game tying goal just seconds after Patrick Kane put Chicago up 3-2 with a 2-0 series lead in the third period, and led all forwards with 23:12 minutes of ice time, more than Mike Richards and Jonathan Toews.

Every championship team seems to have one guy who comes out of nowhere to step up his game, and it appears as if the Flyers have found their playoff hero in Ville Leino.
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James Van Riemsdyk is out to make room for Carcillo.



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Dan Carcillo should make a big impact in Game Two.


According to several Flyers beat writers, forward Danny Carcillo will be inserted back into the lineup for Game Two of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks Monday night at the United Center.

Carcillo has been a healthy scratch since Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals when Peter Laviolette took him out of the lineup for the return of Jeff Carter.

The decision to remove Carcillo from the lineup was one that I never understood because he’s an important piece to the puzzle with the energy he brings each night. But even forget his physical side -- he’s still a damn good hockey player.

When the Flyers traded away fan favorite Scottie Upshall along with a second round draft pick for Carcillo, it was immediately called a salary dump as Carcillo was another goon leading the NHL in penalty minutes.

Carcillo continued his bad rap by taking stupid penalty after stupid penalty, and running around looking for fights. He was a glorified Riley Cote.

Yet I kept hearing that he had some good hands along with some good hockey skills, but I couldn't believe it because every time I looked for him, he was sitting in the penalty box.

That is until he took a turn for the better in his first full season with the Flyers.

Carcillo has learned to play with an edge, but not to cross the line like he did way too often last year. He learned when to drop his gloves, and when to walk away. He learned how to get under the skin of others to draw a penalty.

And Carcillo showed to the city of Brotherly Love that he can do more than just fight and throw hits, that he has pretty good hands and can create scoring chances with a good forecheck.

Carcillo scored 10 goals playing mostly on the fourth line before getting first line minutes playing alongside Mike Richards and Simon Gagne late in the season.

He had chemistry with Richards and Gagne, and he stayed on their wing for the first two rounds of the playoffs. Carcillo has six points in 15 playoffs games this postseason, including an overtime winner against the Devils.

Scratching Carcillo was a tough decision for Laviolette, but he knows what buttons to push. It was a move that was doubted by many, but no one really said that Lavvy didn't know what he was doing.

When Carter and Ian Laperriere were returning from injury, the Flyers were playing well on all cylinders. You knew it was a tough move to take someone out of the lineup, Carcillo just happened to be the guy.

You can bet that Carcillo is going to come out on a mission Monday night as he wants to be a difference maker, he wants to contribute. Expect a very energized Carbomb against Chicago.

While Carcillo enters the lineup, no one knows who will be exit as a couple reporters have heard difference names. Anthony SanFilippo heard it's Ryan Parent while John Boruk hears it's Darroll Powe.

Do the Flyers scratch Parent, and go with 13 forwards against the Blackhawks or do they replace a forward with Carcillo? And if it's the latter, who do you take out of the lineup?

I think the Flyers have to get Parent out of the lineup whether you dress 13 forwards or you replace him with Oskars Bartulis or Danny Syvret. All I know is that he cannot play another game in the Finals.

Parent played 41 seconds in Game One, and was responsible for Chicago's first goal. He didn't take another shift after the Troy Brouwer tally.

In other news, the Flyers will start Michael Leighton for Game Two against the Blackhawks after allowing five goals on 20 shots in Game One.
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Flyers must remain focused on one goal: The Cup.


It has been 13 years since the Philadelphia Flyers have last skated in the Stanley Cup Finals, and it’s been even longer since they’ve last hoisted Lord’s Stanley Cup; 35 years to be exact.

So, when the 2010 Cup Finals begin this Saturday night at the United Center in Chicago, the Flyers will take nothing for granted as they know that this could be their last chance ever to win a championship.

Take Simon Gagne for example.

Gagne is the longest tenured Flyer on the roster, and has been to four Conference Finals, no Stanley Cups in nine years with Philadelphia. He wants his younger teammates to know that this is their shot.

“I’m 30 years old now, and I was there when I was 19 [in a conference final],” Gagne said. “I want to tell them what I went through in my 10 years in Philly. This might be the only chance for those guys, too.”

Then you have Chris Pronger, who will be playing in his third Stanley Cup in the past five seasons, but he’s the only guy who has played in June on the Flyers roster.

Take a quick glance at the Flyers, and you’ll see that they’re a very young team. Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, Philly’s two best forwards, are 25 years old while you have Claude Giroux (22) and James van Riemsdyk (21).

For the Flyers youngsters, they have to listen to what Gagne’s preaching.

During the next two weeks, it’s going to be a wild ride for the Flyers from all the media coverage surrounding the Finals to actually playing in the games, it’s important they keep a level head.

It’s easy to get caught up in all the magic, but the Flyers have to keep their focus, they have to take it game-by-game. If they want a parade down Broad Street, they cannot believe that they’re a team of destiny.
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The Flyers can do something done only three times.


Six years ago, Boston was celebrating one of the greatest comebacks in sports history as the Boston Red Sox became only the third team in professional sports history to win a playoff series after losing the first three games.

The Red Sox came back to win four straight games against the Yankees en route of winning their first World Series title since 1918, snapping an 86 year championship drought.

That was 2004, this is 2010.

With Wednesday night's 2-1 win in Game 6 against the Bruins, the Flyers have inched closer to cementing their names in the record books as only the fourth team in sports history to win a playoff series after losing the first three games.

By the way, can you name the other two franchises that accomplished aforementioned feat? The 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, and the 1975 New York Islanders--who lost to the Orange 'n' Black in the Stanley Cup Finals -- just sayin'.

It also means that the Flyers are one win away from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals, and five wins away from getting to the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1997, which is pretty remarkable considering they needed a shootout win in the last game to clinch a playoff berth.

Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves because the job is far from over as 60 more minutes stands in the way of facing the Montreal Canadiens for the right to represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The odds are still stacked up against the Flyers as shown by the fact that only three times, twice in hockey, has a team comeback from down 0-3 in the playoffs, but this is familiar territory for this group.

Going through so much during the regular season, from going through seven goalies to a coaching change, the Flyers have gone through every kind of adversity you could possibly throw at them, and here they are, five wins away from getting to the championship round.

But they have to win one more game in order to continue onto the Conference Finals; one more hurdle to jump, and that is winning a Game 7 on the road, which this year hasn't been much of a chore.

The Canadiens won twice on the road in Game 7's in the first two rounds while the Detroit Red Wings clinched their first round series win over the Coyotes in Phoenix. Good omen or just a coincidence?

Home ice advantage is greatly overrated, especially in hockey. If you were to poll the players, I would think at least close the 50/50 would say they'd rather play on the road in this scenario.

All the pressure is on the home team to win in these situations as they're playing in front of their own fans, in their own building. In the Bruins' case, they're on the verge of one of the biggest collapses in sports history. I'm sure that won't go over easy with the Boston faithful.

The Flyers must improve the power play, continue to pepper Boston net-minder Tuuka Rask and play a well rounded game. That means discipline, they cannot be on the penalty kill all night; You want to be aggressive, but you don't want to go too far.

If the Flyers come out taking penalties, this thing could get ugly quick. But if they come out, stay out of the box and draw penalties, Philadelphia will become only the fourth franchise in professional sports history to comeback from down 0-3 in the playoffs.
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