The only game on the countdown from the 2008-2009 season comes in at #7. Odd scheduling made it so that all four regular season games vs. the Carolina Hurricanes were to be played across only a sixteen day span. The match-up was a good one for the Flyers, and saw the team come away with seven of the eight available points.
No points came in more dramatic fashion than the final two. Flyers dug themselves into a 5-1 hole after two with generally crappy play, especially from Antero Niittymaki. But things started to turn around in the third, with the Wachovia Center remarkably not empty.
Scott Hartnell's first of what would be two hat tricks in a week got the Flyers to 5-3, and goals by Scottie Upshall and Simon Gagne tied the score, helped by way more solid play from Niittymaki.
Flyers won the shootout easily, 2-0, on goals from Gagne and Mike Richards, meaning that the Flyers put six unanswered pucks in the net.
With the Flyers currently in third and the 'Canes in seventh, a first round playoff meeting between the two teams is not totally out of the question. And based on this game, it's safe to say there's no one I'd be happier facing.
Showing posts with label Best of 2008. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Best of 2008. Show all posts
Friday, January 9, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
Nine Best of 2008 -- #8
The eighth-best game of 2008 in the countdown is kind of an odd pick. It didn't lead to anything, it wasn't even that close a game for the most part.
But it was super important all the same. The Flyers went into Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals down 3-0. The Flyers hadn't played too badly in Game 1, but really stunk up the joint in Game 3, easily their worst game of the year. Facing a sweep at the hands of Sidney Crosby and the rest of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and without two of their top defensemen in Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Coburn, the Flyers needed to salvage something, if for no other reason than to avoid the embarrassment of a sweep and to make the last game of the season at the Wachovia Center a win.
And win they did. Three garbagey first period goals from Joffrey Lupul, Daniel Briere and Jeff Carter put the Flyers comfortably up, and gave fans something to cheer about for the first time in weeks. Jordan Staal knocked a couple past Martin Biron in the third, but the Flyers hung on, and Lupul added an empty netter to lock in the win with the score of 4-2.
But the fun didn't stop after the second Lupul goal. Derian Hatcher (remember him?) beat the living crap out of Ryan Malone, and then Mike Richards treated Sidney Crosby with the respect he deserves.
Flyers lost Game 5 badly, but that shouldn't detract from how awesome Game 4 was. For that one night (and the two days between Games 4 and 5), the Flyers gave their fans reason to be happy, reason to be hopeful, reason to believe. And that's what being a fan is all about.
Well, not really. But it's a nice idea.
But it was super important all the same. The Flyers went into Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals down 3-0. The Flyers hadn't played too badly in Game 1, but really stunk up the joint in Game 3, easily their worst game of the year. Facing a sweep at the hands of Sidney Crosby and the rest of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and without two of their top defensemen in Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Coburn, the Flyers needed to salvage something, if for no other reason than to avoid the embarrassment of a sweep and to make the last game of the season at the Wachovia Center a win.
And win they did. Three garbagey first period goals from Joffrey Lupul, Daniel Briere and Jeff Carter put the Flyers comfortably up, and gave fans something to cheer about for the first time in weeks. Jordan Staal knocked a couple past Martin Biron in the third, but the Flyers hung on, and Lupul added an empty netter to lock in the win with the score of 4-2.
But the fun didn't stop after the second Lupul goal. Derian Hatcher (remember him?) beat the living crap out of Ryan Malone, and then Mike Richards treated Sidney Crosby with the respect he deserves.
Flyers lost Game 5 badly, but that shouldn't detract from how awesome Game 4 was. For that one night (and the two days between Games 4 and 5), the Flyers gave their fans reason to be happy, reason to be hopeful, reason to believe. And that's what being a fan is all about.
Well, not really. But it's a nice idea.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Nine Best of 2008 -- #9
In honor of 2009 (and figuring out how to embed NHL videos), I bring you a countdown of the nine best Flyers games of the year gone by, 2008.
Number nine is from February 25th of last year. The Flyers were in complete freefall, falling from the the top of the conference to out of playoff position in no time flat. The Flyers had lost a mind-numbing ten straight, including an especially pathetic effort vs. Florida in a 2-1 loss in Philadelphia in their last game.
With Stevens' firing seemingly imminent and the trade deadline on the horizon, panic had set in. And it didn't help when Buffalo got off to a quick 3-0 lead in the first.
But then...
...well, watch for yourself
Danny Briere's shootout winner against his former squad ended the Flyers skid and set the team back on the course for the playoffs. Without this win, none of the 2008 playoff magic would have been possible.
Good times.
Number nine is from February 25th of last year. The Flyers were in complete freefall, falling from the the top of the conference to out of playoff position in no time flat. The Flyers had lost a mind-numbing ten straight, including an especially pathetic effort vs. Florida in a 2-1 loss in Philadelphia in their last game.
With Stevens' firing seemingly imminent and the trade deadline on the horizon, panic had set in. And it didn't help when Buffalo got off to a quick 3-0 lead in the first.
But then...
...well, watch for yourself
Danny Briere's shootout winner against his former squad ended the Flyers skid and set the team back on the course for the playoffs. Without this win, none of the 2008 playoff magic would have been possible.
Good times.
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