And once again, they just earned 3.
As the week went on, their current downward spiral turned into a black hole, where it seemed they would never escape.
That was until Sunday night.
The Flyers can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
With all the adversity the Flyers faced this past week, it seemed ever-so likely that the Atlanta Thrashers would catch up to them and take 8th place in the Eastern Conference, leaving the Flyers outside looking in.
The pitiful game vs. Ottawa where they had a 2 minute 5-on-3 and did not score, and having a clear goal overturned by the war room in Toronto added to their frustration. It finally looked like they were getting it all together against Minnesota on Thursday night when they jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the 3rd, only to see a few suspect goals send it in to overtime.
I don't think I need to tell you what happened...
Saturday against the Penguins, the Flyers seemed to have all the momentum, riding Johan Backlund's strong play in his first NHL start.
Another disallowed goal took the wind out of their sails, and it didn't get any better when Backlund left the game after re-injuring his groin.
The ensuing collapse, made Sunday's game the biggest of the year. The must-win of all must-wins.
And that's exactly what they did. Win when they needed to.
The Flyers played a complete game in all aspects. They hustled, they fought, and most importantly, they scored.
Peter Laviolette gave credit to Mike Richards after the game by using his leadership to get the team over the top.
The win against the Devils was exactly what the Flyers needed, a win against a division rival, 2 more points, and confidence.
Brian Boucher had one of his best games of the season, allowing just 1 goal on 33 shots, and the Flyers got the garbage goals they've lacked all year.
This is why they have light at the end of the tunnel. The Flyers have off until Thursday when they play the Islanders, followed by a game against the up-and-down Montreal Canadiens. Next Sunday will be their biggest test, as they will face the NHL's hottest team, the Detroit Red Wings.
But for now, it is time to rest up, then build upon the momentum they gained against the Devils.
However, this week will not be easy. The Islanders have played well against the Flyers this year, and Montreal is streaky,
If the Flyers pull out all 6 points this week, they will become a threat to make a run.
Remember, it's not always the best teams that win in the playoffs. It's usually the hottest ones.
What better time to turn on the jets than now?
Last Week's Results:
at Ottawa - L - 0-2
vs. Minnesota - OTL - 3-4
at Pittsburgh - L - 1-4
vs. New Jersey - W - 5-1
This Week's Schedule:
4/1 - at NY Islanders
4/2 - vs. Montreal
4/4 - vs. Detroit
Caption of the Week:
Claude Giroux comments about going 11 games without a goal:
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
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