"Recklessness arising from despair." or "The act of being desperate."
It took the Philadelphia Flyers 77 games to learn what that word meant.
After having four days off, the Flyers took the ice against the Fish Sticks last Thursday night, a team who they had beaten 15 consecutive times. They allowed 3 goals in the first 7:41 of the opening period, and played with all the emotion of Andy Reid at a press conference.
We can't know what was said in the locker room after that period, but something clicked.
Although the Flyers lost 6-4, the Flyers came back in periods 2 and 3 with something to prove. Something they didn't know how to use before.
Something that if you possess...can lead you deep into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Desperation.
Friday against Montreal showed no better example of desperation. The Flyers out-shot the Habs 35-23 and played most of the 3rd period in the Montreal end. It was one of the best games the Flyers had played all season, everything seemed to click.
...except for scoring on Jaroslav Halak.
Halak shut the door on the Flyers, making save after save. Out of all the top goaltending performances of the 09-10 season, Halak's performance will easily make the top 5.
The Flyers played unbelievable hockey, but sadly met a hotter goaltender. Breaks are something that have avoided them all season, and after the 1-0 loss to the Canadiens, it seemed like they would never get one.
After the game, Peter Laviolette mentioned that he was very happy with his team's performance in 5 out of the last 6 periods, but there was no moral victory, and getting points is the only thing that mattered.
The message that was sent: "You played a great game, but you need to play better."
The Flyers frustration filled like air in a balloon, ready to pop at any given moment.
And on Sunday, that balloon didn't pop...it exploded.
Going in to Sunday's game against the Red Wings, the Flyers were about to face the NHL's hottest team. The Red Wings had gone 10-0-2 in their last 12 games, and faced goalie Chris Osgood, who had not started in 9 weeks.
That was exactly the break the Flyers needed.
Dan Carcillo scored 17 seconds in the game, and eventually took a 2-0 lead late into the 1st period after a goal by Kimmo Timonen.
Detroit battled back to tie it at 2-2, and you could hear a pin drop in the Wachovia Center.
However in the 2nd, Claude Giroux netted another goal less than a minute into the period, and Arron Asham scored on a wide open net midway through.
Eventually the Flyers held on to win 4-3, off of a strong performance from Brian Boucher, and the team doing everything right.
Maybe it has finally sunk in with this team that they are only 2 points away from being outside the playoff picture.
The Flyers currently hold 8th in the Eastern Conference with 84 points, and are just two points away from controlling the 6th seed, but there is very little breathing room as the Rangers and Thrashers hold the 9th and 10th spots.
The Flyers can clinch a playoff spot if the defeat Toronto on Tuesday, and one game of the home-and-home with the Rangers this weekend. However, the Rangers need to lose either to Buffalo or Toronto.
That won't be easy as Toronto has played well down the stretch, and the Smurfs have gone 5-0-1 in their last 6.
But with the way the Flyers are playing now, no team wants to get in their way.
For the first time all year, the Flyers are playing to win.
And in their mind, that's exactly what they are going to do.
Note: I will be in attendance for the Flyers game against the Rangers on 4/9. I will try to update periodically with updates from Madison Square Garden.
Last Week's Results:
at NY Islanders - L - 4-6
vs Montreal - L - 0-1
vs Detroit - W - 4-3
Upcoming Schedule:
4/6 at Toronto, 7PM
4/9 at NY Rangers, 7PM
4/11 vs. NY Rangers, 3PM
Photo of the Week:
A fan sings Stone Sour to a linesman during a stoppage in play...
Photo Courtesy of Getty Images
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