The Flyers and Rangers decided to start the playoffs one game early.
On a gorgeous spring day full of high drama in sports, it’s ironic that maybe the most heat was generated on the ice.
We shouldn’t be surprised. There really is nothing that quite compares to playoff hockey when it comes to drama.
And make no mistake, yesterday’s finale between the Orange & Black and the Broadway Blueshirts was very much a playoff game, even if it was the last game of the year.
For the winner, there was an invitation to the playoffs. For the loser, tee times.
So the Flyers and Rangers cooked up a pressure cooker. The Flyers scored early in the third period to knot the score at 1. Then it was an edge-of-your-seat ride to the final whistle.
And it still was not decided.
With the score tied at 1, and nobody cashing it during the 5-minute overtime period, it came down to a shootout.
That groan from Flyers fans was the thought of trying to beat Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who had turned away 47 shots during the game.
Lundqvist also is one of the NHL’s best when it comes to shootouts. For the Flyers, Brian Boucher was standing in net at the other end of the ice. Advantage Rangers.
But it was Boucher who was dancing on the ice a few minutes later after stopping Olli Jokinen.
After 82 games, five minutes of overtime and a shootout, the Flyers finally had gained entry to the postseason.
Let the playoffs again. The Flyers should have a leg up on the Devils, who they face Wednesday night.
They’ve already played – and won – a playoff game.
On a gorgeous spring day full of high drama in sports, it’s ironic that maybe the most heat was generated on the ice.
We shouldn’t be surprised. There really is nothing that quite compares to playoff hockey when it comes to drama.
And make no mistake, yesterday’s finale between the Orange & Black and the Broadway Blueshirts was very much a playoff game, even if it was the last game of the year.
For the winner, there was an invitation to the playoffs. For the loser, tee times.
So the Flyers and Rangers cooked up a pressure cooker. The Flyers scored early in the third period to knot the score at 1. Then it was an edge-of-your-seat ride to the final whistle.
And it still was not decided.
With the score tied at 1, and nobody cashing it during the 5-minute overtime period, it came down to a shootout.
That groan from Flyers fans was the thought of trying to beat Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who had turned away 47 shots during the game.
Lundqvist also is one of the NHL’s best when it comes to shootouts. For the Flyers, Brian Boucher was standing in net at the other end of the ice. Advantage Rangers.
But it was Boucher who was dancing on the ice a few minutes later after stopping Olli Jokinen.
After 82 games, five minutes of overtime and a shootout, the Flyers finally had gained entry to the postseason.
Let the playoffs again. The Flyers should have a leg up on the Devils, who they face Wednesday night.
They’ve already played – and won – a playoff game.
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