Call it Survivor Sunday.
Both the Sixers and Flyers – facing elimination in their first-round playoff series – are alive to play another game.
The Sixers finally took a game from the Heat to the delight of the faithful at the Wells Fargo Center. They still face a daunting task, down 3-1 and heading back to Miami on Wednesday night.
Then there are the Flyers. What exactly can you say about this team? The guess is much of the NHL is trying to figure out how to drive a stake through the heart of this vampire-like crew, which insists on coming back from the dead again and again.
Coach Peter Laviolette decided to continue his goalie carousel, starting Michael Leighton, who of course had come on in relief of Brian Boucher on Friday night.
Leighton had played well in relief. He didn’t do as well as the starter Sunday and got the hook after one period.
Brian Boucher held down the fort as the Flyers scratched back from a 3-1 hole after one period.
If Flyers fans have a sense of déjà vu, it’s well-earned. Not just because, like last year, this team refuses to die despite being buried.
But all too familiar to fans is the orange and black’s problems in goal. It’s hard to fathom that a team that for much of the season was the top team in the league, and went into the playoffs as one of the favorites for the Stanley Cup, could have started three different goalies after just five games of its first-round series.
Laviolette gave a quick hook to rookie Sergei Bobrovsky, and has spent the week since alternating between Boucher and Leighton.
Look for Boucher to start Game 7 Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center.
He just shouldn’t get too comfortable.
Both the Sixers and Flyers – facing elimination in their first-round playoff series – are alive to play another game.
The Sixers finally took a game from the Heat to the delight of the faithful at the Wells Fargo Center. They still face a daunting task, down 3-1 and heading back to Miami on Wednesday night.
Then there are the Flyers. What exactly can you say about this team? The guess is much of the NHL is trying to figure out how to drive a stake through the heart of this vampire-like crew, which insists on coming back from the dead again and again.
Coach Peter Laviolette decided to continue his goalie carousel, starting Michael Leighton, who of course had come on in relief of Brian Boucher on Friday night.
Leighton had played well in relief. He didn’t do as well as the starter Sunday and got the hook after one period.
Brian Boucher held down the fort as the Flyers scratched back from a 3-1 hole after one period.
If Flyers fans have a sense of déjà vu, it’s well-earned. Not just because, like last year, this team refuses to die despite being buried.
But all too familiar to fans is the orange and black’s problems in goal. It’s hard to fathom that a team that for much of the season was the top team in the league, and went into the playoffs as one of the favorites for the Stanley Cup, could have started three different goalies after just five games of its first-round series.
Laviolette gave a quick hook to rookie Sergei Bobrovsky, and has spent the week since alternating between Boucher and Leighton.
Look for Boucher to start Game 7 Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center.
He just shouldn’t get too comfortable.
Comments