Fate in Own Hands, Flyers Hope to Exorcise Demons
NHLHS writer David Strehle takes a look at this weekend’s home-and-home series between the Broad Street Bullies and Broadway Blueshirts.
While the recent on-field success of his franchise might not be the best role model, Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis’ “Just win baby” could be the perfect thing for coach Peter Laviolette to tell his Philadelphia Flyers this weekend.
After Wednesday night’s expected New York Rangers victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the entire season comes down to a home-and-home series between Philadelphia and New York, starting tonight at Madison Square Garden.
The Flyers’ magic number is at two points. With a regulation win tonight in New York, the Orange-and-Black would clinch a playoff spot.
If the game goes to overtime, the Rangers would be guaranteed at least a point and everything would ride on Sunday’s contest at the Wachovia Center in South Philly.
And there is no way that Laviolette and his Flyers want it to get that close.
If history is any kind of a tell-tale sign for things to come, Philadelphia would do itself a tremendous favor by clinching the spot in the postseason tonight.
Past Rangers Torturing of the Flyers
In the 30 seasons I have been fortunate enough to witness, the Rangers have tortured the Flyers more than any other during that time frame.
It began with Ron Duguay, Ron Greschner, and the Smurfs, led by USA hockey coaching legend, Herb Brooks.
I get all warm and fuzzy watching “Miracle” and reminiscing about Team USA’s incredible Gold Medal victory over the Soviet Union, I really do.
But remembering those days in the early-80′s and what Brooks’ team did to the Philly faithful, it conjures up all kinds of horrific images.
Kind of like Linda Blair, head in full spin mode, and pea soup spewing from her mouth.
Yes, it has been that bad.
Along with the Brooks / Smurfs-era, the 80′s brought about a new playoff format and a young John Vanbiesbrouck to take over the Orange-and-Black house of pain.
Philadelphia would traditionally finish first in the old Patrick Division, with the Rangers barely qualifying in the fourth spot. One played four, and you can see where this is going.
More often than not, New York knocked the Flyers out of the playoffs. The years that Philly won the annual battle, they made it to the Stanley Cup Finals.
The 90′s brought Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Adam Graves, and Flourtown’s Mike Richter, a whole new crew to dole out punishment.
The Flyers weren’t very good in the pre-Eric Lindros 90′s, so the torment was at least contained in the regular season.
With Lindros leading the Legion of Doom line, Philadelphia actually won most of the late-90′s playoff battles, most memorably knocking out the Wayne Gretzky / Messier-led squad on the way to the 1997 Finals.
Other than the usual rivalry issues, nothing extraordinarily bad had happened to Philadelphia at the hands of the Broadway Blueshirts.
Until the last game of the 2008-09 regular season at the Wachovia Center, that is.
Current Flyer Blair Betts was playing for New York last season, and he scored a late third period game-winning goal to take the all-important home-ice advantage away from the Flyers.
The loss dropped Philly to fifth place giving another arch-rival, the Pittsburgh Penguins, home ice in a series they would take in six games on their way to winning the Stanley Cup.
So with the chance there to end the drama tonight and exorcise the demons of seasons past, the Flyers would be wise to take it.
Because if they don’t, I’m sure the Rangers would be more than willing to add yet another chapter to their Orange-and-Black horror story.
But then again, Orange-and-Black are Halloween colors…”Halloween”, that is, a la Michael Myers.
Carter to be a “game-time decision”
Leading goal scorer Jeff Carter, out since March 21st with a fractured left foot, could play as early as tonight at Madison Square Garden.
Carter, who had a screw surgically inserted into the foot on March 26th, got good news when his MRI led the team’s medical staff to clear him for practice on Thursday.
Carter spent about 40 minutes on the ice Thursday, and another 15 this morning at MSG.
It remains to be seen if Carter will dress tonight or not. But just the thought that their premier sniper is close should be a positive sign.
If the Flyers can get to the postseason, Carter’s addition would be a huge boost for an offense that has slumbered too often down the stretch.
Boucher Confident
With a record of 6-16-3 as of last last week, it would have been easy for Flyers’ goaltender Brian Boucher to pack it in.
But beginning with last Friday night’s effort in a 1-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, Boosh has turned in three straight solid games, including wins in his last two.
Boucher has allowed just four goals in those three games, stopping 79 of 83 shots. His shutout of the Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday night was his first blanking of the season.
With the injuries that ended the seasons of Ray Emery and Michael Leighton, Boucher was pretty much thrown into the starter’s role.
The 33-year-old number 33 could really make his mark on this season with getting Philadelphia into the playoffs.
Avery to miss weekend set
Super-pest Sean Avery, who almost single-handedly did the Flyers in during the Rangers 3-1 victory on March 14th, will miss the final two regular season games with a knee injury.
Should be a good sign for Philly, because Avery has been one of the leading New York torturers when they have beaten the Flyers in recent times.
The Gift of Gab – Some Great Quotes about Home-And-Home Set
Flyers forward Daniel Briere told the Philadelphia Inquirer: “It’s clear as day now. We all know what’s on the table. Our confidence is high, we’ve played the right way three games in a row now. If we play the way we have, we will be fine. It will be a lot more satisfying to do it ourselves.”
Rangers starting goaltender Henrik Lundqvist: “It’s fun to be here. A couple of weeks ago I thought we were out, but we never gave up and we’re back in the race. The whole season comes down to the last two games.”
Philly captain Mike Richards: “Now it’s real crunch time and it’s an exciting time of year. It’s the best time of year when it means something.”
But maybe Flyers winger Scott Hartnell summed it up best: “It’s going to be a hostile environment for sure at MSG, and we’re just going to have to go balls-out.”
Penalty-Killing Unit Getting Job Done
The Philadelphia penalty-killing unit has been stellar as of late. They killed off all six Toronto man advantages on Tuesday, and now have killed off the last 20 opponent PP chances over the course of the last five contests.
Led by ex-Ranger Betts, Ian Laperriere, Richards and Darroll Powe, the forwards have been getting into lanes and blocking many of the point shots before they have gotten to Boucher.
Especially Laperriere. Consistently faced with some of the biggest shooters in the NHL winding up to blast a shot towards the Flyers’ goal, Lappy never flinches.
Even after the Jason Pominville shot he took to the chops back on a Black Friday game against the Buffalo Sabres.
Laperriere ended up with nearly 100 stitches and lost seven teeth, but he has never stopped demonstrating the warrior’s soul.
And for the sake of the franchise, hopefully the entire team takes a page from Lappy’s book and shows the same moxy this weekend.
What’s at Stake?
Make no mistake, this weekend series between these two rivals is a huge deal to both franchises.
If the Rangers do not qualify for the playoffs, it will be the first time in the past five seasons that they have sat home when hockey’s second season begins.
It just might mean the beheading of general manager Glen Sather and possibly head coach John Tortorella. Not to mention the countless offseason moves a non-playoff finish will trigger in the Big Apple.
The Flyers were an early-season pick for many of the hockey experts to make the Stanley Cup Finals when they acquired Chris Pronger from the Anaheim Ducks this past offseason.
A non-playoff finish would be catastrophic for a franchise that gave up a lot of youth in exchange for Pronger’s services. They sent a younger goal scorer (Joffrey Lupul), a young, promising defenseman (last year’s first round choice, Luca Sbisa), and this year’s first round draft pick in the upcoming 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
There is no doubt that there is a high number of folks rooting for the Rangers to sweep the Flyers in the home-and-home and make Philly’s pick a REALLY good one for the Ducks.
And Finally…Weekend Prediction
Look for Simon Gagne to have at least a goal. He lit it up against Lundqvist and the Rangers on Broadway back at the end of December with a hat trick, and his play of late indicates he could be in for another big game tonight.
If Carter is able to lace ‘em up, it will be another gigantic boost of confidence in the team’s locker room.
With New York’s emotional pot-stirrer Avery out, they will need huge efforts from Marian Gaborik, Chris Drury, Ryan Callahan, and Brandon Dubinsky.
These players have come up big against the Orange-and-Black in the past and for New York to have a fighting chance, they will need them tonight.
Based on the severity of the situation, I will go against my better judgment on how the Flyers have performed in big games so far this year and say the Philadelphia locks it up tonight with a 4-2 win.
But if the Rangers pull off a win in regulation tonight, all bets are off as to how things play out for Sunday.
And the Flyers are hoping Sunday’s game won’t matter in the standings.
David Strehle
NHLHS Flyers Correspondent / NHL Writer
dstrehle@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @PhilaDAVEia
