It wasn't exactly a hockey clinic out there last night but all that matters for the Flyers is that they will live to play another game. The Flyers were the better team for the majority of the game -- especially in the second period -- but they also gave the Boston Bruins ample opportunities to put them away.
Some notes and observations from the game:
* Apart from the obvious heroes (Simon Gagne, Matt Carle, Chris Pronger), there were several other Flyers who quietly turned in outstanding games. For one, I thought Blair Betts (15-for-22 on faceoffs, 4 hits, 30 shifts) had a whale of a game. And although neither Scott Hartnell nor James Van Riemsdyk were able to finally end their long goal-scoring droughts, both played their best game of the playoffs.
* Injury reports mean nothing this time of year,because anyone who can possibly play will remarkably heal in time for an elimination game. Dan Carcillo's knee injury seems significant by virtue of the fact that he didn't skate a shift in the third period or OT. Gagne was well enough to skate one OT shift and tally the game winner, but obviously he's still far less than 100%. Arron Asham hobbled off, and his status remains to be seen. Ryan Parent left the game in the second period, and it seems likely that Oskars Bartulis will be in the lineup in Game 5.
* How do you lose track of Mark Recchi in the final minute of a one-goal game? Recchi made one hell of a shot -- his release was lightning quick -- on the goal that sent the game to OT, but a shot from that angle at that juncture of the game is a save that Brian Boucher had to make.
* Boston's strange second goal was a potential momentum-killer for the Flyers after playing so well to forge a 3-1 lead. Not only was it the worst goal Boucher has allowed during the playoffs, it was also one of the worst goals the team has given up all season (and that's saying something given all the turmoil in goal this year and Boucher's up-and-down play in particular).
* At the other end of the ice, Tuukka Rask wasn't much better. He got caught way out of position on three occasions (surviving each time), went down to his knees too early on several shots that barely missed the net, and should have stopped the Daniel Briere goal late in the first period that sent the teams to intermission tied, 1-1, rather than Boston leading.
* Claude Giroux and Briere hooked up for the first goal during 4-on-4 play. Had Hartnell not been in the box, the goal may not have happened.
* Because of all the injuries in the lineup, Peter Laviolette was forced to use Andreas Nodl a lot in the third period and OT. I've never been a Nodl fan, but he acquitted himself very well tonight, including a game-high 6 hits.
* For the first time in the series, the Flyers kept Miroslav Satan (one shot, no points in 23:23 played) quiet.
* I think it actually worked to the Flyers' benefit that they only had two powerplays tonight. They look way out synch right now and some of the personnel they've had to use, such as Asham, aren't used to the roles they've been thrust into.
* Huge ovations tonight for John LeClair and Keith Primeau. Also, before the game, the Flyers showed a nice montage of memorable playoff moments in club history. Apart from the fact that, apparently, Eric Lindros never contributed a single playoff memory worth recalling (most team-produced historical montages nowadays have a token Lindros clip grudgingly tossed in, seemingly so it can't be said he was totally ignored), it was well done.
Today's
Daily Drop at Versus.com looks at last night's game.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
Join the Discussion:
»