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Meltzer's Musings: 5-17-10 |
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As most local fans know, the Flyers' marketing slogan for this season was "Relentless". They didn't always live up to it the regular season, but that's exactly what they've been in playoffs so far.
There wasn't much you can say about their effort in Game 1 last night against Montreal except that the Flyers had their way with the Habs in pretty much every facet of the game. The big key to the Flyers' rout last night, to me, was James Van Riemsdyk's goal in the opening minute of the second period. The Flyers dodged some bullets in the first period, but when JVR made it 2-0, everything came together for Philly.
One thing to keep in mind in this -- and every -- playoff series. There is no such thing as an individual player or line who can't be contained or a goalie who can't be beaten. Hockey is the ultimate team game, and while Jaroslav Halak and Michael Cammalleri were certainly the biggest individual pieces of the puzzle in shocking Washington and Pittsburgh, it is team play that ultimately wins or loses a series.
Montreal was not intimidated by being down 3 games to 1 to Washington (a series that included a lopsided beating) or 3 games to 2 to Pittsburgh. So they aren't going to just roll over because the Flyers took it them in Game 1. Every time Halak has had a subpar game in the playoffs, he has bounced with a stellar effort the next time out.
Today's
Daily Drop at Versus.com discusses these topics and also looks at Antti Niemi's play in Game 1 of the Chicago-San Jose series.