Trailing their Eastern Conference Semifinal series with New Jersey, two games to one, the Flyers took an off-day yesterday. They will return to practice in Voorhees today, starting at 10:30 a.m. before returning to Newark for Game 4 tomorrow.
Thursday's overtime loss represented a missed opportunity for the Flyers; a winnable game that they let slip away. However, if the Flyers can bring the series back to Philadelphia tied at two games apiece, they will be in decent shape.
In re-watching Game 3 yesterday, my feeling was reinforced that the play was more or less equal over the balance of the time. At times, the Devils kept the Flyers hemmed in the defensive zone and made it tough for the Flyers to generate any forechecking pressure. But there were also spurts of several minutes at a time where the Flyers had their coverages, breakouts and forechecking in order.
All in all, despite the loss and continued frustrations on the power play, I thought the Flyers made progress from their performance in Game 2. But this time of year, wins are all that matter. Win convincingly, win ugly... it makes no difference.
The playoffs are a war of attrition, and the injuries are starting to pile up for the Flyers (not that the Devils are any healthier). Claude Giroux, who has been noticeably ineffective the last two games, is reportedly suffering from a groin pull. Scott Hartnell is said to be battling through a foot injury sustained in Game 1. Something seems to be up with Jaromir Jagr as well, although he has no "official" injuries.
Sean Couturier's lower body injury is likely NOT a skate cut as originally feared. It may be a knee injury of some sort, however. His status will likely be listed as day-to-day but it remains to be seen how much time he'll have to miss.
On the blueline, I thought Nicklas Grossmann still looked foggy in Game 3. Beyond the fact that he was getting beaten off the rush -- his skating has not been nearly as good all playoffs since that late-season knee injury -- he was uncharacteristically indecisive. Whether he's fully recovered from his concussion is strictly speculation. Only the player knows for sure.
Peter Laviolette made large-scale line changes last game. We'll see what combos they practice with today.
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My next playoff article for the Camden Courier Post will run tomorrow morning. The article looks at how Eric Wellwood has staked a regular lineup spot for himself, dressing in every playoff game to date. He skated over 14 minutes in Game 3, and was not out on the ice for any New Jersey goals.
I'll post the link in tomorrow's gameday blog.
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