Bill Meltzer
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Quick Hits: May 24, 2024
1) Team USA has been eliminated from the 2024 IIHF World Championships. On Thursday, the Americans dropped a 1-0 decision to host nation Czechia in the quarterfinal game of the medal round. Flyers left winger Joel Farabee finished the tournament with two points (1g, 1a) and a plus-two rating and 17 shots on goal in eight games while averaging 16:05 of ice time.
Team Sweden defeated archrival Finland in overtime, 2-1, on Thursday. Flyers goaltender, who has started three of the Swedes' eight games to date, backed up Minnesota's Filip Gustavsson. Tre Kronor will now play the Czechs on Saturday in one of the two semifinal games.
In Thursday's other two quarterfinal games, Canada beat Slovakia by a 6-3 score and Switzerland downed Germany by a 3-1 count. Canada will play Switzerland on Saturday.
2) The 2024 Memorial Cup gets underway on Friday night in Saginaw, Michigan. The Western Hockey League champion Moose Jaw Warriors will play the Saginaw Spirit (Ontario Hockey League) to kick off the round robin portion of the CHL championship tournament.
3) The late Pelle Lindbergh was born in Stockholm on this day in 1959. There is currently a feature-length documentary on Lindbergh in production in Sweden. My "Pelle Lindbergh: Behind the White Mask" co-author, Thomas Tynander, is prominently featured in the upcoming documentary, as is forrmer Flyers equipment manager Kevin Cady (one of Lindbergh's closest friends). The documentary is slated for a 2025 release.
4) Also born on this day: The late Bruce Gamble (1938-1982) was born on this day 86 years ago in Port Arthur, Ontario. On February 8, 1972, the Flyers goaltender suffered a heart attack during a road game against the Vancouver Canucks. He finished the game but was later hospitalized. At doctors' strong advice, Gamble retired. He became a Flyers' scout.
5) Today in Flyers History: May 24
* 1980: In one of the most controversial games in NHL history, the New York Islanders skate to a 5-4 overtime win over the Flyers to win the Stanley Cup in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. Two first period plays became the subject of lingering controversy: a borderline high-sticked goal by Denis Potvin and a blatantly off-side rush that ended in a Duane Sutter goal.
* 1995: The Flyers put a three games to zero stranglehold on their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the New York Rangers with a 5-2 win in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden. Kevin Dineen scores twice for the Flyers, while Mikael Renberg, Rod Brind'Amour and Kevin Haller (shorthanded) tally once apiece. Ron Hextall makes 32 saves on 34 shots.
* 2010: The Flyers win the Eastern Conference championship with a 4-2 home win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final. Mike Richards' hustling shorthanded goal at 4:25 of the first period, capping a brilliant shift, become an iconic moment in franchise history. Jeff Carter (5-on-5 and empty net goals) and Arron Asham also score for the Flyers. Michael Leighton stops 25 of 27 shots. Kimmo Timonen plays an outstanding two-way game to take third-star honors.