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Quick Hits: May 16, 2022
1) In the weekly "Mondays with Meltzer" edition of Flyers Daily on the Flyers Broadcast Network, Jason Myrtetus and I discussed the importance of the Flyers getting a new head coach in place well ahead of the NHL Entry Draft. We also discussed the signing of Ivan Fedotov, the extremely high caliber of play and entertainment value of the first round the Stanley Cup playoffs this year and more.
Neither Jason nor I think that the Toronto Maple Leafs need to make any major changes this offseason in reaction to coming up just short against Tampa Bay in the first round of the playoffs. On the other hand, it's fair to question whether the Stanley Cup windows for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals remain open regardless of how hard-fought their respective first-round series were.
2) With a 2-0-0 record in the preliminary round of the 2022 IIHF World Championship in Finland, Travis Sanheim and Team Canada return to action on Monday to take on Slovakia (1-1-0). Sanheim has two points (1g, 1a) and has averaged 18:28 of ice time across the two games played to date.
3) Kelly Cup playoffs: The Flyers' ECHL affiliate, the Reading Royals, face a Game 7 on home ice on Monday against the Newfoundland Growlers in the North Division Final. Reading held a three games to one lead in the series before dropping each of the last two games.
4) Today in Flyers History: Flyers Close Out Semis vs. Quebec
The Flyers earned their fifth trip to the Stanley Cup Final by prevailing over the offensively potent Quebec Nordiques in six hard fought games in the 1985 Wales Conference Final. Philadelphia skated to a 3-0 win at the Spectrum in the clinching game in May 16, 1985.
The pivotal play came at 2:01 of the second period. The Flyers were clinging to a 1-0 lead provided by a first-period goal by Rick Tocchet but were in penalty trouble. With Joe Paterson and Brian Propp in the penalty box, the Nords had a 5-on-3 power play for one minute, 23 seconds. Suddenly, Flyers captain Dave Poulin intercepted a puck near the defensive blueline and found himself with a clean breakaway on diminutive (5-foot-8) butterfly style goaltender Mario Gosselin.
"I had way too much time to think," Poulin recalls. "All series we had been preaching, 'Shoot high on Gosselin.'"
That's exactly what Poulin did, and he made no mistake as he elevated the puck over the goalie and sent the sold-out Spectrum into a frenzy.
Vezina Trophy winning goaltender Pelle Lindbergh took it from there. He stoned Quebec shoots on the few open looks they had at the net. The Nordiques became increasingly frustrated and disheartened, especially after Doug Crossman tacked on a power play goal.
As the game wore on, Mike Keenan's Flyers dominated. Philly would up outshooting the Nordiques by a 36-15 margin to clinch the Prince of Wales Trophy and move on to play the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final.
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