Flyers-Pens Game 4: It's the 33 Year Storm, Johnny

Good news from the Winnipeg Sun greets us this evening:

Do hockey miracles occur every 33 years?

The Philadelphia Flyers certainly hope so.

Down 3-0 in their Eastern Conference final against the Pittsburgh Penguins and heading into Game 4 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia tonight, the Flyers will attempt to become just the third team in NHL history to come back from such a post-season deficit to win a playoff series.

In 1942, the Maple Leafs became the first team to accomplish the feat, clawing their way back from three games down to dispose of the Detroit Red Wings.

In 1975, some 33 years later, the New York Islanders did it, overcoming the steep odds against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

And 33 plus 1975 is... 2008. So there you have it. Math has proven that not only will the Flyers win tonight, but also the next three games. I also like that only two teams ever choking away a 3-0 conference finals lead, and the Penguins are one of them. I don't know what all the doom and gloom and talk of 100 consecutive seasons without a championship is about. I say the stars are aligned (no Dallas-related pun intended.; those guys are done).

In all seriousness, we know it's do or die time, game 4 is game 7, the separator of men, boys, and assorted other win or go home clichés.

John Stevens has shaken up the top three lines and made a scratch/substitution on the fourth in the hopes of sparking an offense that has been muted so far this series. Kimmo remains sidelined for the foreseeable future, and Braydon Coburn will be trying to make out the shapes on the ice from the owner's suite. But despite the new faces lining up alongside each other and the seemingly mistake-free hockey Pens have been playing for much of the first three games, something tells me the Flyers win this one. All season long, the they've surged, then slumped, only to win again when they're counted out. Everyone is officially calling their season over at this point, so they're due for that unexpected W.

No matter what happens though, I know the crowd will support them tonight, and there will be a standing O when there's no time left on the clock.

We'll see you in traffic. Should be glorious with the Flyers and the Hamels Gang both at home tonight. Until then, and hopefully not for the last time this season, Stormy.

Comments

[Phanatic]

come on Stormy.

we need you.

[Walklett]

Vaya con Dios, Brah.

[sean]

i heard about this stat the other day on Mike and Mike (omg they talked about hockey!!!) but they were referring to the dallas-detroit series, dallas is still alive and it would be pretty cool to see both teams benefit from the 33 year coincidence.

[adam]

I just hope that if the Flyers do lose the fans treat them like the Habs fans treated them after the loss. We should all be pleased with the season we had as to most it was unexpected. I knew we would make the playoffs and I could not have asked for much more. We will be back with a vengeance next year.

[El Ricko]

Even if Stormy lets us down tonight, she's done yeoman's service for the Flyers in these Stanley Cups.

I humbly suggest a picture of Stormy be posted before every Phillies game, as well. And every Eagles game. Sixers game... Soul game... Rocky movie on TNT...

[enrico]

Hey Danny Brierre is there. Good to see em.

[joe l]

WAHOO!!

[El Ricko]

WOOOO-HOOOOOOO!

[enrico]

Gotta love anybody named Joffrey.

[ricky]

The Flyers just scored and Howard hit his homerun at the same exact time.

[El Ricko]

That call was... odd, to say the least.

[joe l]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[El Ricko]

Power play still looking anemic.

[BillyPenn]

DANNY!!!!!!

[joe l]

Where was this intensity the previous 3 games?

[El Ricko]

CHECK THAT -- GOOOOAAAAALLLL!

DANNY BRIERE!

[El Ricko]

Yeah, that's interference.

[El Ricko]

Holy shit, why were the Pens all over Richards there?

[themajor]

the real question is why did vs go to the studio?

[joe l]

Whoa, Dave Mustaine

[El Ricko]

Ohhhhhhhh... the CHANCES!

[El Ricko]

Awwww... Therrien's upset with the calls tonight. Karma's a b.

[joe l]

3-0!!!

[El Ricko]

HOLY CRAP THIS IS AWESOME!

[El Ricko]

(Here's where I apologize for caps lock abuse.)

[joe l]

Shut it Crosby

[Bryan]

Awesome start, goals, scrums, Crosby being a bitch. WTF versus, guys are pummeling each other, and you go to 'Hockey Central' are you serious?!?! They didn't even talk about the last penalty until after the faceoff. These guys suck.

[BillyPenn]

Alright I need to say it....I respect Crosby for his hockey skills, you really can't deny that his good....but could he be any more of a little bitch?!?

I'm sorry for the profanity, but is there really any other way to describe him?

[joe l]

Oh man, Brier got robbed.. nice stop.

[themajor]

I think bitch is a pretty clean word to be used on here

[TK]

ah man Why do I still feel like we're the scrappy team of roller hockey street thugs in the Mighty Ducks 2 teaching the Pens how to be tough before they eventually advance to the Cup?

[El Ricko]

@TK -- Because you have horrible taste in movies.

(jk)

[El Ricko]

Another softee called.

[El Ricko]

Hatcher check gets the Pen player AND the ref... awesome.

[El Ricko]

Surprise, surprise, a cheap shot from Crosby.

[ChitownFlyer]

The one thing Versus does right - on-ice microphones. Caught Jason Smith telling Crosby, "You fucking whine after every fucking play". Classic.

[enrico]

So I get that it's not cool for a fighter to go after a skill player. But it'd be totally cool for Richards to pound Crosby's face in, right?

[El Ricko]

I don't think you'd have to ask Richards twice, either.

[El Ricko]

Hey, Hamels has two hits tonight. Oh, and that whole shutout going, too, if you're into that sort of thing.

[Bryan]

Here's to the Phils and Flyers both winning 5-0 tonight

[TH]

I absolutely love that Briere is skating down the ice and putting people into the boards. That's enough to forgive him for his woeful playoff beard.

That being said, it's still better than Crosby's Dirty Sanchez. Shit, he looks like he tossed Cammryn Manheim's salad after a night of Taco Bell.

[El Ricko]

Hamels, 4-hit CG shutout. Not too shabby.

[El Ricko]

TH, that is absolutely disgusting. +5

[El Ricko]

Agh, how many of those flukey goals have the Pens scored this series?

[GreggyD]

And we're going to live to see another game!!!! Huge win tonight!!! If they get Coburn back things might be looking a lot different.

[brad]

Crosby backing down from Richards, what a little bitch.

[GreggyD]

Oooh I would have loved if Richards took it to Crosby on that faceoff. He would have knocked that peach fuzz off of his face. What a way to end the game. I love the intensity and cannot wait to see this carry over into game 5!!!

[El Ricko]

Wow, I just figured out that the '33' picture is from Camden Yards, Eddie Murray's retired number. Pretty bad it took me so long, considering I live in Baltimore.

[Phils Phan]

All that girl in the photo needs is a cheese steak and I'd lose it.

[John]

Funny thing, Flyers play well and Seeker and Capsfan are nowhere to be seen.