This Ain't Over: Flyers Take Game 4

After one period of Thursday night's game 4, the Flyers had established that they weren't ready to pack it in just yet. They scored 3 goals on 17(!) shots in the period, which proved to be enough. Despite a rush led by Jordan Staal's 2 goals in the third, the Flyers held on when things got rough, adding an empty netter and a few beat downs to show they're not done yet.

Joffrey Lupul, who'd been pretty quiet in these playoffs outside of a series winner against the Caps, scored the game's first goal, as well as its last (en). Danny Briere finally woke up in this series, adding the second goal of the game, and Jeff Carter netted the third. Both Briere and Carter scored on the power play, a welcome sight after the man-up had gone anemic in the first three games without Kimmo Timonen. Working on a line with Briere and Mike Richards, Scott Hartnell notched three assists. Dude can do pretty much anything that's asked of him. First period highlights:

Marty Biron had another great night in net, turning away 25 shots through the first two periods and 36 overall. If he hadn't already, he's earned the respect of this fanbase during this playoff run.

To cap the night off, Pittsburgh's Ryan Malone mixed it up with Derian Hatcher, and Hatch just went off, pummeling Malone despite taking the first few punches uncontested. Moments later, Richards and Sidney Crosby got into a beef, but luckily for Crosby, it ended before Richards got loose and destroyed him.

The teams are off until Sunday afternoon, which might actually be a good thing for the Flyers despite their up-tempo win tonight. With any luck, Braydon Coburn should be ready to go by then, though I doubt Kimmo Timonen will be ready by then, and so may Kimmo Timonen. With Cole Hamels throwing a complete game shutout of the Braves across the parking lot, it was a hell of a night in South Philly.

Comments

[Tony]

The series is all about psychology right now. The Flyboys have momentum, and they need to capitalize on that.

The Pens didn't seem to have any answers to the intensity and physical play that the from Flyers brought tonight, and though they'll be fired up being back at the Igloo, I really think they might not be sure exactly what they did wrong tonight. All of their neutral zone obstruction seemed to come a step late tonight, and with more open ice, the Flyers made the outlet passes they were missing in games 1-3.

I still think John Stevens is an absolute idiot for not making line changes sooner, but now that things are reconfigured, I think there's a slight chance they could pull this off. Can't wait for Sunday's game.

[Mike Zankman]

Don't you guys mean take game 4? Lets not get ahead of ourselves, one game at a time.

[kk]

good call mike

[enrico]

fixed typo

[MSM]

Report on Kimmo: He's cleared to skate tomorrow, if he feels well enough he could be ready for Game 5. Having him AND Coburn back would be a major plus in a huge game.

[Sanganoski]

Finally, after three lackluster games, the Flyers put in an effort worthy of the "blue collar" history of this franchise. Don't hand me that, "Well the Penguins wanted to win the series on their ice" B/S, the Flyers "hit" what they could catch and that little faction created room for them and, to use a line from "Rocky", "Shocked the World" with their play last night. The Penguins still do "hold wood" as far as home ice goes but with the win last night, they know, and another line from Rocky IV this time describing the Penguins,"They're Human! They're not a machine!" Now what team shows up Sunday is still in question, but as for last night, the "Real Deal" was on the ice and not just going through the motions waiting for the director to say,"Cut!", "Print It!", "That's A Wrap!"

[johndewar]

If Timonen is able to return on Sunday (he's been cleared to try skating), that would change things a bit.

I don't know where last night's effort came from; whether they found another level or strictly from pride, but you had to love the effort.

What was Malone thinking picking that fight?

[John]

The Flyers proved they can beat the Penguins at playoff hockey, now they need to keep up this style of play and give it everything they've got. To quote The Ultimate Warrior from a speech he gave at Penn State I attended stoned with some buddies, "Balls to the wall baby, do everything balls to the wall."

[joe l]

Why oh why couldn't they've played this game earlier in the series? The Flyers were playing with a cutthroat intensity we haven't seen since the previous series. Question about Timonen -- even if he skates today, will he have had enough conditioning to survive an elimination playoff game?

[enrico]

Anybody hear about Stevens giving the pregame speech over to Kimmo?

[John]

Yes! New comments by everyone's favorite douche Billy Wagner, I smell a new thread.

[TK]

Anyone else see that stat on VS last night about power play SOGs? The Flyers had 14 last night and only 4 in the three previous games. Talk about intensity...

[Benjamin]

It'll take a lot to overcome a 3-0 deficit in the series, and last night was the 1st step. It had a dominant period, and ended with some enforcement to remind the Penguins that the Flyers are not going away.

How pathetic was it that the official immediately protects Crosby from having Richards destroy him?

and Billy Wagner is doing everything he can to make the Mets collapse on themselves now. He is such a joke...

[Kevin McGuire]

What is the song that the Flyers play after scoring a goal? Can somebody e-mail me that info?

[MPR529]

I hate conspiracy theories, but I smell one here...

isn't it funny how great the flyers looked in the first two periods of the game last night? They spent the entire first period in the offensive zone (some weak penalty calls helped, let's be honest - and that fuels my theory).

But where has this been all series? I truly think the pens are the better team and while the better team doesnt always win, you dont play that poorly after three games of domination.

What am I getting it? It's a conspiracy by the NHL & Mario to get the Pens more revenue by getting them another home game. i would not be surprised to see the flyers get blasted in game 5. i don't want to be right. but i cant help but feel that way.

however, if the flyers win game 5, they are winning the series.

we talked about a canadian team bias conspiracy, i dont see why this one couldn't be a possibility either.

i hope it's the alcohol still talking...

[MSM]

@ Benjamin:

I noticed that too. The officials let Malone and Hatcher go at it 10 seconds earlier but Richards takes a couple of hacks at Crosby, and Crosby STARTS the deal with dropping his gloves and linesman steps in to stop him from getting a huge ass kicking. Way to protect your prize, NHL fatcats. Are the refs actually told to protect that little shit?

Side note: did anyone catch the one VS microphone after a play, where Jason Smith says to Crosby "Stop f***ing whining after every f***ing play"?

[Walklett]

@Kevin McGuire

The song is called "Bro Hymn" by Pennywise

[Mike]

"however, if the flyers win game 5, they are winning the series."

...I totally agree. If they get Coburn and Timonen back for game 5, (or even one of them) and win...they are going to be flying so high that they won't need a plane to get back to Philly for game 6. They Pens won't be able to stop that kind of momentum.

Every 33 years a team chokes on a big one...is it the Pens turn?

Go Flyers.

[Liam]

They have been palying bro hymn by pennywise after goals, I think the part from the chorus, download it and just make sure its that

[Kulp]

Surprisingly, that's not the first time I've heard that theory. A friend of mine suggested both the Penguins and the Red Wings were giving away game 4 to get an extra game in their building.

The problem I have with that idea is that I am a very competitive person, and I could never dream of throwing a serious contest of any kind for any reason. Now they may have been taking it easy and trying to coast into the Finals. Their mindset might have been let's try to get out of this without anyone else getting hurt. Still, I don't think you get within one game of the Stanley Cup Finals with a team full of guys that would be willing to throw a game.

I'll admit it's possible because I believe both games are on NBC, so both the league and the clubs stand to benefit from Game 5, but I have a hard time believing guys like Crosby and Malkin don't want to go out and dominate every night.

[Mike]

@MSM...I've been told about that by about 5 people at work today, I'm going to go home and watch the game on demand...I missed the game last night, I was at the bank watching the gem Hamels threw at the Braves.

Also, if I were Stevens, I would hold off on letting us know about the status of Coburn and Timonen for game 5...let the Pens worry about if they have to defend against them or not. I don't know how much it will effect them, but it couldn't hurt to do, right?

[sarah]

If anyone can find the clip of Smith emotionally abusing Crosby, I'd love to see it.

[Mike]

Listening to Rob Cherry and Chris Therein on 610 WIP, they are reporting that Kimmo Timonen will play in game 5 on Sunday...no word on Coburn right now.

[John]

@sarah

Not quite what you were looking for but at the end Richards talks about his scrum with Crosby. Pretty entertaining. The first half Timonen talks about playing Sunday

[Mike]

@ John...could you post the link??

[MPR529]

@MSM - Exactly! I screamed at the tv for the the TWO refs who got between 18 & 87 last night. TWO refs, unlike the usual one in a case where you';ve got a bunch of players puching and shoving, you dont get two refs to protect you...unless you're the flop-master himself.

@Kulp - Thanks for adding to my theory. i knew i left something out, but was in a rush to get it out. both games on NBC this weekend, hmmmmm.....

[Sanganoski]

@MSM- I didn't see or hear what Jason Smith said to Crosby, but if he's, meaning Crosby, pissing off the opposition with his verbalige and theatrics, if you've been watching hockey long enough, then you know that it won't be long before the officials, either in this series or the next if they advance, will just turn a blind eye and a deaf ear and let him "put up or shut up!" or maybe they won't be so quick to play "lifeguard" and take just a little more time to step in and rescue him?? I read that he did have a major for fighting earlier this season and I guess his opponent got 2,5,10,and a game misconduct!

[Mike]

Jesus guys...knock it off with the conspiracy theories crap.

I'm as big a Flyers fan as anyone on here, but c'mon, it's getting annoying...it's not a conspiracy, the Flyers won.

They're getting Timonen and probably Coburn back and they're gonna give the Pens a run for they're money.

Be happy. Be excited. I sure as hell am.

Enjoy the playoffs for what they are...the playoffs. There's nothing better than playoff hockey. Sure we've been getting some shitty calls, but so has everyone else.

...And maybe they were a little premature in breking up Richie and Cindy...but someone will get him, watch.

Thank god we get a break from versucks on Sunday...I hope NBC has someone tolerable doing the game.

By the way...tickets for game 6 on tuesday are on sale..you guys should get some, it's gonna happen.

[MPR529]

Mike - I love your optimism, wish i could muster up some of my own, however.

I'll be rooting hard Sunday, as always, but I still can't deny how I feel right now.

Again, i like to drink at work, maybe it's the whiskey talking...

[Kulp]

I didn't say I agree there is a conspiracy, just pointing out that there are some people out there that feel that way. It makes sense from a financial standpoint, but my belief is if someone from the NHL or the front office told Crosby to throw the game, he'd tell them go to hell.

[MPR529]

Im sure people are telling cyndy to shave that crustache, but is he listening there? :)

[benjamin]

Sorry "seekersback", personally have no care for what sex you are, or what you have to say. You stand up for a man with zero class, who has shown total lack of respect and deserves nothing more than the harshest scathing from opposing fans. A man who comes here and shows knowledge and accepts that more than one team in the league has skill and talent, will be respected and treated as a worthy opponent in which chivalry can be extendeded to. Seeker has shown no class himself, no honor, and deserves zero respect. Forgive us, if anyone who supports a lowly man like seeker is treated as poorly as the "man" himself deserves.

[Sanganoski]

Not to suggest that this is "Seeker Sunday" but with some of your observations about the Flyers "reprising" their "Broad Street Bully" days during this series, if you've been a Penguins' fan for that length of time to remember those "bully days" from the Flyers, then you'll also remember that at the same "era" the Penguins had their own brand of "bully days" with the likes of Steve Durbano, Eddie Shack, "Battleship" Bob Kelly and, this was WAAYY BEFORE Ronnie Hextall became the "hatchet man" in goal for the Flyers, a young goaltender, Jim Rutherford, who would use his stick better than Paul Bunyan could use an axe! If memory serves me correctly, Hextalls' uncle Brian, also wore the Penguins uniform at that time, but all he ended up being was Dave Schultzs' punching bag, so the Penguins do have their own "skeletons in the closet" with the way the game was played at that time.

[Benjamin]

Excellent observations Sanganoski. They didn't make the movie slapstick without a reason. Physical toughness wasn't a isolated thing on Flyers home ice in the 70's/80's. The broad street bullies are given a negative connotation and the most negative publicity these days, probably because it's Philly. It's the same reason every single Eagles game on national TV, some jackass references Santa and snowballs. Ancient History, yet it's talked about like it was yesterday. I remember in the last decade seeing other towns throw ice balls at players, coaches, etc. Does any one talk about that? Of course not.

[Sanganoski]

Thanks Benjamin. I think the movie you're referring to was "Slapshot" and, although it starred Paul Neuman as a player coach, it was a saterical look at the way ice hockey was played. It also introduced the "Hanson Brothers" to the movie goers. At that time All the teams had they're own variation of "bullies", which later evolved into "goons" and such as yourself, I too am tired of the "snowball" incident with Santa. Keeping with the subject matter at hand, the NHL eliminated the center ice red line to help "speed" up play, how many of todays' "scorers" would be just regular wingers if the old "two line pass" call was still in effect??? The league has had many changes over the years, it's true, and another question, how many "champions" wouldn't have been that, had they elected, back then, to have the "snow" that collects around the dasher boards to be cleared as it is in todays' league because many a game had been decided because of the puck hitting that snow and creating a scoring opportunity, that in today game just continues around the boards?