After Villie Leino ripped a perfect slap shot by Ryan Miller early on in the 3rd period, the Sabres had to do what the Flyers had done so many times in this series, pull their goaltender. The game was over long before that, even though teams come back from being down 3-0, the Sabres had very little sustained pressure up to that point.
The Flyers came out very hot in the first period. They dominated the Sabres in all aspects of the game, the most glaring stat was that the Flyers out shot the Sabres 16-2. It was a tad worrisome during that first period because Miller was once again standing on his head. He almost escaped the first period unscaved, but Braydon Coburn, with an assist from Michael Grier’s hand, made sure that the Flyers would be going into the locker room with a 1-0 lead.
That goal changed the game and gave the Flyers all the momentum they needed to finish off the Sabres. If Miller were to have made that save the Flyers could have been very discouraged because all of that work would have been for nothing, but just the opposite happened.
Last night was the most complete game that the Flyers have played in a long time. They came out an immediately controlled the pace of the game and a poor game plan by the Sabres allowed them to do that. Buffalo was content with sitting back and letting the Flyers take as many shots on Miller as possible hoping to get a save that would springboard an odd man rush. The Flyers defense is simply too good to let that happen in a game 7.
After taking control of the first period the Flyers did something that they have not done in what seems like years, score on back to back power plays. The Flyers have converted on 3 of 8 power plays (37.5%), since Chris Pronger returned to quarterback the power play in game 6. Mike Richards found Briere on a slap pass through traffic to put the Flyers up 2-0. Then a couple minutes later, Giroux fired a shot that James van Riemsdyk tipped in past Miller. The power play unit moved the puck around the zone with ease because Pronger is so calm and confident near the blue line. That confidence spreads around the ice.
This is the type of win that can springboard a team to a big time run, the Flyers picked a perfect time to play an almost perfect game. It’s an almost perfect game because Buffalo found a way to score twice in the final frame. The Flyers still have not had a shut out all season, last night would have been a perfect time to do so. I thought Boucher played well, he made the saves that had to be made, but last night really was all about the offense.
We’ll learn tonight who the Flyers play in the semifinals, but who ever it is better be ready, because the Flyers look to be on the verge of playing their best hockey since the middle part of the season.
Tags: NHL, Philadelphia Flyers
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