The Flyers welcomed the New York Rangers to the Wachovia center this afternoon in the regular season finale for the two teams. Both teams came in with 86 points overall, tied for 8th in the Eastern conference, and needing to win on this day to lock up the last playoff berth in the Eastern conference. In what will go down as the one of the most thrilling games in Wachovia center history, 60 minutes plus 5 minutes of overtime was not enough to decide a winner in this one. So the final playoff berth in the East came down, which normally spells doom for the Orange and Black. Of course the game should never have gotten to a shootout in the first place. The Rangers took early 1-0 lead just 3 minutes into the 1st period after the Flyers messed up what should have been any clear of their zone and allowed Jody Shelley to camp himself in front of the net and deflect one in. After that the Flyers basically dominated for the remainder of the evening and had pretty much all the scoring opportunities the rest of the way, but Henrick Lundqvist was dazzling with 46 saves. Finally, about 7 minutes into the 3rd period Matt Carle slapped a rebound past Lundqvist to knot it up at 1.
In the end the only reason New York was ever in it at all in this one was thanks to Lundqvist. Although he couldn't hang on for the shutout, thanks to the Flyer's tight defense and Brian Boucher's 24 saves, Lundqvist would get his chance to steal this one for the Rangers in the shootout. First up for the Flyers in the shootout was Danny Briere, who went right on in to Lundqvist, and waited until literally the last possible second for slapping one just over his right shoulder for a 1-0 lead in the shootout. Boucher then slapped away Erik Christensen's attempt for Rangers. Next up for the Flyers was Mike Richards but he missed a wrister high and wide to keep it up 1-0. P.A Parenteau then beat a sprawling Boucher to tie it up at 1 and that had to be it right?. There was no way the Flyers would score twice in the shootout was there? Apparently for Claude Giroux there was a way as he beat deked and beat Lundqvist through the 5 hole to score the Flyer's biggest goal of the season thus far for a 2-1 lead in the shootout.
That meant the Ranger's next shooter, Ollie Jokinen, had to score or the game was over. He came in quickly on Boucher, deked and tried to beat him through the 5 hole, but Boosh closed the wickets just in time to preserve the victory. So just like that the Orange and Black clinched their 14th playoff berth in the last 15 seasons. Since the Montreal Canadiens lost in OT yesterday, the win the gave the Flyer's the 7th seed in the East, and a first round date with the New Jersey Devils, whom they have owned this season. So they could very well reach the 2nd round of the playoffs, but after that who knows what could happen. Although I know they probably won't win the cup, I am just glad they got in so I can at least enjoy a little playoff hockey anyway.
2 comments:
It seemed to me that the Flyers dominated the game but Lundqvist kept the Rangers in it. I was afraid the Flyers were going to blow it and I'm really happy they didnt because I like watching hockey in April
-to ph1llysports
yeah me too
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