2012 NHL Playoffs: Flyers Needed to Be Blown out by the Penguins

The Penguins have kept their season alive with a 10-3 win over the Flyers. The loss Wednesday was huge, but being blown out was the best type of loss that the Flyers could have had.

For the first three games of the series, the Flyers were untouchable. Having comebacks in each of the first three games and scoring eight goals twice had them feeling very confident.

The hardest game to win in any series is the close out game. Entering Game 4 at home, the Flyers might have been taking their series lead for granted.

They kept pace with the Penguins during the first period, but the Pittsburgh opened up its lead during the second period.

If the Flyers would have had a small loss by a close score, they would be in a worse spot than they currently are.

Losing 10-3 when you are up 3-0 in a series on your home ice is nothing short of a total embarrassment.

The Penguins were down three skaters and trying to avoid the sweep. They gave the Flyers more than they were ready for in Game 4. Pittsburgh was so dominant that the third period was mostly keep away and light floor checking just to kill time.

The Flyers were completely embarrassed on home ice in such a way that it should change how the team approaches Game 5 in Pittsburgh.

For the first time in the series, Philadelphia has something to prove.

With one game, the Penguins went from being completely down and out to having a chance to win the series. With so many “experts” choosing the Penguins to win it all, the Game 4 win gives them hope that they might be right.

The Flyers need to make a statement in Game 5, and that statement has nothing to do with physical play. They have to use the humiliating loss as motivation to limit their penalties and soundly win the game as a result.