Flyers Game 2 Observations and Notes

(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

(FIREDFORWINNING.COM) The Flyers fell 3-2 in overtime to the Penguins in Game Two Friday. The orange and black showed more effort and determination than Game One, but couldn't hold a late 2-1 lead.

Bill Guerin's goal with 1:31 left in OT was the difference. Game Three is Sunday afternoon at the Wachovia Center.

Game 2 Observations

Friday's game was so much more enjoyable to watch. The refs let the boys play and the result was an intense, hard-hitting game that never lost its flow.

The opening moments were chippy and refs Bill McCreary and Brad Meier could have easily bogged the game down with ticky-tack calls. Tonight felt so much more like a playoff game and the officials deserve credit for that.

After picking up 35 minutes in penalties and giving the Pens eight power plays in Game 1, the Flyers talked about being more disciplined. For the most part in Game 2, they were.

They picked up five minors and Kimmo Timonen picked up a 10-minute misconduct after the game. Unfortunately, the Pens went 2-for-5 on the PP, tying the game late in the third and winning it in OT.

The overtime penalties were a disappointing way to end a great game. The original cross check on Hal Gill was the right call. After that, you knew the officials were looking for an even-up penalty and unfortunately, Mike Knuble got a crosscheck of his own.

The slash call on Claude Giroux is a horrible rule, but a rule nonetheless. Anytime you break a stick with a slash, it's a penalty.

However, when it's behind the play, in overtime during the playoffs, that's a tough way to lose a game. Sticks nowadays break more easily than any No. 2 ever did during a pencil fight in the back of the bus in seventh grade. That rule needs to be changed. Terrible way to lose.

Jeff Carter came out on fire in the first period. He seemed less visible as the game wore on, and his hooking penalty led to the Penguins' second goal with less than four minutes remaining.

Luca Sbisa played forward in place of Daniel Carcillo and was on the ice only 5:37 during 11 shifts.

The Jordan Staal, Tyler Kennedy, Matt Cooke line was much-less visible in Game 2. As probably the Pens best line in Game 1, the trio was basically shut down Friday.

With Chris Kunitz substituted for Cooke late in the third, the line did have an outstanding shift and drew the penalty on Carter which led to the Pens tying the game

Giroux picked up the first of what should be many playoff points for his career on the Darrell Powe goal. Giroux looked like he fumbled a pass attempt to Powe but the puck made it there anyway, and the Princeton grad buried it for a 2-1 Flyers lead.

Great Saves a Turning Point

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