Philadelphia Flyers Overcome Penalty Woes; Beat New Jersey Devils in OT

Coming into Sunday night’s game between the Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils, both teams had to be unhappy with their overall play.

For New Jersey, Martin Brodeur’s inability to stop the puck and his team's penchant for taking undisciplined penalties had cost them in the win department. For Philadelphia, their defensive woes and tendency for giving up too many shots had cost them dearly, leading to a game two loss.

Forwards Zach Parise, Patrick Elias and Ilya Kovalchuk have been the best players for the Devils; for the Flyers it’s been goaltender Brian Boucher, defenseman Chris Pronger and forward Mike Richards have been their go-to guys.

Throughout the first two matches, both teams have been extremely physical, hitting opposing players at every opportunity and getting under each others skin, leading to numerous scrums after the whistle. This physical style plays right into the Flyers' wheelhouse. Let’s face it, in the long run, the Devils would be wise to avoid getting into this type of game, which they did in game three.

The Flyers came out of the blocks playing some very undisciplined hockey, finding themselves on the penalty kill three times in the first seven minutes of the game—not exactly a recipe for success.

The Devils made the Flyers pay, when Brian Rolston launched a slap shot past Flyers goaltender Brian Boucher on the power play just 18 seconds after Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen took a hooking penalty at 6:57 of the first, 1-0 Devils.

The Flyers were lucky to escape another penalty early on in the first period when Daniel Carcillo embellished an incident in which he clearly faked getting hit with a stick to the face. It was a disgusting act, an embarrassment to hockey, and he should have received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for his actions—fact is, he wasn’t touched, there is no honour in a “dive.”

Devils defenseman Matthew Corrente took a high-sticking penalty at 8:27 of the first, which led to the Flyers first goal of the game from Claude Giroux—who has had an excellent series thus far, the teams were now tied at one goal apiece.

Without a doubt, power plays have been the difference in this series, as seven of the 16 goals scored in this series have been scored on the power play. Clearly, both teams would be wise to stay out of the box.

The second period was no different for the Flyers, as they took three more penalties (New Jersey had none). The third penalty led to New Jersey lighting the lamp for the tying goal—a nice tip-in from Brian Rolston, his second power play marker of the game.

The Flyers and Devils would emerge from the second period tied at two goals apiece. Although the Flyers tended to dominate the five-on-five play, you have to think the Flyers had to be feeling pretty happy with that score—especially when you consider they gave up seven power play opportunities over the first 40 minutes of play.

A magnificent save from Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur with about 6:20 to play in the third period and another with just under five minutes to play saved the day for the Devils, who were out of breath and teetering on disaster.

With under two minutes to go, and with overtime looming, the Flyers continued to pressure the Devils, but were unable to bulge the twine, forcing overtime—which marked the sixth time a game has gone to overtime in these playoffs.

The Flyers outshot the Devils in the third period by a margin of 12-3. Let’s face it, the Orange and Black dominated the play throughout the third period and for most of the game.

Overtime started exactly the way the third period ended—with the Flyers dominating the play and almost taking another undisciplined penalty as they had too many men on the ice in the first minute of play, but the referees missed it.

Brodeur (one of the greatest goaltenders in NHL history) made yet another amazing save at the 18:30 mark of overtime, when he stopped Flyers rookie forward James Van Riemsdyk at close range with an incredible poke check—a move former Toronto Maple Leafs legendary goaltender Johnny Bower made famous back in the day.

In the end Brodeur’s heroics could not stop the Flyers, as Daniel Carcillo tapped in an easy one from in front of the net.

The Flyers were full value for the win as, without the power play goals, the Devils were never really in this one.

Game four of the series will be played on Tuesday in Philadelphia—the Devils would be wise to show up for that one, clearly they didn’t Sunday night.

Until next time,

Peace!