Flyers Game 2 Observations and Notes

(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

The Flyers unleashed a shooting gallery on Marc-Andre Fleury at times in the first period but were only able to put one by the former No. 1 overall pick in the opening stanza.

In the first minute of the third period with the score tied at one, Staal had a wide-open net but shot the puck back into Marty Biron. About a minute later, the Flyers took the lead on Powe's goal.

Then with about 8:30 remaining in the game, Fleury made an unreal save on Carter. In almost the same fashion as Staal. Carter had a wide-open net but Fleury slid across to rob him and keep the game in reach for Pittsburgh.

Faceoffs

The Flyers were mauled in the circle in Game 1, losing 64 percent of the draws, including two which led directly to Pittsburgh goals.

Between games, they complained to the league that the Pens were not set before the puck was dropped and that created an advantage. Like they say, if you're not cheating, you're not trying, especially on faceoffs.

In Game 2, the Flyers were better, but still not good. Pittsburgh won 54 percent of the draws, but it still seemed like they won every important faceoff.

After the Carter penalty at 15:56 of the third period, Mike Richards lost the ensuing defensive draw clean AGAIN to Sidney Crosby, which led to the Penguins' possession and the tying goal. Danny Briere (4-4) and Scott Hartnell were the only Flyers above .500 in the circle.

On The Fly

• Pittsburgh outshot the Flyers 49-40. After outshooting the Pens 14-12 in the first period, the Flyers were on the short end of the shot clock in each of the next three periods, including OT.
• Philadelphia has now lost five straight playoff games at The Igloo.
• Including best of five series, the Flyers are 2-13 all-time when they fall behind 0-2 in series. The last time they rallied though was in 2000, when they lost the first two at home against the Penguins before rallying to win in six games.
• Hartnell was booed every time he touched the puck in the first period. For a pest like Hartnell, that's a true case of respect.
• Braydon Coburn led the Flyers with 42 shifts and 33:46 of ice time. Malkin led all forwards with 26:57 of playing time, but three Flyers forwards were also over 26 minutes: Carter (26:35), Simon Gagne (26:15), and Richards (26:14).
• Gagne led the Flyers with six shots, and Richards with seven hits. After a game-high seven hits in Game 1, Knuble was credited with only one in Game 2. Brooks Orpik had an astounding 14 hits on Friday.
• With a three-point night, Evgeni Malkin now has five points in the series (2-3) and 10 points in seven career playoff games vs Flyers.
• Since 1985, the Flyers have reached the conference finals eight times, including last year. In the following season, they are 1-6 in first round series, beating only the Lightning in 1996. Not a good omen.

Philly Sports

Switching back and forth to the Phillies during intermissions and commercials, the Phils ceremonies for Harry Kalas were great.

The best part was having a video of Harry singing "High Hopes" during the 7th inning stretch. If you didn't get chills from that, go back to rooting for the Mets.

Anniversary

Friday was also the anniversary of an infamous moment in Philly sports history. Ten years ago on April 17, the Eagles drafted Donovan McNabb, who was greeted by a bunch of lowlifes from 610. Just another example of why it's the worst sports radio station in the country, bar none.

If people in Philadelphia would just appreciate what they have in McNabb, we'd all be better off.

From firedforwinning.com