Fleury steals Game 4
[Recap] - [Boxscore] - [Highlights] - [Photos]
Penguins win 3-1, lead series 3-1
When was the last time we had more power plays than penalty kills? That's because we worked hard and our work is what drew those penalties. You play like that and most nights you're going to win.
>> John Stevens
That seems to be the consensus tonight from the Philadelphia Flyers. Every single member of the organization who was made available to the media tonight said that the Flyers played an excellent game, but that they just couldn't put the puck in the net.
And thanks to Marc-Andre Fleury, tonight was the most frustrating hockey game I've ever seen live. As soon as the puck hit the ice to start Game 5, the orange and black took control. They got pucks on Fleury. They hit posts. They got traffic in front. They did everything they possibly could've done offensively except actually get the rubber behind the Pittsburgh goaltender. And unfortunately, that's the only stat that counts in the end.
It was good old-fashioned highway robbery by Fleury tonight. He put on a goaltending showcase, making easy saves, sprawling saves, and even lucky saves. He was especially good (better than usual) on the east-to-west plays, reading several Flyer cross-ice passes like a book. He pounced on every rebound and the Flyers simply couldn't get the dirty goals.
Sure, some blame needs to go around to the Flyers. They relaxed a little bit in the second period and that's unacceptable this time of year, but it wasn't the difference in the game. Fleury was.
The orange and black did get to him in the third period. Dan Carcillo, of all people, picked up one of the few rebounds that Fleury allowed out of his reach and ripped a shot top-shelf that no goalie would've stopped. With about eight minutes left in the third period and the home team down now by just a goal, a previously frustrated and lifeless Wachovia Center came alive.
Each and every one of the 19,883 fans in attendance stood in a frenzy. A TV timeout followed Carcillo's goal, and for the entire two minute break, the arenavision camera was focused on him. From the bench, Carcillo urged the crowd on by raising his hands in the air. The crowd obliged.
From that point on, the usual custom of playing music between whistles was canceled. The soundboard guy probably figured it would be drowned out anyway. The Flyers had new life and everybody in attendance could just feel the tying goal coming any second.
But it wouldn't happen. Fleury stood on his head over-and-over again in the waning minutes, just as he did all game. It just wasn't meant to be. In the playoffs, sometimes games like this happen. Fleury just stole a game for Pittsburgh and that could be the difference in the series. At the same time, though, can you expect him to do it again? The Flyers will learn from their mistakes as this series heads back to Pittsburgh for Game 5.
Is this heartbreaking? Yes. Is this a deep, deep hole? Yes. Has a team overcome this before? Yes. It's a tough point in the season to have a game fall this way, but there are positives to take from the contest.
As Lou Nolan said over the public address as the silent masses exited the building tonight, "Game 6 tickets on sale now. Drive home safely, and keep the faith."
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Game was so intense, i can not believe how easily this game could have gone the other way. I sported the “malkin is a bitch” painted on my chest, and my friend had “Crosby is a” with an arrow pointed down (She is a girl).
We couldnt catch a god damn call tonight. And you describe carcillo’s celebration and crowd moving experience very well. One of the longest cheering sessions i have seen for a philly sports team in hopes of motivation.
by Philadelphia on Apr 22, 2009 2:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That was your friend?!
We were talking about her all night, haha.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Travis Hughes on Apr 22, 2009 2:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Haha yeah, i’ll post pictures later when she gets them. We had about 1000 creepy awesome piss drunk flyer fans saying dirty shit to her and taking camera phone pictures while explaining how they are gonna get divorced over it.
by Philadelphia on Apr 22, 2009 8:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I seen that girl in the hallway n was trying to figure out what was written above the arrow because she was covered up a bit there.
by Jborg10 on Apr 22, 2009 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow, what a classy, elegant pair you must be. Couldn’t catch a call? How about 8 power plays, on which you went 0 fer?
by chukrok on Apr 22, 2009 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gotta agree. I thought the refs were tilted in our direction tonight, if anything. There were definitely bad calls on both sides, though.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Travis Hughes on Apr 22, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Too many calls for playoff hockey. Flyers obviously had their fair share of chances, but it’s not like the Pens did much with the man advantage either.
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by FrankD on Apr 22, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
heartbreaking. We have now outplayed them in the last three games, we could very easily be the team with the 3-1 lead, but no. I dont even know what to think. I wanna keep the faith and say there are positives to take from this, but the fact is we’re down 3-1. in the last three games weve come out on fire doing everything we needed to do, and we’ve still lost two of those games.
by njh3293 on Apr 22, 2009 8:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You’re right, we could very easily be up 3-1. And that sucks, because that shows this team is just as good as the Penguins, but that’s not how everyone will see it. Flyers implode in Game 2 (mainly in discipline), and Fleury stands on his head in Game 4. That doesn’t show me the Penguins are better. That shows me the Penguins know how to win. I thought this team learned that last year, but apparently Pittsburgh still does it better.
All I can say is, the team better not be feeling what I’m feeling right now. Or how they felt last year. It’s hard for me to keep faith, but every time this happens (Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Ottawa, etc.) the Flyers come out in the elimination game and just get embarrassed. Why is this year different? I haven’t seen anything that shows they won’t give up. And without the Wach crowd to keep them going, can they motivate themselves? I’m quite worried about Thursday.
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 22, 2009 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I truly doubt that the Flyers will come out flat like that. They’ve proven in the last couple of games that they can come out of the gate pretty hard.
by chukrok on Apr 22, 2009 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My thoughts exactly . . .
At first I was thinking that the Flyers were gonna come out like they did in game 3 after losing a heart breaker in OT and then I remembered what has happened in the past. Does anyone remember losing to Buffalo like 8-1 in the elimination game of that series maybe 5 years ago. The Flyers have a serious history of just imploding. Either the Flyers come out and win game 5 from the beginning or they get some unlucky bounces and lose badly – which is when things will get really nasty. If that happens be ready to defend against all the claims of “goonery.” Ha!
by flyrsfrk05 on Apr 22, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That’s what I was remembering, and i think it’s sufficient to call it a pattern. We’ve gotten blown out in how many elimination games in the last 5 years? But I don’t really remember the players giving a damn to goon it up. Maybe I forget because I turned the games off (I did) but I would just assume that if they don’t have the heart to make it close, why would they have the heart to fight?
Either way, I’m bettin the Flyers either win or lose ugly. And I’m talkin Roman Chechmanek skating to center ice to show up his teammates ugly. It’s history…
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 22, 2009 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, I don’t think that any past elimination games got particularly ugly but I just feel like a game between the Flyers and Penguins always has the potential to blow up, especially with guys like Carcillo available to bait and stir the pot. I am with you though. Tomorrow will be a game of extremes, either an impressive win or hemorrhage of bad bounces, soft goals and the Flyers will to fight on.
Makes me nervous to think about . . .
by flyrsfrk05 on Apr 22, 2009 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Four out of six is what I'm talking about
So I decided to look it up:
2008: 6-0 loss at Pittsburgh ECF
2006: 7-1 loss to Buffalo ECQF
2003: 5-1 loss to Ottawa ECSF
2001: 8-0 loss at Buffalo ECQF
2007: Missed Playoffs
2005: Strike
2004: 2-1 loss at Tampa ECF, but the team was absolutely drained
2002: 2-1 OT loss to Ottawa EQCF, but if you remember, the Flyers only scored two goals all series
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 23, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
dont forget game 7 lose to jersey 2000
still in my nightmares: “dros, look up…” bam
by fitzy first on Apr 23, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
opps, wasnt that in 2003… till blocking that bad memories
by fitzy first on Apr 23, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, you were right the first time. Lindros got dropped in 2000. After the Flyers blew a 3-1 series lead. Gagne, Boucher, and Delmore’s rookie years, by the way.
To digress: That was by far one of my favorite seasons ever. From Boucher’s save on Elias in NJ, to getting the puck stuck in his mask, Delmore’s hat trick in Pittsburgh, losing the first two games at home against the Penguins then winning four in a row, and of course Keith Primeau’s 5-OT winner, etc.
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 23, 2009 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That was a great season. Ranks up there with 2004. That was my favorite playoff run ever.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Travis Hughes on Apr 23, 2009 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
2000
how do you think we would have matched up against dallas in the finals?. sigh
2004- the toronto series was awesome, JR with the game winner after sammi got kersmacked
by fitzy first on Apr 24, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Even the Tampa series was awesome, despite losing. That Game 6 was unbelievable, and I expect today to be similar when it comes to atmosphere.
They lost game seven though because of injury on defense, very similar to last season. I mean, Sami Kapanen was playing a regular shift on like the second or third defense pairing in the final game.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Travis Hughes on Apr 25, 2009 3:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
point of order...
sorry guys, but we did not outplay them last night… we werent smart with the puck and it seemed like we were forcing all the time. it looked laborious… like we were fighting the current, it was not a pretty site. all those PPs down the toilet and coach stevens didnt change his lines to our advantage except when he put richy and carcillo together. the 2nd line had a pretty bad game granted the standard we’re used to. the top two lines looked really drained by the middle of the game. marty screwed up that first goal with the cross ice pass. i thought it was goaltender interference though… i think stevens over used our top lines and it wore them out, while the pens kept interchanging sid and nancy with a variety of lines… i think that second goal was a nightmare, ross and parent showed some inexperience there, but the big disappointment is timonen’s -2… and those post shots, we can cry about that till the cows come, but ya got to finish the play
by fitzy first on Apr 22, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Two things: Ross was covering Staal who drove the net, noone was covering Kennedy, and Parent wasn’t even on the ice – that was Alberts and Jones (Jones the pylon, Alberts standing in front of the net all alone) Which makes me ask, why was our fourth line covering their third line, which has been good all series?
Secondly, Timonen was a minus 2. But one of those was the empty net goal – not really indicative of his play. The other minus was when he was flat on his stomach trying to defend a two-on-one. Timonen was fantastic last night, and his minus-2 does not reflect that at all.
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 22, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
right, i was thinking about the first goal with parent and timonen… and the second looked like ross could have thrown a stick on kennedy, but he missed… dude, why? with the lines… stevens is being out-coached. but players have to play…
i said timonens -2 was disappointing, read into that all you want… wasnt blaming him, but that first goal hurt after we were playing a solid first period…
by fitzy first on Apr 22, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I watched the replay of the second goal about 5 times and I still think it happened fast. Ross was following his man, and Kennedy was a trailer that nobody saw. It sucks, and I wish I knew how the play came up the ice because Asham was chasing the puck carrier (way late) and Carcillo was so far behind he was coasting. And yes, I was trying to say that was Stevens fault. You cannot let that happen on home ice. Especially in the second period. You get last change and they have to go farther to get out of the matchup YOU want. Bollocks.
And yeah, I agree it’s disappointing, but I don’t really know what to make of that.
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 22, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This was all true for a stretch in the second period, but for most of the game I can’t agree with you at all.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Travis Hughes on Apr 22, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
hmmm
you play to win, and to do that you finish plays… we played well but we did not outplay the pens, not just because we didnt win, but because they didnt make many mistakes that cost them goals. we out worked them and got PPs, but we over used our top lines and forced things.
by fitzy first on Apr 22, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Our PP has pissed me off for a month or two now. Everybody is standing still waiting for a cross ice pass from Briere or Richards that never makes it through. Noone is rotating to the point, noone is drawing the PK box in so that somebody is open. Everyone is just letting the box stay in position and try to criss cross it. It doesn’t work, but nothing is changing.
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 22, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
There were lots of things thrown at my house last night. Ugh.
by michellemtsu on Apr 22, 2009 9:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Just Curious
anyone else as confident as me in the Flyers being able to chamber off these last 3. I can’t help be optimisitc. It seems that the Pens are tired, and that the Flyers are building momentum
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Apr 22, 2009 11:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I wouldn’t say confident is the word, but optimistic? Can they do it? Sure. If they steal Game 5, this thing is going 7. Stealing Game 5 is the problem. Hopefully the backs being against the wall is enough to get the win.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Travis Hughes on Apr 22, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
when was the last time the flyers won three in a row against the pens?
by fitzy first on Apr 22, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's all about matchups
In the playoffs. The Flyers are a very good team—they have been the entire year and even Pens fans have to admit that—but they don’t match up well with the Pens as currently constructed. I would have rather drawn anyone, that includes the Devils, than the Pens for the first round.
I’m not gonna go all gloom and doom and say we’re through, but it’s a pretty steep mountain at this point. I would be happy to take it to a Game 7, if possible, regardless of the outcome just to make the Pens fans sweat it out a little…and if the friggin refs would just let the teams play…I swear it’s making it unwatchable for me. Borderline NBA territory, man.
by doubleh on Apr 22, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I still have hope but there are def. to many obstacles at this point to make me optimistic.
Although, as unlikely as it is, I will say this. What if the Flyers not only took it to game 7 but won the series? Yes, yes, I know, not likely but I just like the though of that. I probably would walk around my campus (near Pittsburgh) in my Flyers jersey and hat with a black and orange painted face waving my Flyers rally towel. I doubt I would even go to class. I absolutely hate when people rub sports victories in people faces and parade around which is why I try to never do it or talk smack. But if the boys came back from 2 down to win, I’d be obnoxious and loud for the rest of the Playoffs. Ha! Won’t happen but a man can hope right?
by flyrsfrk05 on Apr 22, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
in 2001
we were down 2-0 and won the next 4
World F#$king Champions
by psudrozz on Apr 22, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And don’t forget last year. Caps down 3-1 take it to OT of Game 7. True, they had 2 games at home, but still.
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 22, 2009 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
All series long it’s been a matter of Flyers fans telling Pens fans that all of those stats against Philly are from “the regular season.” And now you pull up numbers from 2001?
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by FrankD on Apr 22, 2009 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just to note that it’s possible, that’s all.
Faith is really all we’ve got at this point
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Travis Hughes on Apr 22, 2009 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just looking at the last 3 games, I want to say confident. In game 2, we have the lead with 4 mins left, penalty is called, game tied, old man winter wins it in overtime on 5-3(which in my opinion shouldn’t be called in overtime in the playoffs, unless it influences a scoring chance). Game 3 was a win, and Game 4 was a freak occurence. Sure, i might not be giving the Pens enough credit, but lets call game 4 exactly what it was: a godly exhibition of goaltending. Crosby and Malkin couldn’t be found on the ice. Crosby’s goal still amuses me in that in the NHL half of my body can be in the goal and all I need is my stick to hit and the puck and it is in. I think the Media is giving Pittsburgh way too much credit (The Penguins do deserve a majority of it, because having the bounces go your way is part of the game), and we have to look at the positives. I think we can all agree that our effort last night wins 90% of the games we play. Like i said earlier, confident that the Flyers will still take the series, partially because i have a case of Yuengling riding on this series, partly because I despise Pens fans, altho there do seem to be an intelligent few of you tips hat to frankd. Even more good news: everyone has counted us out, which means were playing with house money boys.
Stay positive
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Apr 22, 2009 11:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
yeah, game 4 could be consisted a freak occurrence… but it had a slight odor of game 1, fleury dominating while we hit posts all night…
flyers have been losing like this all year round. how many time have you seen marty have a great 2 and half periods? then losing with mental break downs or bad breaks… while we out work the opponent, the opponent out scores us.
by fitzy first on Apr 22, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i agree. I think the difference between game 1 and game 4 however is this the level of intensity that the flyers brought. It’s something I havent seen in awhile (Hartnell making a power move). Id like your opinion on Crosby’s slide tackle soccer goal if you’d share it
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Apr 22, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
no goal
crosby made contact with marty first, then the puck bounced off him and in…
i dont know the actual written rule these days, travis?
but maybe judges cant determine goaltender interference on replay? and they’re all in toronto with STDS
but that play happened so fast, how do you make the call on ice?
by fitzy first on Apr 22, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks CCB. I often say my love for the Pens started with the love for the sport. Obviously my team association is well represented, but it all comes from a love of the game. Plus I just prefer conversing rather than “Your team sucks, mine doesn’t” sort of stuff.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
by FrankD on Apr 22, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
well hello mister fancy pants
hockey is the best sport in the world, its played on ice for crying out loud, how difficult is that?… i love everything about the sport of hockey, the speed, toughness, finesse, strategy, emotion. i like the image and integrity the players try to portray to the public, minus a few bad apples, how sick is everyone hearing about contract disputes in the NFL?… i respect everything except the grey areas in the rules and i guess the refs are ok though not the brightest of individuals…
i also believe the winner of this series goes to the final. and my sleeper in the west in vancouver over detroit in the semis
by fitzy first on Apr 22, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mister Fancy Pants, huh?
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by FrankD on Apr 22, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bonus Points
Just for working in a Bruce Campbell reference!
by chukrok on Apr 22, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
fitzy you’re right about it moving too fast, but theres a very consistent way of doing this. It is physically impossible for biron to move to his left side to make that save because there is a body there. If you want to make the lay legal, then only only players to slide head first into the goal if they really want to risk it. I just dont see any logic in allowing that goal to stand. The puck enterred the net only after crosby was in the net this aint Luis Mendoza from Miami who cant stop for christ sake. I have no problem with a crash the net technique, but the puck has to clear the goalline before any body part. Or, you disallow the goal because Biron wasn’t physically able to get over there. This isn’t crying either, if Fleury was in the same situation Id be saying the same thing.
IMO the goalie in hockey is one of thosem positions that you have to protect. Averys antics are stupid, but i havent yet to see him prevent the goalie from making a save, only makes it harder on him
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Apr 22, 2009 3:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
so
is replay allowed to say: NO GOAL because of goalie interference? from what ive heard, no…
maybe add more power to the replay like the NFL, but the refs might have something to argue about there. they dont want look stupid… it’ll be like having on-base replay for MLB, was he really out or not? did sid really interfere or not, ‘no no, we were just looking to see if he hit the puck with his hand…’ oh
by fitzy first on Apr 22, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Something needs to be done, because officiating is one of the reasons why hockey is losing popularity. No one wants to see their team lose on a disputed goal (flyers fans wouldnt leave regardless). Maybe we only include replay in the playoffs, or between a playoff matchup where both teams consent at the beginning of the round. Also something to look at: The whistle didnt blow because the ref never lost sight of the puck. Obviously the play wasnt happening too fast, because if it was the ref would’ve blown it dead. So the ref saw Sid in the net preventing Biron from moving to left. The goal light wasnt on, and sid was in Birons backyard.
Maybe we remove review from the whole equation. If thats the case with this one, the ref saw the puck, saw sid in the net before it was called a goal, then called it a goal once he saw the puck in the net. Ref sees Sid in the net, goal light isnt on, sees puck still out of net, goal disallowed. No review, just a conscious effort of an official to evaluate the situation and the totality of the circumstance
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Apr 22, 2009 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No review would be disastrous. Even baseball has instant replay. And ice hockey is so fast, no way refs get the calls right even 95% of the time. Review has to stay. Besides, the refs clearly are okay with other teams pushing our goalie into the net (Rangers, Pens) to score.
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 22, 2009 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
actual nhl rule states
For purposes of this rule (goalie interference), "contact," whether incidental or otherwise, shall mean any contact that is made between or among a goalkeeper and attacking player(s), whether by means of a stick or any part of the body.
The overriding rationale of this rule is that a goalkeeper should have the ability to move freely within his goal crease without being hindered by the actions of an attacking player. If an attacking player enters the goal crease and, by his actions, impairs the goalkeeper’s ability to defend his goal, and a goal is scored, the goal will be disallowed.
but, i also read in the video judge rules that goalie interference is not one of the subjects upon which they can review on…
so, bad call by the refs and totally irreversible by video judge
by fitzy first on Apr 22, 2009 6:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
As I initially expected. Something has to change. Either the review booth can call that, or the NHL hands out rule books and gives pop quizes like it’s middle school.
by Geoff Detweiler on Apr 22, 2009 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It would be like random drug testing, only instead of testing for illegal substances it’ll test your comprehension of illegal plays.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
by FrankD on Apr 23, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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