On this date in Flyers history: Rod Brind’Amour scores twice, but it’s not enough in game 2 setback in 1997 Stanley Cup Finals

The Flyers didn’t put up much of a fight in the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals against Detroit in the end, but it wasn’t for lack of effort from Rod Brind’Amour.

And that was none more evident that in Game 2 of that series, where Brind’Amour provided the only tallies on the board as the Flyers tried to earn a split at home before heading to Joe Louis Arena for games 3 and 4.

But things —as we’d come to learn all series— did not go as planned for the Flyers, who quickly dug themselves a 2-0 hole after goals by Brendan Shanahan and Steve Yzerman before the midway mark of the first period.

Showing the leadership he displayed throughout his career, Brind’Amour stepped up when his team needed him most. The current Hurricanes coach would provide two power play goals before the end of the first intermission to draw the Flyers even in what was quickly becoming evident as a must-win game.

The problem was that nobody else in Orange and Black followed Brind’Amour’s lead, and the Red Wings re-established their lead early in the second off a costly turnover by Eric Lindros and never looked back in a 4-2 win.

While there were plenty of reasons why the Flyers faced a 2-0 series deficit after losing the first two games at home, but Rod “The Bod” wasn’t one of them. He scored twice in Game 2 and added a shorthanded goal in Game 1 to provide three of the Flyers’ first four goals of the series (John LeClair’s late second period goal in game 1 the other).

Though Lindros wouldn’t be counted on to make his mark on the series until 15 seconds left in game 4, Brind’Amour announced his presence early and forced the Red Wings to pay more attention to No. 17 and not No. 88 as the series shifted back to the Motor City.

Loose pucks

Also on June 3rd in franchise history...a disappointing first period dooms the Flyers at home in game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference Finals against the Devils where Martin Brodeur took a shutout into the final minutes before being broken up by Craig MacTavish...random Flyers birthday is longtime Phantom and 15 game NHL veteran Jason Akeson in 1990...

*Stick taps to hockeyreference.com, nhl.com, and Flyers.nhl.com for help with this trip down memory lane*