NHL: Philadelphia Flyers Seeking Playoff Liberty
The Philadelphia hockey franchise and Boston Bruins have enjoyed many memorable meetings decades ago but Friday's Game 7 could surpass all of those depending on the outcome. Even so, as this series heads to a nerve-wracking deciding contest, it has already left a mark. Sportsbook.com lists host Boston as a -125 favorite with a total of 5Ov. Let's take a closer look at the game.
The History
One team wants to embrace history the other wants nothing to do with it. Philadelphia has comeback from a 3-0 series deficit to even up this Eastern semi-final confrontation. Philadelphia will attempt to become the third NHL team to win a series after losing its first three games Friday night in Boston. The other two successful teams were the 1975 New York Islanders and the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Flyers are the fifth different team to force such an occurrence (The Islanders did it twice) and the originally trailing team is 2-3 all time.
This year was the 17th time Boston has taken a 3-0 lead in a series and this will be the second time in their history (1939 they beat the New York Rangers) they will be playing seventh game.
What Philly changed
Flyers coach Peter Laviolette decided to attack the Bruins differently after falling behind 3-0 in the series and why not, what was there to lose at the time.
Philadelphia became more aggressive when Boston reached the blue line on offense and was aggressive in stick-checks, getting into passing lanes and giving a total effort in blocking shots. Though it didn't work at first in the 5-4 overtime win in Game 4, the results the last two games has Boston putting the puck in the net just once in the last two contests on 54 shots.
With goaltender Michael Leighton coerced into action because of injury to Brian Boucher, the Flyers players blocked 30 shots plus the 30 Leighton stopped in Game 6's 2-1 triumph. Philadelphia has won eight of last 11 with a day between games.
Where Boston went wrong
After playing almost flawlessly, Bruins players are hurting their own team taking penalties that lack discipline. Boston has been called for 13 penalties the last two games compared to Philly's six and the Flyers are 2-0 in scoring in man advantage situations.
"We have to do a better job at being disciplined," said Boston forward Milan Lucic. "They're doing a good job with that, so we have to do an even better job than them. It's important. It sucks for me in the second when we take a bunch of penalties in a row and I'm sitting on the bench for the last six minutes. It gets guys sitting around for a bit who don't penalty kill. We have to do a better job as a team not taking penalties."
It's starting to look like the losses of Marcus Strum and David Krejci in this series are taking their toll for a squad that wasn't good offensively to begin with. Though Boston has kept up a good volume of shots on goal, the degree of difficulty for the goaltender has been relatively simple. The Bruins need a player or two to manufacture a goal for team that is 4-1 after scoring two or fewer goals.
What the numbers say
Boston is a -125 money line favorite at Sportsbook.com with total of Ov5. The Bruins have taken seven of eight as home faves but have issues to deal with.
"I'm sure the pressure is mounting even more," the Flyers Daniel Briere said. Boston is 1-8 at home after two or more defeats and 16-6-6 UNDER as a favorite of -110 to -150.
Philadelphia has all the momentum and conviction they are team of destiny, even if they are 3-9 as road underdogs. "Now that we're here and now that we've climbed all the way back in this series, we want it too," Briere said. "We have to realize that the last game will be the toughest to leave with." The Flyers are 7-1 as visitors after a home win by a single goal.
This series finale has a 7:00 Eastern start on VERSUS with Philly 6-2-1 UNDER as postseason dogs. The winner will have home ice advantage in the East Finals against Montreal.
