May 16, 2008 8:00 am US/Eastern
Flyers Working On Playoff Comeback
Flyers 4, Penguins 2
PHILADELPHIA (AP) ―
Maybe the comeback kids have another run in them.
The Philadelphia Flyers rebounded from the worst season in franchise
history—a last-place finish in the NHL—to get into the playoffs. A 10-game
losing streak didn't derail them, a disappointing home playoff loss to Washington that forced a Game 7 on the road in the first
round didn't rattle them, and a blown lead in the series opener against Montreal couldn't shake
them, either.
Perhaps history is the next hurdle to clear. If nothing
else, this improbable Flyers season has at least one more game left.
Who would've thought it?
Joffrey Lupul scored the first of Philadelphia's three first-period goals Thursday night and the Flyers extended
the Eastern Conference finals with a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Penguins' smooth postseason ride got a bit bumpier and
will now include a Game 5 on Sunday. While Pittsburgh was preparing for its second sweep
of these playoffs and a potential Stanley Cup final, the Flyers stood in the
way.
"We had our legs," hard-hitting defenseman Derian Hatcher said.
"Hockey is a weird game, but for whatever reason you could see at the start of
the game we were skating. That is what we have to do. We have to skate."
Just as they did after taking a 3-0 lead over the New York Rangers
in the second round, the Penguins were beaten in Game 4. Pittsburgh
wrapped up that series at home in its next chance, shaking off its only other
loss in the playoffs (11-2).
Jordan Staal scored twice in the third period to get the Penguins
close, but Lupul sealed the Flyers' win with an empty-netter.
"We have the momentum right now, but we have to come out in Pittsburgh like we did
tonight," forward Mike Richards said. "We still have a desperate situation. We
know the mountain that we have to climb. As long as we take it slow and not try
to win it in the first 10 minutes and play a full 60 we could have success."
This is all new for Philadelphia,
which had been swept the five other times it trailed 3-0.
The Penguins are 7-0 in the playoffs at home and have won 15
straight at Mellon Arena.
The Flyers followed the lead set Wednesday by the Dallas
Stars, who stayed alive in the West finals by avoiding a sweep against the Red
Wings.
"They had a good first period, and we didn't," Penguins captain
Sidney Crosby said. "That was really the difference. We fought hard in the
second and third ... but it was just too little, too late."
Only two NHL teams have recovered from an 0-3 deficit to win—
the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs and the 1975 New York Islanders, who rallied to
beat the Penguins. Pittsburgh has led all three
series this year 3-0, including a first-round sweep of Ottawa.
"We want to finish it off," Crosby
said. "I don't think you go into every series expecting to win four in a row."
Richards and Crosby each earned roughing and slashing
penalties against each other and were sent to the dressing rooms before the final
seconds ticked off.
"I think he thought I was trying to slash him, but I was
just trying to move the puck forward," Richards said. "He was probably angry
that he wasn't winning the hockey game and he tried to slash me. We can't worry
about getting undisciplined and running around like village idiots."
Lupul got things going for the Flyers 8:27 in, and Danny
Briere and Jeff Carter scored power-play goals 7:02 apart to make it 3-0 in the
first.
Martin Biron showed the form that backstopped series wins
over Washington and top-seeded Montreal in making 36
saves. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 30 shots for the Penguins.
Staal, who returned to the Penguins following a one-day
absence after the death of his grandfather, spoiled Biron's shutout bid with
16:44 left. He scored again with 5:49 remaining to transform Wachovia Center
from joyous to nervous.
Once they got the ever-elusive lead, the Flyers looked a
little like the Penguins as they tried to clog up the neutral zone. Pittsburgh
had been doing that to perfection, allowing only 22 goals before Thursday.
"It's always nice to score first," Richards said. "It allows
us to play a little looser, and instead of playing from behind do things that we've
had success doing."
They earned another chance to do it again. Notes:@ The Penguins were held without a
power-play goal for the third time in the playoffs. They are 1-2 in those
games. ... Injured Flyers defenseman
Braydon Coburn (swollen eye) and Kimmo Timonen (blood clot) could be back
Sunday. ... Penguins LW Gary Roberts missed his second straight game with
pneumonia.
(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
