2008 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals: Capitals 4, Flyers 2
The Flyers had a chance to put away the Washington Capitals in Game 6 of the Eastern Quarters back in 2008, and they looked good early: power play goals from Mike Richards and Danny Briere had the Flyers up 2-0 early in the second period, but the Caps erased that deficit before the period ended on goals from Alex Semin and Nicklas Backstrom.
A pair of Alex Ovechkin goals in the final period put the game firmly in Washington’s hand. But this is the Caps in the playoffs, so we know how the story ends: the Flyers took Game 7 in D.C., 3-2 in overtime.
The Flyers would beat Montreal in five that year before losing to the Penguins in five in the Conference Finals.
2009 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals: Penguins 5, Flyers 3
The following year, the Flyers could taste Game 7 early in this elimination game. As we wrote afterwards…
We could smell game seven. It was right there. With a three goal lead halfway through the game, it was the Flyers contest to lose.
And boy, they certainly did a good job of doing that.
This was the Dan Carcillo-Max Talbot fight game, and man, it’s not a fond memory. The Penguins went on to win the damned Stanley Cup that year. Angry noises.
2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Flyers 2, Bruins 1
From a not-so-fond memory to one of the fondest memories in recent Flyers history: Game 6 against the Bruins in 2010, on home ice. Michael Leighton made 33 damn saves. The Flyers forced Game 7 after being down 0-3 in the series. From our game recap:
Before tonight, only five teams in NHL history have clawed their way back from an 0-3 hole in a playoff series to force a Game 7. Ladies and gentlemen, those five teams have company.
Incredibly, unbelievably, unfathomably, insert many other adjectives here, thePhiladelphia Flyers have won three straight elimination games to tie the Boston Bruins in their best-of-seven series. One goal, one bounce really, away from being swept in Game 4, the Flyers have completely turned the tables on a shocked Boston club.
2010 Stanley Cup Final: Blackhawks 4, Flyers 3 (OT)
2011 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals: Flyers 4, Sabres 3 (OT)
Ville Leino scored the game-winning goal in overtime to force Game 7. That’s ironic, given that it happened in Buffalo and all, where Leino now is an awful, awful hockey player on perhaps the worst contract in the game.
This Game 6 was probably his peak. The Flyers were down 2-0 just 8:41 into the game, and 3-1 by the end of the period. The goaltending was a disaster. But by the 8:43 mark of the second period, the game was tied thanks to goals from James van Riemsdyk and Danny Briere.
The Sabres grabbed the lead back and entered the second intermission, but Scott Hartnell tied it with 10 minutes to go and Leino ended it less than five minutes into OT to keep the season alive. It was, as we called it at the time, an incredibly routine comeback.
2012 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals: Flyers 5, Penguins 1
2014 Eastern Conference First Round vs. Rangers
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