For the first time since before we knew how the Back to the Future trilogy would end, the Flyers have won a game in Detroit.
It wasn’t easy (except for the second period), but the Flyers ended a Motown skid that began had lasted twenty two years with a 3-2 victory over the Red Wings that tied the Flyers with the Wings for the best record in hockey.
After a scoreless first, an awesome second period saw the Flyers score thrice, with JVR, Daniel Carcillo, and Scott Hartnell all beating Jimmy Howard. JVR’s opening tally was a lucky deflection off a Detroit stick, sailing over Howard. Carcillo’s goal was next, starting with him performing a prolonged (but honestly awful) dangle, and ending with his deflecting in a Andrei Meszaros blast from the point (who hasn’t tipped in a Meszaros shot at some point?).
Hartnell’s goal was the final tally of the period (and indeed of the game in the orange and black column), beating Howard from a ridiculous angle.
The third period was all Detroit, with a beautiful goal by Valtteri Filppula, then a second tally by Henrik Zetterberg on the power play which was courtesy of an absolutely atrocious goalie interference call on Ville Leino.
But Boucher was up to the challenge, and some awesome forechecking by Claude Giroux (FLASHBACK) closed the door on the longest locational skid in franchise history.
A few more bullet points on the win:
- Daniel Carcillo’s awesome goal validated his presence, but the decision to scratch thirteen-goal scorer Nikolay Zherdev in favor of Jody Shelley is inexplicable. Post-game news about a possible lower body injury to Zherdev could explain some, but the practice of healthy-scratching Zherdev has to stop.
- Oskars Bartulis, while not spectacular, looked far more solid than he did in either of the games in California. Which is to be expected–nobody can sink his fangs into the season immediately.
- At the same time, Chris Pronger’s absence is getting old fast. Late, close games against elite opponents are why he’s on this team in the first place.
- Has Brian Boucher now established himself as the #1? Flyer goalies–making shit complicated since 1987.
After the jump, questions answered and your comment of the night/late afternoon.
Questions Answered:
1. The Flyers haven’t won in Detroit in 22 years. That changes today, right? It does. Both the Vancouver and Detroit streaks died this trip (a split which is fine with me).
2. Brian Boucher is the goalie du jour for the Flyers. With porous defense in front of him (assuming nothing changes from the Anaheim game), can he throw up a big performance? Boosh was awesome like whoa.
3. To the defense: ya’ll gotta get better, ya know? Today? Definitely. To a man, they were awesome. Little bit of a let down by Mesz once was the only blemish.
4. Ville Leino’s first game back in Detroit. He makes them all cry? With a little help from his friends he does.
Comment of the Night:
Unless you’re a Bruin, 3-0 leads are awesome. —Ben Rothenberg (It was the only green comment, so I feel no shame).
Three days off, then a leisurely game at Newark. Go Flyers.
