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PHILADELPHIA — Peter Laviolette said it felt like a postseason game; one of those nights where both teams battled hard, had some ups and downs, all that stuff. He said it was one of those games where you have to dig deep and just outwork the other team. Match their intensity level.
If you can’t do that on a night like tonight, he said, you’re not going to win the game. Despite stretches in the second period tonight where the Flyers didn’t match the intensity level of the Nashville Predators, they were ultimately able to shake off two blown leads to get by the West’s 4th best team, 3-2.
Jeff Carter opened the scoring in the first period when he walked from the half-boards and buried a shot behind Anders Lindback that was neither high nor wide. 59 seconds later, Sergei Bobrovsky gave up a horrible rebound on a Cody Franson shot that found the stick of Marcel Goc. He easily tapped that one behind Bob to even the score.
Then came that second period, where the Flyers really had to weather a storm from the Predators. Chris Pronger saved the day on the door step multiple times after Bob left rebounds in the crease, and as a result, they were lucky to escape the period with a tie still on the board.
In the third, the Flyers ratcheted up the intensity level a bit. They got chances, they peppered Lindback and all that good stuff. Then, Laviolette had a bit of a hunch. Ville Leino seemed to be leading the charge, and after his power play goal gave the Flyers a lead that they would blow shortly thereafter, the coach double-shifted Leino with about 3:30 left in the game.
“I thought time was ticking down and we’re looking for something so we have a faceoff down there,” said Laviolette. I thought with the break that he had — the TV timeout was late because the flow kept going on, the play, and he ended up catching a break and just catching some wind so I put him back out there.”
“I think it was more of a hunch than anything else.”
It paid off. His made a spin-o-rama move in the slot and his backhand shot beat Lindback, and that’s what sealed the deal for the Flyers. After the jump, questions with answers, the return of post-game video (!) from Lavi, Blair Betts and Pronger. Oh, and of course, the comment of the night.
Questions With Answers
- Lindback is a good young goalie, a lot like Bob. Who wins the duel? Bob.
- Nashville has a horrible PP. Can the Flyers capitalize shorthanded? Blair Betts came so. close. to a breakaway. If it were Richards, it may have happened.
- Do the Flyers come out flying after an embarrassing loss against Tampa? They came out very strong in the first period, I thought.
- How awesome is the ceremony for Bob Clarke before the game? It was pretty awesome. His grandson presented the banner, which was a nice touch. Nice to see Clarkie get the standing O.
Post-Game Video: Chris Pronger
Post-Game Video: Peter Laviolette
Post-Game Video: Blair Betts
Comment of the Night
My heart beat. bob-bob, bob-bob, bob-bob.
>> ToddTheFox
