In the final regular season
game against the New York
Rangers, the Philadelphia
Flyers needed all 60 minutes,
and then some, to get the seventh
spot of the eastern conference
playoffs.
The Flyers struggled coming
into the playoffs, losing 13 of
their last 22 games, and they
put themselves in a tough
place. Even with their recent
struggles and the loss of three
goalies, the Flyers still managed
to make it to the playoffs.
This is the sixth time in
seven years the Flyers are in
the playoffs, which is a very
impressive feat in the NHL
world.
Dave Dougherty, 19,
Multimedia, from Croydon, a
diehard flyers fan said, “I am
so excited the Flyers are back
in the playoffs. NHL playoffs
are one of the most exciting,
and I am anxious for them to
start.”
The Flyers are currently
playing the New Jersey
Devils in the first round of
this year’s playoffs. Against
the Devils this year the Flyers
are an impressive 5-1.
“It doesn’t matter what our
record was in the regular season;
the playoffs are very different
and the Devils have
maybe the best goalie ever to
play the game in Martin
Brodeur,” Kevin Jones, 19,
Education, from Humeville,
said. “The Flyers need to play
with emotion and intensity
and if they do that they have
a great shot of winning the
series.”
Now that the Flyers are likely
advancing and looking to
go deep in the playoffs, they
will have to rely on goaltender
Brian Boucher to play
well and cut out the mental
mistakes, which he had the
tendency of having throughout
the regular season.
Boucher went 9-18-3 this
year, and has struggled
mightily throughout the year.
However, in the last game
against the New York
Rangers and thus far in the
playoffs, he’s won the games
that really counted for the
Flyers playoff lives.
“If we want to win the
Stanley Cup, Boucher isn’t
the only one to step up,”
Brandon Ridler 18, an engineering
major from Penndel,
said. “We need everyone to
and we need our leaders
Richards, and Pronger to play
up to the ability that we have
seen all year.”
Chris Pronger was brought
in this off season to be the
player that puts the Flyers
past the wall they have hit
since they won two Stanley
Cups back to back in the 70s.
Pronger has done very well
this year and the Flyers
awarded him the Bobby
Clarke award, which is the
team’s MVP.
Now let’s hope Pronger will
be able to hoist the Stanly
Cup this year as well.
The Flyers struggled at the
end of the season, but, during
the year, they have been
streaky and could rattle off a
5-6 game win streak.
For the team and their fans’
sake, the Flyers should get
hot at the right time and
make an exciting and impressive
run throughout the rest
of playoffs.