The Flyers had a lot in common with the Detroit Red Wings in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Both teams surprisingly found themselves down 3-0 in their series after close, heartbreaking losses. And both teams were able to stave off elimination in Game 4 -- the Red Wings pounded San Jose 7-1 and the Flyers won in OT, 5-4.
But the Flyers hope the similarities end there. Detroit was knocked out of the postseason Saturday night after a 2-1 loss in San Jose.
Will the Flyers be able to beat the Bruins in enemy territory? Can they extend the series at least one more game and give Philly fans another chance to hurl verbal insults at Zdeno Chara and Co. at the Wachovia Center?
All those questions will be answered at 7 p.m. Monday.
Only two teams in NHL history have accomplished what the Flyers are trying to do -- dig out of a 3-0 hole and win a best-of-seven series.
While the first two games in Boston were one-goal affairs that could have gone either way, the fact is the Bruins won. And after being dominated in Game 3, the Flyers were on life support. But the Bruins couldn't close things out in OT in Game 4, and that may just be the opportunity the Flyers need to turn things around. It's not going to be easy, but at least they know it's possible.
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“I think it kind of gives us confidence, just that we can win again,” Mike Richards told the Associated Press. “You kind of start doubting yourself, and it’s nice to get the win just to prove a point that you can win again.”
The Red Wings, like the Flyers, thought they got that confidence back in Game 4 of their series when they blew out the Sharks. With San Jose's history of playoff collapses, that win had a lot of people thinking that the Sharks were ready for the taking.
That momentum, however, couldn't get the Red Wings past Game 5. It was another close game in the series (four of the five games were one-goal affairs), but Detroit coach Mike Babcock summed up those one-goal losses the best.
"The games were tight, but they found a way to continually win," Babcock said. "That’s what good teams do.”
That's right. Good teams win close games. The Bruins proved they were a good team by finding ways to win close Games 1 and 2. The Flyers can take some solace in finding a way to win Game 4.
Now they have to show that finding Simon Gagne all alone in front of the Bruins' net in OT wasn't just luck. They have to prove -- once again -- that they are actually good enough to win this series.
