The Flyers set a blazing pace early out shooting the Sabres 16-2 in the first period, taking a 1-0 lead into the break and never looked back as they dispatched Buffalo with 5-2 in Game 7.
Braydon Coburn’s blast past Ryan Miller put the Flyers on the board. Danny Briere and James van Riemsdyk added second period power-play goals and Ville Leino’s third-period goal chased Miller and essentially put the game out of reach.
Coburn put the Flyers ahead with only 19 seconds left in the first period, and Briere and van Riemsdyk put the game away with goals in the second.
"In the big games, we show up," said Briere, as the crowd roared in approval.
"I think we fed off the crowd," Chris Pronger said.
The Sabres never stood a chance in front of 19,966 screaming Flyers fans.
Or against Boucher.
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“It was a crazy series... just to win is nice,” Boucher said. “You play at home Game 7 -- you want to win in front of your crowd, in front of your fans.”
The veteran netminder may have solidified himself as the No. 1 goalie for as long as Philadelphia's postseason run lasts. Sergei Bobrovsky started Games 1 and 2; Boucher got Games 3-5 and 7; and Michael Leighton Game 6. Boucher won two games in relief, including Sunday's win-or-go-home Game 6 in Buffalo.
This time, it was Miller who was yanked.
Buffalo’s Tyler Myers cut the lead to 4-1 but Danny Carcillo’s goal off backup Jhonas Enroth put the Flyers back up four. Brad Boyes added a power play goal off Brian Boucher to close the scoring.
Boucher -- who stepped back between the pipes after an impressive relief appearance in Game 6 -- stopped 26 of 28 shots to earn the win.
Things did get chippy late as Carcillo and Buffalo’s Nathan Gerbe both got the hook for misconduct penalties.
On to Round 2 for the Orange and Black. The Flyers now await either the Penguins, Lightning or Bruins depending on how things shake out Wednesday night.
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