Dave Hakstol's Unconventional Decisions Do the Trick for Flyers

PITTSBURGH - When Dave Hakstol decided to push a few buttons prior to Game 5, the initial reaction was the noise that rings out when a toddler sits down at a piano for the first time.

Valtteri Filppula centering Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek? Dale Weise back in the lineup for the first time in 23 days? Starting a goalie that many feared would pull up with a groin injury midway through the second period? And of course, the only defense pairing that's remained intact is Brandon Manning with Radko Gudas. 

None of it sounded all that good, but desperate times apparently call for unconventional coaching decisions. Hakstol found a way to string a few notes on a sheet of music, and while he may not be considered the NHL's Beethoven behind the bench, Friday's game at least left you tapping your foot to the beat.

And somehow it all came together.

Consider: How may teams can cycle through three different goaltenders and three different No. 1 centers five games into a playoff series against the two-time champions and still live to see another day?

Even Claude Giroux, the franchise's No. 1 center for most of the past decade, was singing Filppula's praises. 

"He's a smart player and he's in great position all the time," Giroux said. "We did some nice plays. I think it's probably the first time I've played with him. He's easy to play with. It was fun."

But ultimately the Flyers needed a showstopper in net. General manager Ron Hextall pointed that out Thursday before the team charter departed for Pittsburgh. 

Brian Elliott had been pulled in two of his four starts in this series, and while it was a mere footnote of a dreadful 5-0 shutout loss in Game 4, the decision to give Michal Neuvirth the nod over Petr Mrazek as Elliott's backup could very well be the single biggest reason the Wells Fargo Center is hosting a Game 6 Sunday.

"We just felt Neuvy looked sharp in practice," Hakstol said. "He went in the other night and got some game action. Just talking it through with Kim Dillabaugh, our goaltending coach, he was the right choice."

Sidney Crosby would agree. The Penguins superstar had scored at will in this series, and the only time he had been denied on the doorstep was the result of some sort of stick malfunction in Game 2 that saw his shot miss the net completely.

But with 50 seconds remaining Neuvirth's glove was better than Crosby's stick. He not only saved the game but the Flyers' season as well.

"He made some huge saves the end of the third period there to able to go across (robbing Crosby)," Giroux said. "When he plays cocky, he's pretty good."

Neuvirth now has a 3-1 record with a .960 save percentage in five career postseason games with the Flyers.

Giroux also referred to the Flyers' Game 5 win as the team's best overall game in this series.

Of course, this time of the season it doesn't have to be a masterpiece, it just has to be good enough that it doesn't leave your ears bleeding.