Alain Vigneault
Following a 270-day period where he was diagnosed, went through chemotherapy and made his road to recovery, Oskar Lindblom was back in a game for the Flyers in Game 6 on Thursday night. “This guy’s heart, you have to see it to believe it,” Claude Giroux said.
In a wild, back-and-forth tilt, both teams showed the qualities and identity that they have established. This series has been as hard-fought as they come. Neither team quits. Ever. And it showed in Game 6 as both sides assumed control at different points and as the game drug on into the night.
Just like in Game 2, when the Flyers let another 3-1 lead in the third period get away, they had the answer in overtime. It took over 12 minutes, but the Flyers remain alive in the series with a deflection goal by Scott Laughton. 5 takeaways from Game 5.
The Flyers had the first period everyone wanted to see, then let the lead they took in the opening period get away, only to erase it all with an overtime goal that evened the series. 5 takeaways from Game 2 of Flyers-Islanders.
The Islanders showed they are a team that has a lot – the talent behind the bench, the depth up front, the defensive structure and the goaltender to get the job done. The Flyers did not show what they wanted to show. They did not show they have another level. They showed their flaws. 5 takeaways from Game 1.
The Flyers didn’t feel they played close to their best in the first round, and they know they can’t get by on that in the next one.
The Flyers are one of eight teams remaining, and they get to go against an old foe behind the bench, one who has been in the division for years, but this time with a new team. Here are five storylines to watch in the upcoming series between the Flyers and Islanders.
Even-keeled Flyers goalie Carter Hart downplayed the comparisons and significance of facing his boyhood idol in his first playoff series. But even he couldn’t hide the significance of meeting at center ice to shake hands with Canadiens’ veteran Carey Price after winning the series.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi took a major boarding penalty. Matt Niskanen has been suspended for Game 6 for a cross-check to the head of Brendan Gallagher. Nick Suzuki fueled the fire by patting Carter Hart on the head after a goal. A collision between Sean Couturier and Artturi Lehkonen started an end-of-game scrum. The bad blood in this series went from 0 to 60 in Game 5.
The Montreal Canadiens are not dead yet, and mark my words, you don’t want them to take it to a Game 7. Here are 5 Takeaways from Game 5 of Flyers-Canadiens.
