Sabres Destroy Flyers 8-2 in Game 2
The Flyers took the ice Monday night with the confidence of almost stealing an overtime win in Game 1. In a matter of minutes, all that confidence was gone. Robert Esche had 55 saves in Saturday’s game, yet didn’t even see the 2nd period of last night’s game. The first period scoring barrage started 1 minute 41 seconds into the game when J.P. Dumont got a backhander past Esche. The Sabres ended up with 5 goals in the 1st period and the Flyers skated off the ice with their heads hung low for good reason.
Hitchcock tried to jumpstart the Flyers with something by replacing Esche with Antero Niittymaki, even though 2-3 of the goals were the defense’s fault not Esche’s. But something had to be done. For a split second the plan worked as Simon Gagne scored 58 seconds into the 2nd period. But then it was all Buffalo again from then on. Nedved added a goal later in the game but it was meaningless since the Sabres ended up winning 8-2. After the game, Hitchcock and Sabres head coach got into a little media feud over the Flyers aggresive checking and angry play once the game was out of hand.
Ruff on the Flyers play
“The more they acted like idiots, the more we wanted to play.”
Ken Hitchcock’s response to Lindy Ruff
“Tell Lindy to [bleep] off. Tell him to mind his own [bleeping] business.”
Needless to say, this should be an interesting Game 3 back in Philadelphia.
There has to be some serious retooling for Game 3 and Game 4 or else the Flyers will be swept and hitting up the nearest golf courses very soon. I liked Hitch’s move of putting in Eager instead of Brashear, and still do even after Eager got 2 10 minute misconduct penalties. Eager provides energy while Brashear is a complete liability on the ice in the playoffs. Umberger’s return could provide a small spark if he comes out on home ice in front of the Flyers fans. The biggest possible spark would obviously be the return of Keith Primeau, which suddenly became a possibility but don’t look for him to suit up till Game 4 at the absolute earliest according to the most recent update, if at all.
“I’m just trying to get back. I wish it was tonight. But I’m just not at that point. So I can’t say, yes, Wednesday, I’m going to be back. I really can’t. But I want to be back tonight; I want to be back tonight, Wednesday, Friday.”
And if the Flyers go down 3-0, I hope that Primeau realizes he definitely cannot risk his future and health by returning to the ice to soon to help this team.
Game 3 is Wednesday night at 7:00 at the Wachovia Center
Sabres lead the series 2-0
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Posted on April 25, 2006 by Kyle Garis | Filed Under Philadelphia
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Kyle…looks like I’ve got this series over you;-)
Yea this one isn’t looking good. Let’s hope the Flyers actually play like a real hockey team tonight.