Flyers win 4-2 as Forsberg carries Squad
Every game in the playoffs is a must win, and last night’s game was exactly that. The Flyers faced a 2-0 series deficit going into Wednesday’s game. The game didn’t start how the Flyers would have hoped when Ales Kotalik scored for the Sabres on a shot that Esche should have stopped. Down 1-0 later in the period, the Sabres went on the power play but the Flyers changed the momentum of the game when Brian Savage scored a shorthanded goal when he blasted a slapshot past the short side of goalie Ryan Miller.
And then Peter Forsberg seemingly took over the game. Forsberg skated down the left side of the ice and scored a goal when the puck strangely went towards the net and bounced off the skate of Sabres’ defenseman Jay McKee and over Miller’s shoulder for the 2-1 lead. Forsberg scored a 2nd goal in the period when the Flyers were on the power play. The puck was behind the net and Peter took a quick shot of the Miller’s back that deflected into the net to give the Flyers a 3-1 lead. The Sabres did score a 2nd goal when Tim Connolly had a great shot that got past Robert Esche. So late in the 3rd period with the game at 3-2, Forsberg added another stat to his scoresheet when he got the puck to Gagne who scored on an empty net. In front of the raucous Wachovia Center crowd, the Flyers skated off the ice with a 4-2 win, and a chance at the series.
Some notes from the game include Umberger’s return to the lineup and Gagne’s solid play. R.J. Umberger played for the first time since he took a colossal hit in Game 1, and he was diagnosed with a broken nose. As for Gagne, I thought he played very well all night. He was constantly around the puck and he ended the game with 8 shots. Anytime you can have an elite shooter like Gagne have 8 shots then it’s a good night because you know Ryan Miller is struggling to stop all those shots.
Game 3 was a crucial game in the series and the Flyers simply couldn’t have lost that game to go down 3-0 on home ice. Now they put the series back in sight and will attempt to tie up the series 2-2 on Friday night. I’m looking for Jeff Carter (star rookie with an incredible wristshot and isn’t afraid to shoot) or Sami Kapanen (comes up with great games and special plays when needed) to come up big in Game 4.
Game 4 is Friday night at 7:00 at the Wachovia Center
Sabres lead the series 2-1
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Posted on April 27, 2006 by Kyle Garis | Filed Under Flyers, Philadelphia
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