The oddmakers can’t be too happy can they.
It may have been nice to throw Scott Hartnell’s name in the header, but it was Claude Giroux’s killer with mere ticks on the clock left in overtime that helped the host Philadelphia Flyers bounce the visiting defending Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks on their heads to win 3-2 in purely dramatic fashion.
That’s what we’ve come to expect here in Philly, however.
After surrendering two seemingly quick goals to the Hawks early in the first, the Flyers made it a point to not go down without a fight. Scott Hartnell was the cog in that machine as he threw the club on his back last evening and promptly helped the Flyers respond in equal tone. By the end of the first period it was 2 all, and the tide seemed to be in the Flyers favor.
Fighting is the best adjective to use here since this contest featured two of them, and the usual suspects were involved. Zac Rinaldo, the Flyers sparkplug and big hitter, took a thump from Sheldon Brookbank, and as they skated the ice Rinaldo took exception to it, which led to a quality scuffle along the benches. Rinaldo got the best of Brookbank, wailing away until Brookbank overpowered him and fell on top of Rinaldo. It was good to see the Flyers giving no quarter to a championship caliber club, as they need every point they can muster to ensure a playoff berth. Most assumed this would be a test of where the Flyers heads are at during this stage of the season, and it was a great response.
The two clubs went back and forth attempting to score and the Flyers seemed to have the upper hand in that department as well, nearly missing three serious goal opportunities, and even having one waved off because Vincent Lecavalier high sticked the original shot attempt downward towards a sprawled Antti Rannta, allowing Brayden Schenn to cash in, if only for a moment. There was a ringer by Giroux against a prone Rannta later, and it felt like the missed goals would wind up haunting Philly.
That would not be the case.
This club has learned how to pressure late in games, keeping opponents from getting back into them, having outshot the Hawks profusely in that period 14-6. They also drew more penalties than they gave, which is a pleasant turn as well given the clubs issues with winding up in the box too often for their own good. The other fight featured Wayne Simmonds trying to extract a pound of flesh from hulking forward Brian Bickell, again something that showed the Hawks they may have stumbled onto a sleeping giant in the emerging Flyers.
Giroux and friends would keep the game from reaching shootout status, something this city fears immensely, when he snapped home the game winner with only 4 seconds left in the overtime period. The team has now taken 6 points in three games from the two favorites in the NHL to win the Cup, and that alone speaks volumes.
This is the perfect time to get hot, roll into the playoffs and surprise a few clubs, perhaps even steal the Cup, and the Flyers need to just stay focused as they have been to make it happen.
*photo courtesy of NHL.com
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