Another game, another ex-Flyer.
They always seem to stab Flyers fans right in the heart, and this one was a familiar face on a club that prominently features two of them for Philly. Joffrey Lupul stuck the dagger in this time around in overtime as the Toronto Maple Leafs held off the always-never-out-of-it Flyers by a score of 4-3.
Things started off quite well for the Leafs who pressured early and often. They caught the Flyers sliding back, and goalie Steve Mason on his heels as he surrendered two goals on the first four shots he saw. Mason would manage to settle down, and even made a couple of incredible saves, including a ridiculous sprawling pad save on a wraparound attempt. After going up by a score of 2-0, the Leafs would not the Flyers back into the game until Kimmo Timonen snapped a slick shot on a quality rush past a helpless Jonathan Bernier to cut the score in half. Looking like a man on a mission, Timonen would strike again with his second midway through the third again by jumping in on the offensive rush, and flashing some of that offensive skill one would assume has diminished a bit. The sight of Timonen coming forward had to give Bernier the shivers for the rest of the game, as it sometimes happens when a player gets hot.
The Leafs also got lucky when Matt Read was robbed by the referees when he scored, but for some miraculous reason, the refs declared the puck stopped by Bernier. Given that the Flyers have had this type of call go their way more than a couple times in the past two weeks, perhaps this was a bit of karma, and not coincidentally in hockeyland at that. Mason Raymond, who has been playing solidly for the Leafs and was even discussed as trade material this Wednesday put the Leafs up again, and late in the third period at that.
Still, these are the Philadelphia Flyers, and the fanbase here is fully aware that no opponent lead is safe. Braydon Coburn would prove that theory correct with a slapper that zipped past a stunned Bernier with only a couple of minutes left in regulation. The game would carry on into overtime, and that is when Lupul invoked the ex-Flyers curse, catching a cross crease feed from Leafs Captain Dion Phaneuf, this after Steve Mason was sprawled and out of position from making an initial stop at the point. For all the effort this club put into trying to win the game, one can’t feel entirely terrible over it. First the Flyers did get a point out of the deal. They also continued their penchant for not giving up late, and it nearly paid off. The three game streak is snapped, but winning 8 of the past 10 is still something to feel good about. Every game is crucial from this point on, so the Flyers will need to collect any points they can get, if they were to lose, this is the most recommended fashion.
*photo courtesy of NHL.com
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