PHILADELPHIA -- So, who is the pressure on anyway?
Is it on the Flyers, who left home buoyed by their 5-4 overtime victory in Game 6 Thursday night, or is it on the young Tampa Bay Lightning, who host the seventh game of the Eastern Conference finals tonight?
The answer is both. The Flyers, who have fallen into the "always the bridesmaid, never the bride" role for too many years, have the most dominant player in the series in Keith Primeau. The captain had four points in Game 6 and has been putting on a clinic. When coaches talk about needing their best players to step up and be counted, they should just show video of Primeau's performance in this series.
It's the same type of dominance displayed by Calgary captain Jarome Iginla, who along with his teammates awaits the winner of tonight's game. The Stanley Cup finals start Tuesday night either in Philadelphia or Tampa Bay.
What's remarkable about the Flyers is that they're in this position despite injuries on defense (Eric Desjardins and Marcus Ragnarsson, most notably) and their power play stinks (1 for 25 in the series). The Lightning, on the other hand, have been tremendous on the man advantage (8 for 24) but were set back on their heels by the Flyers in the third period and overtime Thursday night.
When asked if there was any doubt about whether they'd win the game and avoid elimination, Primeau said it wasn't as if they had any choice.
"That's the way we talked about it between the second and third periods, is leave nothing for doubt, leave nothing in the tank, see where it goes," he said. "And I give our team a lot of marks because we showed a lot of courage and played with a lot of heart in the third period to battle back."
The Lightning held a 4-3 lead with less than two minutes remaining in regulation but it was Primeau who pulled the Flyers even at 18:11 and Simon Gagne, potting his second goal of the night, who settled it at 18:18 of overtime. In the third period and overtime, the Flyers outshot the Lightning, 27-10.
"We deserved that goal," said Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock, referring to Primeau's score. "The way we played in the third period, we deserved that goal."
The first six games have been a roller-coaster ride. Each squad has been dominant at times. But the Lightning believe Philadelphia was the superior club in Game 6.
"They deserved to win the game," said Lightning veteran Tim Taylor. "They played a lot better than us. The only period we outplayed them was the second period."
The way the series has gone, it seemed as if it was the Flyers' turn. Neither team has won back-to-back games. The Lightning captured the first game and it seesawed from there.
With only one contest remaining, both clubs have put Game 6 behind them. All anyone will remember is who wins Game 7.
Hitchcock said he's hoping his club can follow with an equally strong outing. However, neither team has been consistent.
"I just hope we don't get happy feet," said Hitchcock. "We've had a tendency to get happy feet. We're like the Steve Martin skit. If we can avoid happy feet, we'll do well in Game 7. We have not responded the way I've wanted after we've won hockey games."
So, when it comes right down to it, who is the pressure on?
"In Game 7, anything can happen," said Taylor. "There is really pressure on both teams. The season depends on this one game. It doesn't matter if you are home or away, you have to go out there and give everything you have and let the chips fall where they may. You'd be a fool not to give your all because you'll regret it for the rest of your life."
http://www.boston.com
Is it on the Flyers, who left home buoyed by their 5-4 overtime victory in Game 6 Thursday night, or is it on the young Tampa Bay Lightning, who host the seventh game of the Eastern Conference finals tonight?
The answer is both. The Flyers, who have fallen into the "always the bridesmaid, never the bride" role for too many years, have the most dominant player in the series in Keith Primeau. The captain had four points in Game 6 and has been putting on a clinic. When coaches talk about needing their best players to step up and be counted, they should just show video of Primeau's performance in this series.
It's the same type of dominance displayed by Calgary captain Jarome Iginla, who along with his teammates awaits the winner of tonight's game. The Stanley Cup finals start Tuesday night either in Philadelphia or Tampa Bay.
What's remarkable about the Flyers is that they're in this position despite injuries on defense (Eric Desjardins and Marcus Ragnarsson, most notably) and their power play stinks (1 for 25 in the series). The Lightning, on the other hand, have been tremendous on the man advantage (8 for 24) but were set back on their heels by the Flyers in the third period and overtime Thursday night.
When asked if there was any doubt about whether they'd win the game and avoid elimination, Primeau said it wasn't as if they had any choice.
"That's the way we talked about it between the second and third periods, is leave nothing for doubt, leave nothing in the tank, see where it goes," he said. "And I give our team a lot of marks because we showed a lot of courage and played with a lot of heart in the third period to battle back."
The Lightning held a 4-3 lead with less than two minutes remaining in regulation but it was Primeau who pulled the Flyers even at 18:11 and Simon Gagne, potting his second goal of the night, who settled it at 18:18 of overtime. In the third period and overtime, the Flyers outshot the Lightning, 27-10.
"We deserved that goal," said Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock, referring to Primeau's score. "The way we played in the third period, we deserved that goal."
The first six games have been a roller-coaster ride. Each squad has been dominant at times. But the Lightning believe Philadelphia was the superior club in Game 6.
"They deserved to win the game," said Lightning veteran Tim Taylor. "They played a lot better than us. The only period we outplayed them was the second period."
The way the series has gone, it seemed as if it was the Flyers' turn. Neither team has won back-to-back games. The Lightning captured the first game and it seesawed from there.
With only one contest remaining, both clubs have put Game 6 behind them. All anyone will remember is who wins Game 7.
Hitchcock said he's hoping his club can follow with an equally strong outing. However, neither team has been consistent.
"I just hope we don't get happy feet," said Hitchcock. "We've had a tendency to get happy feet. We're like the Steve Martin skit. If we can avoid happy feet, we'll do well in Game 7. We have not responded the way I've wanted after we've won hockey games."
So, when it comes right down to it, who is the pressure on?
"In Game 7, anything can happen," said Taylor. "There is really pressure on both teams. The season depends on this one game. It doesn't matter if you are home or away, you have to go out there and give everything you have and let the chips fall where they may. You'd be a fool not to give your all because you'll regret it for the rest of your life."
http://www.boston.com
boys, there's no use watching this game when we all know who is going to win. It's like watching a movie that you know the ending to. Why bother? Philly wins boys, then they win the cup, then you all come back to me and say, "sick gambler, you were right all along, how the hell did you know" and i will say, I told you so.. cause sick gambler knows his hockey like he knows food..
Flyers win the CUP boys, and do not forget that..
Flyers win the CUP boys, and do not forget that..
why does this song by Supertramp pop up in my mind when I read the last 2 posts here..
Supertramp - Dreamer Lyrics
Dreamer, you know you are a dreamer
Well can you put your hands in your head, oh no!
I said dreamer, you're nothing but a dreamer
Well can you put your hands in your head, oh no!
I said "Far out, - What a day, a year, a laugh it is!"
You know, - Well you know you had it comin' to you,
Now there's not a lot I can do
Dreamer, you stupid little dreamer;
So now you put your head in your hands, oh no!
I said "Far out, - What a day, a year, a laugh it is!"
You know, - Well you know you had it comin' to you,
Now there's not a lot I can do.
Well work it out someday
If I could see something
You can see anything you want boy
If I could be someone-
You can be anyone, celebrate boy.
If I could do something-
Well you can do something,
If I could do anything-
Well can you do something out of this world?
Take a dream on a Sunday
Take a life, take a holiday
Take a lie, take a dreamer
dream, dream, dream, dream, dream along...
Dreamer, you know you are a dreamer
Well can you put your hands in your head, oh no!
I said dreamer, you're nothing but a dreamer
Well can you put your hands in your head, oh no!
OH NO!
Supertramp - Dreamer Lyrics
Dreamer, you know you are a dreamer
Well can you put your hands in your head, oh no!
I said dreamer, you're nothing but a dreamer
Well can you put your hands in your head, oh no!
I said "Far out, - What a day, a year, a laugh it is!"
You know, - Well you know you had it comin' to you,
Now there's not a lot I can do
Dreamer, you stupid little dreamer;
So now you put your head in your hands, oh no!
I said "Far out, - What a day, a year, a laugh it is!"
You know, - Well you know you had it comin' to you,
Now there's not a lot I can do.
Well work it out someday
If I could see something
You can see anything you want boy
If I could be someone-
You can be anyone, celebrate boy.
If I could do something-
Well you can do something,
If I could do anything-
Well can you do something out of this world?
Take a dream on a Sunday
Take a life, take a holiday
Take a lie, take a dreamer
dream, dream, dream, dream, dream along...
Dreamer, you know you are a dreamer
Well can you put your hands in your head, oh no!
I said dreamer, you're nothing but a dreamer
Well can you put your hands in your head, oh no!
OH NO!
tampa will win this game (sorry, sick) but NOT gonna lay the wood here. like the general - i will watch and enjoy.
there is NOTHING better than a G7 in the NHL - where one shot, bad line change, etc. can make the difference between moving on or moving home.
there is NOTHING better than a G7 in the NHL - where one shot, bad line change, etc. can make the difference between moving on or moving home.
