TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 30: Thomas Greiss #1 of the New York Islanders defends a shot against Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 30, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
I could tell early on in Game 5 that the team was on point. They were aggressive up front and solid in the back. The Islanders had to work, as they should. Unfortunately, the first period ended without a Flyers goal, but it was a sign of good things to come.
That all changed shortly into the Second Period. Josh Bailey scored on a power play. It was a messy goal with multiple players in front of Carter Hart so Alain Vigneault challenged it. The referees barely glanced at it, and deemed as a good goal so we were penalized. Ironically enough, later in the game the referees would take it upon themselves to review a play that neither coach challenged. They reviewed that play for about 15 minutes and you could see Vigneault fuming. The referees stated it was not a goal and the game continued. AV was furious, you could see it. Can someone say no more coach challenges please???
Claude Giroux was quick to answer the Islanders goal on an assist from Philippe Myers with 4:14 left in the period. Just a few minutes later James van Riemsdyk hit the net on a one timer with 1:42 left in the second period. Shortly into the third period, Matt Niskanen scored but the Islanders Brock Nelson answered back to tie things up with 2:41 left in the third period. Carter Hart made a huge save on a breakaway to keep the Flyers season alive, and Scott Laughton won it for the Flyers with 7:42 left in overtime. They get to live to see another day all thanks to Laughton.
I have been using the Boston 2010 series as an example and as you all know, the Flyers won that series. Every game was do or die, and they killed it. The energy was intense for Game 6. Mike Richards and Danny Briere each scored a goal, while the Bruins only tallied one. Of course, the Flyers forced a Game 7, and then the rest was history.
Or we could use the 1975 Flyers v. Islanders series as an example. The Flyers won the first three games, and then lost the next three forcing a Game 7. They came out strong and dominated on both ends of the ice. The final score was 4-1, and of course the Flyers moved on. As you all know that was the year the Flyers repeated, they won Lord Stanley’s Cup.
The boys wore their big boy pants on Tuesday. They better wear them again today because I am not ready for this insane ride to end.
