NEWARK, N.J. - So how 'bout that for Flyer playoff openers?
Gotta feel good for Brian Boucher. He is one of the "tough luck" stories in all the playoffs and I have a feeling a lot of hockey fans, in general, not just Flyer fans, are pulling for him to recapture that magic from his 2000 playoff run.
I haven't seen the replay where it shows too many men on the ice on Mike Richards' eventual game winning goal.
I asked Bill Clement about it between periods when the emails started coming in. He said Blair Betts was so far removed the play it was non-consequential.
None of the NJ writers asked Mike Richards about it during the period I was there when Richards held his post-game media scrum.
Now, a loyal fan of the Devils, ArcherofStars73, who writes me all the time on CSNPhilly.com, sent me a quote from Devils coach Jacques Lemaire late last night: “It was too many met at a certain time, but it (needed) to be called and this game goes fast,” Lemaire said. “There’s a lot of things going on. Sometimes you’re missing it and there’s nothing you can do. I did miss it myself when it happened, but I saw it on the video after, which is a lot easier.”
Maybe this will become a bigger issue on the off-day practices later this afternoon.
For now, the Flyers should NOT enjoy this win. Forget it. It's history, Re-focus. Your team just stole a game in NJ because of your goalie. Now go back tomorrow and try to get two. A split is all you can ask but to win two games on the road at the start of a series puts doubt into the other team.
“You’re trying to gain confidence and settle into the series,” Chris Pronger said of winning the opener. “It’s big. Especially, when you’re on the road and the underdog team.”
And I kinda like what Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said twice yesterday.
"Not a lot of love for the Philadelphia Flyers out there."
Ya think?
And what are the chance Ian Laperriere throws another behind-the-back pass to someone for a goal in the series. What if it had been picked off?
Laperriere talks about that in my story on CSNPhilly.com:
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