It’s Nights Like This That Make You Remember Why You Fell In Love With The Game
Friday, December 12, 2008 11:30
By the time the Simon Gagne and his Philadelphia Flyers scored the game-tying goal with 1:44 left to go in the third period of Thursday night’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes, I’d long since screamed myself hoarse. The Flyers mounted their improbable four-goal comeback in electric fashion, paced by Scott Hartnell’s hat trick and capped off with Gagne’s beautiful rebound shot over the right shoulder of former Flyer goaltender Michael Leighton.
The Flyers came out in their road whites despite being in their own barn. This was presumably so that the Hurricanes could showcase their new alternate jerseys for their…fans? Actually, I have no idea for whom they were showcasing their spiffy new all-black jerseys. They certainly weren’t selling any of them at the Wachovia Center. Perhaps the Hurricanes felt that for their fourth contest against the Broad Street Bullies in the past 30 days, they needed to find a way to remind the Flyers that they’re still not the Whalers. Or maybe the Hurricanes front office thought co-opting the black jersey look would give “what once was old, is new again” head coach, Paul Maurice a fresh start. Either way, I think it’s safe to say the stratagem backfired.
Given how the Flyers had played in the first two periods, one could easily be forgiven for wondering if they actually were on the road. Also, the defense’s play early had me wondering if someone had tried to slip Mike Rathje back into uniform without telling anyone.
The Hurricanes’ Eric Staal got the scoring going early, weaving through the Flyers’ defense with ease to score 1:01 into the first period in front of a Philadelphia crowd that was still filing into the arena on Dollar Dog Night. Scott Hartnell tried to wake the team up with a big hit on former Flyer, Rod Brind’amour. Hartnell’s subsequent fight against ‘Canes rookie Casey Borer, who showed some grit in sticking up for his Captain, still failed to ignite the team The period ended with Carolina up by a goal.
The second period was pretty much all Hurricanes. The Flyers managed to harness a bit of momentum halfway through the period with a beautiful re-direct by Hartnell in front of the net to pull them within one goal, but Carolina’s Sergei Samsonov scored again 14 seconds later to thoroughly deflate the home team. The Flyers played listlessly for the rest of the period, and continuing the Flyer tradition of making sure former Flyers have career nights against their old team. Seriously, Joni Pitkanen even scored a goal. When the second period drew to its merciful conclusion, the Flyers were down 5-1.
By the end of the second, the Wachovia Center was dangerously quiet. Not even the opiate of $1 hot dogs could quell the fans’ simmering anger at seeing their boys getting so badly out-played.
As soon as the Flyers took the ice in the third, it was clear something had changed. From the first puck drop, they were electric. Suddenly, the Flyers were playing with purpose. Scott Hartnell said later that Coach John Stevens ripped into the team during the intermission, essentially calling them out for playing like a “bunch of pansies.” One can only hope that Hartnell is paraphrasing. I’d hate to think of an NHL coach using language that harsh in a locker room, of all places.
Scott Hartnell scored at 1:42 of the third. He scored again five minutes later on a pretty backhand to cap his hat trick. Hartnell’s hat trick was his first since last January, and was the hockey equivalent of hitting for the cycle. He scored a shorthanded goal, a goal at even strength, and a power play goal. Had he gotten an assist, he would also have had a Gordie Howe hat trick.
When Scottie Upshall ripped a top-shelf wrist shot over a stickless Michael Leighton at 15:08 in the third to pull the Flyers within a goal of tying the game, the Wachovia Center was in collective hysterics. The Hurricanes were on their heels and looking confused. When Carolina’s Brett Carson got called for a hook with a little under four minutes to go in the period, you just knew they were going to tie the game. As a Philadelphia fan, that kind of optimism is unheard-of. It was a nice feeling. Just as time was about to expire on the penalty, Simon Gagne tied the game and the Wachovia Center erupted.
After a rough start, Flyers goaltender Antero Niittymaki came up with some huge saves in the third period, showing some of the potential that keeps people wondering whether or not he’s good enough to supplant Martin Biron as the starter. After the Flyers drew another all-too-frequent bench minor for having too many men on the ice during overtime, Niitty staved off the desperate Hurricanes and got his team to the shootout.
The team’s collective momentum carried over into the shootout where Niittymaki was perfect, stonewalling Hurricanes Rod’Brindamour and Tuomo Ruutu. The Flyers sealed the improbable comeback with shootout goals by team captain Mike Richards and Simon Gagne.
When the dust settled, the Flyers had equaled the greatest comeback win in club history. They’d tied a record set in 1988 when a Flyers team that included current Flyers assistant coach Craig Berube overcame a four-goal deficit in to beat the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena.
One Response to “It’s Nights Like This That Make You Remember Why You Fell In Love With The Game”
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Nate Barlow
says:
December 19th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Of course falling behind by a lot is absolutely gut-wrenching, but nothing is more exciting than the resurrection from the depths of despair that comes part-and-parcel with a great comeback. For me, nothing will ever touch the ‘04 ALCS.