Philadelphia Flyers: Team put on their “big boy pants” in stunning victory
After being called out by their coach before the game, the Philadelphia Flyers top players emerged in Game 5.
Well, it happened. The Philadelphia Flyers live to fight another day with their HUGE overtime win in Game 5 of their series with the New York Islanders. This team has faced different types of adversity all season long, and it has more of the same heading into Game 5.
Hours before the puck dropped on Tuesday night, the Philadelphia Flyers Head Coach Alain Vigneault made it clear that his top players needed to “put on their big boy pants” if they wanted to extend their season. The struggles of the Orange and Blacks’ top players has been well documented. The two guys that were specifically singled out were the captain Claude Giroux as well as polarizing forward James van Riemsdyk.
Entering Game 5, Giroux and JvR had combined to produce 5 points (all assists from Giroux) since the beginning of this postseason. With the teams struggles to find the back of the net, this has become even more magnified.
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Well, Giroux and JvR answered the bell.
Trailing 1-0 late in the second period, Claude Giroux was able to get his stick on a point shot from Phillippe Myers and redirect it home tying the game at 1. A few minutes later, after a bad pinch from the Islanders, the Orange and Black found themselves on a 2 on 1 breakout where James van Riemsdyk was able to bury the centering pass from Scott Laughton (more on him later) to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead. Simply put, they had heard their coaches plea for them to step up, and boy did they ever.
Keep in mind, Giroux and JvR were both members of the Philadelphia Flyers team from 2010 that overcame the odds and rallied from a 3-0 series deficit (including a 3-0 game 7 deficit) to come back and shock the Boston Bruins. This was a big reason why they were singled out by their head coach; these guys have been in this spot before. It was clear that it was up to them to lead the way in Game 5.
Matt Niskanen was able to find the back of the net as well early in the 3rd period to extend the Flyers lead to 3-1. With under 5 minutes to play, a nightmare scenario began to unfold for Flyers fans everywhere; as the Islanders were able to get two quick goals to push the game into overtime.
Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart was able to regroup though, and made some timely saves in the extra stanza to give his team a chance to win. Just over 13 minutes into the extra period, that is exactly what happened. Giroux was able to set up Ivan Provorov at the blue line, who threw a puck towards the net which redirected off Scott Laughton’s stick and into the back of the net. The Philadelphia Flyers live to fight another day.
It is worth mentioning that a key member of the Flyers core was lost in the 3rd period and did not return to the ice. That of course is Sean Couturier. There is still no update at this time, but if he is not on the ice for Game 6, that could be a detrimental blow to the chances for the Orange and Black.
Next. Philadelphia Flyers: Carter Hart looks right at home in the postseason. dark
With Game 6 on Thursday night, it is certainly encouraging the Flyers were able to step up, but they will need to do so again if they want to extend their season once again. We know this team can do it, and it is beginning to feel as if they know they can do it too. Now, it is time to just get focused and take it one shift at a time. Let’s hope that this Saturday, we are preparing ourselves for a Game 7. If the big boy pants are worn again in Game 6, there is no reason why they can’t get there.