The Flyers do not have Carey Price, who is the modern world’s answer to Jesus Christ, Yahweh, Mohammad AND atheism. Habs in 6.

Pittsburgh vs. New York

Penguins in 7. I don’t have a reason, but I want to see Jagr motivated to kick some ass. He’s never had an opportunity to stick it to the Penguins, and the Rangers look like a team who can win. Penguins need to learn more, they didn’t even get a fight from Ottawa. Deer in headlights.

Detroit vs. Colorado

Detroit in 5. Colorado’s time is long up They can’t keep doing this. Especially Theodore. The other shoe has to drop.

San Jose vs. Dallas

San Jose showed me a lot. That they’re going to blow it at some point. Dallas in 6.

Martin Biron faced a fierce attack from Washington. Seldom having legitimate scoring opportunities, the Caps threw 16 shots in the 3rd to the Flyers 5. One of which off of Sergei Fedorov after Ovechkin passed up and open shot. Somehow, the Flyers made it through the third despite major trouble winning face offs and a few defensive-zone turnovers.

After doing a lot of things wrong, the Flyers finally did it right in overtime. After not calling John Erskine for his obviously intentional trip on Sami Kapanen, just a few moments later Tom Poti tripped R.J. Umberger and the Flyers got a golden opportunity with a power play. Kimmo Timonen’s shot was blocked, Cristobol Huet lost track of the puck and Joffrey Lupul potted the winning goal 6:06 in to overtime, and with just 9 seconds left on the power play. Martin Biron made 39 saves on 41 shots. The debate will rage on about the officiating in the game, but what’s done is done. The Flyers will play the Montreal Canadiens starting in just a few hours.

Suffice to say, there should not be more incentive to end this series when you can and get some rest. With a win today, the Flyers would have been off until at least Wednesday. If the Flyers would have played the entire game in Game 1, the series would have been over. Now, we have to play a game 6, and the Caps are stilling hanging around.

One other major issue is that Mike Knuble, who flanks Jeff Carter with Scottie Upshall, and was the Game 4 hero with the double-OT winner, caught a rut in the ice late in the second period. He will miss at least Games 6 and 7 with a “hamstring problem” as it was described on TV here in Philly. Speculation has ensued on who will take his place — grinder/fighter Riley Cote who played in games 1 and 2, or Steve Downie, who will bring the crazy, but has been a healthy scratch the entire series, and in 9 of 12 games to end the regular season.

Jeff Carter had two goals, and Danny Briere notched his 5th goal of the series, and tied the game with 9:59 to play.  It was pretty clear that the game would be headed to overtime. The Caps also put their best foot forward, somewhat, perhaps playing their best game of the series. Even as Alexander Ovechkin was shutdown once again, he had the game-winning goal on his stick with a wide open net and missed.

However, to be at such a game, is an experience that every hockey fan must take in. There’s nothing better in sports than hockey playoff overtime. As each play develops, there is a potential for not just the game to end, but for there to be such a huge swing in momentum. Had the Flyers finished the job in Game 1, they would have been going for the sweep. Instead, by the end of the game, the series could be tied and becomes a best-of-three series.

Each team traded 11 shots a piece in the first overtime without the game being decided, so another 15-minute intermission of near-anxiety attacks went by. Quaking in your seat. Checking your hand to see how furiously it is shaking due to the nerves. Stomach in knots.  A nervous/raucous Flyer crowd chanted “Let’s Go Flyers” as the second overtime began.

The Flyers dominated the second overtime, out-shooting Washington 7-1, the last being Knuble’s goal at 6:40 of the period, and around 11:00pm local time. Anxiety turned into euphoria, and then into exhaustion as we filed out of the building. Thank goodness the Flyers won or else not only would we be tired, but pissed off as well.

East:

1 Montreal vs. 8 Boston

Apparently, Montreal won all 8 games during the regular season. Obviously, that translates to success in the playoffs. Habs sweep.

2 Pittsburgh vs. 7 Ottawa

Upon further review of the Penguins team photo, Anton Volchenkov has more cajoles than the entire Penguins lineup. Ottawa in 6.

3 Washington vs. 6 Philadelphia

This just in: the Flyers don’t play in the Southeast. Flyers in 6.

4 New Jersey vs. 5 NY Rangers

Rangers in 6. Just because.

West:

1 Detroit vs. 8 Nashville

Dan Ellis? Against the Red Wings? Detroit in 5.

2 San Jose vs. 7 Calgary

San Jose — too hot. Jeremy Roenick — too sexy. Sharks in 6.

3 Minnesota vs. 6 Colorado

The Avalanche remind me of Van Halen. They always get back together, and two weeks later, it’s over. That coincides with this series. Minnesota in 7.

4 Anaheim vs. 5 Dallas

The Ducks are defending champs and the Stars are perennial underacheivers-because-everyone-always-thinks-they’re-better-than-they-actually-are. Ducks in 5.

One surprise did not come from the East Region as Hobey Baker finalist Kevin Porter, a Coyotes draft pick, led Michigan through past Niagara with a 4-goal performance and then added his 5th goal of the weekend in a 2-0 win over Clarkson, who beat St. Cloud State 2-1 the day before.

Michigan will play Notre Dame in the second game, who scored two improbable upsets. First the Irish beat top seed New Hampshire 7-3, who did not turn in an inspired performance outside of a few sorrowed souls. Then, they lucked out again with a 3-1 win over defending champ Michigan State, who had beaten regional hosts Colorado College. Notre Dame, who were upset last year as a 1 seed, advance to the Frozen Four for the first time, and the other three teams in the region are left searching for answers.

Worcester perhaps staged the most interesting regional. Miami U struggled to an overtime win over Air Force on Saturday. For the second year in a row, Air Force blew a 3rd period lead and did not have any answers late in the game, despite a phenominal performance from goalie Andrew Volkening. Justin Mercier scored an unassisted goal 15:21 into overtime. Boston College stopped a red-hot Minnesota team, who struggled to a 7th-place regular season in the WCHA but almost managed to slip their way through the WCHA Final Five. BC scored 3 3rd period goals in a 5-2 win. Boston College also ended up beating Miami U in overtime in a wild affair on Sunday. After jumping out 2-0 midway through the game, Miami had an all-out meltdown that saw them give up 3 goals in the last two minutes in the period. After tying the game in the 3rd, Joe Whitney’s goal sent BC to Denver 12:12 into overtime for a 4-3 BC win.

Order was restored, somewhat, in Madison. Wisconsin, a team many people believed shouldn’t have been in the tournament, handily upset Denver U, winners of the WCHA Final Five in a 6-2 win. Ryan Duncan powered North Dakota over Princeton to set up a matchup that would produce the WCHA’s only rep in the Frozen Four. Wisconsin, like Miami, jumped out 2-0, but North Dakota rallied early in the 3rd with Andrew Kozak scoring in overtime to send the Badger fans home unhappy. North Dakota won 3-2 in OT, and they will play Boston College in the first game next Thursday.

Michigan, winners of the CCHA regular season and the Mason Cup,  is the #1 overall seed, playing in the East region. The Wolverines will play CHA Champion #4 Niagara. The winner of that game will play the winner of #2 St. Cloud State/ #3 Clarkson. The East regional will be played in Albany, NY.

After losing the Hockey East Tournament in the semi-finals in triple overtime, New Hampshire was able to hold on to a #1  seed, but will have to go all the way out to Colorado Springs, to the home rink of the #2 seed Colorado College. UNH drew Notre Dame while CC will play defending champion Michigan State. Also, real disadvantage that UNH has is that their game will be played at 1:00 a.m. EDT

The northeast region features 4 interesting teams. #1 seed Miami, OH will play AHA champion Air Force, who nearly beat Minnesota in the 1st round last year. The other match up pits #2 Boston College, winners of Hockey East against #3 Minnesota, who made an improbably run to the WCHA final, after finishing 7th in the WCHA regular season. These games will be played in Worcester, MA.

The Midwest region might be the most interesting region of the four. #1 North Dakota, who beat Colorado College in the WCHA 3rd-place game for the right to be a #1 seed, will play Princeton who won the ECAC for the first time in 10 years. #2 seed Denver, winners of the WCHA Final Five, will play #3 Wisconsin. Questions have been raised about the viability of Wisconsin’s inclusion in the tournament, as they are below .500, but are hosting the tournament in Madison.

A lot of WCHA fans such as I felt that Minnesota State (formerly Minnesota-Mankato) belonged in the tournament over Wisconsin. Minnesota State played Minnesota at Mankato in a 3-game set for the right to play in the WCHA Final Five, and I think it was probably the best 3-game series I’ve ever seen. All 3 games went to over time, two of them deep into double overtime with Minnesota winning games 2 and 3 at Mankato to win the series.

The tournament starts Friday, all the regional games are on ESPNU.

Very quietly, Jeff Carter has begun to show signs that he might be a dominant force in the league. He has been the Flyers best forward since Christmas, and with the discovery of first-line-potential offense from Mike Richards, Jeff Carter has found other way to contribute as he continues to find his offensive groove. Carter, not Mike Richards, because John Stevens’ go-to-shutdown center, and top penalty killer.

Since being drafted by the Flyers in 2003, Carter (11th overall) was thought of to be the possible first line center for the Flyers, while Richards (24th overall) would be the second fiddle captain, but through the beginning part of this season, it was Richards who found his niche, and people were looking for answers from Jeff Carter. Carter, who led the 2005 Calder Cup playoffs in scoring, had been voted the best penalty killer in the OHL, but the Flyers had yet to see his best going either direction.

What people did not see with the Flyers hot start and contributions from Briere and Richards, was that Carter’s game was coming on just as strong. Carter has been the Flyers best forward since Christmas, something people failed to see during the red hot January and ice cold February the Flyers had.

On Monday, Carter sparked a Flyers comeback in Buffalo. After going down 3-0 early, the Flyers looked to be headed towards a franchise record 11th consecutive loss, and possibly another early summer vacation. Carter scored on a breakaway, followed quickly by Scott Hartnell’s goal, and then R.J. Umberger’s game-tying goal in the 3rd, a scoreless overtime set the stage for a Flyers win on goals from Carter and Briere to end the losing streak.

Last night against Ottawa, with the team still being faced with injuries, and Briere having to get used to yet another new linemate, newly-acquired Vinny Prospal, and a Senators team with Bryan Murray back behind the bench, Jeff Carter’s line took center stage. After Jason Spezza was given a game misconduct for butt-ending after scoring a goal, the Flyers scored three times in the second half of the game. Carter’s line, with Scottie Upshall and Mike Knuble dominated the Senators, not just shutting down Daniel Alfredsson (-3) and Dany Heatley (-3), but Mike Knuble’s scored twice, one of which set up by Upshall’s break to the net and sparked the Flyers to a 3-1 win.

Since the Flyers are hit hard with injuries to Mike Richards, Derian Hatcher, Joffrey Lupul, Denis Tolpeko, Jaroslav Modry and Simon Gagne, the Flyers are going to have to win games the hard way: great goaltending and defense, and hope your best line scores twice, which is exactly what happened last night. This will need to continue with a tough stretch upcoming, the Flyers 5 games in 8 days starting with an afternoon game on Long Island.