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.

UPDATE: He should be okay! Lucky :) 

Last night’s matchup of the Caps and Flyers had an interesting and painful twist when Patrick Thoresen blocked a Mike Green slapshot late in the 3rd period on the penalty kill as the Flyers were clinging to a one goal lead they would eventually blow (thanks to OVE!)

“a ruptured testicle” is what Tarik El-Bashir is saying over at the Washington Post

owwww, good luck buddy, this is one area where women are more fortunate than men.

Reactions around the blogosphere *usually the same idea for all of them*…

The game took a solemn moment when the Flyers left wing Patrick Thoresen, took a shot in the groin and had to be helped off the ice, taken to hospital for tests there is the possibility that one of his testicles will have to be removed, such was the force of the shot that he blocked with six minutes to go in the game.
-HockeyNation

Best wishes and get well soon to Flyer forward Patrick Thoresen, who gave new meaning to “taking one for the team” last night, when he blocked a Mike Green drive by taking the puck to the groin. This is a hard enough way to make a living without having to risk permanent injury. Whatever jersey a player wears, one has to respect the desire to make a play that would lead a player to give himself up in that fashion. Get well soon, Patrick.
-The Peerless Prognosticator

To us it looked as if Patrick Thoresen took the Green slapshot in the man region. If that’s the case, we tip our hat to the guy who is spending the night in the hospital. Sure, he plays for the other team but the Brotherhood does not like to see its members take blows like that in the man region.
-Bleatings from a Caps Nut

“Gentlemen, pray for Patrick Thoresen - Busted Nut”
(BBeR note: only getting a spot here because of the title, nicely done, haha)

Take it easy,
-BBeR

I think this series is the most likely of any to go to a game 7. Many people are automatically going for caps in 5, etc, and I’m not here to say that the Flyers are going to win. I’m here simply to say that these teams have more similarities than you might realize.

Washington finished with 94 points, the Flyers finished with 95. Both teams finished hot: Washington 9-1, Philly 7-2-1.

Washington goals for/goals against was 242/231. Philly’s was 248/233.

Both have little to none playoff experience in net. Biron 0 games, Huet 6 games.

Both teams have 3 cup rings. Was: Federov (3). Philly: Knuble, Hatcher, Dowd

Both have rookie coaches. (Stevens with some experience last year)

Both have impact players injured. (Gagne/Hatcher and Nylander/Clark)

Teams tied for the lead in 4 on 4 goals this season.

So look for a close series, and it’s really a flip of a coin who will come out on top. It will probably come down to which goalie gets hot.

Also, congrats to Kevin Marshall.

From flyers.nhl.com:
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Monday announced its All-Star teams, which featured two Philadelphia Flyers prospects. Forward Claude Giroux was named as a first-team All-Star, while defenseman Kevin Marshall was a second-team All-Star.

Tom Renney surprised everyone by replacing Lunqvist with Stephen “Flyer’s Kryptonite” Valiquette, to start the 2nd period. Valiquette had shutout the Flyers on two previous occasions this season.

It seemed to spark the Rangers, who got out to an early 4-3, by a goal by Christian Backman, while an injured Briere hobbled to the bench leaving his team shorthanded, meanwhile Valiquette played yet another period of shutout hockey against the Flyers.

However the Flyers would overcome the Valiquette Curse midway through the 3rd thanks to the hand-eye coordination of Jeff Carter, which tied the game at 4-4. However it would be the only goal past the kryptonite, with the Rangers winning 5-4 in a shootout.

Injury notes: Joffrey Lupul, and Mike Richards are skating for the Flyers.

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.

Before the Flyers picking up Vinny Prospal late last night, I was actually counting on the Flyers being sellers at the deadline. There had been no life in the team, and I still think John Stevens should be dumped. During the 10-game losing streak, Jason Smith’s name started to appear in rumors here in the Philly area. He wants a long-term deal, something the Flyers just cannot afford to give him. Would you rather have Jason Smith at $3.5M for 3-4 years, or Derian Hatcher at the same price for one? So do not be surprised if Jason Smith is traded today, and they can do it and still make another move for the vaunted defenseman they’re looking for.

Smith made the best case in preseason to be the new captain of the Flyers…and still is. However he play had tended to decline as the season went on, and he’s making mistakes and been relegated to being a 5th or 6th defenseman. That said, Mike Richards looks to be ready to be the next captain of the Flyers.

Smith was the captain of the Oilers team that went to the 2006 Stanley Cup Final, he handles the pressure of being a captain well, and isn’t flustered by it. If your team is looking to get a proven leader, hopefully without huge expectations, you might be looking for Jason Smith.