Eastern Conference Playoffs: Flyers Trump Penguins in Game 6

The weekend was a very busy time for teams being eliminated in the 2011-2012 Playoffs, in addition to the San Jose/St. Louis game that ended in the Blues winning the series 4-1, the Philadelphia Flyers finally knocked out the Pittsburgh Penguins after starting off 3-0.

In what could go down as the most ridiculous series in playoff history, the Flyers came out a victor in the three ring circus.  What could have been a 4 game series, turned into a ratings juggernaut that exceeded anyone’s expectations.  With the Pittsburgh Penguins going into this match up as the heavy favorite, after all they made it so far without their star player, it comes as a shock to many when the Penguins couldn’t capitalize on this favoritism.  The first two games, on home ice, the Penguins had 3-0 leads in the first and managed to lose both 4-3 and 8-5.  The complete lack of control in their zone came back to bite them in the butt, they finished games with 8 and 5 goals against, more than once.

This isn’t to say the Flyers were seamless in their domination. This match up will not be forgotten for a long time with their 10-3 loss in Game 4.  What should have sealed their sweep lead to the Penguins having 7 unanswered goals, what should have been an easy win (at home after going in to the CONSOL Center and owning the Penguins) turned into a 6 game struggle.

And how could you forget the penalties, the insanity that broke out night and night out, and the total lack of control the referees had on this game.  There’s no honor, no winners in this type of game.  This isn’t hockey, and whoever the Flyers face in the next round will actually have a defense and goaltending.  There will be no giving up 3 goals and coming back to win it.

Let’s hope the Flyers remember they are playing hockey and not a sideshow for the NHL in the second round.