Three Games In and They're Phillying Fine!
They're bigger, probably more talented, certainly cockier, but so
far the Flyers trail the Leafs two games to one. No one on the
Maple Leafs is anywhere near ready to gloat, proclaim victory or
even claim to be satisfied with the three games so far. However,
as far as results go, it has been pretty good for the blue and
white. For a team that has been outhit, outshot and outchanced
to come into Game Four up 2-1 is nothing short of a coup.
Game One was one of the most frustrating games of the season for
the Buds. Everything they did failed. When they dumped the puck
in, they were beat to the puck, when they carried it they got
nailed. Whatever shots that were credited to them were gifts.
After taking it to the Flyers early, they mustered no offense the
rest of the way. In the end the Leafs were badly beaten and
certainly disheartened. The game ended with the Flyers carrying
their heads high after the Beezer beat Cujo 3-0.
With the pundits circling, in essence calling captain Mats Sundin
a poor leader, the season a fluke, Game Two could not have come
any earlier for the Leafs. Once again in the pristine ACC,
before a packed house, the Leafs fell behind early 1-0. Once
again whatever the leafs tried seemed to fail -- they could do no
right. The Good Ship Maple Leaf did not, however, throw in the
towel. A continued effort, try and try again if you will,
created an atmosphere that almost seemed to suggest that perhaps
they could rally. Various events occurred that would set the
tone for the rest of the series.
Officiating would come under heavy scrutiny as a result of this
game. There was a horrible call on a phantom offside against the
Leafs as they entered the Flyers end in attempt to build
confidence. It was, however, a call/no-call that would have
folks, especially in Philly, talking after the game. Steve
Thomas drilled Eric Desjardins in the Flyer corner, Desjardins
dropped like a sack of potatoes and somehow the puck ended up in
the Flyer net. However, the officials seeing an inanimate Flyer
player down whistled the play dead (no pun intended) prior to the
puck entering the net. While Leaf fans went nuts about the no
call, Flyer faithful would scream bloody murder about the hit, an
alleged elbow by Thomas. There was no penalty nor a goal on the
play so neither side was happy about the result.
Later in the game, Kris King tried to turn another Flyer player
into a board advertisement. The Flyers wanted a major call, the
Leafs wanted no call at all, and again neither side was exactly
satisfied with the result -- a two-minute minor.
Late in the third period, with just under two minutes left, the
Leafs somehow turned the game around. Somehow the new Flyer
nemesis Steve Thomas squeaked a goal behind the Beezer and tied
the game at 1-1. With the arena a buzz and the Leafs swarming,
Sundin turned on the jets. Captain Mats was gunning for the net
when a Flyer defender knocked him off the puck mid-air and the
fans at the ACC lost all their patience with the officials,
sending the free pre-game rattlers onto the ice at perhaps the
most inappropriate time. The Leafs had finally gained the
momentum and the fans caused a lengthy delay as the ACC staff had
to clean up the littered ice. With Coach Quinn electing not to
entertain the notion of opting to head for the locker-room as
suggested by an official, the game would continue.
The Leafs picked up where they left off, and in the dying moments
Sundin somehow found an opening behind the Beezer and put a puck
over his shoulder to put the Leafs ahead 2-1 and even the series
at 1-1.
The Flyers and their media were certainly non-believers in the
Leafs, blaming the loss on the poor officiating and of course the
Thomas hit. The Leaf media was only too happy to offer up their
usual negative predictions on the prospect of Game Three. With
"Steve Thomas Wanted Dead Or Alive" placed all over the Flyers
arena, the scene shifted to the City of Brotherly Love for Games
Three and Four.
The Flyers again came out guns a-blazing and were able to beat
Cujo about halfway into the period. The arena went ballistic as
it had after ever hit or attempted hit prior to the goal. The
Leaf media had also been happy to report that the Flyers were
convinced the ACC was a poor arena at best and that the Leaf Fans
were no match to theirs. With the sound reaching deafening
levels, the Leafs won the next draw following the goal, and Mike
Johnson, whom the Toronto Sun had basically put an APB out for,
broke down the left wing and shoveled the puck towards the net
from the most bizarre angle, and it somehow slipped behind the
Beezer.
The strike was so fast, 10 seconds to be specific, that the PA
announcer had yet to announce the Flyer goal. The arena went
from havoc to silent in less than 1/10th of a second. It was so
quiet in the building that for the first time in recent history,
a home team goal when finally announced was met silently as the
crowd returned to their seats in sheer shock.
The game was certainly never the same after that goal. The
Flyers abandoned their game plan from that point on and the fans
were a complete non-factor. Early in the second period, with
Craig Berube in the box for Philly after a bone-headed penalty,
arch enemy #1 (or in this case 32) Steve Thomas rifled a shot
past a frozen Beezer to bury the Flyers, their fans and in
essence Game Three. The Flyers would outshoot and outchance the
Leafs the rest of the way, but the goaltending duel which had
been predicted came to fruition and Cujo did not disappoint, not
allowing another goal the rest of the way. The Flyers were
clearly rattled as nothing they did worked as the Leafs, yes the
Leafs, led by Bryan Berard, yes Bryan Berard, turned in a
defensive gem.
The game was filled with many subplots, none bigger as the battle
between Tie Domi and Sandy McCarthy. Their were numerous times
when they were jawing at each other, each acting out a charade,
which the ESPN commentators briskly laughed off. However,
McCarthy claimed after the game that Domi had indeed muttered a
racial slur at him, and as a result he spit on Domi, hardly what
the NHL wanted in the playoffs. Like Domi, this scribe had no
clue what Domi cold have uttered at McCarthy in that he does not
appear to be a member of a minority let alone a visible minority.
Having said that, McCarthy's father is an African Canadian and he
claimed that Domi "dropped a 'N' bomb" on him. Domi seemed
dumbfounded with the accusations claiming that he called him many
things and there were many exchanges but he would never, and did
not use the "N" word.
After a day where the race claim was the lead story in both
Canada and the US, the NHL released a statement late Tuesday
evening. In essence the NHL was unable to get anyone to confirm
the allegations from either Domi, that McCarthy spit on him, or
McCarthy that Domi used a racial slur. As such no action would
be taken against either player. Expect great hype over Game Four
Wednesday night in Philly. However, as is usually the case,
little will come from it. If the game is close and it says here
it will be, considering these two goalies, then neither team will
want to take dumb penalties that the league will certainly have
the officials (both of them) looking for. Regardless of the
result, the next couple of games should be very interesting.
