“The Flyers are about to enter their comfort zone of playing down 3-0.”
The Bruins have been here before and they’re well aware of what happened last year against the Flyers. They also know what it feels like and how desperately teams play on the bad side of a lopsided 2-0 series lead after coughing up home-ice advantage.
This is the trend that makes postseason hockey so thrilling, from both sides of matchups. This time, Boston prefers to achieve the results of what its current Eastern Conference semifinal opponent enjoyed last year.
Despite Flyers forward James van Riemsdyk putting on a clinic Monday night, Tim Thomas was able to stop 54 shots, including 46 straight, en route to a Bruins victory and 2-0 series lead. Thomas will unquestionably win his second Vezina Trophy in the past three seasons at season’s end.
The real question is will Thomas also win the Stanley Cup this year?
It’s too soon to tell, as we all well know. Thomas played outstanding, his defense was just as controlling in front of him and the Bruins’ scoring touch came through when it counted.
“Timmy stole the game for us,” said defenseman Dennis Seidenberg. “We gave them too many odd-man rushes and breakaways, but Timmy was really good.”
“We do know, from our last series, a 2-0 lead doesn’t mean a series is over,” noted Thomas. “One game at time, one period at a time, one shift at a time. I think that’s the right approach.”
Sounds about right. The Flyers certainly aren’t going to go away quietly. Monday night’s Flyers team was missing Chris Pronger, the Zdeno Chara of the Broad St. Bullies. They also are still without the services of one of the top centers in the league in Jeff Carter. Pronger is questionable for Game 3 at the TD Garden on Wednesday night, and Bruins fans are hoping he doesn’t skate when the puck drops.
If Monday’s game taught hockey fans anything, it’s that both teams can battle with essentially five defensemen and a shortened bench.
But only one team is capable of facing 54 shots and coming out on top. Sure, the Flyers know how to dig themselves out of a series hole against Boston, but that was then, and this year’s Bruins squad is doing its very best to make sure that history doesn’t repeat itself.
