By Harry Allison
Okay, the Flyers are still down in this series against the Pens 3 games to 2.
And game 6 is tomorrow afternoon at the Wells.
So it’s still a long shot for the Orange and Black.
But if they hadn’t won last night’s grueling, gutsy 4-2 game in Pitt, they would have had no shot.
Here’s what they have to do in game 6:
Greatness from their goaltender (we’re guessing Michal Neuvirth gets the call after his 30-save performance in Game 5)
Masterful penalty killing (the Flyers are 9 for 9 in their two victories)
Sean Couturier
Can the Flyers count on any of those elements carrying over into Game 6?
Their coach, Dave Hakstol, said he is not “big believer in momentum.” Even if he was, Hakstol would trade momentum for the Flyers coming home and playing like they are in Pittsburgh.
They have had a chance when challenging the Penguins in the Steel City.
At home, the Flyers have failed. like a Larry King marriage.
In Pittsburgh last night, the Flyers partook in what Couturier described as “a road game.” He was being neither obvious nor obtuse.
“We didn’t try to put on a show,” Couturier said.
Thing was, he did.
Credited with the winning goal, a shot Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin said deflected off his skate, Couturier was the fitting tiebreaker as the Flyers’ best player in Game 5. Flanked by unfamiliar wingers (Scott Laughton and Wayne Simmonds) in an unusual role (third-line center), Couturier guided the Flyers to a 13-8 advantage in even-strength shot attempts when he was on the ice.
By comparison, Flyers captain Claude Giroux was a minus-4 in that category.
Actually, Hakstol might want borrow from Couturier when explaining to the Flyers a necessary “road game” approach to Game 6.
“The crowd plays a big role, especially in the playoffs. There’s a lot of emotion,” Couturier said. “When the (stuff) hits the fan and things are not going our way, we’ve got to stay focused.”
The Flyers managed this behavior in Game 5 even after a 1-0 lead became a 2-1 deficit late in a second period dominated by the Penguins. As luck would have it, the Penguins’ overwhelming presence in the period is precisely what Neuvirth said he needed after facing only five opening-period shots in his first start since mid-February.
Still, the Flyers were gasping for life after wingers Bryan Rust and Jake Guentzel scored for the Penguins within a span of 4 minutes, 45 seconds.
A deep breath in the form of a short-handed goal by center Valtteri Filppula — channeling his younger days in Detroit — altered what already was going to be the most important third period of the season.
Instead of going into it behind, the Flyers were even.
They are going home behind in this series and, well …
Look, there are few rational reasons to suggest a Game 7 in Pittsburgh is probable. The Flyers are on their third goalie. Their best center is on one leg, and Giroux is on the board with only one goal and one assist.
Even with Penguins center Evgeni Malkin nursing a sore left knee, there is that Sidney Crosby guy, who scored two and assisted on four goals in Games 3 and 4.
For a player whose likeness was stuck on urinal cakes, it’s safe to say Crosby has dumped all over the Flyers in Philadelphia. Any opponent, especially the Flyers, would be hard pressed to handle hockey’s best player in a second consecutive game facing elimination.
But the Flyers weren’t supposed to get a second chance at saving their season, anyway.
A lot has to go right for the Flyers tomorrow. At least they’ll Sean Couturier.
Even on one good leg, there is an awful lot right about him. And Giroux isn’t going to let this series pass without making some sort of impact.
Is he?
