For the first time since 2004, your Philadelphia Flyers are the Atlantic Division champions, has a nice ring to it doesn't it. The Flyers ended the run of the Devils and Penguins by winning 7-4 over the Islanders last night. The win didn't come easily though, the Flyers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead less than a minute into the game off goals by Kimmo Timonen and Scott Hartnell. But the Isles came right back scoring 2 quick goals of their own. One a breakaway by Michael Grabner, and then a blast by Travis Hamonic. Danny Briere gave the Flyers the lead back on a backhander he put by Isles netminder Rick DiPietro. The lead was short lived though, on a strange play John Tavares tied the game after the puck trickled through the crease and right to the tape of Tavares. After that Sergei Bobvrovsky was pulled in favor of Brian Boucher. Only 53 seconds into the 2nd period, PA Parenteau gave New York the lead 4-3. The Flyers came right back though as Andrej Meszaros wristed one by DP to tie the game for the Flyers. With time running down in the 2nd Scott Hartnell sent the crowd in a frenzy with his second goal of the game to put the Flyers back in front 5-4. The Flyers wouldn't look back from there as Meszaros netted his second of the game to put the Flyers on top 6-4, and then Darroll Powe got the empty netter to put the icing on the cake as the Flyers clinched their first division title since 2004, the last year before the lockout. The Flyers finally showed the intensity last night that had been absent for many games before, they had some parts where they laid back a little yes, but other than that, they came out like they were ready to win, they are ready for the playoffs. The only question now is, can Sergei Bobrovsky bounce back and do well in the playoffs, can he handle the pressure. No one knows the answer to that, it's something that we'll find out when the Flyers face Buffalo in the first round. The Flyers haven't faced the Sabres in the playoffs since the 2005-2006 season when they lost 4 games to 2. But don't let that discourage you at all, a lot has changed since then for both teams, heck, Robert Esche was the goalie for the Flyers at that point, don't buy into it. So now it's time for the best time of the year, the Stanley Cup Playoffs, time for playoff beards, orange crush inside the Wells Fargo Center, and time for the most exciting hockey you'll ever see. LET'S GO FLYERS!!
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