The Philadelphia Flyers are in the playoffs again for the 4th consecutive year. Strangely enough, the past two years the Flyers have reached the playoffs the same way, by winning in a shootout. Except this one wasn't on the last day of the season (thankfully) as they beat the Dallas Stars 3-2. Jeff Carter got the scoring started with a redirection goal off a Andrej Meszaros shot. Then Mike Richards batted in a rebound past Stars netminder Kari Lehtonen to make it 2-0 Flyers. Then just when you thought that the Flyers finally might get a shutout, Alex Goligoski made it 2-1. And then things got worse when Stephane Robidas tied the game at 2 on a slap shot. It was only the 5th goal of the year for Robidas. Sergei Bobrovsky was tremendous against the Stars though, making amazing save after amazing save. Braydon Coburn also had a great game, breaking up rushes for the Stars so many times in the 3rd and in OT. Coby may have had his best game of the season last night against Dallas and he couldn't have had his best game at a bigger time. The game definately had a playoff feel to it and was extremely exciting to watch. Even though it was also very nerve wracking to watch as well. After a scoreless OT came the shootout, now all season Bobrovsky hasn't played well at all in shootouts so that led to even more nervousness as well. But last night he was stellar and hopefully this means he's finally grown comfortable to being in that situation. Claude Giroux got the first goal for the Flyers in the shootout with another dazzling move by Roo. Unfortunately Mike Ribero followed suit with a goal of his own to tie the shootout at 1. Bobrovsky and Lehtonen matched each other after that save after save until Lehtonen came out to challenge Leino with a poke check that backfired and Leino went back hand and scored the game winner, and the playoff spot winner. Now while it's great that the Flyers have clinched a playoff spot, there is still work to be done. They face the Capitals next on Tuesday, Pens on Thursday, Isles on Friday, Bruins on Sunday, and then the Pens again next Tuesday. It's a tough stretch for the Flyers and even the Isles game will be tough as well. Home ice would be huge for the Flyers so they still need to win these games. Hopefully they don't lose focus after this win and can continue to win games. LET'S GO FLYERS!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9bhICkaPWg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ASJc2WU1Rc
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