The Flyers Are Still Alive, The Phillies Are Still Hot, And Wawa Is Still Better Than Sheetz

Well, there was doubt. There was an unbelievable, confusing, and down right unpredictable lineup put together for Game 5. But, I guess fate was on their side and somehow, after all that, the Flyers escaped elimination in an all out gutty performance.




The Flyers beat the Penguins 3-2 in Game 5. The Flyers got goals from Claude Giroux, Valtteri Filppula, and the game winner by a returning Sean Couturier.

I guess you never doubt your Captain. He promised a Game 6 in Philadelphia and the Flyers gave their fans a Game 6 in Philadelphia on Sunday.




Michal Neuvirth

After being kept the most quite secret, Michal Neuvirth bursted into this series like a man possessed. With all signs pointing to Brian Elliott being the guy in net, Hakstol throw everyone a curveball and started Neuvirth instead. Now, I have said start Neuvirth ever since he was back healthy. But, I will not get into that.

 

After a stellar 1st period, Neuvirth has a shaky 2nd. Both goals the Penguins scored were easy saves that Neuvirth should have made. Neuvirth should have gotten to the post on Rust’s goal and Guentzel’s five-hole shot has to be saved.

However, Neuvirth battled back and had a stellar 3rd period to help fuel the Flyers victory. In total, Neuvirth made 30 saves on the 32 shots he faced. None bigger than his final save. A ten-bell, high robbery save on Sidney Crosby with 50.3 seconds remaining in the game.

MICHAL NEUVIRTH ROBS SIDNEY CROSBY pic.twitter.com/jxfexZEKbl

— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) April 21, 2018

Finally Some Push Back

After showing no fight or push back in games 3 & 4, the Flyers stormed back from a 2-1 deficit to extend the series. On the brink of elimination, the Flyers scored 3 unanswered goals to beat the Penguins 4-2.

Going into the 2nd period with a 1-0 lead, the Flyers came out slow and the Penguins made them pay. It wasn’t quick, but the Penguins wore the Flyers down and eventually tied the game. But, instead of push back from the Flyers, they fell behind.

However, late in the 2nd, Valtteri Filppula scored probably the biggest goal of the Flyers season yet. Short-handed never-the-less. That goal fueled a 3rd period of grit and continued push back from the Flyers and the eventual game winner. It took 5 games, but this team has life again.

Officiating Was Atrocious

Officiating hasn’t been a problem all series. Mainly because of the fact that the first four games haven’t been close. However, tonight, in the tightest game of the series, the officials really let the Flyers down. Already coming into the game at a disadvantage, down 3-1 in the series, the Flyers had to deal with more than just the Penguins tonight.

 

After getting the games first power-play, the officials turned their backs on anything the Penguins did. To make matters worse, the referees awarded the Penguins two phantom power-plays in the latter part of the game. Both power-plays were given after neither Flyer, Radko Gudas & Valtteri Filppula, did anything wrong. The power-play total for the game was 1 for the Flyers and 5 for the Penguins.

Staying Alive, But At A Cost?

With the Flyers victory, they extended the series to a Game 6 back in Philadelphia on Sunday. The Flyers are still a long way from a Game 7 back in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, but tonight was the first step.

However, the Flyers may be doing it without their best all around player and minute eater, Ivan Provorov. Provorov, who has been leaned on to solidify the back line, went in awkwardly to the boards on the Sean Couturier winning goal.

From covering Provorov the past two seasons, I know it takes a serious injury for him to leave the bench and head to the locker room. Something Provorov did after going into the end boards hard. Now, this is all judgment, but coach Dave Hakstol didn’t silence any doubt of an injury in his post-game presser. He told the media that their is no update and he will be evaluated when the team gets back home tomorrow.

Philly Sweep

To add fuel to the fire, the Phillies also beat a team from Pittsburgh tonight in similar fashion. After going down 1-0, the boys in red pinstripes fought back with a run in the bottom half of the 6th inning.

Keeping the Flyers theme, the Phillies scored a run late in the game off an 8th inning triple by Odubel Herrera to fuel the Phillies victory 2-1 over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Oh yeah, to round off the sweep, Wawa is better than Sheetz because the day ended in “Y”, Friday. Just like every other day of the week.

All in all, a great day in Philly sports.

Result : Flyers 4 – Penguins 2, WIN

Series : Penguins 3-2

Next Game : 4/22 Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia PA, NBC 3:00pm