Three games into the series, The Flyers are up 3-0 over the Penguins. One of the top teams in the NHL has been playing bad but the Philadelphia Flyers don’t mind. They’re rather pleased with the opposing team’s performance and maybe even a little surprised, that they are not playing like they would in past playoff seasons.
The Flyers lead the first-round playoff series, three games to none, and can eliminate the Penguins with a victory Wednesday in Game 4. Pittsburgh has allowed 20 goals in three games. The so called “elite defense” has been playing terrible along with Pittsburgh’s special teams.
But that begins to explain why the Flyers have gained such fire or spark to their play. Before the series, the Flyers have been playing almost below average hockey. The team had discussed the value of playing hard, but clean. They would play this way from first whistle to final whistle. They have done so. And clearly Pittsburgh has not.
The N.H.L. suspended a number of players in this heated series. This 3-game series has been full of fights. Craig Adams was one of the suspended player’s one game for instigating a fight late in the 3rd period.
Their behavior has been uncharacteristic for the Flyers. They had led the N.H.L. during the regular season with an average of 16.1 penalty minutes a game. They were in third place with fighting majors, having 57.
All in all the Flyers have been playing better hockey and if the Penguins want to stay alive they have to come out with discipline and heart tonight in game four.
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