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Don’t forget about the Philadelphia Flyers

Image (1) Briere-thumb-200x300-11433.jpg for post 1588

What the Montreal Canadiens have been able to do so far in the playoffs is certainly tremendous. They’re the eighth seed in the East and have taken out the two darlings of the NHL, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals.

No more Sid. No more Ovi. All thanks to the Canadiens.

But we can’t forget about the Philadelphia Flyers have the chance to accomplish.

The Flyers were a team that everyone wrote off at the end of the season, as they needed a shootout win just to make the playoffs and were playing with an injury depleted team with Brian Boucher in net. While they’d never admit it, I’m sure there was even a number of Flyers fans certain that their team didn’t have much hope in the postseason.

Now, after a relatively easy win against the New Jersey Devils in round one, the Flyers are on the doorstep of making history. It’s an improbable scenario that no one could have seen coming, especially with how the Boston Bruins played in the first three games. Only two teams in the history of the NHL have come back from being down 3-0 in a series to win, and the Flyers have all the momentum heading into tomorrow night’s Game 7 showdown.

They’re receiving big play from the players they need it most from, no more so than what’s happened with Daniel Briere in the second round. He’s done nothing but play better and more dominant as the series has progressed and last night was a difference maker for his team in a game that was likely much closer than expected.

The Flyers have been able to find success with an incredible amount of injuries to key players, with Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne and Dan Carcillo all being affected by injuries. Gagne’s early return with a broken toe helped to spark the Flyers in Game 4 and now the team has Michael Leighton in net after Brian Boucher was likely lost for the playoffs.

Successful teams in the playoffs are able to overcome injuries and whatever adversity comes their way, rarely able to just roll over the competition on their way to the Stanley Cup. No one expected the Flyers to get this far and yet here we are, on the eve of a historic Game 7 that could propel the team into perhaps the most unexpected Conference finals matchup we’ve ever seen in the NHL.

The Flyers are a hungry team now, feeling the momentum build as they collected three wins in a row. They know that Game 6 is just another win and all that matters is what happens on Friday night. From CSN Philly:

The real test for Briere and his teammates will come Friday in Boston, when the Flyers’ playoff fate will be decided. They are the first team since the 1975 New York Islanders to force a Game 7 after being down 3-0 in a series.

But, Briere said, that isn’t what he’s after.

“That’s not good enough,” Briere said. “I want to be part of that three teams that came all the way back and clinched. We know what’s at stake, and it’s very special.”