(4) TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (2-2) AT (3) PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (2-2), 4 p.m.
(Sports Network) - The scene shifts back to Philadelphia today when the Flyers and Maple Leafs square off in Game 5 of their conference semifinal set at the Wachovia Center.
So far, it has been a series dominated by the home team. After Philly earned victories in Games 1 and 2, Toronto battled back with decisions in the next two. The Leafs evened things up Friday with a 3-1 victory, led by a two-goal effort from captain Mats Sundin. Darcy Tucker also scored for Toronto, while Ed Belfour continued his stellar playoff with 28 saves.
Sundin, who brought the Leafs back from an early 1-0 deficit, tallied his second and third goals of the postseason. The Swede has missed four games with a leg injury this spring, including the opener of this set, but finally made the direct impact folks in Toronto have become accustomed to.
"He's inspired right now." Leafs coach Pat Quinn said of Sundin, who notched an assist in the team's win in Game 3 Wednesday. "I've said it before, I think he's terrific."
After knotting the score 13:24 into the game, Sundin put Toronto ahead at 7:45 of the second. On a strong individual effort, he carried the puck into the Philadelphia zone on the right wing, cut to the front and backhanded a shot between the pads of netminder Robert Esche.
The Maple Leafs have scored seven goals in the last two games after tallying just 16 in the first nine contests of the postseason combined.
Toronto managed its second straight victory without center Joe Nieuwendyk, who sat with back spasms. The good news is that Nieuwendyk, who has five goals in seven games this postseason, is probable for today, although the club is calling him a "game-time decision."
On the Flyers' injury front, defenseman Kim Johnsson returned after missing the first three games with a broken bone in his hand suffered last round against New Jersey. Johnsson finished a minus-2 on the night and failed to spark a Philly power play that went 0-for-4.
After getting to Belfour five times in Games 1 and 2 combined, the Flyers have struggled to beat the netminder, tallying only once in each of the last two tilts. Simon Gagne scored the lone goal Friday, providing a 1-0 lead early in the first period.
But the Flyers now return to a Wachovia Center that has been good to them this postseason. They are 5-0 at home in the playoffs.
"We recognize the situation for what it is, as best two-out-of-three now," said Philadelphia captain Keith Primeau. "We need to recapture the things that we do well as a group to find ways to win. Home ice has meant a lot to both teams, but we have to do a better job of heading north with the puck."
When the Flyers play in a best-of-seven set that is tied at two games apiece, they are 11-0 when winning Game 5, and 1-4 when losing the pivotal fifth tilt.
flyers 5 - 0 @ Watchoverya Center
leafs 1 - 4 on the road
double header downtown 2day with the Phightin Phils and the Flyers right after. whatta mess that will B. no parking for phils bc all flyers tailgaters got there last nite. :toast::weed:
LETS GO FLYERS !!!!!!!!!
flyers vets looked tired and old in toronto, guyz like leclair{who}, zhamnov, jr, amonte[these guyz were awesome over a decade ago in chi-town], where the hell is Rex too. seemed 1 step behind or just didnt get there in time. while leafs veterans were all over the place. matts, tuck, marchment, domi, mogilny, etc[nolan and Nieuwendyk have been out]
esche still solid, need to clear the Mutha Fawkin puck. SOMEONE HAS TO STEP UP 2day
captain keith primeau please step forward
Has anyone seen the power play ??? flyers 0 - 4 and tor 0 - 6 last game
sighting: saw the eagle out late last nite at a gentlemens's club, but he gave me a billion dollars not to say anything. :joke:
hope the home crowd gets eddie fired up, gotta get some bodies in front of the net, fawk the interference calls.
back with more
(Sports Network) - The scene shifts back to Philadelphia today when the Flyers and Maple Leafs square off in Game 5 of their conference semifinal set at the Wachovia Center.
So far, it has been a series dominated by the home team. After Philly earned victories in Games 1 and 2, Toronto battled back with decisions in the next two. The Leafs evened things up Friday with a 3-1 victory, led by a two-goal effort from captain Mats Sundin. Darcy Tucker also scored for Toronto, while Ed Belfour continued his stellar playoff with 28 saves.
Sundin, who brought the Leafs back from an early 1-0 deficit, tallied his second and third goals of the postseason. The Swede has missed four games with a leg injury this spring, including the opener of this set, but finally made the direct impact folks in Toronto have become accustomed to.
"He's inspired right now." Leafs coach Pat Quinn said of Sundin, who notched an assist in the team's win in Game 3 Wednesday. "I've said it before, I think he's terrific."
After knotting the score 13:24 into the game, Sundin put Toronto ahead at 7:45 of the second. On a strong individual effort, he carried the puck into the Philadelphia zone on the right wing, cut to the front and backhanded a shot between the pads of netminder Robert Esche.
The Maple Leafs have scored seven goals in the last two games after tallying just 16 in the first nine contests of the postseason combined.
Toronto managed its second straight victory without center Joe Nieuwendyk, who sat with back spasms. The good news is that Nieuwendyk, who has five goals in seven games this postseason, is probable for today, although the club is calling him a "game-time decision."
On the Flyers' injury front, defenseman Kim Johnsson returned after missing the first three games with a broken bone in his hand suffered last round against New Jersey. Johnsson finished a minus-2 on the night and failed to spark a Philly power play that went 0-for-4.
After getting to Belfour five times in Games 1 and 2 combined, the Flyers have struggled to beat the netminder, tallying only once in each of the last two tilts. Simon Gagne scored the lone goal Friday, providing a 1-0 lead early in the first period.
But the Flyers now return to a Wachovia Center that has been good to them this postseason. They are 5-0 at home in the playoffs.
"We recognize the situation for what it is, as best two-out-of-three now," said Philadelphia captain Keith Primeau. "We need to recapture the things that we do well as a group to find ways to win. Home ice has meant a lot to both teams, but we have to do a better job of heading north with the puck."
When the Flyers play in a best-of-seven set that is tied at two games apiece, they are 11-0 when winning Game 5, and 1-4 when losing the pivotal fifth tilt.
flyers 5 - 0 @ Watchoverya Center
leafs 1 - 4 on the road
double header downtown 2day with the Phightin Phils and the Flyers right after. whatta mess that will B. no parking for phils bc all flyers tailgaters got there last nite. :toast::weed:
LETS GO FLYERS !!!!!!!!!
flyers vets looked tired and old in toronto, guyz like leclair{who}, zhamnov, jr, amonte[these guyz were awesome over a decade ago in chi-town], where the hell is Rex too. seemed 1 step behind or just didnt get there in time. while leafs veterans were all over the place. matts, tuck, marchment, domi, mogilny, etc[nolan and Nieuwendyk have been out]
esche still solid, need to clear the Mutha Fawkin puck. SOMEONE HAS TO STEP UP 2day
captain keith primeau please step forward
Has anyone seen the power play ??? flyers 0 - 4 and tor 0 - 6 last game
sighting: saw the eagle out late last nite at a gentlemens's club, but he gave me a billion dollars not to say anything. :joke:
hope the home crowd gets eddie fired up, gotta get some bodies in front of the net, fawk the interference calls.
back with more
