Game one is in the books.
The Flyers pulled up ahead 2-0 and held on for the 2-1 win as the game clock wound down.
The Flyers didn’t necessarily play a bad game and definitely weren’t flat in the first period. They came out physical. Still, after a 0-0 game through 20 minutes of regulation, according to Pronger it was Laviolette’s locker room “discussion” that brought out a dominating second period. Laviolette apparently tore into the team for playing sloppy. Suddenly the Flyers are moving the puck quicker to keep the Devils chasing the puck around.
The Devils like to keep the game at their speed. Their particular tempo helps them slow down the rush in the neutral zone and burst forth offensively with turnovers. As soon as the Flyers started moving the puck, the Devils were off tempo and chasing. Laviolette had them pressure hard in the forecheck to generate the offensive surge from the Devils’ zone and not on the neutral zone breakout. This played well against the Devils since their defense is generally weak when not playing in the neutral zone.
Since Devils’ coach Lemaire is not one to change on a whim, the Flyers will have to do more of the same thing. The Devils will however get their neutral zone turnovers and charge Boucher on the rush. It’s going to take Boucher claiming at least two more games this series in order to win it. He can let the offense win one for him, but if he can hold his ground for at least two more victories, the Flyers have a good shot at moving on.
After the game, Lemaire commented on Laviolette’s press conference. Laviolette seemed a little disappointed with his team despite great performances by Carle, Boucher, Pronger, Richards, and Laperriere. Said Lemaire, “The flyers don’t think they played so well against us, but we thought we played pretty well.”
Stevens would have loved the victory. Laviolette is not satisfied. You can guarantee Pronger isn’t either.
Here’s a little bit from Pronger before the game:
On the playoffs, in general:
“Everybody relishes the playoffs, what it encompasses and what it’s all about. It’s the hardest trophy in pro sports to win, with the physical attrition and mental attrition that happens in the playoffs. You’ve got to be prepared to do whatever it takes for what essentially boils down to two months.”
“The playoffs are more physical, so you need to play more physical. You’re trying to grind and wear down the other team, and play hard on their top players and wear on them. You may not get them in Game 1. You may not get them in Game 2. But, hopefully by Game 5 or 6 the price that they have to pay to get to those tougher areas has taken its toll.”
“I think we all understand that the regular season is a long grind, and when you get to the playoffs it’s even more of a grind and even harder. You start with 16 teams and it whittles down pretty quickly. You have to be prepared to leave it all on the ice each and every shift. Each shift is very important, from momentum, to not allowing your opponent to get an inch out there. You have to have that war mentality. There are little battles all over the ice, but you need to win those to win the war.”
“We just played six months to get to this point and have this opportunity. All 16 teams believe they have a chance, and it’s up to us to impose our will and our desire on the other team.”
On his playoff experience:
“You want to get back there and you want to experience it. You want to go through the experience with the team and fight all the battles and all the wars together, and have that feeling at the end of the year that you’ve accomplished something, and you’ve done it as a team. You’ve had your ups and downs and different adversities that you’ve faced throughout the course of a season, but you’re able to put it together for a two month stretch play the best hockey of your life.”
“As a veteran player on the team, you look around the room and we have a lot of young players that haven’t been through too many playoff series or battles in the NHL. I’ve had my fair share, and hopefully can use that experience to help us.”
So, are you a believer yet?
I wonder if Barry Melrose has changed his mind.
