Monday, April 18, 2011
Posted: 11:47 p.m.
By Tim Panaccio
CSNPhilly.com
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Six times this season, Nikolay Zherdev has come back into the Flyers lineup after a benching.
Four times, hes gotten points-- three goals and an assist, and that includes Mondays game-winner for the Flyers in their 4-2 victory over the Sabres in Game 3 of this playoff series.
It was his first career playoff game.Right now, I just focus on the playoffs and play hard, Zherdev said. First goal. Game-winning goal, Im happy, the team won.
He planted himself at the right post after sneaking behind Jason Pominville, then backhanded Mike Richards tape-to-tape pass across the crease. Just a picture perfect goal.
I didnt see him, Zherdev said of Pominville. The pass from Richie was a very good pass. Just an open net.
NHL
Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller saw it happening.
I was calling to Monty Steve Montador that I needed help, said Miller. He saw the first danger, but they made it into a quick 2-on-1. I was hoping Monty would play the middle more.
He sees Richards there and thinks maybe he would get help on the backside. I saw it develop. We had a little mixup and we both committed to Richards and left that backside open.
From Zherdevs standpoint, its not easy being an impact player coming off the bench all the time. And dont forget, Zherdev was waived in the second half and then rejoined the team.
He scores a big goal for us, said coach Peter Laviolette. Theres always two different roads you can down at that point being waived. You can go south and never get a player back or you can do what you have to do and hes worked rally hardHe made a difference.
And yes, the chemistry with Richards still seems to be there.
Z is a player who stepped up the most when we need him throughout the season, Richards said. He stepped up in situations that have been tough. He always seems to find the net when he gets back in the lineup. You could see the jump he had tonight.
5-on-3 kill
Tyler Ennis had two great chances on Brian Boucher and failed.
Ennis had a couple looks but didnt get it done, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff. It stayed pretty tight, didnt really get the looks we wanted. We did a number on their 5-on-3s. They did a pretty good job on ours.
Results arent good enough. The efforts, these guys have battled hard for me all year long. Theyll continue to battle.Every game in this league is a one-goal game now, and the playoffs are tough and you got to make a difference. You got to make a difference. You get that one opportunity your best player has got to make a difference for you.
Pronger update
The Flyers are hoping that Chris Pronger could be available for Game 5. He was told not to fully shoot pucks at Mondays morning skate. Pronger took some wrist shots, instead. He is out for Game 4.That took long enough
After going scoreless through the first two games and combining for just 12 shots, Richards and Jeff Carter both registered points in Monday nights Game 3 win.Perhaps the duo read the column posted earlier today on CSNPhilly.com?Carter, who took a total of nine shots, scored the Flyers first goal of the night, which gave them an early 1-0 lead. Richards took seven shots, and set up Danny Briere perfectly for the teams second goal of the evening.
Loose pucks
Jordan Leopold (broken finger) re-entered the Sabres lineup on the blue line, replacing Andrej Sekera. He had not played since March 25Braydon Coburn hit on Patrick Kaleta in the first period that resulted in a penalty knocked the Sabre out of game with an upper body injury.Zherdev replaced Andreas Nodl (right eye) in the Flyers lineup.Sabres came into Game 3 having won five straight home playoff games against the Flyers.Kimmo Timonen and Coburn were each plus-3.Carter and Richards each recorded their first points of the series.In their eight previous playoff meetings with Buffalo, the Flyers have not lost a series in which they led the Sabres at any point in the series.Flyers are now 33-32 all-time in Game 3 of a best-of-seven series. They are 18-3 all-time when leading a series 2-1 and are 14-7 in Game 4 in those situations.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.netRelated: Flyers edge Sabres in Game 3Big 5-on-3 penalty kill a turning point in Flyers' win