Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Posted: 11:24 a.m.Updated: 12:20 p.m.
By Tim Panaccio and Sarah Baicker
CSNPhilly.com
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- They sense some vulnerability now.
This is where the Flyers can put a choke hold on their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Buffalo Sabres.
Win tonight in Game 4 and the Flyers would have an imposing 3-1 series lead, heading back to South Philly.
They will come hard, said coach Peter Laviolette. I think about how we felt after Game 1: Series in our building. We just lost the game and the series kind of switched to their favor. The energy was high.
We were high and desperate to win that Game 2. That desperation we have to watch out for. To be in their building, its going to take a special effort to play and get things done here.
That said, the Sabres mindset in this game will be one of survival. If the Flyers thought they had seen the best of Lindy Ruffs squad so far, they might be surprised at what lies ahead.
NHL
If we go into Game 4 hoping to win, were in trouble, Danny Briere said. These guys are going to come with a lot of desperation. They dont want to go back to Philly down 3-1.
I expect them to leave it all out on the ice. We have to somehow match that intensity if we want to be in the game.
You never know what youre going to get from a team thats cornered, although the Sabres were in this position earlier this season with a rough start that got progressively better as they became the hottest club in the East after January.
Were in the same situation they were, Buffalos Jason Pominville said. They were in the same situation a couple of nights ago when we were up. We got the lead and they came out and put out a solid effort. Todays different. Obviously, were not happy.
The Flyers set a franchise record with 25 road wins this season and truly believe they are probably a better team outside the confines of the Wells Fargo Center.
Weve been a great road team all year, Scott Hartnell said. We pride ourselves being simple and making smart plays on the road. Game 4 coming up, we can take a commanding lead in the series and take some wind out of their sails. Its just game to game. You cant carry momentum from the prior game.
Claude Giroux agreed.
Obviously, the last game they were pretty intense, Giroux said. It was one of their best games and Game 1 was pretty good. Weve got to expect their best game of the series.
Its the playoffs. There is no team in the league that is going to win if theyre not physical. Both teams are pretty physical and thats the best part of hockey. We dont mind it. We got a lot of guys in this room who are pretty good at it.
Coaches often say that adversity brings out the best in players. Buffalo is about to find out whether thats true in this game.
Were OK with having to face some adversity, Steve Montador said. Were OK with knowing that we just got to come out and put our best effort out there.
In a way, thats encouraging for us because weve certainly had that experience. Weve built our season on that platform.This scenario is just a smaller version of the playoffs as the season.
Carters awakening
Jeff Carter has a rocky playoff history. Heading into this series against Buffalo, the Flyers elite forward was minus-11 in his postseason career. That's not exactly what a team likes to see from its leading goal-scorer.
In Game 3, though, Carter came to life. He lead the Flyers with nine chances on Sabres goalie Ryan Miller, and scored the teams first goal during the 4-2 victory, which gave the Flyers an early lead.
As Wednesday's pivotal Game 4 approaches, Carter and his teammates hope the fortune will continue.
He had an extra gear in his step, Laviolette said. He was physical, for me, when youre physical, it puts you on the puck, it puts you on the play, it puts you in front of the net. Physicality brings a lot other than just the aggression that you see, youre involved in the play. He attempted lots of opportunities, and were trying to make sure he gets things done quickera quicker shot, a quicker step to an area, and in Game 3 he was really effective.
Carter said the difference in his performance was simply that he managed to play the game the way he wanted.
I was just playing my game, Carter said. I got some shots, got some open ice and got some shots off.
Danny boy
Ruff paid Briere a nice compliment at Wednesday's morning skate, referring to his goal from the slot in Game 3.
Hes a good player, Ruff said. Danny didnt have a lot of scoring chances in the game. He got the one point-blank and he put it away.
Briere has two goals in the series.
Rookie start
Its been a good start for Sabres rookie defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani. Through three games, he leads all players in the series with four points and is averaging 20:15 ice time.
Im surprised, Im happy, Gragnani said. Obviously, it means Im doing something good if Im playing those minutes. Ive been good defensively, moving the puck well, moving my feet and just bringing energy to the team.
Gragnani said hes already learned something along the way here in his first playoff series.
You cant let a game affect you, he said. You win, youre happy for 30 minutes and then you got to get over it. You lose, its the same process and you play the same team over and over.
Theres a lot of hate in every game. But you got to control your emotions and battle every shift. The games come down to details.
Boynton ill
Nick Boynton has flu-like symptoms, the club said. Boynton was not on the ice at the morning skate.
Chirping
While it appears that Briere and Miller have a bit of a thing going on when they're on the ice (there's been some chirping), Laviolette hasn't gotten into it with Ruff. And his players have kept the war of words out of the headlines, for the most part.
I dont know, Laviolette said. Usually, its determined on the ice. I dont remember us getting into too much of that last year.
"In saying that," he added, "the series isnt over.
Weather storm
Is this Game 4 going to see the Flyers have to weather things during the first 10 minutes when the Sabres are expected to unload whatever they got at the start?
Im not sure how the game will be played, Laviolette said. Its a chance to get that third win. We want to make sure were ready to play and do what we need to be successful.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net or Sarah Baicker at sbaicker@comcastsportsnet.com
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