Flyers' power play clicks at just the right time

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Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Posted: 11:40 p.m.
By Sarah BaickerCSPhilly.com

On April 20, the Flyers power play was so dreadful it managed only half as many shots on goal as the teams penalty-killing unit did. Its effectiveness ranked near the bottom of the barrel of teams remaining in Stanley Cup contention, floundering at 9.7 percent.

Thats a pretty a solid endorsement for the penalty kill, sure, but its not good news for the other half of the Flyers special teams. And, as coach Peter Laviolette has said, special teams win hockey games.

What a difference just a few days can make.

In Tuesdays 5-2 Game 7 victory that finally finished off the Buffalo Sabres, the Flyers power play came to life, scoring two goals that put the team up 3-0 midway through regulation. And it couldnt have come at a better time.

In games like this, you have to score power play goals, James van Riemsdyk said. I mean, theyre going to get some chances like that. We were able to capitalize on a few. That was huge.

Its a little much to say the team couldnt possibly win without finding a way to score on the power play, but in this series, they hadnt managed to. In their wins in Games 2, 3 and 6, the Flyers netted at least one goal on the man advantage. But in the others, they couldnt capitalize on 5-on-3 chances, let alone slide one past Sabres goalie Ryan Miller on critical 5-on-4 opportunities.

As a result, words like anemic were tossed around with ease whenever the Flyers power play entered a conversation.

But the team that arrived at the Wells Fargo Center Tuesday evening was cool and composed, and knew exactly what it needed to do to winand scoring on the power play was on the to-do list.

I dont know that it bailed us out, but we were due, Chris Pronger said. Obviously we got one and a half in Buffalo, Scott Hartnells tying goal there was just after their penalty expired. So, well count it as two last games and two tonight. We were going to need it early. We wanted to get up and get a lead, and make them come from behind.

That they did. First, Sabre-killer Danny Briere, who posted a team-record six goals in this series, helped the Flyers to a 2-0 lead at 4:45 of the second period. Just a little over five minutes later, van Riemsdyk knocked home his second goal of the playoffs (and first on the power play) to raise the score to 3-0.

The power play success over the past two games, according to Briere, didnt come out of the blue.

Its also something we started talking up after Game 5, Briere said. We realized that we were forcing to make plays instead of controlling the puck and taking the shot. I think early in the series, when you start pressing, when its 4, 5, 6, 7 you keep pressing, and the crowd gets on us, and we start taking bad shots.

After Game 5, we started talking about just controlling the play a little bit more.

And it must be noted that Pronger, though hes still playing limited minutes, has had a significant impact on the Flyers power play unit.

Though many have suggested the teams woes on the man advantage started only once Pronger left with injury, that isnt exactly the case. On Dec. 13, just a few days before Prongers original injury, the team was second in the Eastern Conference, but their power play ranked 17th in the league.

Since Prongers return in Game 6, however, the power play is now 3 for 9astonishing, considering that, in his absence, the Flyers were 2 for 26.

Theres no question Prongers return provided a power-play boost, Laviolette said. He makes terrific plays, whether theyre big plays or little playssometimes you dont even notice them. His presence back there, his shot opens up other things, he looks really good out there.

Van Riemsdyk agreed.

I think his presence back there is huge, he said. Hes so calm with the puck, he makes passes right on the tape where they need to be, and hes a really good quarterback on the power play.

The Flyers must wait another day before they learn whom they will face in the next round. Interestingly, despite its struggles, their power play is still superior to two potential second-round opponents: the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins.

Theres still work to be done on the power play, of course. But after the win, Ville Leino put it best.

Our power play is pretty clutch right now, Leino said. Thats a good thing for us for the next series.
E-mail Sarah Baicker at sbaicker@comcastsportsnet.com
Related: Flyers notes: Briere comes up big on faceoffsFlyers handle Sabres in Game 7 to advance

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