Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Posted: 3:19 p.m.Updated: 3:43 p.m.
By Tim Panaccio and Sarah Baicker
CSNPhilly.com
Sean ODonnell probably said it best earlier this week when asked about the emergence of Bruins centerman David Krejci after Game 1.
Krejci scored two goals that gamehis first playoff game against the Flyers since missing the final four games against them last spring when he broke his wrist in a violent check from Mike Richards.
I think anyone who has gotten to this level has a sense of pride, ODonnell said. I wasnt here and cant comment on what happened last year. But I read about how he supposedly struggled in the first round, and he certainly made up for that in Game 1.
I dont really buy that kind of stuff about be careful what you say, dont wake a guy up -- you dont want to do this because most guys at this level, if it takes another team to say something to you or whatever. I think most guys motivate themselves and not have someone kind of stir them to wake them up.
ODonnells words were prophetic. Krejci scored in overtime to give the Bruins a 3-2 Game 2 victory and 2-0 lead in this Eastern Conference semifinal series that now shifts to Boston for Games 3-4.
NHL
The Flyers have no answer for Krejcis line with Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton. They are dominating the series. The trio has three overtime game winners nowtwo from the Montreal series.
I dont know what to say, really, Krejci said of his lines success. It happened, in the first series against Montreal we got two, but other than that we didnt really put our names on the score sheet.
We got the two big goals and it helped our confidence and we were able to carry that into the second round too. We got the big one Monday and hopefully we can keep it going.
Krejci got a perfect pass from Horton into the Flyers zone to roof it shortside over Brian Boucher, who didnt have the left post fully covered.
It was perfectly flat so I just wanted to shoot the puck and go upstairs and everything worked out, Krejci said.
The shot was so sharp, the official standing nearest to Bouchers net initially waved off the goal. But Boucher knew better.
I had a feeling it was in, he said. Theres a certain noise that it makes. Theres a high-pitched ping when it hits the crossbar, and then theres a clunk when it hits the other bar in the back. I knew when it got by me it made that sound. And I could hear Lucic, who said it was in.
My initial thought was it was in, but then once play went on, I was hoping for a miracle that it didnt go in. But it was, it was a goal.
Peter Laviolette had Richards unit against Krejcis line in Game 2. With Richards, Kris Versteeg and a rotating wingerDan Carcillo or James van Riemsdykthe Flyers have tried to get physical with Krejci.
Well, thats part of the playoffs, Krejci said. I knew that was what was going to happen. I just have to keep playing my game and focus on the things I can control.
I cant really worry about what they are going to do to me too much. Just go out there and play my game and I think thats what I did tonight.
Loose pucks
The Flyers attempted 89 shots in Game 2. Fifty-four of them made the net, 23 were blocked and only 12 missed, which is uncharacteristically low for the Flyers in terms of misses.Three Flyers were over 30 minutes, all on defense: Andrej Meszaros (33:12), Matt Carle (31:28), and Kimmo Timonen (30:09) ... Scott Hartnell and Darroll Powe had six hits. Carle blocked seven shots.If the Flyers lose this series, they can look back and reflect how many goals they have given up on home ice. It's 21. No other team left alive is even close to that. They have been outscored, 21-18. ... Jeff Carter (right knee) skated for 10 minutes by himself. Chris Pronger (back, hamstring) declined to meet with the media. Both are officially listed as day to day, though Carter's appearance in this series, despite what he said a week ago, appears unlikely at this point. Boucher concealed his left hand. He had a finger dislocation in the hand.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast. E-mail Sarah Baicker at sbaicker@comcastsportsnet.com
Related: Jackson's Five: For Flyers, time to panic?Buy Flyers gear