Monday, May 2, 2011Posted: 11:59 p.m.
By Sarah Baicker CSNPhilly.com
During Lauren Harts digital duet of God Bless America with Kate Smith before the start of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the sellout Wells Fargo Center crowd erupted into chants of U-S-A, U-S-A.
With less than 10 minutes left to play in the third period, the crowd again adopted a three-letter cheer. But this time, it was J-V-R, for the Flyers winger, James van Riemsdyk, who had the playoff game of his career Monday night against the Boston Bruins.
In the 3-2 overtime loss, van Riemsdyk netted two goals and a notable eight shots in 28:18 of ice time, the most of any Flyer forward. Every shift he took, he was involved in play in the Bruins zone. He was, all night long, the most visible skater on the ice.
That was really awesome, to watch him play like that, said coach Peter Laviolette. I thought as youre watching him, hes constantly using his size and his speed and just really taking charge of the game. It was such a good night for him, Im anxious to see his future unfold. But tonight he was an impact player, I thought it was one of the most dominating performances Ive seen from a player.
Monday night, hockey was the centerpiece but patriotism, in a way, was its complement. One day after the news of the historic killing of 911 mastermind Osama bin Laden broke, America was on the minds of most of those who packed the Flyers home arena. A few fans even carried with them American flags, waving them as Hart sang or videos of fans in military uniform aired on the Jumbotron.
On Sept. 11, 2001, van Riemsdyk was a sixth grader in the New Jersey town of Middletown, less than an hour south of New York City. At the morning skate before Game 2, he spoke of friends who lost family members in the 911 attacks and referenced a memorial in his hometown to the 37 Middletown residents who died that day.
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Its clear that sense of pride adopted by the 19,962 fans in attendance had also found its way to van Riemsdyks locker.
Obviously, being an American, playing in a city like Philadelphia, one of the most prominent American cities, it was pretty cool, said van Riemsdyk, who wore a Navy SEALs hat during his postgame interview. The fans were unbelievable. Theyre so passionate, and passionate about our country, passionate about our sports. To hear that and be a part of that was pretty special.
After watching tape of their Game 1 massacre, the Flyers knew having an energized start Monday was critical. It was van Riemsdyk who carried that concept with him, and who brought out the powerand early.
Just 29 seconds after the first puck dropped, van Riemsdyk slammed home a perfectly positioned pass from Claude Giroux to give the Flyers an early 1-0 lead. He capitalized again that period, and on the power play, by banging a rebound home past Bruins goalie Tim Thomas. That one lifted the score to 2-0.
He was the best player on the ice, Kimmo Timonen said. No question about it.
He could haveperhaps even should havehad another pair of goals Monday night, as well. Had Thomas not gotten lucky once, and made an incredible save another time, van Riemsdyk easily could have had at least a hat trick. That J-V-R chant roared again in the closing minutes of regulation.
I had a lot of chances, and Im probably not going to be able to sleep well tonight thinking about some of those, he said with a slight smile.
This wasnt the first time van Riemsdyk got his teams ball rolling in the playoffs. And its not the only time hes done so against Boston, either. In Game 7 of last years conference semifinals, it was van Riemsdyk who netted the Flyers first goal of the teams incredible 3-0 comeback.
But this postseason, the big-bodied, youngest Flyer (hell turn 22 on Wednesday), looks almost like another player altogether. Hes finally found a way to use his size, strength and speed to capitalize. Whereas he had three goals in all of last years playoffs, he already has seven this year.
His eight shots on net Monday marked the fifth game this postseason the young winger has sent eight or more shots on goal. Prior to this year, he had never posted more than seven shots in a game.
I think its that experience and confidence that comes with being in the playoffs before, van Riemsdyk said. Being able to learn from the guys that are such great playoff performers in the room that we have here. It put me in a good situation to go out there and have some success."
The success he's seen in the Flyers' first nine playoff games this year has been a pleasant surprise to van Riemsdyk's fans. Hearing his name being chanted by the thousands who watched the game was a pleasant surprise to him, though one that could have come under slightly better circumstances.
Its a pretty cool feeling, but it would have been better to come in a winning game, he said. Thats the tough part.
Related: Flyers fall in series hole after Game 2 OT lossGreenberg: Flyers must stem Bruins' confidence
E-mail Sarah Baicker at sbaicker@comcastsportsnet.com