They're Baaaaaack...

Watch out Pittsburgh.

The Philadelphia Flyers remembered how to play. Tonight they were running on all cylinders and they were ready for anything. Let's start out by giving credit where credit is due.

Scottie Upshall had one hell of a game tonight. He was hitting anything that moved and wore yellow (an appropriate color for the way the Penguins played tonight, just cowardly) and would take any hit to make a play. He is the epitome of sacrifice and the Flyers are lucky to have a guy like this in the line-up. His hit on Straka (I think it was him) at the end of the game was maybe a charge but since when does the league call that? There have been about 12 charges that I've seen go by the boards (no pun intended) this Playoff season. Where were the zebras then? Anyway, whether or not it was a penalty it was a huge message. He wasn't just hitting one man, he was telling all of Pittsburgh that they better watch out, and keep their head up because Philly is not going to say die.

Deiran Hatcher, another man who had some rough stuff at the end, played a great game. You want to know how I know? I didn't notice him at all. That's right, the marquee of a great defensemen is unless he's crushing your most hated enemy, you don't even know he played. The same can be said about Jason "Gator" Smith.

Two blue-liners I did notice, for all the right reasons, were Randy Jones and Ryan Parent. Besides one mistake per, the duo held their own and stifled a Pittsburg offense that has been getting the bounces and out-hustling the Flyers in the previous three games. Everyone on the back line for the Orange and Black played well tonight and they have to keep that effort there for any remaining games.

Let's see, who else deserves accolades? The whole team played well and after Stevens shook up the lines there was a new sense of chemistry. So kudos to him. Though I called for it during the second intermission of game 3, Stevens' retooling of the line-up no doubt played a part in tonight's victory.

So are they just delaying the inevitable? No. The Flyers have a legitimate shot at beating the Penguins in three straight games after tonight. Though they are both young teams, the Flyers roster is choc full o' leaders. Hatcher, Smith, Kapanen, Timmonen, and Richards are all that guy that you want in the locker room for your club.

What helps the Broadstreet Bullies even more is the fact that while young, the Penguins roster is not full of that kind of leadership. Malkin, Crosby, Stall these guys are one-man shows. They don't inspire their players, they try to do the job by themselves. Granted they are capable of doing so. However, you started to see the cracks in the foundation of the Penguins, they got mad and started running around when the game was out of reach. They're a young team that can be put back on the heels and shaken off their game. I think the Flyers are just the team to do that.

33 Years ago...it happened. Why not us?