Mark - Needing a boost heading to Buffalo for game number three, Philadelphia got just what the doctor ordered when they skated away with a 4-2 victory and a 2-1 series lead. In the process the Flyers regained the home ice advantage and perhaps some much needed momentum with consecutive victories after the Sabres won the series opener. The offense received goals from four different players for another strong performance following a five goal explosion in game two. However, the biggest boost came from Brian Boucher who recorded 35 saves after getting the nod over Sergei Bobrovsky. He relieved Bobrovsky in the first period of game two while posting 20 saves to give Philly a much needed win.
Buffalo got goals from Nathan Gerbe and Drew Stafford while Ryan Miller gave up three goals on 25 shots. Jeff Carter gave the visitors a 1-0 at 4:42 of the first when his shot from the right circle eluded Miller. Drew Stafford tied on a power play chance at 11:55 of the opening period and this seemed destined for another shootout. Scot Hartnell took advantage of a Buffalo turnover and slid a pass to Briere whose shot found pay dirt just 2:44 in to the second. Philadelphia led 3-1 when Mike Richards found an open Nikolay Zherdev on the right side of the net for an easy tip in with over three minutes left in regulation.
Buffalo made things interesting when Gerbe pounced on a long rebound that he deposited behind Boucher with just 1:48 left in the middle period but Boucher stoned the Sabres after that with 13 saves to finish out the game. Kimmo Timonen finally put this in the win column with an empty net tally at 19:42 setting up a must win for Buffalo. Both teams have had obvious problems after three games and from a Buffalo standpoint much of it revolves around the play of Ryan Miller who was unbeatable in the Sabres 1-0 win in the opener but has allowed eight goals on 59 shots in both defeats.
Buffalo turnovers led to two Philadelphia scores in game three which seemed to come after their own goals and killed momentum. The Flyers have a few issues of their own and the goalie situation is a good place to start. Boucher took over for Bobrovsky and will likely be the number one for the remainder of this series while Bobrovsky’s immediate future is clouded with the recall of Michael Leighton as backup. Philadelphia has got to get the power play untracked also as it was only 1 of 15 in two home games before Carter’s first period strike. The Flyers need this as much as Buffalo and seem to be have a little bounce in their step and I think three consecutive wins is in their future.
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