Flyers Game 3 Preview
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Game 2 was frustrating. The Flyers played hard but couldn’t overcome a short, 2nd period burst by the Blackhawks where they scored 2 goals in less than 30 seconds.
They also couldn’t get ANYTHING past Niemi. In the 3rd period, the Flyers outshot Chicago 15-4 but only managed to score just 1 goal. It was frustrating to watch because they had plenty of chances and totally controlled the game in the third period. They also kept Kane and Toews off the scoresheet but couldn’t pull out the win.
They lost both games by 1 goal and we know this series isn’t out of reach (see the Boston series) but they will need to tweak a few things if they want to take game 3. The Hawks have played some of their best hockey on the road in the 2010 playoffs where they are 7-1.
For one, we can expect a game more like game 2 tonight. That crazy shootout we witnessed in game 1 was a fluke and in game 2, the series settled into the way it will be played from here on out. There may be more goals than the 3 scored in game 2 but don’t expect anywhere near 11.
The Flyers need to be more consistent to pull out game 3. They only mustered up 3 shots on goal in the first period followed by 15 in the second and third. If they had been more aggressive and gotten more opportunities in the first period, they could have easily scored the first goal of the game and possibly altered the outcome. Also, while the faceoff total ended relatively close, they weren’t doing well in that category early. Consistency is key.
For this to happen, Flyers fans need to be backing them up like always. The Hawks are a good road team so the Flyers should feed off of the crowd and put them away early. If you’re going to the game, never stop making noise.
Finally, LET’S GO FLYERS!
