And This Too Has Passed…

There is an old adage, good things come to those who wait.
Philadelphia has waited for 25 years for a cup; Flyers waited for
the Devils to slip to gain the number 1 seed; Mark Recchi waited for
the puck to start bouncing his way, Boucher took it five minuets at
a time; and the fans waited through 5 OT to games to see a patient
Keith Primeau win it; the Flyers waited through a 0-2 standing to
win the series. The good that comes? A round 3 series against the
Devils.

Some where the hockey gods are laughing.

Sound familiar?

In the beginning Hasek scared me, Jagr scared me. This series
taught us that the underdog advances, and that history and number
don’t apply in the post season. The Flyers have flourished under it
all.

The Flyers have taken all the counts against them, all the
adversity, all of the distractions, and played. They played with a
style all their own. It’s almost as if they are the Murphy’s law of
hockey, perhaps more aptly entitled Flyers law; if it’s not the
usual NHL numbers, it will work for the Flyers.

NHL numbers: Only 10 defencemen have ever
scored a hatrick in the post season, never a rookie.

Flyers: Andy Delmore did it.

NHL numbers: Usually those who have a 2-0
usually win the series

Flyers: Came back, with the wins in the
next 4.

NHL numbers: You need Eric Lindros to win
in the long run.

Flyers: So far so good.

Are we seeing a pattern? The Flyers take that which says they
can’t and do. In fact, they really look dim when they thought that
they could, Round 2 games 1 and 2 showed us that.

Perhaps the Flyers are the ultimate underdog, sometimes that an
be the ultimate boost for a team, everyone loves the underdog in a
movie, we all cheer a little louder when the underdog wins it. So
far that’s what works for these guys. Maybe New Jersey doesn’t have
a chance, maybe they’ll sweep us in 4, but if the Flyers continue on
the road that they have traveled so far…