Flyers Overpower Chicago Blackhawks
Once again, some brilliant understanding and coordination was shown by the duo of Danny Briere and Chris Pronger in Game 3 of the National Hockey League. Briere scored with the support of Pronger and led Philadelphia to a 4-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Flyers win has sliced the Blackhawk’s series lead to 2-1. All eyes are now set on Game 4 which is scheduled to be held on Friday night in Philadelphia.
Danny Briere signed the most expensive free-agent agreement in Flyers history. Chris Pronger was signed for two first-round draft picks.
The duo has easily led the way in the Eastern Conference seventh-seed to the final.
Since 1975 when Philadelphia won its very first title, nothing is certain. Anyone could lift the Conn Smythe Trophy as well as the MVP of the game.
It was a big win for the Flyers. They fought back from three games down to defeat Boston in the semi-finals of the Eastern Conference.
Pronger said on Thursday, "I think coming back from that series was huge for our confidence. But even before that, we all believed we have a good team. It is just a matter of going out and playing to that high level and our own expectations each and every night”.
Pronger and Briere have played sophisticatedly for the last two months. Briere is leading the Flyers with 11 goals. He played his finest in the Boston series, sparking an unbelievable comeback with five assists and five goals.
Briere, in 2007, left his position as co-captain of Buffalo and signed an eight-year contract worth $52 million with no-trade clause with the Flyers just a year after they finished as the worst team in the NHL.
Briere, 5-foot-10, finished the season with 53 points this year from the winger’s spot. Injuries made him go back to his usual central marking during the postseason where he played more games than usual, scoring 95 points in his last season with the Sabres.
"It's just a playoff run, but at the same time, this is one of the best times of my life," said Briere.
Pronger has been the leading defender and campaigner for the team. The Flyers rely on him quite heavily whenever the management send defenseman Luca Sbisa and Joffrey Lupul to the forward line.
Pronger swiftly signed a seven-year contract extension of $34.9 million.
It was a daring move by Paul Holmgren, the General Manager of Flyers. However, it needed to shape the Flyers into title competitors. Pronger came up with a sparkling personality and leadership to a team that needed a blend of both.
The 35-year-old Pronger is the lone Flyer on the roster who has won the Stanley Cup. He made it for Anaheim in 2007 just a year after he lost it in the final with Edmonton.
He has also won the intellectual fight against the Blackhawks. Pronger stabbed and pushed Blackhawks Dustin Byfuglien ahead of the Flyers net. He at last retaliated — and was whistled for laceration.
Pronger, NHL’s most valuable player in the 1999/00 season has got sufficient admiration from the officials to receive calls that others do not.
Joel Quenneville, the current Blackhawks coach had earlier coached Pronger for eight seasons in Saint Louis. Quenneville was astonished to see the little things that Pronger could easily get away with.
"I think there's a couple for sure late in the game," Quenneville said. "There was one that got my attention. Whether it's stick use or obstruction, I think we'll keep an eye on it."
The Blackhawks have come off their first defeat in a month. Before losing Game 3, they won seven straight final round games along with seven straight losses on the tour.
Chicago is still leading the series, but evading Philadelphia with a 3-1 series lead will be hard. The Flyers, on the other hand are going at 8-1 at home in this postseason.
After leading the postseason, the Blackhawks are just a Game 4 loss away before finding themselves into some real pressure.
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