PHILADELPHIA — His Flyers were dominated from the faceoff to the closing seconds. He yanked his goalie, his top defender suddenly went soft and his star forward took a brutal stick to the eye.
If coach Peter Laviolette believed Philadelphia’s loss to Chicago in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals was a true reflection of how the Flyers play in crucial postseason games, he might have made them come to the ice Monday for practice or an extra video session.
Instead, Laviolette told them to stay home. Relax and regroup. Save the work for today.
Laviolette sent his team away with a message: Wednesday’s Game 6 is only the next chapter before Game 7.
The Flyers believe they aren’t finished with their postseason stuffed with thrilling comebacks.
“If any team gets it, this team gets it because we’ve been here so many times,” Laviolette said. “Again, to have our back against the wall, we’ll be comfortable with this.”
This Philly team has mastered the art of the comeback, starting on the last day of the regular season when a shootout win clinched a playoff spot. It became the third team in NHL history to win a series after losing the first three games when it eliminated Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals, and evened the Stanley Cup at 2-all after losing the first two games in Chicago.
The Flyers have one more edge that’s bigger than Chicago’s tallest skyscraper. Game 6 is in Philadelphia — huge in a series where the home team has won every game and where the Flyers are a sizzling 9-1 this postseason.
They couldn’t wait to escape Chicago after Sunday night’s 7-4 loss.
“They came out harder,” Flyers goalie Michael Leighton said. “For some reason, we weren’t ready to play and it cost us the game.”
It might cost Leighton his starting spot. Laviolette has decided which goalie will start Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. He just won’t say if it’s Leighton or Brian Boucher, because he hasn’t talked to his players yet.
“Whatever is best for the team and whatever is going to give us the best chance to win one hockey game,” he said.
Stanley Cup Finals
Blackhawks vs. Flyers
Chicago leads series 3-2
Best-of-seven series; * — if necessary
Chicago 6, Philadelphia 5
Chicago 2, Philadelphia 1
Philadelphia 4, Chicago 3 (OT)
Philadelphia 5, Chicago 3
Sunday: Chicago 7, Philadelphia 4
Wednesday: at Philadelphia, 6 p.m., KUSA-9
Friday: at Chicago, 6 p.m., KUSA-9*
