Any hope that the Flyers’ strong play from Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Quarterfinals would carry over against Boston was dashed less than two minutes into Game One, as David Krejci scored on the very first shot of the game for the Bruins. The7-3 loss was not only disappointing, but just plain embarrassing.
Offensively, the Flyers were able to find ways to beat Vezina nominee Tim Thomas. James Van Riemsdyk, Danny Briere, and Mike Richards scored for the Flyers, meaning that each of the top three lines contributed. The final score would have been much tighter if Thomas hadn’t stood on his head. Unfortunately, this was about the only positive today.
Defensively, the team was a complete mess. I don’t know how many times I was caught screaming “cover your man,” as if the team could hear me and I wasn’t just aggravating the people next to me. Everyone was out of position, and the fourth line of Blair Betts-Darroll Powe-Zac Rinaldo, questionably assigned to shut down the Bruins’ top line of Milan Lucic-Nathan Horton-David Krecji, couldn’t handle the task.
Defensemen Matt Carle and Chris Pronger, simply put, need to play like Matt Carle and Chris Pronger, not wide-eyed rookies.
Through one game, the team +/- was a collective -26.
Neither Brian Boucher nor Sergei Bobrovsky could provide any relief from the onslaught of the black and gold. In Boucher’s defense, 
it’s difficult to stop so many pucks when the opposing team is left wide open in the crease. Several goals came off re-directions through traffic as well.
The decision by the organization to boost the defense in the offseason at the expense of finding an elite goaltender only works if the defense shows up. All one can hope is that they tighten up the man coverage in Game Two, or this series could be a bloodbath.
There will be no let up from the Bruins are still fuming inside about the
collosal choke of last years blown 3-0 game lead in their series. Flyers just have to wipe this one from the memory bank immediately and get back to FLyer Hockey. They lose game 2 this series will be over quickly..I believe those pesky Sabres took a lot more out of the Flyers than they are willing to admit. If they win game 2, then all is ok as they will have gotten their legs back under them, but Monday’s game is a huge game and the biggest one of the season now..
Agreed Paulman, but the Canadiens made the Bruins work hard, too. While Boucher and Bobrovsky definitely did not look even average out there, you need defenders to at least skate near the other team’s forwards. Just sloppy play that needs to stop ASAP. 7 goals in playoff hockey????? Ridiculous
Yes the Flyers reveled a little too much in their Win over the Sabres, as if they were a good team.. Thee Bruins were all about business after beating the Canadiens and have been longing to wipe out the memeory from last years collapse.. If Flyer lose Game 2, this series will be over in 5 games and one last thing, now who do the FLyers put in Goal for Game 2, Can any of the Goalies,teammates and Coaches have any confidence in any of the 3…
Coach Lav’s plan has backfired on his Goalie selections and play
Game 2 is an absolute “MUST WIN” tonight