History will be made

By Scott Antoszewski

That is the slogan the NHL is using for this year’s playoffs. I though it was an interesting slogan, if not a tad unoriginal because history is made in the playoffs every year. The magnitude tends to vary from year to year, but you can safely say that something historic happens during the playoffs each year. I’m sure the marketing folks couldn’t be happier with the events of this years playoffs, especially in the Eastern Conference.

The Philadelphia Flyers made the greatest comeback in team history to beat the Bruins in game seven on Friday night. I was at the Greene Turtle in Columbia watching that game with players from my beer league team, two of which are huge Flyers fans. I found it interesting, that even when the B’s were up 3-0, (that’s right, Philadelphia came back from down 3-0 in game 7) the Flyer fans, like the team, weren’t panicking, and their confidence was rewarded. The comeback wasn’t stirring, or dramatic, the Flyers just kept pushing and getting the dirty goals they needed to get even. Simon Gagne capped the comeback with one of the prettiest goals you will ever see, and the bar erupted in cheers. It was a seriously fun evening.

I find it even more entertaining that the Flyers now get to take on the eighth seeded Canadians. Never in the history of the current eight team per conference playoff format, have the seven and eight seeds ever met.

The Habs are another team that people are referring to as a “team of destiny” after eliminating Washington and Pittsburgh. Hopefully the remaining games of this series will be more entertaining that the Flyers 6-0 thumping of the Canadiens last night. Montreal had to see this coming as the Flyers were on a serious roll, and Halak was well overdue to lay an egg. Game two will tell a lot about how that series goes.

Lastly, don’t overlook the Sharks. San Jose is also looking to get into uncharted territory by getting to the Cup finals. The Blackhawks will make it very difficult, which will make for a fun series. The ‘Hawks took Game one in San Jose 2-1 yesterday afternoon.

Keep watching, who knows how much more “History Will Be Made”.