Stanley Cup Finals Now Turning into a Series as Flyers Take Game 3

After the Hawks took the first 2 Games of the Stanley Cup Finals on home ice, they can't hold off the Flyer attack as the Flyers take game 3 in Overtime. The Flyers got on the board first thanks to a beautiful power play goal from Danny Briere. And what made this play so great wasn't the finish by Briere, it was the setup by Scott Hartnell. A shot came in from the point and Niemi made the save and then Hartnell picked up the puck and made almost a blind pass as he was falling down to an open Briere who buried the puck. Here is the video:


So the Briere goal made it 1-0 Flyers at the end of 1. 2nd period and it takes a little over 2 minutes for the Hawks to come back and tie the game thanks to a Duncan Keith goal. Then after a little back and forth action, the Flyers get a power play. After a tough time getting set up a long shot from Pronger comes in from the point that gets tipped by the aformetioned Scott Hartnell. The puck hit Hartnell and seemed to slip over the goal line. The horn sounded and the place when nuts but play continued for about a minute and a half before play stopped. After a video review showed the evidence the goal counted and the Flyers took a 2-1 lead. This lead would hold till about the 17 minute mark when after a clean faceoff win from John Madden resulted in a snap shot goal from Brent Sopel to tie the game at 2. That 2-2 score is how the 2nd period would end.

3rd period got underway and it was a pickup from the first 2 periods in the physical department. About 2:50 into the period the Flyers had a slight defensive breakdown and allowed Patrick Kane to get a breakaway from the blue line in. Bad idea on the Flyers part as Kane beat Leighton stick side to give the Hawks a 3-2 lead. But that 1 goal lead would last for only 20 seconds as Ville Leino buried a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle to tie the game at 3. That is how the score would last through regulation.

Overtime was just as enjoyable to watch and then some. About 5 minutes in Simone Gagne had a golden chance for the Flyers, Gagne picked up the pcuk and the Hawks goal line flung the puck on net and it hit off the post rolled along the goaline and some how it stayed out. They went upstairs on the video review and this again the refs got right and ruled it no goal. About a minute after that close call Claude Giroux was in the right place at the right time in front of the net to tip in a long shot from Carle from the top of the crease to give the Flyers the OT victory. The Hawks lead the series 2-1 going into game 4 at Wacovia Center tomorrow night at 8 on Versus. Game 5 of the series will be back at the United Center Sunday at 8