Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals started in ominous fashion when less than two minutes into the game, the Flyers lost their best remaining defenseman in Braydon Coburn, who took a puck to the face.
The result. 50 stitches and he'll probably miss tomorrow night's game.
GM Paul Holmgren stated that they'll take a look at things and see how he is today, but fortunately he didn't break anything.
Coburn's eye is swelled shut, so if he would play he'll be playing essentially without an eye.
Where does it all end? It seems like the Flyers are dropping like flies (even worse at a position they're already light at) and the Penguins are getting better and better.
Many will point to the Flyers getting screwed by the refs once again as the reason for losing last night's game. That's not true at all. The Flyers are playing a really good team short-handed, a team in the Penguins which is looking more and more like it will become a dynasty.
I can easily see this Penguins team winning two or three Stanley Cups with this nucleus. This is what happens when you tank it for five seasons and you get a pair of #1 overall picks, a #2 pick, and some top 5 picks.
The Penguins are clearly the more superior team and the odds are stacked against the Flyers simply because they're down two defenseman. You can't blame Marty Biron for that. There's only so much he can do against the Crosby and Malkin.
This would be like the Eagles losing Brian Dawkins and Jevon Kearse back in 2004 when they went on that Super Bowl run. Had they lost both of them, it would have hampered their chances of reaching the big show.
Make no mistake about it though, this is an enormous step for the rebuilt Flyers. But, even with Timmonen and Coburn they still need another stud to compete with the Penguins.
Perhaps, that player is Flyers #2 overall pick from 2007, James van Riemsdyk, a 6 foot 3 200 pound left winger who dominated at the 2008 World Juniors. While at charity hockey game over the weekend, van Rimesdyk said he plans on returning to college for another season.
The Flyers will still have to wait another year for his services.
Now, the task at hand is win game three in this David vs. Goliath matchup. I definitely can see the Flyers winning game three, although I said that about game one and two. Realistically there isn't a chance they win this series because they are very banged up and starting to run on fumes.
Regardless, it's a major step for a franchise that was dead last in the NHL last season.
Game three is Tuesday night and if you don't want to hear the low-rent broadcast on the Versus Network, just turn down your TV and put on 610 WIP, because they have synced up their broadcast with the Versus feed.
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