Savard Draws Cheers in Game One
What an emotional day at the Garden on Saturday as the Bruins defeated the Flyers, 5-4, in overtime to open their Eastern Conference Semifinal. The game went from probable laugher to instant classic somewhere in the middle of the second period when Chris Pronger scored to close the Flyers within 3-2. The B’s countered early midway through the third to recapture the two-goal lead, but the Flyers never gave up and scored twice in the final nine minutes to send the game to overtime.
In the extra period, the Bruins were the aggressor early, and held a 14-4 shot advantage before the game-winner found its way past a very game, Brian Boucher. That goal? Well it came off the stick of one Marc Savard.
Marc Savard showed no ill effects on his hang time after the game-winner
In his first game back since his concussion on March 7, Savard followed Dennis Wideman to the half boards and pounced on a loose puck when Wideman had his stick tomahawked out of his hands by James van Riemsdyk. The B’s were on a delayed penalty and Savard could have reset to gain the extra attacker. Instead, he whirled around and unleashed a cannon between Boucher’s arm and body for the winning goal.
The celebration that ensued was as much joy for Savard as it was for the entire team. He was THE story heading into this game. It was his first competitive skating since the hit and the Flyers are one of the more physical teams in the league. How would he hold up? Would his timing be back immediately? Initial reports are that he passed with flying colors. He was only put in the situations the Bruins staff wanted him in – namely, power plays, offensive zone face offs, and end of game sequences. He played 15:16 total, averaging 0:39 a shift. He was under 50% on face offs but also was willing to engage in some physical contact. He went for a few body checks and withstood hits from the Flyers’ defensemen. He even engaged Daniel Carcillo after a whistle and got a roughing penalty. (Side note: Have to give Carcillo credit for not just swinging at Savard and instead going for the Undertaker’s patented choke. That was actually respectful.)
It was just great to see 91 back on the ice and for him to contribute. No question, Bruins fans would have rejoiced even if Andrew Ferrence scored the winner (except no one would have given the stick back like they did when Savard tossed it into the stands). Yet, there was something poetic about Savard scoring in that way.
Now, the win was not all grins as Marco Sturm left the game after 41 seconds with an injury that has now been confirmed as a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee. He will not even be able to have surgery for 4-6 weeks and is out at least six months (November for you non-math majors). What that means for Sturm’s long-term viability with this team is for another time, but his injury has an impact on the rest of the playoff run.
One would assume Shawn Thornton can turn in his suit for a game sweater now and return to the fourth line with Vladimir Sobotka and Steve Begin. That means Blake Wheeler will fill Sturm’s role on an offensive line. Does Wheeler play with Patrice Bergeron and Mark Recchi or does Claude Julien try and rekindle the Wheeler/Michael Ryder connection with Savard? The bet is that Wheeler plays with Savard and Ryder and Daniel Paille goes up to the Bergeron line where he spent some time this season already.
AP Photo/Elise Amendola
People seem to be asking “How much will the Bruins miss Marco Sturm?” a lot today. I think the question should be “Will they miss Marco Sturm?” After the Buffalo series, all but three Bruins had zero points – wide-eyed defenseman Adam McQuaid (three shots), Thornton (three shots) and Sturm (11 shots). There is no hiding the fact that Sturm’s 22 goals led the team in the regular season. There is also no hiding that including the Buffalo series, Sturm had two points (a goal and an assist) over the last 22 games. Is it possible he could have gotten hot at some point and turned it on? Sure. It is also just as likely he wouldn’t have. Now, Wheeler isn’t exactly a Hart Trophy finalist out there with his two assists and -5 though seven games, so who knows. Sturm was a focal point of this series and his effectiveness may have had a large role in whether or not the B’s advanced, but now he is out and that onus transfers to players like Wheeler to pick up their pace a bit.
What does this game mean for the rest of the series? Well it means that these two teams are evenly matched with very good top lines, strong defense and two goalies that will do whatever they can to keep their team in the game. Clearly, the Bruins and Flyers understand the second chance they have been given and are doing what must be done to take advantage of it. One thing noticeably missing from the first game was a multitude of post-whistle skirmishes. There was the one in the second period where Savard and Carcillo had a chat (and somehow Savard took both Carcillo and Mike Richards off with him to give the B’s a power play which they scored on) and the one with old dogs Recchi and Pronger in the third. Most likely, neither team wanted to lose its cool first and the game became tight instead of becoming a laugher with the Flyer’s play in the second period. Expect more urgency and intensity on Monday as the Flyers know that a win gives the home-asylum advantage in Philly and the B’s understanding that a 2-0 lead gives them a solid grasp on the series.
A new feature for this round of the playoffs is “Pop Culture Comparisons”. After each game, I will compare how the game went for both sides to a pop culture phenomenon special to that city. I would have done it for the first series, but there is only so many times you can compare the Sabres to buffalo wings, a bad field goal or a movie about a bad field goal. Luckily, Philadelphia is a nice city (“Lotta Culture” says the old Southwest Airlines ad) and has given us some great TV shows, movies, bands, etc. over the years. So without further ado…
Bruins vs. Flyers
“Pop Culture Comparison” – Game One
For Game One, we are going with TV sitcoms. Cheers versus Boy Meets World:
TD Garden - Where Everyone Knows Your Name
The play of the Bruins on Saturday reminds me very much of how Cheers played out. The show was very reliable and never tried to do too much. Over the 11 years the show was on the air, you really felt that the gang who hung out at the bar really did care for each other, and not just because Sam Malone wanted to get it on with every woman in the place except Carla. Heck, they were even able to replace the staff on the fly to make sure things went perfect. When Nicholas Colasanto (the actor who played ‘Coach’) died in 1985, Woody Harrelson was brought on board. All throughout the season, and especially yesterday when Sturm was out and Sobotka was limited, players stepped in and carried the mail. The obvious play-in is that when Savard came on the ice and after he scored, numerous deafening cheers came down from the rafters. However, only true Cheers fans know that the Bruins had a small storyline in the show.
Fictional Bruins Netminder Eddie Lebec
Starting in season five, Carla starts dating Eddie Lebec, a goalie just traded to the Bruins. They eventually get married, but Eddie tragically dies in an accident while performing with an ice show in his retired life. The most central plotline involving hockey was when Carla and Lebec first started dating, he was on a winning streak and deep in hockey superstition. At the first game since they became “official” Carla blew Eddie a kiss before overtime against the – wait for it – Flyers and he then lost. Cheers was great with the sports references during its run, and the Bruins were not left out.
For the Flyers, you have to go with Boy Meets World. The TGIF staple was pretty much my introduction to Philadelphia and showcased the trials and tribulations of young Cory Matthews as he worked his way through puberty. The same can be said for Danny Briere, who, much like young Matthews ( © Mr. Feeny) is working his way through that special time in a man’s life when he is experiencing new things. Unlike Cory, who was figuring out a way to buy low and sell high on Topanga, Briere is working on getting serves at restaurants to let him order off the adult menu and allow him to ride the roller coasters at Canobie Lake Park.
Twins?
All kidding aside, Briere did his best Cory Matthews dealing with puberty routine yesterday, with Dennis Wideman and Matt Hunwick playing the roles of a cracking voice and interesting new feelings about women. His end-to-end rush to tie the game would have been the opener to Philadelphia’s playoff video if the Flyers had ended up winning the game. Alas, Marc Savard played the role of Harley Keiner and kicked the Flyers out of Chubby’s. For the Flyers, taking on the Bruins after easily dispatching the Devils in round one was like a young man experiencing the world for the first time. The Devils were an easy out with their aging team and lack of heart. The Bruins, however, are cruel like the world and will not roll over easily.
Now, the series moves on to Game 2, a swing game that can send the series to Philly tied 1-1 or give the Bruins a strong grasp on the outcome with a 2-0 lead. The Flyers have to come out with more urgency, as they are no longer coming off an eight-day layoff. Tuukka Rask will most likely not allow the Flyers to overcome any more two-goal deficits and playing catch-up on the Bruins for seven games is not palatable. Zdeno Chara, who had an assist on Savard’s winner somehow, needs to be more active in his own zone, where he had just two hits. No predictions needed, just enjoy the show.
Leave a Reply
