The Boston Bruins may have just pulled off the biggest choke in sports history and did something that had never been done before. Not only did Boston give up a 3-0 series lead, they also blew a 3-0 lead in tonight's game losing to Philadelphia 4-3. As far as overcoming a 3-0 series deficit, the Flyers became just the third team to do that joining Toronto and the Islanders. Simon Gagne's power play goal with 7:08 won it for the Flyers. Gagne played four games after coming back from a foot injury and scored four goals and an assist including tonight's game winner and the game four overtime winner. Boston was called for too many men on the ice (sound familiar?) that led to Gagne's goal.
Once Philadelphia decided to stay out of the penalty box, they did well. High sticking penalties to Scott Hartnell and Daniel Briere helped Boston take a 2-0 lead just 9:02 in. Michael Ryder scored the first one with Milan Lucic netting the second. Lucic stole a puck down the wall and went in two on one and beat Michael Leighton to make it 3-0 at 14:10. Boston had just 12 shots the rest of the way as they played not to lose instead of playing to win. Flyers coach Peter Laviolette called time out and you could see him tell his team, "Lets get just one goal!". Rookie James van Riemsdyk was listening scored his first ever playoff goal before the period ended. The kid out worked Miroslav Satan to keep the play going. As usual when his team really needed him and the pressure built, Satan came up small. He had one point in the first three games against the Sabres, he then scored five goals and four assists in the next nine games, but there was not as much pressure because the Bruins were winning and were ahead in the series. In his final four games he came up with zeros across the board.
In the second period Scott Hartnell backhanded a rebound high over Tuukka Rask just 2:49 in. A former Sabre who does produce in the clutch then tied it on a wrap around that just bounced over the line. Daniel Briere scored seven goals and eight assists in his last nine games.
That set up Gagne's heroics in the third period.
Leighton made 22 saves while Rask stopped 23.
Philadelphia now returns home to open the Eastern Conference Finals against Montreal Sunday night. It's the East's 7th seed against the 8th seed.
http://www.wgr550.com/Bruins-choke-is-complete/7053275