A Decade Later: Revisiting the Flyers’ Unlikely 2010 Playoff Run
This season marks exactly 10 years since the Philadelphia Flyers embarked on one of the most fascinating and unlikeliest playoff runs in NHL history.
After a mediocre start to the season with a record of 13-11-1, head coach John Stevens was replaced by Peter Laviolette. But the Flyers under the new Laviolette system took time to gel. Under Laviolette, the team went 28-24-5 the rest of the way, which was nothing to write home about.
As a matter of fact, the Flyers needed a win going into the final game of the season against the New York Ranger just to qualify for the playoffs. Regulation and overtime came to an end tied 1-1. We were headed to a shootout, something the Flyers did not exactly excel at, against Henrik Lunquist, one of the absolute best goalies in the NHL and who was just phenomenal in shootouts.
Giroux scored the winner, with Briere adding the other and Brian Boucher was real solid in front of the net. The Flyers finished the season with 88 points, tied with the Montreal Canadiens, but were ranked 7th because of the tiebreaker (41 wins to the Canadiens 39).
Round 1: The Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals // New Jersey Devils
The Flyers ranked 7th, faced off against their division rivals the New Jersey Devils, ranked 2nd, with 103 points. The Flyers easily upset Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils in just 5 games. This series saw Daniel Carcillo score the most memorable goal of his entire career, which was the overtime winner in game 3, giving the Flyers a 2 games to 1 lead in the series and the Flyers never looked back.
To add insult to injury, Brian Boucher made 30 saves at the Prudential Center, home of the Devils, for a 3-0 shutout victory in the final and decisive game 5, sending the Devils packing.
Round 2: The Eastern Conference Semi-Finals // Boston Bruins
This series will always be remembered in NHL folklore as one of the greatest series of all-time. The Philadelphia Flyers became just the 3rd team in NHL history and the 1st since 1975 to come back from a 3-0 deficit and win a series. There was no shortage of drama and excitement in this series. While down 3 games to none, the Flyers saw Boston Bruin forward Mark Recchi score a goal in the final minute of regulation to tie game 4 and send it to overtime.
The Flyers could have easily given up at that point, but Flyers great Simon Gagne wasn’t having any of that and scored the OT winner keeping the Flyers season alive. Game 5 was bittersweet as the Flyers spanked the Bruins in a 4-0 shutout victory in Boston no less, but goalie Brian Boucher was injured and would not return, hence he was replaced by back up Michael Leighton the rest of the way. After forcing a game 7 with a 2-1 victory in game 6, the Flyers quickly found themselves down 3-0 in the final game of the series. But JVR, Hartnell, and Briere were up to the task and each scored to make it a tie game.
Then with 7:08 left in the game, it was once again it was the Simon Gagne show, as he scored the series winner, completing one of the greatest comeback wins in all of sports history.
Round 3: The Eastern Conference Finals // Montreal Canadiens
This series marked the first time in NHL history that a 7th seated team faced the 8th seated team in a Conference final series. The series was a mismatch from the very beginning. Although the Canadiens road a really hot goalie in Jaroslav Halak to dispose of powerhouse teams the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals in the first two rounds, they were no match for the Flyers whose confidence was at an all-time high.
Michael Leighton and the Flyers earned shutouts in each of the first 2 games of the series, by a combined score of 9-0. They also won game 4 with another shutout 3-0 and made short work of the Canadiens in a 5 game series. Unbelievably, Leighton recorded 3 shutouts in 5 games sending the Flyers to the Stanely Cup Finals. Another incredible thing that came out of this series is what is now known as “The Shift” by Mike Richards, which can be seen right here.
Need I say more?
Round 4: The Stanely Cup Finals // Chicago Blackhawks
Unfortunately, this series did not end on a positive note for the Flyers. However, I think many people forget just how close this series really was. Yes, Chicago won the series in 6 games, however, 4 of those 6 games were decided by 1 goal, 2 in overtime. The series was tied at 2 games apiece with both teams winning both games on home ice.
The Flyers did their part, but unfortunately, the Michael Leighton from the Montreal Canadiens series had all but disappeared. Leighton and the Flyers allowed 14 goals combined in games 4, 5, and 6 including a few really soft ones like the series-clinching overtime goal scored by Patrick Kane.
Most Flyers fans believe that Brian Boucher getting hurt in the Boston series cost the team a Stanley Cup. The truth is we will never really know, but it’s hard to argue against that seeing how poorly Leighton played in the finals.
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One thing is for sure, it’s taken a while for the Flyers to rebuild this team and rebuild it right. They have now arrived, with a great mix of hungry youngsters on the verge of greatness and talented veterans buying into a phenomenal 2-way game under head coach Alain Vigneault.
Yes, the future looks incredibly bright Flyers fans, but so does your present.
So, enjoy the moment because you are on the verge of another incredible run by your Philadelphia Flyers…one that should last through the next dozen years or so.
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