The One That Got Away

What a difference one goal makes. Instead of the Hawks scoring the game winner Wednesday night which basically would have ended the series now the Flyers have life and feel they are right back in it. Of course they are only back in it if they win again on Friday but that's a story (literally) for tomorrow.

The Hawks 4-3 overtime defeat can be chalked up to a few things. First of all it's time they learn to stay out of the penalty box. It's bad enough that the refs still aren't calling the same penalties on Phily but the Hawks have to learn not to take obvious ones themselves. Two of the Flyers goals came on their power play while the Hawks man advantage looks anemic to this point.

The Hawks also need to step it up in the third period. So far in the three games they have been vastly out shot and out played and that has to halt. You can't keep allowing your goalie to be besieged like Antii Niemi has been and expect him to keep playing out of his mind.

The players were deservedly down after Wed's loss but already looking ahead towards game 4 on Friday. They still know that they are in command of this series as long as they win on Friday and they also know they still have not come close to playing their best hockey.