Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Capital punishment?

It’s the Day of Decision. And for the Flyers and their fans, it might be a Day of Infamy as well.

The orange and black did the unthinkable Monday night. Not only did they not seal the deal by eliminating the Washington Capitals in a crucial Game 6, they first teased their fans with a taste of victory by taking a 2-0 lead.

Unfortunately, they then proceeded to have what could best be described as a “Terry Murray moment.”

You might remember the famous words of the former Flyers coach, who intimated that his team’s play in another crucial playoff series they were about to gag up amounted to “a choking situation.”

The Flyers turned last night’s early 2-0 lead over the Caps into a devastating 4-2 loss. They then boarded a train and headed back to Washington for Game 7. There’s no rest for the Flyers’ weary legs. They’ll be back on the ice tonight in back-to-back games, which does not exactly work in favor of many of their older players, who appeared out of gas in the third period last night.

There is little in sports that can match the excitement of a Game 7 in a playoff series. You’ll excuse us if we’ll tell you we could have done without this latest bit of sports drama.

Here are some other sobering numbers for Flyers fans to mull over as they stand in line waiting to vote in the Pennsylvania Primary.

Goalie Martin Biron has not exactly stood on his head this year in back-to-back games. He’s 0-5 when playing on consecutive nights.

The team has won exactly one Game 7 in their history.

Much as they did several years ago against the Devils, this Flyers team might rue the day they failed to give their best effort Saturday in D.C. No problem, they said after the game. We still have two more chances to win.

Not anymore. It’s either win tonight, or head home for the summer stewing in what could have – and likely should have – been.

For the Flyers and their fans, tonight could be a form of Capital punishment.

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