The explosion came in the middle of the period, with the Flyers losing the territorial battle and trailing by 2-1. It kind of came out of nowhere.
First, Danny Briere came flying out of the penalty box, took a pass from Mike Knuble and rifled a wrist shot to the stick side of Caps goalie Cristobal Huet.
Second, Vinny Prospal scored for the second time in the game -- his first two-goal playoff game ever -- on the end of a 3-on-2. The pass came from Briere, and the shot again was to Huet's stick side.
Third, Briere scored his second of the night, this time on a power play into a wide-open net on a pass from Mike Richards.
Three goals in about 3 1/2 minutes.
And Alex Ovechkin still doesn't have a shot.
Rich Hofmann has been at the Daily News since 1980. He previously blogged the Eagles' postseason run in 2006. 
Ed Barkowitz was the first Philadelphia Newspaper journalist to write a blog, starting back in 2002.
Comments (12)
when's the last time a team up 2 goals going into the 3rd period of a stanley cup playoff game lost in regulation? that's pathetic. that's the whole series right there. kukkonen messing around with the puck in front of his own net. just get it the hell out. Ice it. who cares. not one goal was biron's fault. all 5 goals were a shooter all alone
Posted by Bob | April 11, 2008 9:46 PM
You just knew the way the Flyers started the 3rd period - defensive/conservative Hockey, that they were going to lose, but more important, I have seen it all year - Biron is not, I repeat, not a 1st string goalie. He gives up too many easy goals. In the playoffs, the goalie has to make the saves. I am not even talking about big saves...just the "medium" ones he lets in.
Posted by mikew | April 11, 2008 10:17 PM
You just knew the way the Flyers started the 3rd period - defensive/conservative Hockey, that they were going to lose, but more important, I have seen it all year - Biron is not, I repeat, not a 1st string goalie. He gives up too many easy goals. In the playoffs, the goalie has to make the saves. I am not even talking about big saves...just the "medium" ones he lets in.
Posted by mikew | April 11, 2008 10:17 PM
Jarsolav Modry is terrible. He was -4 tonight, and there is no reason for he and Kukkonen to be out there against Ovechkin late in the game.
Posted by Brian | April 11, 2008 10:28 PM
This team never can seem to protect a lead.. i mean how hard is it. it should be simple. just go into a trap and clog the neutral zone.. then wait for the Caps to get desperate and turn it over giving the Flyers bunches of odd man rushes. when the Caps do happen to get it into our zone just ice it.. just keep icing it all 3rd period long if you have to. they'll do all the running and we'll be more well rested for those odd man rushes.
Posted by hk1960 | April 11, 2008 10:46 PM
also why did it seem that in the 3rd period every time a Flyer got close to a puck in their own zone with a chance to clear the puck that they got hammered by a Capital.. and in the rare cases where they were in the Cap zone trying to keep the puck in the zone they got hammered too? Flyers have to start laying the lumber across the backs of those Caps.
Posted by hk1960 | April 11, 2008 10:50 PM
Great post, Rich. Too bad a hockey game has three periods.
Posted by Rick | April 12, 2008 4:46 AM
I heard that a flyer might lose one of his balls cause a puck hit him in the gonads! ouch!
Posted by Assman | April 12, 2008 8:33 AM
Darn that puck hurt!
Posted by THe Lost Nut | April 12, 2008 8:35 AM
Two thoughts for you sad sack of Flyers fans
1. I feel bad for your guy and I hope he get's well. You never want to see anybody get hurt (especially like that). That being said, we all know if the tables were turned you wouldn't have wanted the whistle to blow (not knowing what the injury was). I was at the game and he looked to be hurt but not injured. He was moving . . .
2. The third period you played like a team that had already won. YOu played dump and chase, very little offensive push and you thought nothing of the guys in red. You may not like to read it but you played like it was the regular season.
GO CAPS! GO CAPS! GO CAPS!
Posted by Cap Fan | April 12, 2008 12:55 PM
From the Washington Times:
"Right wing Mike Knuble said the team knew Thoresen was hurt because "he's not the type of player who flops," and added the officials made the right call.
Philadelphia goaltender Martin Biron said he wasn't expecting the play to be blown dead, and at least outwardly, didn't question the decision to keep playing.
"It's happened before, where guys block shots, get hurt and usually referees wait for you to get the puck back," Biron said. "And the puck goes over to the other side, and now we're basically playing 5-on-3. It kind of gets everybody mixed up a little bit. He was able to come down and take a pretty good shot."
"
Posted by Sec. 105 | April 12, 2008 1:28 PM
Biron & Briere - We have reconsidered - wish to work out a trade to bring both back to Buffalo - who do you want for Briere; for Biron - lets work something out. Buffalo hates the Flyers but will be watching all the Philly games to see two of our favorite players - Go Marty - Go Dan - we are pulling of you. Ron young, Buffalo NY
Posted by Ron Young | April 12, 2008 2:26 PM