Week 15 of NHL 2005-6

The road trip and homecoming for the Flyers ended on a rather sour note. Despite the mediocre victory over Chicago earlier in the week, they were completely smacked up in the third period by the Detroit Red Wings and then defeated in overtime by the Colorado Avalanche (who my friend calls affectionately al-Qedarado or Quebecarado). 
 
Being a fan, I still found a silver lining to the losses. The Detroit game was a defensive battle in the first period with neither team scoring and they kept it close in the second period. Unfortunately, hockey is a three-period game. The Flyers really lost it at the end as the Red Wings got to them and nailed the game shut 6-3. What can I say, the Wings really wanted it more. They’ve won three Cups in 10 years like the New Jersey Devils. Winning that prize is like eating M&Ms, it’s hard to stop once you’ve had just one. If the Detroit game is a preview of what may be the next Stanley Cup could be, then the Flyers better keep it up for 65 minutes, not 40. That’s the mistake they made with Tampa last season and that’s why the Cup resided in the Sunshine State before the lockout. 
 
Colorado was a different story. That game was fairly even until later when the ‘Lanche jumped out to a 3-1 lead. Hitchcock took the gamble on his players stepping up their game by pulling the goalie with three minutes remaining and the Flyers lacked the Power Play advantage so they’d only be up one attacker. There’s a recipe for the other team nailing an empty-net goal to seal the victory. It paid off. Mike Knuble put the Flyers within one goal for the closing minute. Niitymaki was put back into goal and he didn’t need to leave as Peter Forsberg nailed it with seconds to go. Sadly the Flyers were defeated in overtime. On the upside, they still walked away with a point which has gone toward them keeping a six point lead in the Atlantic Division of the New York Rangers. 
 
Finally, their PK is ranked 25th in the NHL. I would like to see it in the teens to low 20s by the Olympic Break.