Some things, six months cannot change. Like the cascade of derision that followed Flyers defenseman No. 20 every time he touched the puck
“I don’t know about extra motivation,” Chris Pronger said of the boos he received all Sunday. “But it’s nice to be welcomed.”
The Flyers certainly did not find the conditions inhospitable in a convincing 4-1 victory over the Blackhawks, demonstrating more verve and applying far more pressure than the hosts in the rematch of last season’s Stanley Cup finalists.
They were indeed after a measure of vengeance — a small measure, but a measure nonetheless.
“It’s obviously nice,” said the Flyers’ Jeff Carter, who scored twice and assisted on another goal Sunday. “We know the way last (season) ended. Nothing was said in the room before — each guy individually knew what was going on today.”
Actually, goaltender Sergei Bubovsky — who didn’t play a single second in the finals — set the tone by stymieing every Hawks chance in the course of regular play. Marian Hossa’s penalty-shot goal was the only damage done.
The game had the Flyers’ full attention — so much so that it may have cost them a day earlier against the Devils in a mildly stunning 3-1 loss at home. They then refocused in time for the nationally televised showdown.
“You guys wouldn’t stop talking about the Hawks before the Jersey game, so I don’t know if we weren’t ready for Jersey,” said the Flyers’ Claude Giroux, who assisted on every goal. “We didn’t really show up. Guys were (ticked) off about it, and guys showed up today.”
The Hawks still had the rings and the banner hanging overhead, no matter the result. But the Flyers certainly left the building with the better vibes.
“It will never replace what happened in the finals, no matter what, no matter how,” Flyers winger Danny Briere said. “I saw it as a big win. It was a big game for our team to keep moving forward. But it will never replace what happened last year.”
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