The Flyers dominate the Rangers beating them 4-1.
For the last regular season home game, the Wachovia Center was jumping. The energy was huge. Starting off with the duet of Lauren Hart and Kate Smith singing God Bless America which always always always gets the fans going nuts.
The Flyers matched the fans energy and intensity on the ice which continues for most of the game. Mike Knuble scored first on the power play, 11 times this year he as scored first for the Flyers. Niko Dimitrakos, R.J. Umberger and Petr Nedved each added a goal. Three of the 4 lines scored with the Carter-Dimitrakos-Umberger line having 2. One thing that I think is important about that line is how Jeff Carter continues to improve. Both of those goals were the result of odd man rushes with Jeff Carter bring the puck up the ice. In that situation throughout the season Carter would always shoot, always. That had to be in the scouting report since I saw it every game. Carter on the rush, he is going to shoot, until yesterday. As Carter passed to Niko and he scored I thought to myself ‘Holy Crap, he actually passed’. I thought the same with Umberger’s goal. I think Carter has become a much more dangerous offensive threat now that he passes and shots instead of just always taking the shot.

Denis Gauthier was assigned the duty of defending Jaromir Jagr and was mostly successful with Jagr held pointless on three shots.

With Robert Esche having the flu, Antero Niittymaki got the start in goal and was very solid. Niittymaki did play well and did deserve a star, but the defensive play in front of him helped a great deal.

With less than 2 minutes remaining in the game Donald Brashear took a double minor for roughing and a 10 minute misconduct which essentially ejected him from the game. There are those that don’t like his style, his antics while play is stopped. Personally that stuff doesn’t bother me that much. There is one thing I saw from Brashear in the game that I really liked. Brashear took a high stick from Marek Malik in the 2nd period. Did Brashear’s head snap back like a bad pez dispenser, did his gloves and stick go flying, or did he fall to the ice covering his face motionless? No he just kept playing. Too much acting on the ice anytime sticks come up close to the face with your typical hockey player.

Turner Stevenson, Ryan Potulny and Branko Radivojevic were healthly scratches for the Flyers.

Jeff Carter, R.J. Umberger and Antero Niittymaki were there three stars.

With the win the Flyers are only 1 point behind the Rangers with 2 games remaining, the Rangers have 1. This means the Rangers, Devils and Flyers could each end up in 3rd, 5th, or 6th place. Each team could still win the Atlantic Division.

Being the last home game of the season, team awards were handed out. Simon Gagne won the Bobbly Clarke Trophy as team MVP. Joni Pitkanen picked up 2 trophies, the Barry Ashbee Trophy as the outstanding defenseman and Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy as most improved player. Peter Forsberg won the Yanick Dupre Memorial Trophy as the Flyer who best illustrates character, dignity and respect for the sport on and off the ice.
Since the Flyers sell out so often this is tough to do, but they set a new attendance record with 805,783 fans for the season. If my math is correct that works out to 19,653 fans per game.

So this afternoon with the Flyers have the same energy going into Jersey? Personally I wouldn’t bet on it. The Devils are coming off 2 days rest, the Flyers played yesterday.
Robert Esche is expected to start recovered from the flu.