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I would be paraphrasing and lying if I didn't say I was dissapointed with this one: Canadiens 4 - Flyers 3 (OT). However, thats not to say I didn't expect it, it was going to happen one way or another. I'm just glad it was an OT loss rather than a total blow out like what the media would have you believed.

For a team that hasn't been given a chance, the Flyers held up well against the Habs, mathching their rested offense with some nice rolling line changes and that offensive style that we all know and love. I am dissapointed that the Flyers gave up a 2-0 lead after the 1st. Even after clawing back to make it 3-2 in the 3rd, the Canadiens were still able to put one away. Well, that's the way the cookie crumbles. There were lots of positives to take into Saturdays game but I still think the Flyers defence has been fairly poor all season (Exception being Timonen's coverage of Ovechkin in the Quarter Finals).

Anyway, that wasn't the kind of game that anyone should suddenly start making judgments over. An OT loss shows the Flyers can match the Habs level of play. The Flyers will take what they learn from this one and Saturday will be another close one - I think the Flyers will win (just).

On to other Hockey related things. I believe the Jack Adams award should go to John Stevens. He started out last season coaching the Philadelphia Phantoms in the AHL, not quiet the same as the NHL. He suddenly gets called up and stabalises the situation, making the right decision not to try a rushed rebuild to salvage the season, but to ride it out and wait. In conjunction with Paul Holmgren, he made important end of season signings such as Martin Biron. In the Off-Season, he was able to sign some big names again like Daniel Briere and Jason Smith. He was able to put this team together in such a way that they gelled instantly and opened the season with a 5 game winning streak. When the playoff race started, the Flyers stumbled and Stevens was on the case - he rearanged the Flyers locker room to give the players a new perspective. It worked. He is now pushing the Flyers far into the playoffs and doing a better job than any other media journalist predicted. That's why I believe John Stevens should recieve the Jack Adams award.

Also, a thumbs up to Kevin Blackistone, formaly of the Dallas Morning News, who predicted the Flyers with the series win on "Around The Horn" on the other night.

Additional: When will SI take down that picture of Sidney Crosby in the SI photos section to the right of this? It's giving me nightmares. Seriously, its a really bad photo