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Post by FPN on Aug 15, 2006 17:03:25 GMT -5
I know some of you guys have been watching the Flyers for a long time (BroadST being one). I started watching hockey in 1995 and my two favorite teams back then were the Flames and the Flyers. I became a huge Eric Lindros fan by 97.
I'm just curious about one thing. Was the 97 finals defeat a huge shock to any of you? Back then I was 100% sure that the Big E would lead Philly to the cup, and when they were swept I was stunned. I really, really thought the Flyers would have won.
So....did anyone else feel very confident back then and very surprised that the Flyers lost? I know Detroit was on fire, especially coming off that insane series with the Avs, but Philly was on a roll too and had the most dominant player in years leading their team.
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Post by savehextall on Aug 15, 2006 17:29:44 GMT -5
Yeah - I for one definitely thought we had a great chance to win that series. We had the progession of breaking into the playoffs and doing some damage in 95, then a setback in '96 and I thought we'd use that to focus and be stronger in '97. I'm pretty sure that we were favored in Vegas to win that series vs Detroit too. All I know is that Finals was over in a blink of an eye  . |
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Post by Chief97 on Aug 15, 2006 17:32:00 GMT -5
FPN- I was devastated by what happened in the finals. The Wings had rolled over for the Devils just 2 years earlier, and we had the best player in the game at that time, bar none.
Everything was clicking. Mario had passed the torch over to Eric, we beat the "unbeatable" Hasek, and embarrassed the Rangers.
We had the best line in hockey, too.
I didn't exactly think we would win, but I thought we would win 3 games.
Never did I expect to get swept.
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Post by FPN on Aug 15, 2006 17:36:46 GMT -5
Believe it or not, I expected Detroit to be swept. Talk about irony...
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Post by smokejmt on Aug 15, 2006 17:36:47 GMT -5
Of course, my Caps met the same fate a year later... though getting swept was hardly a shock.
There was NO ONE who was going to win the Cup other than Detroit that year.
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Post by Chief97 on Aug 15, 2006 17:39:45 GMT -5
Yeah, that was the win it for Vladimir playoffs.
I hate to see anyone suffer that fate, but it's amazing how everyone forgets what a dirty player he was.
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Post by smokejmt on Aug 15, 2006 17:51:31 GMT -5
Dirty indeed, but every team would have loved to have him on their roster.
If I remember right, the accident also severely injured their team massage therapist and Slava Fetisov too...
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Post by BroadST on Aug 15, 2006 19:43:59 GMT -5
Yep, FPN, I was devistated. I was very confident the Flyers were going to win so I had the wind knocked out of me big time. I was actually at a buddies bachelor party for game 3 and I think that was the most depressed I have ever been after watching a hockey game. I thought we were destined to win, especially after destroying the Rangers like Tags mentioned.
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Post by Chief97 on Aug 15, 2006 21:52:56 GMT -5
Dirty indeed, but every team would have loved to have him on their roster. Good point. You've got Karma comin' your way. I used to call him "Vladimir Constant-cheap-shot" |
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