 |
PHILADELPHIA - There are going to be those moments in games, in lives, where you simply mess up.
The making of the mistake can be costly at that moment and cannot be undone.
But the mistake also presents a choice: continue a downward spiral or choose another path.
In the first game of the Philadelphia Flyers second round series against the Boston Bruins, Flyers forward Daniel Briere was back at centre following a foot injury to Jeff Carter.
Briere was minus-2 in the game, two of the goals in a 5-4 Flyers overtime loss, Philly coach Peter Laviolette said, the direct result of Briere blunders.
In a conversation afterwards, Briere had a message: “‘Don’t lose faith in me,” he told me,” said Laviolette, relating the story Thursday as the Flyers prepared for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final and a chance to even the series with the Chicago Blackhawks at 2-2.
“He said he would make sure to take care of things defensively, to give him another chance.”
Briere has been true to his word.
Since that game, Briere has been plus-9 and playing at his preferred centre position has been the anchor of a Flyers second line which has been carrying the offensive load. Along with Detroit Red Wings castoff Ville Leino and up-and-down Scott Hartnell, the line has helped the Flyers claw back into this series. Briere and Hartnell had a goal and an assist in the Flyers’ 4-3 overtime win in Game 3; Leino a goal while topping all Flyers forwards in ice time with 23 minutes and 12 seconds.
Having faith and second chances might be the theme for all three players on the line who have each had their struggles, each come from a low place at some point this season.
“When (Laviolette) put us together, I think there were so many injuries that’s what was left, I guess,” said Briere. “Ville had been a scratch. I had played wing for most of the year. Scotty had a lot of struggles. It was three guys searching for themselves at that point, but sometimes chemistry is a weird thing, something you can’t really explain.
“Ville is gaining confidence more and more with every game,” said Briere. “He so strong on the puck. He gets in the offensive zone and you think the play is dead because he has three guys on him and he finds a way to keep it alive, he finds a scoring chance.
“A guy like Scott Hartnell sometimes doesn’t get as many points or as many goals because he has to do the dirty work, but we all realize how important he is.”
Laviolette said Thursday he “had no idea,” what he had in Leino.
“You have to give (Flyers GM) Paul Holmgren credit for that one,” said Laviolette. “He wanted him.”
Leino said Thursday a few months ago he was as “low as you can go,” when he was a healthy scratch with the Wings. He was dealt off to the Flyers in exchange for Ole-Kristian Tollefsen (who was waived) to create some room in the salary cap.
Leino had to bide his time with the Flyers. When they were healthy, he was a scratch for the first four games of the playoffs. When Carter came back he was put on the wing, leaving Briere at centre and now rookie James Van Riemsdyk is out in favour of Leino, who has 15 points in 16 playoff games.
Leino had faith in himself, wanted more minutes, knew what he could do with them.
After Game 3, Flyers teammate Ian Laperierre sidled up to Leino.
“Hey, Ville,” he said, “I think Detroit should have traded (Pavel) Datsyuk instead of you.”
A joke, of course, but in there is some high praise.
Sometimes a little faith can go a long way.
It’s carried the Flyers back into this Stanley Cup final.