Philadelphia Flyers: A look back at the 2010 Cup run
It’s been 10 years since the Philadelphia Flyers run to the Stanley Cup Finals back in 2010.
In celebration of the 10-year anniversary of the 2010 Cup run, the Philadelphia Flyers brought members of that team together for a live video conference. The team hosted it for season ticket holders on Wednesday.
It was hosted by radio personalities Tim Saunders and Steve Coates. The group featured current Flyers Claude Giroux, James van Riemsdyk and assistant coach Ian Laperriere. It also included Brian Boucher, Daniel Briere, Simon Gagne, Scott Hartnell and Kimmo Timonen.
The conversation included the dramatic shootout that led them into the playoffs. Apparently then head coach Peter Laviolette discussed the possibility of a shootout the day before the game.
And of course, the group had to talk about Boucher’s epic fist pump after they won the game. It may have been a little predetermined according to Boucher.
“I had been pulled for an extra attacker in Game 81, and we lost. Lundqvist did his fist pump thing at the end. I was pissed. I thought if I get a chance to beat this guy in Game 82, I’m gonna do the Lundqvist fist pump. Obviously, I didn’t know it was going to come down to a shootout. But, yeah, it was predetermined. I wanted to give it right back to Lundqvist, because he’s the best shootout goalie in the world.”
The comeback against the Bruins was a must talk topic among the group. The players thought they were the better team that series and it began to show after coming back in the third game of the series.
Losing David Krejci was huge for Boston and that’s when the Flyers really took advantage.
The series against Montreal felt perfect at the time. It had been a tough road for the Canadiens to get to the Eastern Conference Final. Micheal Leighton was huge for the Flyers in that series. His three shutouts during the series were proof of how much confidence he was playing with.
And then came the Stanley Cup Final against the Blackhawks. Laperriere had returned to the lineup after he blocked a shot with his face back in April. He had missed a month of playoff hockey, but was more than happy to be back no matter how much his ice time was cut.
Things could have been different if the Flyers won the first two games of the series. They were close to in both of them. But we’ll never know what would have happened. Instead, the Hawks took the series in six games on a goal that no one will ever forget.
It was tough for Timonen when he ended up being traded to Chicago. While we won the cup with the team that season, he was always reminded of what happened back in 2010.
“When I got traded to Chicago, I walked into the room and I had to look at that [bleeping] picture with Kane and I’m in it. Welcome to the Chicago Blackhawks. I did win the Cup with them, and I’ll take it, but I was in the Lappy role. Playing 3 minutes a night.”
It was one of the most dramatic and exciting seasons the Flyers have had in recent history. It was also the last time they made it to the Finals. They looked like they could make another run this season, but the season’s pause ended that.
Giroux and JVR are the only two players remaining from that team. Out of that group, they are actually the only two who are still playing in general. They would certainly like to take the Flyers back to the Finals sometime soon.