3 reasons the Flyers are moving on to the second round

It looked like the Flyers were going to make easy work of the Penguins in the first round. Instead, they dropped two straight games and were in danger of giving all of the momentum back to their opponents for a pivotal Game 7.

For 60 minutes, these two teams battled hard for every puck and every chance. The nerves grew as time ticked by. The Penguins began to take more control of the game as time went by. Their season was on the line and they were doing everything they could to keep it alive.

But it didn't matter in the end. The Flyers found a way to find that extra gear and sent themselves into the second round.

Dan Vladar shut the door

Dan Vladar has easily been the MVP of the Flyers all season long. They wouldn’t be where they are if it weren’t for him. And he has continued that performance in the postseason.

He had some shaky moments in Games 4 and 5, thanks to some bad bounces and fluke goals. But he has always found a way to bounce back when it mattered. And he did that in Game 6, stopping every single shot that came his way.

The Penguins controlled the majority of the play from the third period into overtime, outshooting the Flyers 23-11 in the final 26+ minutes. But Vladar stood his ground and had to make countless huge saves to keep the Flyers in it.

He deserved the shutout, his second of the series. And his teammates made sure to head straight for him after the victory.

Sean Couturier turned back the clock

Ever since Sean Couturier's role was changed within the Flyers, he has taken it with nothing but class. It would be easy for him to show frustration with the situation. But he adapted to his new role and came out better from it. He didn't have to be the guy that the team relied upon for offense. He can still chip in every once in a while, but he provides the Flyers with so much more.

Early in the series, his line with Garnet Hathaway and Luke Glendening set the tone for the Flyers. They brought the physicality and even a bit of offense. Couturier finished the series with 21 hits, tied for second on the team with Travis Konecny. The trio seemed to be trailing off as the games went on, but Couturier may have saved his best for last.

Aside from Vladar, Couturier was one of the best players on the ice for the Flyers. They needed that from their captain to help lead the way. The Penguins had been there and done that many times before. Couturier was a force on the forecheck all night, creating chaos for the Penguins. He was one of the few who had been in a situation like this before. To have that kind of performance in one of the most important games of the series showed the kind of leader he is.

Cam York showed up

As time wore on, someone was going to be the hero for either one of these teams. Everything felt like it was in the Penguins hands. The Flyers appeared to be trying not to lose instead of trying to clinch the series. Their opponent was all over them in the zone and it just seemed like any moment now, the light would go off behind Vladar. Instead it never did.

With all of that pressure from the Penguins, why not have the winning goal come from the player who hasn't scored a goal in over three months? Cam York put himself into the history books with his rocket from the point that Arturs Silovs never saw.

If you can't tell what this means to these players, then you might want to get your eyes checked. York's stick may have ended up in the upper deck as he launched it into the crowd on his way down the ice. Travis Konecny was banging on the glass in front of the fans in jubilation.

The Flyers were never supposed to be here. And now they are headed to the second round for a matchup with the Carolina Hurricanes.

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