Flyers make historic comeback to blow away Hurricanes in a shootout

Hurricanes 5 - 6 Flyers (SO)

The Flyers produced their biggest comeback in 2o years and gained their first shootout success of the year, as they beat the Hurricanes 6-5 in a stunning game at the Wachovia Center.

A hat trick from Scott Hartnell and four unanswered goals in the third period, saw Philly tie the score with 1:44 left in regulation, having trailed 5-1 with just 19 minutes to go in the game.

After a scoreless overtime session, Simon Gagne and Mike Richards continued the team's momentum and produced in the shootout to give the Flyers their first shootout win in three attempts this season.

Carolina jumped out in front early, as center Eric Staal put the visitors ahead with barely a minute gone in the first period, before the Hurricanes doubled their advantage with Matt Cullen's goal two minutes into second.

Scott Hartnell reduced the deficit later in the period, after he tipped Jeff Carter's shot past replacement goaltender Michael Leighton, with the Flyers on the power play.

But barely ten seconds later, Carolina had restored their two goal lead, with Staal this time turning provider, as he set up Sergei Samsonov who fired past Philly's backup tender, Antero Niittymaki.

From here on in, it looked like it was going to be a rout, as power play goals from ex-Flyer Joni Pitkanen and a second from Staal, put the Flyers four goals behind with five minutes still remaining in the second.

Tempers flared as the hosts became frustrated, with Arron Asham picking up 15 minutes in the bin for instigating a fight, and it looked for all the world like Philly were dead and buried.

But it must have been one hell of a team talk from Coach John Stevens in the second interval, as the Flyers came out all guns blazing in the final period, playing as if their lives depended on it.

Less than two minutes in, Hartnell had his second of the night, with yet another shorthanded Flyers goal.

The winger was assisted for the second time by Carter (9th assist of the season) and Andrew Alberts, who got a second later in the period.

With plenty of time left in the game, Philly piled the pressure on the Hurricanes and within six minutes, Hartnell had completed the fourth hat trick of his NHL career, and the Flyers' first since Mike Knuble bagged a treble back in February.

At 5-3, the Flyers continued to push forward, but for a while the dream comeback looked like it would come up short, as shot after shot was kept out of Carolina's net by Leighton.

But with five minutes remaining Philly's pressure paid off, as Lasse Kukkonen's blocked shot rebounded to Scottie Upshall, and the winger made no mistake to pull the Flyers back within one.

Carried by a tidal wave of momentum, Gagne completed the most improbable of fight backs, as he collected a behind the net pass from Knuble and fired past a helpless Leighton, to bring the Flyers level for the first time since the opening minute.

Richards also nabbed an assist on the play, his ninth point in the last six games, taking his total to 20 assist and 31 points on the year.

Philly had out shot the Hurricanes 15-6 in the final period, however overtime was much more even.

Niittymaki, who was standing in for the rested Martin Biron, made up for the five he conceded in the first 35 minutes, by producing some big saves in the extra period to take the game to a shoot out.

The Fin also proved his worth in the shootout, saving both of Carolina's attempts, whilst Richards and Gagne made no mistake, giving the Flyers their third straight win and their fourth in five games.

This is the first time in the team's history that Philly have ever successfully overturned a four goal deficit at home, and the last time they did it was in an 11-6 win in Detroit way back in 1988, when again they had trailed 5-1.

More important for the Flyers though is the here and now, with the win securing a 3-1 series victory over their Eastern Conference rivals.

All four games have been played within the last month and the sides will now not meet again this season, unless it is in the playoffs.

Philly (15-7-6) also remain tied with Pittsburgh for second place in the Atlantic division and fifth seed in the conference, whilst Carolina retain the second spot in the South East despite being ninth in the conference.

The Flyers have the chance to go second outright in the division when they welcome their state rivals the Penguins on Saturday afternoon.

One thing's for sure: it is going to be tight, with both meetings between the teams so far this season having gone to overtime.

Add to that the fact that 14 of the Flyers 15 home games to this point have been decided by just one goal, and it looks like we will be in for yet another tense one.

It also promises to be feisty as there is definately no love lost between the two franchises.

Flyers hockey may give you the odd nervous breakdown, but it is never dull!