PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The Flyers started three goaltenders, lost their leading scorer, suffered through a putrid power play, dropped a pair of home games, and were called whiners.
Try winners.
Somehow, the disjointed recipe didn't totally sidetrack the Flyers on their way to the Eastern Conference semifinals. Second-seeded Philadelphia knocked off Buffalo in seven games and won its fourth series in the last five tries.
They will play either Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay or Boston this weekend in Game 1 at the Wells Fargo Center.
For now, though, rest.
Coach Peter Laviolette gave his team off on Wednesday. It's a well-deserved break for a team that trailed 3-2 in the best-of-seven series and seemed headed for an early exit.
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