How The East Was Won

Note: This was originally going to be released after the Flyers' game seven victory, but the mainstream media's inside sources for my content leaked it, so I'm just putting things out there for everyone to see.

Film treatment "How The East Was Won"

World-renowned baker John Stevens always had hockey aspirations in his home town of Campbellton. At the age of 30, he threw down his goofy white hat and laced up the ice skates one last time in a tryout for the Philadelphia Flyers. He was signed to a contract and named team captain of the AHL's Philadelphia Phantoms. In 1999, not too long after leading the Phantoms to a Calder Cup, an eye injury caused Stevens to retire and become an assistant coach. Little did he know he would be leading a team to one of the greatest comebacks in sports history.

After finishing the disastrous season in 2006-2007 that Ken Hitchcock started, John Stevens faced many problems. He had to help turn around a team that just had one of the worst seasons in hockey history. Paul Holmgren acquired several talented players to rebuild the franchise, but that did not guarantee success. Using team building activities such as locker room shuffling, Stevens got the roster to gel and play well on the ice. In the first round of the playoffs, the Flyers defeated the red hot Washington Capitals in seven games. They built up a 3-1 lead, but nothing came easy; it took a Joffrey Lupul OT goal to clinch. Against Montreal, the Flyers pulled a stunning upset, but their greatest test still stood before them: the Pittsburgh Penguins.

After going down 3 games to none, Stevens was almost out of answers. He lost his two best defensemen, and the Flyers were getting completely outplayed. With nothing to lose, he did the unthinkable and switched some lines. His team took advantage of a lazy Pittsburgh squad in game four, and took the series back to the Steel City. Facing a tough crowd and that's been unstoppable at home, Stevens watched his team come together to keep the season alive. Brayon Coburn somehow returned back to the lineup and scored a key game six goal to force a deciding game seven in Pittsburgh.

He couldn't believe what he saw. His team committed fewer turnovers, cleared the puck, and took advantage of power play opportunities. Their physical game was frustrating the Penguins, who believed they already had the series clinched. Prior to game seven, Stevens used a new tactic, maybe his greatest yet; he delivered a killer pregame speech. No man with a soul could not be inspired by this rare show of emotion, and the Flyers played like it. They were determined to skate away victorious, and they advanced to take on the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Finals.

To be continued.

Flyers Lineup

John Stevens has been criticized for his lineups a little bit throughout the season, particularly his treatment of Lasse Kukkonen. I'm also a Kukkonen fan, and I wouldn't mind it if he was active more. He's a tough player that blocks a lot of shots, and he can bring more to the table than guys like Vandermeer and Modry. However, a lot of fans became absolutely irate Wednesday night with some of his choices. In the lineup was Dennis Tolpeko. Out were Steve Downie and Riley Cote.

I don't get it. Against a team like the Leafs, you play physical. They don't want to hit you, so you hit them. In front of your home fans, after humiliating yourselves the night before, you hit them hard and make them quit. Toronto is back in the playoff hunt and feeling good about themselves right now. You dictate the game to them, not the other way around. Set the tone early and make them look over their shoulders. I can kind of see why Cote wasn't in because without anyone to fight, he doesn't bring much to the table, but what's the point in scratching Downie? Even when he plays, he'll get less than five minutes of ice time. If he's not going to play, let the Phantoms have him to get ready for a Calder run. He'll learn a lot more by playing than sitting in the press box.

With Richards set to come back, what do you do with the lineup? I get back to using 12 forwards and 6 defensemen. I think Hatcher's ready to go full time again. I send Thoresen to the AHL if possible or just scratch him if not. I don't think he brings much at all.

Prospal-Briere-Umberger
Hartnell-Richards-Lupul
Upshall-Carter-Knuble
Kapanen-Dowd-Cote

Timonen-Coburn
Hatcher-Parent
Smith-Kukkonen

That third pair might have trouble moving the puck a bit, but what can you do? I like Kukkonen over Modry, even though we'll never see him again. Stevens is absolutely determined to keep him out of the lineup.