The Flyers have packed it in. Following a 4-1 loss to the Penguins in game 3, there are no positives to take from the third straight loss for the orange and black. At times in the past with these two teams, the Flyers difficulties were not for a lack of effort, but the NHL’s new marketing plan to have Sidney Crosby win his first cup. That wasn’t the case tonight as the Flyers clearly didn’t want it. There was one clear advantage the Flyers had going into this series, and that was heart, but after three demoralizing losses, it’s clear the Flyers left their hearts in Montréal.

Until tonight, the Flyers suffered only one loss at home. When the series venue switched to Philadelphia there was a sense in this city that the momentum would change. Anyone who has seen a Flyers game in Philadelphia knows the effect the fans have on the game. The Philly fans were even voted most intimidating by a SI poll of NHL players. But the Wachovia Center ice treated the Flyers no differently. It looked as though the officiating would have an impact early as Kevin Pollock and co. spotted 4 infractions in the first 10 minutes of play. Included in the flurry of “penalties” was another atrocious hooking call on Derian Hatcher which even the ridiculously poor Versus commentating crew of Joe Beninati and Derren Eliot, agreed was “soft”. Once again the penalty led to a Penguins goal. For a change the Penguins got a lucky bounce. The Ryan Whitney offering went off the rear end of Jason Smith past a sliding Marty Biron, who was the only Flyer that improved from game 2.

The Flyers couldn’t get anything going. After Marian Hossa danced his way into the Flyers zone, he toyed with Lasse Kukkonen and shot the puck through his legs and past Biron for the second goal of the game not three minutes after Whitney’s first tally. The Flyers couldn’t forecheck, couldn’t stop giving the puck up, and couldn’t stop making blind passes that made for easy pickin’s for the Pens. The orange and black did manage one goal as R.J. Umberger netted his tenth of the playoffs when he barely touched the puck that was thrown in front of the net by Vinny Prospal who was otherwise invisible. Other than that the Flyers looked terrible. They looked like the worst team in franchise history, like they were last year. Their power play (when it got a chance) was anemic, never getting any kind of scheme set up and constantly unable to keep the puck in the zone.

The most frustrating thing about the Flyers inability to get anything going offensively was that Marc-Andre Fleury was apparently bored enough to ask for some action. The Penguins goaltender was once again terrible at handling the puck, turning it over three times in the contest. The Flyers came close on a couple of those chances but could never capitalize. Once Mike Knuble missed a wide open net, something he’s done on multiple occasions in the past two series. Another time Joffery Lupul looked flustered and couldn’t get a shot past the tight Pittsburgh defense.Every time the Flyers were out there they looked tired, frustrated, and defeated.

The Flyers now face elimination and a potential sweep. The future looks bleak for the Flyers, as only two teams have overcome 0-3 deficits in playoff series. One of those teams was the 1975 New York Islanders who came back to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins. That last glimmer of hope seems to be all the Flyers have left, unless they can somehow figure out how to A. forecheck B. plant a guy in front of Fleury C. stop turning the puck over and D. improve their power play all by Thursday night. It’s not impossible, but certainly not likely.

Dave’s 3 Stars of the Game

1. Marian Hossa - 2 goals
2. Sidney Crosby - 2 assists
3. Sergei Gonchar - 1 assist, 24:41 ice time

Photos courtesy: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images