Flyers Will “Make History” Tonight in Game 7

What if a 0-3 series hole were insurmountable?

Sure, that new like of NHL commercials declaring that “History Will Be Made” makes me yearn for the days when I was told to get “Cup Crazy.”

They’re also the most easily spoofed viral videos since Beyonce’s Single Ladies:

But make no mistake about it. Tonight, at TD Garden, the night after LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers quit on their season, the Philadelphia Flyers will dumbfound another set of sports fans.

The mere fact that the Flyers have been able to claw back into a Game 7 after falling behind 3-0 to the Boston Bruins in this Eastern Conference Semifinal series is one thing. It’s the first it has happened in the National Hockey League since 1975, when the Islanders did it to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

You can look at the stats – including Philadelphia, only six times has a team in that hole fought back from the deepest of deficits to even force a deciding game. Only those ‘75 Islanders and 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs have been able to finish the feat in hockey.

It’s going to happen again tonight.

I personally didn’t even think Boston had a chance of knocking off Buffalo in the first round, let alone being one win away from their first conference final appearance since 1992. They can’t score. They’ve got an untested rookie goalie who had more U’s in his first name than playoff victories entering this postseason.

They did, though, in stunning and swift fashion. Then they put Philadelphia down 3-0, who were fresh off their own first round upset. Marc Savard was back. The team was healthy and hitting.

And, like that, it all hit a wall.

I don’t think anyone can put exactly a finger on why we find ourselves with an improbable Game 7 tonight in Beantown. Obviously, the whole “scoring a single goal in their past two elimination games” thing factors in — and even that goal came with just one minute to play in Game 6.

And it’s not as if Philadelphia has played remarkably well. Game 5 was a whitewash in which the a lazy and careless Bruins team gave the puck away as if it were an extra wedding present toaster. Philly then came out in Game 6 and did just enough to squeak out a victory to tie the series.

The fact of the matter is, though, they did. The Bruins have improbably lost three consecutive elimination chances. Tonight, they’ll lose a fourth and their season will be over.

Somehow.

There’s no way the Bruins can possibly win tonight, is there? With apologies to NSF Adam (not a contributor, but a frequent guest of the fine program), if the Flyers even come out and score the first goal, this will descend into chaos.

Trust me on this. I’m a Yankees fan. I know full well what it feels like to see your team blow a 3-0 series lead. Once it gets away in Game 7, there’s no turning back. Weezer’s “The Sweater Song” describes how pulling one thread can unravel an entire garment. The Flyers almost have the Bruins naked. They will by the end of the night.

Isn’t it hard to believe that this happened 13 days ago in the very same playoff series?

The NHL better get it’s marketing department chugging tonight because, in reality, history will be made.