Flyers looking for a break, but it really doesn't matter

As the elder statesman of the group, one who always stands up after a game and represents the group, John Madden understands the importance of perspective this time of year.

So win or lose, he's right there for you - except lately it's been nothing but win.

That can change in a hurry, of course, but when the puck is bouncing your way, as it has for the Blackhawks the last month, you know you're getting some help.

"Is luck on our side? Sure. But if you ask me, I think you need a little luck to win any hockey game any time of year," Madden said. "It just so happens it's the postseason."

Madden's not suggesting the Hawks are winning because they're lucky. Not at all.

The Hawks obviously are very good, and they make their own breaks most of the time. They are put in a position to succeed by a highly skilled coach who's in perfect sync with his players, and they take full advantage of an opponent's weakness.

However, in order to win 16 games in the postseason you need the occasional bounce, and if you weren't a Chicago sports fan - having lived through misery beyond description or imagination - you might actually feel sorry for the Flyers.

They don't yet see the bigger picture here. They don't know this is beyond their control, because when the hockey gods determine it's your year, as they have for the Hawks, there's no reversal of fortune.

No, the Flyers won't know what's hit them until it's over, and then they'll understand they never really had a chance.

In the meantime, they'll try to convince themselves they're still in this series down 2-0.

"The place we didn't win was on the scoreboard," Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said Tuesday, speaking of the first two games. "That's the most important thing. So I think frustrated, yeah, irritated, definitely, and anxious for (Wednesday). Can't wait."

It's the right thing to say, but the Flyers find themselves needing to win four of the next five against a team that has won 10 of its last 11, and 13 of the last 15.

And, oh yeah, those are all playoff games.

"Both games, I thought a bounce here or there going our way and this series could be tied," said Danny Briere. "Just like the Boston series, we've got to move forward. We have to find a way to create our own bounces now."

Bounces? Yes. Boston? No. Sure, they were down 3-0 to the Bruins, but the Hawks aren't the Bruins.

"It's just a bounce here or there," said Mike Richards. "Unfortunately, they're getting them right now. But we have to work harder to create some for ourselves."

OK, now you're catching on.

"We're still confident," said Mike Leighton. "We dominated the third period (in Game 2), and we just couldn't get a bounce and get a goal."

Yes, that's it.

"It's always a little bit about the luck," Antti Niemi said. "How you see the puck and how it bounces."

Luck and bounces, right Marian Hossa?

"Just try to work hard and when (you get) the bounce, the garbage goal I scored went in the net," Hossa said of giving the Hawks a 1-0 lead in Game 2. "Our line created a lot of chances, but we weren't able to capitalize. And finally (Monday) we got lucky bounces."

Lucky bounces. Let's see, very good team works very hard, plays smart and gets luck and bounces.

See where we're headed here?

Sounds like a formula for a commanding 2-0 advantage in the Stanley Cup Finals and a chance to make this a very short series.

"We were in both of those games in their building and now it's up to us at home," Chris Pronger said Tuesday. "And maybe the bounces are going to go our way this time."

Yes, luck has a way of turning, but it has been in the Hawks' favor since Game 5 of the Nashville series, and there's no evidence to suggest it will turn against them.

"We have to find another gear," Kimmo Timonen said. "The third period (Monday night) was all about us. If we can keep playing that way for 60 minutes, we can win games."

Sure you can. Maybe you'll even win a game in this series. Or two.

But this outcome feels predetermined. It's bigger than any one team, or any one player. It's bigger even than Chris Pronger.

Bad ice, good ice. Bad bounces, good ones.

Whatever. The Hawks have more talent, they're playing better, their goalie is confident, and they have a horseshoe tucked away while not inhibiting their skating in the least.

So the Flyers can come out hard in Game 3 and maybe even take a game in Philadelphia, but barring a catastrophic Hawks injury or a Niemi collapse, the Flyers aren't going to win four of the next five.

Among many other things in this series, the math is not on their side.

brozner@dailyherald.com