Flyers continue to defy the odds

PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Flyers' checklist to the franchise's first Stanley Cup in 35 years now has just two items remaining.

And for all the Blackhawks' brilliance this season in attempting to end their own 49-year Cup drought, make no mistake they have their work cut out to keep it away from this team that shrugs off adversity the same way it has shrugged off the Hawks the past two games.

After a 4-3 victory in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Friday, all that stands between Philadelphia and completing a remarkable journey - that includes qualifying for the postseason on the last day of the regular season - are 2 more wins.

But first, a sigh of relief.

"We kind of relaxed a bit when we got a 4-1 lead," admitted Danny Briere, whose third-period assist on Ville Leino's fluky goal off Kris Versteeg's back boosted his postseason team scoring lead to 25 points. "We escaped, but at the same time there's a bit of relief.

"This is a good reminder that we can't let up. Those guys have a lot of firepower."

But until the Hawks made it close at the end, this game completely belonged to the orange and black. They cashed in early on goals by:

• Mike Richards, who stripped Niklas Hajalmarsson of the puck behind the net, then whirled in front with a backhander that fooled Niemi

• Matt Carle, who scored off another Hjalmarsson giveaway in the slot.

• And Game 3 overtime hero Claude Giroux, who was left unattended at the side of the net for a slam dunk.

All of that, plus Leino's third-period score, seemed to make it a romp, before the Hawks made their belated charge.

"We tried to stay calm," said left wing Simon Gagne. "Those last four minutes seemed pretty long, but we tried not to give them too many chances.

"We feel good after winning two games in our building. But this is a series between two good teams who play well at home.

"We have to win a game in Chicago."

The next chance is Sunday, where Hawks fans will undoubtedly inspire their team the same way Flyers fans did here.

"We have to come up with a strong effort," said Briere. "They're going to be pumped up in their building, especially those first 10 minutes.

"Now it's up to us to adapt."

Postal alert: The message the Flyers have sent throughout the playoffs is clear: If you don't beat them early you just don't beat them.

The Flyers are now a perfect 4-for-4 in Game 4s in the playoffs. In fact, Blackhawks' fans should know Philadelphia is a perfect 9-0 after Game 3. They won Games 3, 4 and 5 against the Devils, Games 4, 5, 6, and 7 vs. the Bruins and Games 4 and 5 against Montreal.

If the Hawks can't stem that tide, the Flyers will be hoisting the Cup back here Wednesday.

Rookie razz: With his third period goal, Ville Leino, a mid-season acquisition from the Red Wings, has set a Flyers rookie playoff scoring record with 16 points.

"Guys are giving me a hard time for that," said Leino, who came over from Finland in 2008, but played only sparingly for Detroit. "I'm 26 now. I don't really feel like a rookie, but I guess rules are rules."

Brian Propp held the previous record, scoring 15 points in 1987.