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From: jmd@rduxb.UUCP (Joseph M. Dakes, AT&T Bell Labs, Reading, Pa.)
Newsgroups: net.sport.hockey
Subject: FLYERS 4, OILERS 1
Message-ID: <457@rduxb.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 22-May-85 10:34:24 EDT
Article-I.D.: rduxb.457
Posted: Wed May 22 10:34:24 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 23-May-85 03:53:16 EDT
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Reading, PA
Lines: 37

Game 1 of the 1985 Stanley Cup Finals is history and the old adage good
pitching will stop good hitting held true once again.  The Flyers defense
was awesome, hounding and checking the Oilers all over the ice and giving
Edmonton's high powered offense very little chances to open it up.  If
anything, the Flyers offense was more wide open then anyone expected,
playing right into the Oilers hands (skate and shoot) but the Flyers "D"
wouldn't allow the Oilers to capitalize.  Edmonton was limited to weak
shots through out the game (Gretzky didn't have any) with the exception
of the beginning of the 3rd period when Pelle Lindbergh was most severly
tested.  But speaking of being tested, Grant Fuhr was superb in goal.  If
it wasn't for him the Flyers would have blown the Oilers out.  I don't 
get to see the Oilers play much but when I did it was always a wide open
high scoring game and I was never impressed by Fuhr.  He's quicker and 
alot better than I thought.  All 3 goals he gave up were tough to stop
(Flyers with a 2 man advantage, bad pass by a defenseman and Fuhr's own
bad shuffle pass).  However, the Oilers do seem a little sloppy on defense
and the Flyers will be testing Fuhr all series long.  The Flyers defense
on the other hand ... what can I say?  Read the Game 1 summary.  Offensively
the Flyers had plenty of opportunities but were turned away and once again
as through out the playoffs their powerplay was non-existent.  They've got
to get their powerplay clicking and take advantage of Edmonton's mistakes
on defense or it could come back to haunt them.  All in all it was a great
game to watch (especially for us Flyers' fans) and the remainder of the series
should be just as exciting.  My prediction - Flyers in 5.

						Joseph M. Dakes
						AT&T Bell Laboratories
						Reading, PA
						rduxb!jmd

P.S.	For you die-hard (bragging about such a high-powered offense) Edmonton
	fans who compare the Oilers to the high-powered Esposito-Orr Boston
	team of the early 70's (or claim the Oilers to be better) let me remind
	you that that Bruin team went down to defeat in the Stanley Cup Finals
	at the hands of a strong defensive team led by Dave Shultz, Barry 
	Ashbee, Bobby Clarke and Bernie Parent.  Who was that team?
	The Philadelphia Flyers!