Someone Help Jordan! Penguins Lose Game 4, 4-2

I thought the Penguins were playing this series against the Flyers, but the team that showed up in game 4 Thursday night looked nothing like the sad Philadelphia bunch the Penguins had knocked around in games 1, 2 and 3.

Desperate to win, the Flyers made a host of line changes. They even took out the guy who would be sure to give the puck away or take a bad penalty -- Steve Downie. And, pulling out the greatest of stops, they had injured defenseman Kimmo Timonen make a little inspiring pre-game speech to their team.

Finally, something worked for them.

After taking a 3-0 lead in the first period, the Flyers managed to hold on for a 4-2 victory. Joffrey Lupul scored twice for Philadelphia, and got them going with the first goal of the game on a long slap shot that deflected off Penguins defenseman Hall Gill's stick before sailing over Fleury. The other two goals of the period for the Flyers were power play markers, scored the way the Flyers usually score man advantage goals. Get the puck to the net and bury the garbage.

The zebras were no help to the Penguins in this game either, calling a lot of scrum-penalties on them in altercations that were clearly initiated by penalty-worthy offenses by the Flyers.

But let's face it. This loss wasn't about the officiating.

The Penguins just didn't have their game in the first period. They stabilized in the 2nd frame, and rallied in the third period on two goals from Center Jordan Staal, but ran out of time to tie the game before Lupul scored his second into an empty net.

Penguins centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were quiet in this one. Malkin, in fact, has only tallied one point in the last 3 games, and is minus 3 in the same stretch. He's going to have to pick his game up.

This is especially true since it's looking more and more like the Flyers might have defenseman Timonen back for game 5. After visiting his doctor, Timonen was told that the blood clot he has in his ankle hasn't gotten bigger, and has been cleared to try and practice. He skated on his own friday and will try to workout with the team Saturday. To play, he was told he'll still have to deal with some numbness and pain, but since the bigger, long-term concerns don't seem there for Timonen anymore, he's probably going to be on the ice for Game 5 Sunday.

The Flyers should be less optimistic about Bradon Coburn. His eye has opened up a lot more, but word is that he's having some concussion type symptoms. Mainly, he's been limited to light work on the stationary bike. If I had to make a call now, I'd say that he won't be in the lineup tomorrow.

Expect the Penguins to come out strong and finish the series on Sunday. They started to get their game back in the 2nd half of game 4 and know what they have to do at home before what is sure to be a crazy crowd. The Penguins have won 15 straight games at home, and every home contest in the playoffs. They are too talented, have been playing too well, and know what it takes to finish off a team. In the Ranger series, they played arguably their best game of the playoffs in game 5, despite the fact that a 2-minute lapse allowed the Rangers to tie the game and send it to overtime.

Like I said then, all the game 4 win by the opponent did is delay the inevitable.

The same will be true with the Flyers.