Flyers

PHILADELPHIA — Flyers coach Peter Laviolette likes to remind anyone who asks about his team's ability to handle pressure. "At Christmas time, we were 29th in the league," he said. "We're just a resilient group. We keep pushing. Pressure is more for teams who are expected to win, like the Blackhawks." The seventh-seeded Flyers might just become one of the NHL's classic underdog stories after rallying to even the Stanley Cup finals against the Blackhawks at two games apiece with a 5-3 victory in Game 4 on Friday night at the Wachovia Center.

PHILADELPHIA — The line currently torching the Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup finals was, not too long ago, cinders. From Jan. 23 to March 3, Ville Leino didn't play a game. Scott Hartnell's hair follicles offered more production than his blade. And in terms of full-season output, Danny Briere was at levels not seen since his rookie season. So Flyers coach Peter Laviolette concocted this grouping late in the season because, well, he had to. "When he put us together, there were so many injuries that that's what was left, I guess," Briere said Thursday.

Hawks' Buff too tough Helene Elliott Los Angeles Times Remember this name: Dustin Byfuglien (pronounced BUFF-lin). If the Blackhawks' beefy power forward can be as effective as he was throughout their Western Conference final sweep of the Sharks, the Stanley Cup will reside in Chicago for the first time since 1961. Remember this name: Chris Pronger. Though the Flyers defenseman isn't as mean as he used to be, he's still menacing and might be the only man strong enough to budge Byfuglien away from the net. That could stop Chicago's top line of Byfuglien, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews or create chances for Kane and the magnificent Toews.

The Flyers overcame another 3-0 deficit, and now the Bruins are out of chances. Simon Gagne scored on a power play with 7:08 left Friday night in Boston to cap a comeback from a three-goal deficit and give the Flyers a 4-3 victory and a berth in the Eastern Conference finals that seemed a distant dream after they lost the first three games of the series. For the Bruins, the season will be remembered for their collapse. They're only the third team in NHL history to lose a series after winning the first three games.

The Washington Capitals will broadcast nine games in the Baltimore area on Fox 1370 Sports Radio (WVIE). Coverage begins today with a 3 p.m. game against the Philadelphia Flyers and continues Tuesday with a 7 p.m. game against the Detroit Red Wings. Pro lacrosse: David Gross , commissioner of Major League Lacrosse, announced that Smartlink CEO Brendan Kelly and Hometown Lacrosse LLC will take over management of the Washington Bayhawks and lead a group of investors in acquiring the team.

The Flyers and Bruins took their first look at Fenway Park - hockey-style - less than one month before the clubs meet in the NHL's Winter Classic. The atmosphere was light as players and personnel from both teams were given a guided tour Sunday of the uncompleted rink, the locker room and other facilities. Fenway Park, the 97-year-old home of baseball's Boston Red Sox, is in the early stages of being converted to a hockey rink for the New Year's Day game between the Bruins and Flyers.

Flyers goalie Ray Emery will undergo surgery Wednesday to repair a torn muscle in his lower abdomen, and is expected to miss about six weeks. Philadelphia general manager Paul Holmgren made the announcement Tuesday night before the Flyers played the Islanders. The Flyers, who have lost five straight and eight of nine, recalled goalie Johan Backlund from Adirondack, but will rely heavily on Brian Boucher . Emery hadn't been playing well, and was pulled from Saturday's game against the Capitals after allowing five goals.

Recently fired Flyers coach John Stevens had only positive things to say about his former team Monday when he spoke publicly for the first time since he was fired last week. Stevens was let go by general manager Paul Holmgren and replaced by Peter Laviolette . The Flyers had lost six of their last seven games - the last two by shutout - when Holmgren decided a change was needed. Holmgren indicated he will offer Stevens another position in the organization. "Your emotions are disappointment; it's more about letting people down," Stevens said.

After Philadelphia Flyers forward Daniel Carcillo sucker-punched Matt Bradley late in the first period, the Washington Capitals' power play struck back with even more force, scoring three times on the ensuing nine-minute advantage to spark a surprisingly easy 8-2 victory at Wachovia Center. The victory stretched the Capitals' winning streak to five games and ruined Peter Laviolette's debut behind the Flyers' bench. Six Capitals scored, including two goals apiece from Tomas Fleischmann and Mike Green, and 11 players notched at least a point, led by Nicklas Backstrom's five (goal, four assists)