As if to prove there is more, much more, to the spectacle of playoff hockey than the allure of a spinning, red goal lamp, the Flyers and Sabres uncorked a classic Wednesday.

There were fights. There were controversial calls. There was spectacular individual athleticism --- from Ryan Miller and Tyler Myers, from Kris Versteeg and Brian Boucher, from everywhere. There was end-to-end passion.

Now, there is a best-of-three hockey series, what with both teams having now won twice.

"A physical series," Chris Pronger walked around the room yelling. "I love it!"

Pronger, with a broken hand, has yet to play in the series. But he was active in the morning skate and appears close. Should he play in Game 5 Friday, the Flyers will benefit from his presence, his physical play and his experience.

The Flyers have played well enough to have swept this series by now. Their problem (stop if you've heard this before): The other team has the better goaltending. And that is not a swipe at Boucher, who was excellent Friday. But as James Van Riemsdyk said, "Ryan Miller is considered one of the best goaltenders in the world for a reason."

One of the best goaltenders played one of the best games Wednesday.

Anyone who didn't like it doesn't like hockey.


Check out the Thursday Daily Times and delcotimes.com for my column on Danny Briere, who with 89 points in 90 career playoff games, is right around a special place in hockey history.