New
York Times - May 22, 1997
New
York Times - May 22, 1997
hile
the forwards Eric Lindros and John LeClair draw all the attention and
goalie Ron Hextall draws all the jeers, Rod Brind'Amour has quietly
yet effectively demolished the Philadelphia Flyers' opponents during
the National Hockey League playoffs.
Brind'Amour, who plays center on the Flyers' second line, buried the Pittsburgh Penguins in the deciding game of their series with two short-handed goals only 54 seconds apart.
He assisted on three goals when the Flyers knocked the Buffalo Sables out of the playoffs in a 6-3 victory.
And now Brind'Amour is terrorizing the Rangers in the Eastern Conference final.
He scored on a breakaway during Tuesday night's 6-3 victory over the Rangers that gave the Flyers a 2-1 edge in their series.
On Sunday in Game 2, Brind'Amour blasted a slap shot past goalie Mike Richter and assisted on defenseman Paul Coffey's first goal of the playoffs.
Brind'Amour is the third-leading scorer on the Flyers in the playoffs, with eight goals and six assists. Because he is not one of the members of the celebrated Legion of Doom, Brind'Amour has been overlooked. And that has cost the Flyers' opponents.
"Everyone talks about the first line, but our second and third lines can score," Brind'Amour said Wednesday.
Brind'Amour is a solid 6 feet 1 inch and 200 pounds. He is a fitness fanatic whose conditioning is admired by players throughout the league. He has not missed a game, in either the regular season or playoffs, since Feb. 22, 1993.
Brind'Amour's stamina enables Terry Murray, the Flyers' coach, to use Brind'Amour on regular shifts and on special teams, such as penalty kills and power plays.
"Rod made a decision a long time ago to dedicate himself to being an athlete," Murray said. "In the playoffs, he raises the level of his game. He responds to the challenge."
Brind'Amour said the Flyers are determined to win Game 4 Friday night at Madison Square Garden so that they can return home with a chance to close out the series Sunday.
"You always say the next game is the most crucial, but this one is," Brind'Amour said. "We can go up 3-1. If it's 2-2, we're right back in the dogfight we just got out of."