Flyers and stomach knots

Playoff hockey is the most intense of all sports.

Every trip down the ice for the Flyers creates a sense of hope.

Every trip down the ice for the other team puts my stomach in knots.

Thus was the case tonight when the Sabres were all over the Flyers during the third period, trying to cut a two goal lead.

In the end, the Flyers held on for a huge 5-4 win.

Every time Buffalo had the puck I feared the worse - a tie game.

I could hardly eat my dinner. In fact, I stopped for about the last eight minutes of the game.

The only sense of relief from the tension was my son pretending his french fry was a hockey stick.

A quick laugh and then right back to my stomach being in knots.

But that is what is great about playoff hockey.

It's back and forth, with the possibility of a game changing in an instant.

As stressful as it is, I sure would like to experience this feeling into June.

The Flyers moved one game closer to that desire tonight.