Flyers Enter Game 5 in Familiar Position

PHILADELPHIA -- Two must-win games down. Three to go.

The Philadelphia Flyers needed a shootout in their final regular season game to gain entry into the playoffs. Friday, Philadelphia required overtime to prevent a sweep at the hands of the Boston Bruins.

The Flyers continue their crusade to become the third team in NHL history to overcome a 3-0 deficit at TD Garden Monday night.

"[Trailing] 3-1 is better than 3-0, I think," smiled Flyers goalie Brian Boucher. "Our focus is on Game 5. Our goal is to get back here for Game 6. If we do that, I think we have the momentum on our side. Who knows at that point?"

Bruins vs. Flyers: Series Page | Full NHL Playoffs Coverage

It's already been an improbable run for the Flyers, a journey that's come with a goalie who started the season as a backup and has continued despite a rash of injuries.

The Flyers lost three forwards -- Simon Gagne, Jeff Carter and Ian Laperriere -- as they dispatched the New Jersey Devils in five games, although Gagne made it back for Game 4. With a pad placed over his surgically repaired toe on his right foot, Gagne managed to direct in the game-winner late in the first overtime to give the Flyers the 5-4 victory.

"Let's face it," Gagne said. "It was one goal. Yeah, it's a big goal, but hopefully we are going to keep going and we'll have a chance to score a bigger goal that than that. It's just one step."

The teams got an extra day off between games, something that the Bruins -- who have had their bumps and bruises of their own to deal with -- also welcomed.

"We have home-ice in the series and kept it," said Bruins forward Mark Recchi, who sent Game 4 into OT with a game-tying goal with 32 seconds left in regulation. "We are going to take a couple days off [to] regroup and recharge to get ready for a big one Monday."

Boston defenseman Mark Stuart played his first game in more than a month after surgery and extensive treatment through intravenous antibiotics to combat a cellulitis infection in one of his fingers. He skated 9 minutes, 46 seconds and was a minus-2 in Game 4.

Dennis Seidenberg is also making progress as he recovers from a lacerated tendon in his forearm, an injury he suffered on April 3. The Bruins defenseman, who had the cast removed last week, skated at the team's practice facility this weekend and he will meet with the team doctor on Monday.

"It's a possibility I could shave off a couple days," Seidenberg told reporters on Saturday. "After watching for four weeks, I just can't stand watching it. I hate it. I definitely want to play."

Boston is also without forwards Marco Sturm (knee) and David Krejci (wrist) for the rest of the postseason.

"The guys who played and filled up those spots," Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara said. " I thought they did a pretty good job."