When the puck dropped in Pittsburgh for Game 4 of the Flyers-Penguins second round playoff series, noone ever would have guessed that the two teams would wind up playing the equivilent of more than two and a half games before it was over. The 3rd longest game in NHL history began at a normal time; 7:35pm. But, it was the finish time that was so incredible.

Alexei Kovalev of the Penguins scored first at 2:22 of the 1st preriod to put the Pens on top for what would seem like an eternity considering the fact that the Flyers were already down in the series 2 games to 1. The scoring came to a dead halt until the third period when John LeClair renewed Flyers hopes by tying the game at 1 at the 4:47 mark of the third. But that would be the last goal anyone woould see from these two teams for the next 5 + hours.

Tension is always high in playoff overtimes, because so much is at stake. This game for the Flyers had all that importance and more because they would have to face the prospect of winning three straight from then on to avoid elimination if they lost Game 4. The first OT came and went with no more than a couple coincidental roughing calls, and a few great chances. The second OT was a very even period, with no one really dictating the pace, but there were terrific chances and great saves from both Ron Tugnutt of the Pens and Brian Boucher of the Flyers.

Right away in the 3rd OT, the Flyers found themselves shorthanded after a high sticking call on Daymond Langkow. Flyers fans and players alike were holding their breath even longer as that power play, and another for the Pens were successfully killed by the Flyers. By this time, many of the Penguins fans at the Mellon Arena had decided to call it a night, and felt that two full hockey games were enough for one night. However, the diehards kept at it, both at home and at the arena.

The fourth OT also went by without a score or a penalty, and new problems were beginning to form because of the length of the game. Trainers and equipment handlers spent much of the intermissions drying the insides of gloves and skates with hair dryers, just to provide some confort. Both teams supplies of Gatorade had completely run out long before, and were now depending on equipment people to fill water bottles constantly almost in shifts during the periods. Also, Flyers off-ice personnel were frantically calling all over the city of Pittsburgh to find any open pizza shop or restaurant that was open at the wee hours of the night in the middle of the week.

In any case, the game went on, as it always would. Everybody had long before began wondering just how long the game would go on, and whether or not a halt should be called so the game could be finished the next day. Just when all things were seriously beginning to come into consideration, Keith Primeau put an end to the discussion with a rippling wrister from Tugnutt's right. The puck sailed in and everyone, including myself, couldnt believe it was actually over. The Game That Wouldnt End has finally come to an end. At 12:01 of the fifth OT, and 2:35am of May 5th, 2000, Keith Primeau put the game in the books with a quick deke on Darius Kasparitis and a wrister that beat Tugnutt.

Personally, I'll never forget this game, because i was nuts enough to actually stay up the whole game, and enjoy the rewards of the win. At 2:35am, I was silently screaming in my living room to keep from waking my wife or neighbors. Many described this game as a momentum turner right from the moment it happened, and they were not far off, as the Flyers went on to win the next two to face the New Jersey Devils in the Conference Finals.