PHILADELPHIA -- The Flyers turned the worst start in team history into a playoff berth. Wholesale Custom Jerseys . They forced Game 7 after a 3-2 series deficit. The Flyers simply ran out of comebacks. Just as it has in every season since winning it all in 1975, Philadelphia heads home without a Stanley Cup. The New York Rangers eliminated the Flyers with a 2-1 win in Game 7 in the first round on Wednesday, extending their championship drought to 38 seasons, the sixth-longest streak in the NHL. There was one sliver of consolation Thursday when team captain Claude Giroux was selected as a Hart Trophy finalist, the leagues MVP award. Giroux matched a career high with 28 goals and finished third in the NHL scoring race (86 points), helping the Flyers rally from a 3-9-0 start. Hes the fifth Flyer to be a finalist, joining Bobby Clarke, Eric Lindros (who both won), and goalies Pelle Lindbergh and Bernie Parent. Individual award nominations are nice, and this one was sweet for Giroux after Team Canada bypassed him for the Olympics. But they simply dont compare to the thrill of hoisting the Stanley Cup. "We do have to be proud of what we did," Giroux said. "Last place and being able to come back and get everybody back on the same page. We had a lot of fun doing it. But right now, it stings a lot we cant be in the second round." Giroux had his chance in 2010 when the Flyers reached Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals. But since that tantalizing run, theyve shown few signs of establishing themselves as a perennial contender. As they rallied from the bottom of the East all the way to the playoffs, the Flyers found two key cogs to their future are already in place: Coach Craig Berube and goalie Steve Mason. General manager Paul Holmgren made the right call when he fired Peter Laviolette after an 0-3 start and promoted the coach known as "Chief." After a small adjustment period, he had the Flyers playing as one of the top teams in the conference, leading to a 42-30-10 (94 points) finish. "We were stuck in a hole for a while and they battled out of it," Berube said. "They stuck together and went to a Game 7." Mason, the NHLs rookie of the year in 2008-09, pushed aside the doubts that lingered from Columbus that he could become a No. 1 goalie and blossomed into their goalie of the future. His mix of sensational saves and easygoing personality helped the Flyers start to erase the memories of Ilya Bryzgalov from their consciousness. "This teams a lot of fun to play with and Im looking forward to growing them in the future," Mason said. Giroux, Wayne Simmonds and Jakub Voracek form a nice offensive nucleus. Veteran defenceman Kimmo Timonen may decide to retire, though of the rest of the D was a sore point for the Flyers, especially in the post-season when Mason faced tough shot after tough shot with little break. The Flyers might not have made the playoffs without Mason. They might have beat the Rangers with even a solid defensive effort. "At no given time were we feeling we were out of the series, or out of it this season, for that matter," Mason said. This year, the Flyers celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Broad Street Bullies team that left a lasting mark on the league, but has done nothing to get them closer to holding that third championship parade down Philadelphia. The Flyers havent advanced past the second round since the surprising Stanley Cup finals run in 2010. But a year after missing the playoffs, the Flyers at least stabilized themselves and proved that an addition or two on the blue line can push them deeper into the post-season. "Game 7. Lose 2-1. Cant get closer than that," Giroux said. "For a young team, I think its great. Its only going to make us stronger." Custom Jerseys From China . -- Phil Hughes ended a personal losing streak that dated to last July, pitching into the seventh inning Sunday and helping the Twins top the Kansas City Royals 8-3 to avoid a three-game sweep. Fake Custom Jerseys Online . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.jerseyscustom.us/ . The result means Atletico Madrid now tops the table, with Madrid level on points in second and Barcelona a point behind in third with nine games remaining as the title race shapes up to be the closest in years.TSNs Jack Armstrong offers his thoughts on Phil Jackson in New York, Ray McCallums impressive play with the Kings, the reliable veteran in Memphis Mike Miller, Andrew Bynums debut with the Pacers and Anthony Bennetts injury. 1. PHIL JACKSON: Would be a major coup of the NY Knicks to get him as their President. Bottom line, owner James Dolan needs to stay out of the way. Jackson must have the ability to select his GM, front office staff, coaches, support staff and have final say on all player issues. If he wants to move current employees out, then he has carte blanche to do that as well. Anything less will be more of the same dysfunction. He needs to be the boss and the one who sets the tone with the folks he wants in place. 2. RAY MCCALLUM (Kings): Have been impressed with him in the last few games Ive seen him. Great energy and feel for the game. Played for his dad at the University of Detroit and you can tell hes grown up around the game. Getting a chance to get some second unit minutes right now and hes been respectable. 3. MIKE MILLER (Grizzlies): Even though hes five points off his career average (down from 12 to 7 ppg) he is still a reliable veteran who really makes the defense defend him behind the arc, thhus opening up more space for his teammates to operate. Cheap Custom Jerseys China. When you shoot the ball from distance at 45 per cent and youre a good passer youll have a role and be counted on considerably. When you think back not too long ago there were major concerns due to his back issues about whether hed have to retire before this year. Hes beating the odds and even though hes not quite the same player - hes still a solid one. 4. ANDREW BYNUM (Pacers): Makes his debut with his new team and has a nice night with 8 and 10. If youre a Pacers fan you ask, Where can I sign up for that every night? At his stage, he was brought in to make sure Miami didnt get him and to provide the force in the lane. Those numbers would be more than adequate at this point in the season and where hes at with his game. 5. ANTHONY BENNETT (Cavs): Out three weeks with a knee injury. When it rains, it pours. Please give me rain!! Sure beats all the snow were getting!! Was starting to come around a bit and now this. His conditioning was a major issue for him and within three weeks on the shelf this is a setback in that area. Hopefully, he learns from his last rehab stint and approached his health/fitness routine in a more focused fashion. ' ' '