The Broad Street Blog

Just like playoff series between these two teams in the past, the tension and intensity are beginning to increase. Tom Kostopoulos’ sucker punch on Kimmo Timonen at the end of game 2 and Guy Carbonneau’s comments regarding it just added to it. But for the Flyers, since Bruce Boudreau of the Capitals started whining in the first round, the referees have been watching the Flyers like hawks, so they would have to make sure they played disciplined.

In the first period, the Canadiens would be given an early 5-3 power play as the officials called both Sami Kapanen and Steve Downie both for hooking at the same time. But, the Flyers were able to prevent Montreal from getting anything started. Later in the period, Montreal goaltender would go out to play the puck outside of the trapezoid as Steve Downie was coming in to get the puck. Price would fall down and replays would show that Downie didn’t make contact with Price, but Downie was still called for tripping. Two Canadiens players would then jump Downie and it was the Flyers who ended up with the extra two minutes The Canadiens were able to do nothing with their early power play chances.

Martin Biron was able to stop everything that came his way and continued to look solid in net. During that period, Saku Koivu had a breakaway, but Biron prevented him from doing anything with it by deftly poke checking the puck away. At the other end of the ice Price looked shaky on a few of the stops he was able to make.

The start of the second period had a very defensive feel. No team was going to give the other an inch. It would be the Flyers that would break the 0-0 tie. Joffrey Lupul used his speed to streak into the Canadiens end of the ice and dropped the puck back to Scottie Upshall who fired the puck past Montreal netminder Carey Price.

During a Montreal power play Mike Richards would steal the puck from Saku Koivu and skate the puck into the Montreal end. He would pull up and fire the puck through traffic and into the net. It was the second Philadelphia goal on 3 shots in the period.

Philadelphia would end the period with a bang as RJ Umberger would take the rebound from Jeff Carter’s shot and put the third goal of the period behind Price. The goal was a result of strong forechecking from the Flyers.

Philadelphia would start the third period strong and put the pressure on a Canadiens team that seemed defeated. Montreal pulled Price in favor of backup Jaroslav Halak after giving up 3 goals in the second period. A hit by Derian Hatcher on Francis Bouillon would result in a 5 minute major for boarding. The hit was boarding and should have 2 minutes, maybe stretched to four, but in no way should have been a 5 minute major. The Flyers were able to kill the first half of the penalty, but the Canadiens scored 2 goals during the second half.

These two goals gave Montreal life, but the Flyers were able to withstand the attack get the win in front of their home crowd. Martin Biron resumed his stellar playoff play with several key saves throughout the game. Biron continues to be the cornerstone of the Flyers playoff push and is proving that he is a number 1 goaltender. Game 4 of the series is Wednesday in Philadelphia.

Highlights

Game Summary
Box Score

Tags:   Biron · canadiens · Flyers · Hatcher · Price · Richards · Umberger · UpshallNo Comments