Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers (Gm 4)

Musings and In-Game Scribbles Eastern Conference Final

My English is as good as yours, I just write these in a stream-of-consciousness mode that I insist excuses me from small things like rules of grammar or general etiquette. Let’s call it conversational English, hopped up on beans. You know what kind of beans (no, Carl Mellesmoen, not the magic ones).

Montreal Canadiens
host
Philadelphia Flyers

Saturday, May 22nd, 2010

Round Three – Playoffs (Philadelphia leads series 2-1)
Game Four (score posted following scribbles)

Missed it? Musings capture the game in writing. A written transcript typed during the game, posted and edited about thirty minutes afterward. Based on the RDS French telecast of the Montreal Canadiens game, Musings take about 20 minutes to read. More detailed than an article, fresher than a looping highlight and good with morning coffee. Or late-night chocolate. A unique way to re-experience the game.

Double English.  So far.

Raiders and Jets and a rumble-run on a Saturday night.  Pacers’ shot awry by Travis Best.  My sick pickle stomach on an 0.4 shot.  And Anthony Calvillo’s ginger steps in 2002.

Where is Pierre Houde?

Elliotte Friedman uses his soothing voice with Jacques Martin in a pre-game interview.  I appreciate the approach and so might Martin.

Ron McLean is talking about the game with Glenn Healey beside him and a third fellow I don’t recognize.  The third dude says he thinks the Flyers are aware that Montreal’s wins over Washington and Pittsburgh are not a fluke.  Teams know first.  Media second.  Then the fans.  Sometimes the second two don’t work out.  And there are a few dough-brains in the first group who can’t explain their circumstances.

Matinee game.  What nonsense.  Saturday night.  Montreal Canadiens.  Keep it where we want it.  Who made this decision.

A kid circles the arena holding a torch with both hands.  Bare hands.  Dickie Moore jersey.  Number twelve.  He bends down at centre ice and pretends to light the surface.  A lighting trick allows the appearance of a wave of greenish yellow to spread across the ice surface.  I’m mortified.  It’s embarrassing.  It’s overdone.  I’m touched.  The kid’s facial expression is one of joy.  Not braggadocio.

We are shown several player interviews which seem to have been taped much earlier today.  Mike Richards is interviewed in a purposefully faded orange Flyer hoodie.  He is somber.  PK Subban is subdued as well.

Don Cherry is standing next to Youppi.  Cherry talks with Youppi about the keys to the game.  Get the first goal.  The crowd.  Blah, blah.

We’ve gotta shoot more!  We’ve gotta hustle!

And then I thought.  Wait a minute.

All Youppi can do is nod.  Ron smiles to the left of both. His left.  Rink is behind them.

Now the flag-bearers are ready.

Towels wave.  The players hop on the ice.  Same as ever.  More towels.  Spacek greets each flag-bearing kid (standing at the entry door) in his usual manner.

Leighton circles in the shadows to the right of his net.

Gomez skates on the ice.  Flyers take their seats.  As do the Habs.  Hartnell is like a more robust version of your scribe.  At least hair-wise.

Where is Charles for the anthem?  Some young girl is singing it.  Do we need so many changes to the routine?  Can’t she sing something in her living room instead?

Somewhere, Roger Doucet disapproves.

This is such a homer rendition.  If there weren’t anthems played at hockey games, how many people would know the words?  Someone should start a Facebook group to banish the anthem from the games once and for all.

It’s incongruous, it’s trite, it’s heavy-handed.  Thanks, Stu.

Bob Cole:  Now, can they do it again today?

Bob Cole:  Halak has to continue his strong play.

Bob Cole:  Need I say, sellout crowd.

I can tell you what you need.

First Period

Hockey Primer.  And I can’t get a French feed.

Early incursion by the Flyers.  High lobbing shot is gloved by Halak and held for the faceoff to his left.

Canadiens outnumber the Flyers in the corner to Halak’s right.  They exit.  Plekanec, Cammalleri and Kostitsyn.  Some swirl but no dangerous shots.

Lines change.

Hamrlik is still on with Subban.

Pyatt up for Metropolit.  He makes his way along the right side.

Flyers turn in a dish.  No slot pass or crease drive can be had.

Gill pairing is on.

Flyers are retrieving behind their net.

Mike Richards down the right side.

Passes to his right.  Habs converge and move it up.  Plekanec follows up taking a puck around the Flyer net.  Flyers keep Montreal on the perimeter.

Gomez line is on.

Gionta takes a shot from the inside of the Philly blue line.

Habs keep it in.  Another long shot from Gionta.  Full wind=up.

Moore line.

Pyatt supports in the corner.  Moore is jammed by Betts.  Moore keeps his balance.  Keeps the puck in play.  To the point.  Now a puck gets to the crease.  Cole’s voice rises.

Cole is as good as Houde in matching the action with his tonality.  Few are that good.

Crowd behind the net rise.  Gap.  Shot misses.

Jeff Carter is back in the Flyer lineup and we see a replay of a great hit on Dominic Moore at centre ice.

Flyers are called.

Ian Laperriere is in the box.  So he’s back as well.

Hamrlik is in the box for Montreal.

First four-on-four pairing sees Mike Richards with Simon Gagne.

Plekanec is on early for Montreal.

Teams circle.

Gomez line hops on.  The extra space is Gomez’ cue to use his extra gears.  He is frightening when he hits his top gear.  Few strides but great distance.  Merv Fernandez type of deceptive speed.

Fours end.

Andrei K enters on the left.  He’s taken down.  It goes uncalled.  Cole doesn’t notice or doesn’t care.

Metropolit chases a puck down behind the Flyer net.  It’s moved up before he can get there.

Canadiens do the same and launch a breakout from behind their net.

Pyatt and Moen keep things going along the under-boards for about seven seconds.

Finally the Flyers take over.  Pyatt leaves the ice.

Pronger takes up the puck behind his net.  Crowd boos.

Stoppage soon afterward.

Commercial.

A replay shows that a puck had beaten Leighton but just missed the inside post at a slow speed.

Gomez line.

They enter.

Gomez reminds me of his days in New Jersey.  He is a playoff cobra.

Long puck by Philly is called for icing.

Montreal is described as a bunch of waterbugs, a quicker team than Philadelphia.

Stoppage.

We resume with Plekanec’ line on the ice.

Cammalleri leads a rush down the left side.  Enters first.  Shoots.  High and out of play.  Flyers had two and a half back and Montreal had both Plekanec and Kostitsyn entering.

Cammalleri sends a lead pass for a side-door attempt for Plekanec.  Just a bit far.

Lapierre is on.

Follows.  Hits.  Puck escapes behind the net to Pronger who dumps it up.

Under the Montreal end line.  Whistle.  Penalty.  Against Montreal.  Cole sounds surprised.  Or something.

Marc-Andre Bergeron is called for holding.

First replay doesn’t show it.   But I don’t doubt the call.

Canadiens fire it out early.

And a second clear out takes place with ninety seconds left in the penalty.

Halak’s net excursions are smoother.  He comes out to play a puck.  Sends it up and along.

Stoppage.

Plekanec is back on the bench.  Spits on the ice.

Faceoff is outside the Montreal zone.

Carter breaks in alone through two defenders.  Halak stops it.

Crowd rises in volume.

Briere complains about something.  Moen looks up at the scoreclock.

Faceoff to Halak’s left.

To the point.  Wrister.  To the side boards.

Gomez works it.  Second effort gets it up.

To Plekanec down the right side.

Plekanec brakes.  A Flyer goes past.  Another one.

Pass to a trailing Gill.  No danger results.

Now a return rush by Flyers sees Halak fall.  A Hab falls behind him.  The puck stays out.

Gill was a log across the line.  The goal line.

And then Gorges piled on.

Gionta is annoyed about something.  He gestures questioningly and with some annoyance at the ref as he leaves the ice.

Faceoff is to Halak’s right.  Subban comes up with it behind the net.

Gomez supports as Subban’s carry out effort is stopped at the left hash.

Gomez helps work it out through the opposite side.

Subban has the puck again on retrieval.  He is bumped around after the whistle.

Replay shows that Halak crosschecked Jeff Carter and I laugh in surprise.  Just came out like Billy Smith and whango.  Yeah, that’s a Cherry term.  And I’m customizing it for my own use.

O’Byrne is on.  He works the low hash to Halak’s right

Halak scoops a puck in the crease.

Commercial.

Now we are shown the Lapierre montage from last game.  And a Subway hockey card.

Hartnell barges down the right side.  Backhands a pass to the slot.  The play is there but the puck is a bit far.

Puck caroms harmlessly into the side-boards.  Canadiens exit.

Now Gill is chasing a Flyer around his net.  Catches up.

Gionta enters on the left side.  Off-wing.  Past his coverage by a stride.  Enough for a shot but not a drive.  Fires.  High.  And out of play.

Two self-important men have sat down in my vicinity.  I’m in a public venue.  Both of them can see that I am typing while watching the game.  Neither thinks it’s important enough to avoid standing in front of the television for long periods.  They are from my parents’ area of the world.  But more towards the oil countries.

I wonder if they own this place.  I think not.  But maybe they own the world.  I decide to keep a low profile.

I consider a first intermission haircut.

These are the kind of guys who like teaching lessons on who is boss.  I don’t know where else in this hood I could watch the game on short notice.  I need better solutions.

CBC reminds us that Pyatt, Moore and Lapierre combined for two goals in game two.

Period is running out.  Montreal’s incursions have been more frequent and of better quality than the Flyers but Philadelphia has been rubber and not plastic.

Two more Montreal incursions close the period.  Pace is good and goes high as Gomez takes up the puck.  Gill comes up to the hash.  Collides.  Flyers exit the puck.

Siren goes.

Don Cherry is standing by we are told.

First Intermission
Philadelphia 0, Montreal 0

The wire connecting my laptop to the outlet here hangs from my table.  I knock it accidentally and nearly bring down the entire west wing.  This laptop can suddenly collapse at any time and one of the causes is when the power-line is accidentally unplugged.  The battery was dysfunctional from the day I bought it.

I listen to local Don for the first time in months.  He has found a comfort-food angle.  Mike Cammalleri.  Our boy from Richmond Hill.  And of course, never forget that Kirk Muller is from Kingston, Ontario, Don’s hometown.

I ask my waitress about the two Imperial Governors and am told they don’t own the place but that they know the owner and that she believes at one time they were considering buying this joint.

This is the kind of place that vermicelli-haired women strut in tight purple skirts.  And where burly, dark men come to forget their heritage with the aid of seven-hundred dollar Blackberrys (Blackberries?).

It’s not a place for thin, dark, long-haired poets.  But at this time of day I’m safe.  And Grand Moff Tarkin and his buddy leave moments after Don starts yarbling and I can enjoy Don’s discussion of all things non-Montreal.  Right now it’s another series entirely.  Some Western teams.  I dunno.

And suddenly I get a break.  Pierre.  And my earphones.  I have RDS.

Instead of Coach’s Corner maybe they could call it Bigot Box Blarney.  Or how about “I Played Six Year O Junior B”.  Or how about Hockey Mwom’s Son?

Luc interviews Hal Gill.  Gill is effecting a political; we are happy, we are in control here tone and demeanour.  It’s more a mode for his teammates than for Luc or us.  The interviews are usually conducted immediately after a period but shown just prior to the next.

Second Period
Montreal 0, Philadelphia 0

Metropolit chases the puck down the right side.  Flyers come up with it.

Off-wing shot on Halak’s right is handled.  Houde’s voice rises.

Now Betts is in on the left.  Halak butterflys.  Small crowd.  Laperriere is wearing a full face shield.  Stoppage.

Carter was the Flyer.

Flyers make the Canadiens stand around for a few seconds.  Or make it appear that way with a successful blue line pass at even-strength.  But once the puck gets under the end line, Montreal is able to move it out.

Spacek touches a long Philly puck.  Icing.

Bouchard says that the Canadiens have woken up a bit.  He is at ice level.

Leighton stops a puck behind the net for Pronger. Crowd boos.  Short.

Flyers chase.  Leino.  Flyers come up with it on the opposite side but a turnover on the boards leads to a near two-on-one.  Subban’s pass for Gomez was a bit long.

Offside against Philly follows.

Moore is up against Giroux.  Lapierre has to take it now.

Habs come up with it.  Spacek to Pyatt.  Rebuffed.

Now the Canadiens’ forecheck comes up with the puck.  Moore and Lapierre.  Lapierre has it in the corner.  To the crease.  Leighton covers it.

RDS shows the Montreal near scoring chance.  CBC shows Subban staring up at the scoreboard on the bench.

Long puck for Moen results in icing.

Faceoff to Halak’s left.

Lost faceoff.  Habs centre is knocked down.  Pass to the point.

Habs exit.

Gionta leads a rush on the right.  Gionta cuts to the middle.  Diving Flyer.  Gionta cuts across the ice.  No shot.  Plekanec sent Gionta in.

Only speed seems to create the chances this afternoon.  Passing is not creating the spaces yet.  Rushing the defence is.

Pass to the point hops over Gorges stick.  Neutral zone dithering.  Flyer entry.

Puck is funneled to the corner.  Gill.  To Gorges.  They work it out.

Flyers come in on the left.  Houde says that a no-look pass from Lapierre led to the goal.  Gorges was beaten subsequently.  Pure speed from Giroux.  One step acceleration.  Across Halak’s crease.  And in.

Philadelphia 1, Montreal 0

San Jose, Philadelphia and Chicago are all 0.500 when giving up the first goal in these playoffs.  Montreal is under 0.200.  Just sayin’.

Shot on Halak.  Another.  Hartnell continues good work behind the Montreal net.  Subban is called.  Holding.

Houde says that it’s another Montreal penalty and this one at a very critical time in the game.

Both networks go to commercial.

Bullets in a bowl.  Hartnell draws a penalty.  On our most athletic player.  Subban had lost his stick, though.  Yes, it’s a “we” game.

That one was a play a more experienced player might have been able to sneak through.

Power-play begins.  Gagne gets an early chance.  Halak is sharp on it, says Houde.

Long shot by Pronger.  Wide.  Deflected.

Canadiens keep it on the perimeter but the Flyers don’t give up the zone.  Finally with just over a minute left in the penalty, Plekanec fires it out.

Flyers re-enter.  But a pass goes far and Gomez is able to move it out.

Briere enters two-on-two.  Spacek makes the play on it.

It’s sent out.

Flyers enter again.  Puck goes out of play.  Briere is on the ice.  Faceoff will be at centre ice.

Habs win it.  With twelve seconds left in the penalty Moen enters down the right side.  Light off-wing backhand shot goes behind the net.  Leighton reached and missed.

Flyers exit.  Subban is back.  Timonen sends a light high puck at Halak.  Gloved.  Faceoff.  Line changes.

To Halak’s right.  Gionta has to take it.

Gionta creates an entry, delivers a check and has a good shift.  Plekanec line follows.

Long puck.  Failed pass by Montreal.  Flyers retrieve.  Pouliot is flying in.  But he’s a stride or two late.  He continues to chase and delivers a blow on the other side as the puck leaves.  Pouliot is working hard.  But no pepper.  Yet.

CBC shows us a nice bench shot.  From up high and behind the players.  I like when we can see the player names along the backs of the jerseys. Makes me think of roles on a chessboard.  Bishop, knight, rook.  Pouliot, Plekanec, Gionta.  Etcetera.

Leino enters on the left.  Pyatt is on his back.

Habs exit.

Now Briere works down the left side.  Tries to fork the salad.  Looking down and at the puck, he is only able to watch as it is taken from his reaching stick.

Just under eight minutes left in the period.

Flyers are content to work the perimeters now.  They’re running the ball with half the game left.  But it’s the Flyers and they are perhaps best suited for this type of game.

Bison brute and a step.  And a big boulder.  And another step.  And stop for milk.  And another step.  Don’t ask them to bay like cougars on the mountain steppes.

Or to Fly, for Reggie’s sake.  Leach.

Flyers play with caution but still turn it over.  But the thought is to economy and safety.  I admire their dedication to the task and to their coach.  Both teams are united.

Side shot from Lapierre.  Into the crease.  Houde gives us emotion.  Cole gives us shaking, handkerchief fear.

Metropolit covers at the point for Subban.  Whacks a puck back into play.

Suddenly I remember what it was like for Montreal to play the Leafs about two years ago.

Now that the intimidation bottles are mostly uncapped and downed, Montreal can play their game.

Leino gets space first.  In alone.  Brakes.  Right.  Left.  In.  Beautiful goal.

Philadelphia 2, Montreal 0

Call comes late.  But it’s a goal.  Referee didn’t see it in the net at first.

Brunet says that the goal comes at a bad time because it seemed that over the past three shifts that Montreal had slowly started inching the rope towards them.

But it’s just sand in the face and Mike Cammalleri has to read that Atlas booklet again.

Spacek is right to Halak’s crease to help ruin some Flyer formulae.  This time it’s a pass from Betts to the slot that is broken up.

Gomez on the faceoff to Leighton’s left after some great speed from Philadelphia.  They are going to try and put the Canadiens and this series away right here.   And this is the time.

Another rush.  Right to Halak’s crease.  Hartnell send a pass to Briere at the crease.  Turned at the blue line and sent a seeming no-look pass.  But I imagine they know each other well.

Bergeron intercepts a high puck in side the Flyer line.  Crowd in front of the net.  Hope ain’t a flower.  Luck is a post.  But neither bend here.

Canadiens retrieve.  Spacek.  To the neutral zone.  It’s sent back.

Long puck.  Whistled.

Ninety seconds left in the period.

Halak is too casual retrieving a puck behind his net.

Shot.  Lucky.

Cammalleri is in on the right.  Looks to pass to Andrei K.  Kostitsyn falls.  Crowd boos.  They think it’s a trip.  It isn’t.

Now Cammalleri is in again.  But the and plus the should is a not.

Now Halak falls to make a save.  Mummy and breakfast toaster falling to the ground.  Egyptian crumb-crease horror.  The puck stays out.

And after a faceoff, the period ends.

Philly outshot Montreal 13-1.  Montreal led 7-5 in the first.

Second Intermission
Philadelphia 2, Montreal 0

Alain, Jacques and Joel discuss Jeff Carter’s return to play.  Demers says that although Carter is still hurt that he is still playing well.  He says that Carter is quite the hockey player.

Ron McLean interviews Ken Dryden.  Dryden is wearing black. Black button thingie (just two top buttons) and a black suit.  Cherry is comically and purposefully shown in the background off to the side and yawning.  Off-screen.  Grampa Ghost Rider had some appetizers and a zoot suit.

Dryden is describing something in that professorial manner of his.   McLean seems pleased to be talking with him.  Dryden can refuse hockey interviews as much as he wants but they will still be after him.

Bouchard shows us how Giroux beat Gorges and says that one of his skates had broken, the plastic protector for shot-blocking and that this is what made it very difficult for Gorges to turn on Giroux’ goal.  Very observant.

Dryden is still talking on the CBC intermission.   He’s now talking about first and second languages and explaining Quebec to Ron.  Or rather, the viewers.

Dryden says that we have such diversity in Canada yet we get along so well despite that.   Imagine if Ken  Dryden had been yapping at us for the last 28 years.   Instead of Harley K.

Says Dryden, any organization whether it’s a team, a party, a country, you have to have a central understanding that makes you proud and makes you get up in the morning.

Dryden’s philosophies are always interesting.  He finds a way to make me feel excited about pulling together as a country.

Crete now reviews the Byfuglien overtime goal that put Chicago ahead of San Jose three games to zero.  Slot shot in overtime yesterday.

I’m supposed to be at an event.  NHL scheduling.  Let’s have an afternoon game.  Yes.  Great idea.  Oh yeah, I forgot.  The Leafs are playing tonight.  Against Orlando, I believe.  Or was it Austin?

Luc Gelinas interviews Claude Giroux.  Giroux says that the second period was their best period against Montreal this series.  He is agreeing with the phrasing of the question.  Giroux has a beard, looks like Forsberg and makes a good impression on me.  First impression.  Whatever that is worth.

Third Period
Philadelphia 2, Montreal 0

Two nothing.  Martin is nervous.  Muller adjusts his headset with one arm up to his ear and a white pen in his mouth.  Or whiteboard marker.

Carter has early control behind the Montreal net.   It’s moved out.

Flyers stop the puck at the neutral zone.  Halak has to leaves his net.  Lines change.

Gomez works in the Flyer zone.

I’m feeling this.

Pouliot enters on the left.

Bergeron lifts a glove to keep a puck in the Flyer zone.

Three segments but finally the Flyers move it out.

Stoppage.

Montreal has been shut out in eight of eleven periods in this series against Philadelphia.  Guess which network told us that.

Ok, CBC.

Plekanec enters down the middle.  Just over the blue and passes it across to Kostitsyn.  What lean and angle.  High shot, though.

Faceoff.

Off the faceoff, Kostitsyn gets a pass.  Shot is high.

Puck dithering.

Now Plekanec is sent in down the right side.  Nearly alone.  Shoots.  Nope.

Gomez works behind the Philly net.  Left.  Looks.  Now right.  Slot pass fails.  For Gionta.  Gomez gets it back.  He is able to control for a few more seconds but is finally stripped of the puck.

Flyers are playing smart, disciplined hockey.  Montreal is working and creating.  But Philadelphia is matching the effort.  It’s top level commitment from both teams and decent passing from Montreal.

This is the new NHL.  And I think it’s good.

Fifteen minutes left in the game.

Puck goes out of play.  Flyer entry.  Flyers get one entry to every eight Montreal entries.  But Montreal has only created one quality scoring chance this period.  Maybe two.

Cammalleri intercepts a pass.  Plekanec and Kostitsyn enter with him.  Board work.  Kostitsyn digs it out.  To the slot.  No sticks reply.

Flyers send it long.  Icing.

Laperriere points to his head as he returns to the Flyer bench.  He is gesturing at Montreal.  Is he asking for a crosscheck to the helmet?  Is he saying that his transmitter is malfunctioning?  Is he requesting a brain siphon?

Fourteen minutes.

Martin has kept his lines together.  He is saying he has confidence in them all.

If that’s the case, I like it.  Or maybe it was Muller.  Or maybe a player brought it up privately with a coach.

Or maybe.

Flyers are called for delay of game.  Accidental puck by Carle goes out of play.  Houde exclaims and adds that this is the chance Montreal needed.

Cole missed the play.

Faceoff to Leighton’s right.

Subban makes a nice play to keep the puck in but then gets bumped off the puck.

Gomez carries the puck out.

In the zone.  And out again.

Flyer breakaway.  Turning, sliding and falling.  Into the net.  Goes off the moorings.  Linesman says keep it going.   And the puck goes out and they do.

Montreal finally sets up with about thirty seconds in the man-advantage.

Puck goes up and out of play.

Faceoff to Leighton’s left.

Whistled.

Gomez takes it.  Wins it.  With Cammalleri’s help.

Penalty ends with Gionta entering and firing from the right.

Pouliot is after it in the opposite corner.

Can’t be had.

Flyers are going to sit back and parry.

Moore line.  Moen and Lapierre with him.

They work the boards.

Habs win the board battles.  Flyers don’t look for the numbers advantage.  They just stay even and don’t take chances.  I nod and agree.

Yeah, yeah.

Behind the Flyer net.  Even again.  Flyers win this one.

Plekanec line ends a brief shift.

Brunet says that the Canadiens are panicking a bit and putting shots everywhere.

Gionta and Gomez.

Over the blue.

Wind-up and shot.

Someone screams.

Should have been me.

No.

Digging.  On the boards.

Flyers whack it out.

Eight minutes left.

Briere picks up a puck.  Weaves around with it.

What a dud game one was.  Waste of a chance.

Drive on Halak.  He’s downed.  The puck stays out.

Point shot.  Bloops up.  I thought it was in.  Black on net.  Whistle.  Asham looks tired and disappointed.  Cole says it’s a penalty.

Houde says it’s a delayed call.

Shot was from Hamrlik.

Yes, it’s against Asham.

Double slo-mo dog mush.  Wanna fall off a strawberry?  Want to buy a hundred thousand paper clips.  They can inscribe it on your tablet.

Call against Asham was goaltender interference.  Replay isn’t clear.  Came too late in the play.

Plekanec and Cammalleri are on.  Hamrlik and Bergeron on the blue.

Stoppage.

We are shown three Montreal players with zero goals in the last several games.  Guess which network.  Yes.  CBC.

Flyers get a short-handed shot.  Cole loves it.

Subban moves the team out.

Gionta has it.

Crisp movement.  Flyers are working well to attack the perimeter movement.  Mike Richards does the chase work at the top of the diamond.

Faceoff.

Flyers win it and clear.  Fifteen seconds left in the power-play.

Cole may claim to be from Newfoundland, may claim to be a Detroit fan and so on.  But one can’t deny his disdain for Montreal.

He is pleased to see the penalty end.

A wire falls.  And a Scotiabank commercial intended to amuse me only infuriates.

Quick shot of a Rejean Houle jersey is shown on one of the networks.  CBC, I think.  I’d forgotten that Houle wore fifteen.  My first Montreal game at the Forum featured Houle on the program cover.

Flyers are 66% on faceoffs says CBC.

Four and a half minutes left in the game.  Halak makes a save.

Gionta and Pouliot get into the corner against two Flyers.  Puck stays there for about five seconds.

Power-plays.  Montreal had their chances.  But their 18.1% rate in these playoffs is not good enough.

Markov’s absence is a key, yes.  He runs the offence in those situations.

Now a crowd and some jamming in the crease.  No light.  Cole says no good.  Ref doesn’t point.  Crowd boos non-comittally for about three seconds.

Replay shows that there was only a good save by Leighton, pulled the wallet back to the pocket.  Lying in the snow.  Saving money, saving time.

Orange peace.

No fracas afterward.

Maybe a bit of something behind the net.

Just over two minutes left in the game.

Net is empty.

Puck is heading right for it.  Chocolate speed.  Someone skates for it.  Dives.  Saves it.  Falls into the net.  Bergeron.  Fantastic play.

He hurt himself to do it.

Ninety seconds.  We resume.  Six on five.

On the boards.

Flyers aren’t going to do anything silly.

And now they do something better.  Giroux.  On the boards.  Against a man.  Fwacks it.  Scores.

Philadelphia 3, Montreal 0

Well, we had a good run.  I laugh.  Yes, we shall see.

Lapierre takes a penalty.  Timonen gets called for high-sticking.

Philadelphia 3
Montreal 0

Philadelphia leads the best-of-seven series three games to one.  Next game is on Monday in Philadelphia.

HDS Stars: Scott Hartnell, Jeff Carter, Claude Giroux
RDS Stars: Chris Pronger, Matt Carle, Claude Giroux

I’m sure RDS’s stars are more accurate than mine.  I am still learning how to evaluate defencemen.  Just trying to get to neighbour blowhard status like I am on offence.

Related posts:

1. Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers
2. Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers (Gm 5)
3. Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers (Gm 3)
4. Expressly Canadian (Gm 2)
5. Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers (Gm 2)
6. Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers (Gm 1)