Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Flyers beat Habs - get to Finals


What a shame

Ex-Ranger Scott Gomez didn't want the party to end. An 8th seed in the playoffs - he and his Montreal Canadiens were magnificent in rounds one and two. They dispatched the best point-total team in hockey - the Washington Capitals. And - as an encore - they vanquished Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins - something I will always be grateful for.

But then they ran into the 7th seed Flyers in round three. They Flyers had beaten the Devils in round one (which we also appreciate). In round two they fell behind 3-0 to the Boston Bruins before storming back to beat them 4-3, overcoming a 3 goal deficit in game seven to close the deal.

And so the 7th and 8th seeds collided on the path to the Stanley cup finals - and suddenly the Canadiens couldn't score. They only managed 7 goals on 140 shots in a 5 game series. They were shut out three times. That's just not good enough.

In game 5 with the Canadiens needing a win to stay alive - they took a 1-0 lead on Brian Gionta's goal (and Gomez's assist) in the game's first minute.

But then - disaster struck. In the games 5th minute witht he Canadiens on the powerplay - the Candien's goalie Jaro Halak left his net and collided with the Flyers' Richards - leaving the puck still loose on the ice. It slid to Richards who scored on the empty net - erasing the Canadiens only lead of the night with a shorthanded goal.

In the 2nd the Flyers scored twice and appeared to take control of the game.

But in the third it was Scotty Gomez who scored 7 minutes into the final period to make it a one goal game. But the Habs could get no closer.

And the Philadelphia Flyers - who qualified in a shootout on the last day of the season - have now won 8 of their last 9 playoff games and stand just one series win from hoisting the Stanley cup.

Who'd a thunk it?

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