Print

Mail

wiki links

NHL: Flyers take 2-1 lead over Canadiens in series

Patrick Thoresen, left, of the Philadelphia Flyers slides under Jaroslav Halak of the Montreal Canadiens during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Wachovia Center on Monday in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. PHOTO: AFP

The Philadelphia Flyers scored a 3-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Monday to take a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference semi-final series.

Philadelphia’s veteran netminder Martin Biron played a key part in the win, stopping 32 shots to upstage Montreal’s 20-year-old rookie Carey Price.

Philadelphia scored three goals in the second period and held on for the win in the face of a Canadiens’ onslaught in the third. Montreal outshot the Flyers 34-14, including 17-2 in the final period.

Biron lost his shutout — and the Flyers nearly wasted a three-goal lead — when defenseman Derian Hatcher was ejected from the game and Montreal capitalized on the power play.

Hatcher drove his right arm into the center of defenseman Francis Bouillon’s back and slammed him into the glass. Bouillon, who wears a visor, was cut near the corner of his right eye.

Hatcher was tossed and Tomas Plekanec then Saku Koivu scored on power plays to cut Montreal’s deficit to one goal.

But Biron quickly reverted to the form of the first two periods when he stopped shots in all kinds of ways. He made 17 of his saves in the third period while the Flyers took a measly two shots on goal.

He was serenaded with chants of “Mar-ty! Mar-ty!” from Flyers diehards.

“More often than not, when you outshot a team 34-14 you win games,” Montreal’s Chris Higgins told reporters.

“We’re playing well, we’re confident, we feel we should be winning these games,” Higgins said.

“Maybe if we could chip in with another powerplay goal or two at points in this series, we’d be in better shape.”

Price was pulled from the game after allowing three goals on 12 shots in the second period. Another rookie, Jaroslav Halak, replaced him and faced only two shots in the third.

Mike Richards, R.J. Umberger and Scottie Upshall scored on the first six shots of the second against 20-year-old Carey Price. Price never made it to the end, yanked at the start of the third period for Jaroslav Halak. Price might not make it back as the starter for Game 4 today.

Saku Koivu made it 3-2 shortly after with another powerplay goal.
This story has been viewed 553 times.