Flyers-Habs Could Get Rough Tonight

The Flyers return home to host game 3 of an exciting second-round series with Montreal tonight, after splitting the first two contests in Montreal. The fans in South Philly, myself included, are in for a great matchup, with both teams starting to get under each other's skin, but also managing to play some solid hockey in between. Saturday night's game got rough toward the end, most notably with Montreal's Tom Kostopolous sucker punching Kimmo Timonen, and all signs point toward some of that angst carrying over into the Philly leg.

Habs coach Guy Carbonneau justified his team's role in the rough play, stating the Flyers deserved it for not being sportsmanlike in the later stages of what appeared would be a game 2 win. He also trotted out the old "they had more suspensions than any other team this year" BS, even though (A) Timonen wasn't one of the players suspended, (B) all that stuff happened months ago, and (C) none of it involved Guy's team. Still, I don't fault Carbonneau, who was a great player and continues to be a standup guy; he's just doing what every coach does in the playoffs and standing by his players, making villains of the other side. The league looked at Kostopolous's punch to determine if it warranted disciplinary action and decided against it. We tend to agree, although we also think punching someone who isn't looking is a bitch move. Video of the punch after the jump.

Comments

[bizurk]

Gotta get a win tonight.

Dear Coach,
Please activate Cote, and set him loose when appropriate.

Thanks,
Bizurk

[Sanganoski]

Those "frogs" aren't use to having someone just play "in your face" hockey especially in their own home. The Flyers have to "stick" not only to the gameplan, but also "it" to the Habs. It's right there for them now, so just finish your checks, look for the guy coming late, and cover the rebounds. Basic hockey format. If the Canadiens want to get "chippy", let them, because although Carbonneau WAS a great player, he was also one of the "chippiest" and then hid behind the facade of the Montreal Monarchy at the time, so it only stands to reason that it would transend down to his coaching. Stay out of the box and let those "frogs" croak!!!

[bryan]

Glad I don't have to listen to those idiots boo Danny everytime he touches the puck. Don't they realize he doesn't care? It doesn't take him off his game. If anything it tires themselves out.

[DLo34]

I've played my share of hockey against teams from Quebec growing up and those "frogs" do not know what to do with the physical play. Expect the Flyers to finish a lot of checks early tonight, but if they dress Downie or if they dress Cote keep your fingers crossed that they keep their heads on straight because special teams has been and will continue to be the determining factor in this series.

GAME ON!

[Joe Manning]

I agree that it is in the Flyers best interests to bring a tough, phyisical game to the Frenchies ...

Speaking of that - anybody else hear rumblings that the Flyers may be activating Frank Bialowas for this game tonight - or possibly Game 4 ?

[johndewar]

Gonna be in the house for the game tonite, so I'm juiced.

God forbid one of our guys did that to a Canadiens player. CSI would be there to investigate the matter fully and a suspension would result.

BTW: You guys know that this Kostopoulos character got into a little legal trouble about 5 weeks ago? Yup....alleged purse thief accomplice. Warrants mentioning.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080211.wspthabs11/GSStory/GlobeSportsHockey

[johndewar]

Better Kostopoulos link:

Here

[Loqiel]

Going to the game tonight as well. I say dress Downie. I haven't seen anyone on Habs WILLING to drop the gloves. Gotta love Koivou running like hell until the ref steps between him and whoever it was (I think Hartnell) and then suddenly he's like "LET ME AT 'EM!".

Please.

He reminded me of the scrawny bench player every baseball team has during a bench-clearing brawl that won't get in the middle of it wearing anything less than kevlar, but the moment one of his teammates grabs him to hold him back he starts flailing and kicking and trying to get in. Whatever.

[Dale Hunter]

Typical Flyers with the quotes about Kostopoulos and going after Koivu and Kovalev. Guess the Flyers are going with the goon tactics tonight? Habs in a rout tonight, 6-2. Lots of Flyers in the penalty box

Canadiens dans cinq

[tom]

Dale:

Les Capitals peuvent continuer à regarder de leurs maisons.

clearly the flyers are so stupid they'll take penalty after penalty and blow this game and the series because of a cheapshot. stellar analysis.

[Adam]

I still do not understand why Upshall went to the box after that and the Flyers did not get a power play. Timonen was sucker punched; I still would love to know what warranted that. Jones was the one who got Uncle Jesse back. Koivu punched Upshall in the face during the scrum. So the fact that there was just one penalty per team amazes me. But hey, they are the Flyers so we should be used to that kind of BS.

[DLo34]

@ Dale Hunter

You sound like the whiny little writer from the Washington Post.

Ribbit Ribbit

Welcome to Philly.

[Zach M.]

Why are we calling them "frogs" in the first two posts? Is this a widespread term or just adopted now?