Marty Shines as Flyers Take 2-1 Series Lead

Although they were outshot 34-14 on the game and down a man for 5 minutes of the third period, the Flyers hung on to win game three over the Canadiens by a score of 3-2. Martin Biron was again the star of the game, turning away every shot he faced, other than two goals during the 5-minute major assessed to Derian Hatcher.

This one was by far the highlight, as Biron stretches to make a brilliant stick save on a streaking Saku Koivu, who'd been hit with a homerun pass  as he came out of the box all alone:

Despite their low shot total, the Flyers chased Montreal goalie Carey Price from the net with three goals on their first six of only 12 total shots through two periods. Scottie Upshall, Mike Richards, and RJ Umberger each scored for the Flyers, with both the Upshall and Richards goals coming on long, uncontested wristshots, calling into question whether Price will be in net on Wednesday. The Flyers managed only two shots in the third period against backup Jaroslav Halak, but they spent seven minutes of the frame killing off penalties. Odds are Price will be in net.

Outside of the two goals on Hatch's penalty (which will be reviewed by the league and could draw a suspension), the PK unit looked strong, killing off an early 2-minute 5 on 3 and adding a short-handed goal by Richards in the second period. The other half of the Flyers special teams was abysmal, as their power-play unit was unable to muster even a single shot with the man-advantage Monday night. Montreal's PK unit looked strong, and who would be surprised that a team coached by Guy Carbonneau and Kirk Muller could kill off penalty time?

From where we were sitting and the replays we saw, the Hatcher boarding call was probably justified. And when RJ Umberger was low-bridged by Tomas Plekanec, it was certainly dirty and deserving of a call, but I can understand how it was missed, because it was immediately after Hatch leveled Francis Buillion, and every set of eyes in the arena was on the Canadien as he tumbled to the ice, including mine. The Flyers were lucky to escape the non-releasable penalty with a one-goal lead, and we hope Hatch doesn't receive further discipline from the league. If he does, hopefully they will let the tape continue a few seconds longer so they can see Plekanec pull a Kasparitis on Umberger.

However, Umberger scored another post-season goal in this one, his fourth goal of the series and fifth in the playoffs, and he was able to return after the hit from Plekanec. Too add insult to missed call, however, Plekanec scored on the ensuing powerplay. It got tense after the second Habs goal, but Marty Biron stayed composed and clamped down once again.

Other than what happened on the ice, the place was characteristically electric. A guest appearance on the big screen by Dave Mustaine (to answer Mike Wise's now infamous Megadeth quote) was almost entirely drowned out by the crowd noise leading up to the game. Danny Briere came on the big screen to ask that we join him in respecting both national anthems, but the O, Canada was roundly booed by many (no offense meant to Lauren Hart of course). A smattering of opposing fans (more than we saw for the Capitals series) were heckled as expected, in part for being Habs supporters, but also for their ridiculously awful attire. These people wear more winter knit hats than the kids from South Park, and I'm pretty sure I saw Ducky from Pretty in Pink wearing CH t-shirt with a striped blazer and a derby. I had to hand it to the guy who rocked a Shayne Corson jersey along with a powerfully weak feathered 80s mullet. Long live the dynasty.

Game 4 is set for Wednesday night. Game 3 highlights:

Comments

[dmg]

I have to admit that at the start of the playoffs I had questions about Biron's ability to get it done, but he has played very well. The only question at this point is whether his slight frame (6'3'', 163) can withstand the rigors of the extended playoffs.

[Zach]

I watched from California on VS. The broadcast team was terrible. The 2-minute 5-on-3 in the first was past the half-way mark before we found out why they were in the box. But the worst was when one guy wondered aloud whether Downie could come out of the box after the major penalty ended or if he had to stay until the next whistle. Brilliant.

[Ryan Mitchell]

Regarding Mike Wise's column a couple weeks back: To Whom it May Concern: Oh Mike, I absolutely love the underhanded slight at the end of your somewhat veiled blog reportage,http://blog.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2008/04/mike_wise_reconsiders_flyers_f.html (veiled because it appeared in this lower=than=your=standard forum). Ah there it is, I've given you an underhanded compliment, though it is not quite worthy of the levels of exacting satire that you so eloquently divulged during the Flyers Caps series. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/15/AR2008041503637.html I must admit that what saddens me most is not your tone, or your unabashed insensitivity, or your demanding of unnecessary and largely irrelevant self=referential attention. What saddens me is not your capitalization on a series that was going largely ignored in media circles (blame ESPN for this, after all, since the strike they have abandoned virtually all hockey coverage since they turned to NCAA basketball, NBA basketball and NASCAR, to fill the void), a capitalization on a silent forum. What saddens me is not that you start a fight without any just provocation (boredom perhaps? stress?too much time?). What saddens me is not that you are painfully obvious in wanting this reaction. What saddens me is not any of this. What saddens me is, you guessed, you're right about just about everything you say. The Megadeath statement, well that aside (and some of your inadequate hockey knowledge as well), almost all that you said was utterly, refreshingly, down right satirical. The key to the satire was its precision. I understand and relish in the detail that you employ to this end. Unfortunately, when you start a fight like this, you must seek to prepare for the immediate retaliation of your foe. The Flyers and their fans will of course take offense to your offensive remark (after all, the Megadeath comment was just flat out classist), because everything you said prior to it was ramping them up to respond actively to it. Your detail was fabulous and the writing was vibrant, though I suspect written under some foreboding spell or journalist mood of deadline frustration. Or perhaps you had more time to write this article than normal, a full day perhaps (there is usually at least one off day between every playoff game). Either way, it's clear that some creative impulse, be it time, stress, or too much time and not enough stress, enabled you to strike a startling satirical chord among your readers and naturally, your Philadelphian foes. I applaud your effort and only regret that you made your minor Megadeath disaster (I can't stress enough how amazed I am that you actually carry such sway as a journalist to get away with this, that is, not be fired for your undeniably classist, satirical Megadeath reference)...you must actually retain some say at the Post. I must say, some insensitivity is unavoidable, but c'mon Mike, this was egregious. Though I must admit, I never would have known your name had you not made the slip up. So hmmm, what does this say about the nature of our business? Well it says, if nothing else, that you've gotten the hang of it. Congrats Mike, you're on the top of your game. Let's see how long you can stay in the center of the art museum steps, a surprising gem of a purportedly literary sports columnist. God forbid you get offset from your new found perch some day like Bob Ryan recently did, it's tough to get centered again. Your Megadeath comment is loaded, but nevertheless, one step below the thin line, the ever=tenuous boundary that separates your payraise from your resignation letter. Don't step out of bounds any further Mike, it will probably cost you your job. And I for one couldn't stand for this, because higher journalism like yours deserves a place on everyman's coffee table and indeed, a spot on the bit of skin atop my father's bare and prickly thighs to serve as a delightful surface for the sweltering toilet=top reading of Mike Wise's latest lament during early morning sessions in America's next best reading room, the water closet, the bathroom. Don't stop stinking up my reading room Mike, I just couldn't breathe right without you.

[ill]

good game last night, had me freaked out at the end as we tried our hardest to give it away with all those penalty minutes. Biron looked great, but there were a lot of crossbar and post shots that we got lucky with.

I still don't think we have momentum just yet.

[adam]

http://fannation.com/blogs/post/185080

I cannot stand the nhl and media's attitude to the flyers anymore. the veiled cheap shots in this article are disgraceful. yes the flyers had a few suspensions this year but has there been an incident since the first week of the season? no. this is my favorite quote from the article, "Now Carbonneau has to decide if Halak, solid although largely untested in the third period after Carbonneau made the switch, is a legitimate Plan B for Game 4 Wednesday." This just sums ups everything about how Montreal is still getting all the credit. A backup goalie comes in and makes all of two saves and he played solid. how about the fact he faced two shots since montreal was on the power play the entire period? how was he solid? its ridiculous.

[johndewar]

I really wish folks would stop booing the Canadian national anthem...

psssst...little secret....most of the Flyers are, in fact, Canadian. True story.

There was plenty to boo last night with the way the game was officiated.

[Joe Manning]

I'm pretty sure the only reason Flyers fans boo'ed the Canadian anthem is because the idiots up north boo'ed the Star Spangled Banner before games 1 & 2.

[gootman]

Hell of a game. Marty is on fire and kept us in that game. We're lucky we made it through that 3rd period. I don't know if Hatch deserved a major, maybe 2 for boarding and 2 for blood. Love that they made Price their bitch, getting pulled is gonna be in his head, they need to come out firing in game 4. Downie needs to sit, the refs are call a penalty on any little thing he does.

[Tim]

Let's all make a pact to start spelling Megadeth correctly for the remainder of the hockey playoffs. Ready? Break.

[JimMc]

Anyone have Lauren Hart signing duet with Kate Smith? They never show it on Versus.

[Matt P.]

Jim, there are a few from the Caps series on YouTube. Here's one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4WCZD0hGBA

[leupus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmBcLVLeU50

[megaphone]

the versus coverage is a fucking embarrasment. hockey is the easiest sport to direct in terms of cameras, you stay w. the one shot the whole game, the one from center ice. never change. period. i dont need close ups of biron after he makes a great save as the lupul is charging up the ice in transition. show me that shot of marty after the play is done. all these up close shots are so fucking annoying, you totally lose track of the play. and who wants a close up of kimmo timmonens ugly mug anyway? whoever is directing versus needs to be fucking fired

[Bryan]

When the glass came dislodged in the 3rd, all of the fans were pointing and I was trying to figure out what was going on. Was a player down, a fight, penalty, etc? The Vs. morons didn't say a thing until four guys were on the ice to put it back into place.

[David]

Ironically again, CBC showed Lauren Hart and Kate Smith doing the duet. Another epic fail for VS.

[adam]

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/polling?event_id=3463

You people have to vote in this just to see the results. Its hilarious. You think the super majority of people voting are Canadian?

[digi]

I heard a rumor that for Game 4, Lauren Hart... Kate Smith AND Dave Mustaine are going to do trio version of God Bless America.

CONFIRMED.

[jd]

notes:
vs. is not doing their job. we don't ask much down here in DC. show lauren hart and kate smith, and show a basic understanding of the game. that's it.

i wasn't even aware that philly fans were booing the canadian national anthem. that is absolutely idiotic, and if any of you who booed are/can read this, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. just because habs fans stoop low, doesn't mean we have to do so.

[dcflyers]

joe beninati sucks. in game 5 or 6 of caps/flyers, he said:

"matt cooke loves to bang guys!"

obviously in reference to hitting them, but come on...and HE's doing national broadcasts?! The Wachovia Center is Comcast Country, Comcast owns Versus (and the Flyers), and yet Versus has terrible telecasts and a clear anti-Flyers bias. How can this be??

[How do you spell retard?]

Phuck Dave Mustaine. Anyone with any knowledge of metal knows the guy is a total d-bag.

[Benjamin]

Best part of the game, is the Flyers bench at the very end, when the puck is slowly moving out of the zone, and they are all swinging their arms to "help" push it out to seal the win. So funny.