Flyers-Habs Game 5: No Time Like the Present to Close Out the Series

The Flyers enter tonight's game in Montreal up 3-1. Win and they move on to the conference finals. Lose and the series comes back to Philly. Sound familiar? It should... The same scenario was presented to the Flyers in round 1 against the Caps, only they lost the next two games, forcing a game 7.

The Flyers say they've learned from that experience, and they'll have their foot on the gas from the first puck drop tonight. Mike Knuble may have put it best:

"We learned a great lesson against Washington. Now you have to apply it. If you don't apply it, you haven't learned anything."

Carey Price will be back in net for the Habs tonight, and you have to wonder what the effect of watching game 4 with a towel around his neck will be. The rookie's confidence was likely shaken after giving up some weak goals in the first few games, and getting benched may not have helped in that regard. Of course, there's always the possibility it lit a fire under him. Either way, look for the Flyers to pepper him as early as possible tonight, if they can.

Shots have been hard for the Flyers to come by this series, but I think it's at least partly due to John Stevens' strategy of slowing the game down and controlling their strikes. I think they'll try to turn it on early to establish a dominant tone, and crowd Price's crease from the start (to say the least).

It's a great night to make Stormy proud and close out a series.

Comments

[Dale Hunter]

Remember the last time the Flyers had a 3-1 lead they almost blew it? They are going to blow this series!! Habs win 5-1 tonight and get ready for a lot of scared and nervous fans tomorrow night.

Canadiens dans sept!!!!

[lenny dykstra]

settle down dale, settle down

[Dale Hunter]

Another fine example of Philadelphia fans

http://fourhabsfans.blogspot.com/2008/05/present-of-evil-reader-heads-into-heart.html

[enrico]

Poll: should we ban this Dale Hunter "person"?

[Pete]

LETS GO FLYERS!!!!!

[j13]

@ enrico:

Yes. I think that makes it 100% in favor.

[Tom]

So a bunch of flyers fan give them a verbal hard time and they sounds like a bunch of sore losers. hmmm i didn't see anything burning.. I also love how everyone KNOWS someone or HEARD about someone that got beat up in philly. You think after going to proly half the home games I would acutally see some of this "supposed" violence but...

[joe l]

Ah, Canadians powerplay just on cue.

[Tom]

so the Flyers are on pace for 15 penalties this game.

[J.P.(the drunk)]

Why ban the asshole he's been our good luck charm???

[Matt P.]

@Tom, and the refs are on pace for 6 missed calls against the Habs.

[J.P.(the drunk)]

Umberger is my hero

[MSM]

Umburgler strikes again. Ridiculous goal.

[enrico]

That didn't last very long.

[brad]

how do they not review that?

[MSM]

Even though that's probably a good goal (no kicking motion), I'm glad the tools in Toronto didn't see a reason to look at it like they do all the other questionable goals the Flyers might score.

[joe l]

After 1 - the Habs are throwing the sink at Biron, scored two cheap goals. Who knows, with 60 shots tonight they might be onto something... Flyers need more possession, Price looks shaky so I think the goals will come.

[Dale Hunter]

It was only a matter of time for the Flyers to fall back to earth

Canadiens dans sept!!!!

[brad]

Im not sure, I think I saw a slight kicking motion. Unfortunately Vs only gives me 2 replays, and probably won't go back to it again.

[Pete]

The Habs are putting everything they've got on net. We gotta hold here, and capitalize when they get sloppy.

[MSM]

Just FYI, I'm relatively up for banning Dale too. It's funny cause he's a Caps fan, but I really hate French.

[John]

Hey Dale,

Who's Dan? and its May, not September

[joe l]

**rubs eyes** I don't believe it.. Flyers 5 on 3 penalty play??? Can we get a screengrab?

[MSM]

If they take this goal off the board I'll burn Montreal. Do like the natives, right?

[Displaced Philadelphian]

I love how THIS goal is the one getting reviewed.

[brad]

there cant be enough to overturn this!

[MSM]

Yeehaw. Must have been an American in the war room at the time.

[David]

Only way they could do it is if he intentionally tried to redirect it. Whether or not he did, that's not even close to enough evidence to overturn it.

[chris]

i hate dale hunter as much as the next guy, but so we stop looking un-intelligent, "candians en sept" is him saying "candians in seven" in french....

[joe l]

Umberger!!!! Shut it Montreal!

[J.P.(the drunk)]

Fuck Canada

[David]

Carey Price - Game 5: FAIL

[MSM]

Price is softer than a down pillow on a little girl's bed. Awesome job by the offense.

[joe l]

Paging Dale Hunter. Dale Hunter?

[themajor]

what the heck I go to grab a new beer after the flyers score their second goal and I come back and its 4-3 flyers
a very welcomed suprise but what happened

[John]

Fairy Price is sooooo rattled. The Flyers have really got in his head.....LETS GO FLYERS!!!!!!! RJ is sick this postseason....

[Dale Hunter]

Don't worry, the Canadiens will come back in the 3rd. You really feel safe with only a 1 goal lead? The Canadiens will get a few power plays to help them out.

Canadiens dans sept!!

[foldog]

shots of Burnetts vodka for every goal scored during playoffs, its a great tradition

[adam]

i thought for sure the richards goal wouldn't count just because, you know, it was the flyers. kovalev definitely kicked his leg out to try to score but on the slowed down csn replay, his motion was after the puck had already hit his skate so it would be hard to overturn. but hey, now the canadiens know how it feels to blow a two goal lead.

[Dale Hunter]

Sure is quiet right now

[J.P.(the drunk)]

yeah real quiet dick keep talking we keep scoring

[enrico]

Thanks for coming by, Dale.

[will]

thanks dale!!

[MSM]

Another horseshit review. Surprise.

[MSM]

See ya Frenchies. See ya Dale.

[themajor]

all state conference final now????????????

[J.P.(the drunk)]

Hey dale can we count on ya to drop by for the next series???

[David]

Bring the Pens!

[Vern]

Well, now that's over with.

[joe l]

HAHHAHA, there goes the #1 seed, bring on the Pens. No tanking games this time around for Pittsburgh.