Former UNH star James van Riemsdyk had a goal and an assist and now has three points in three games. Daniel Briere and Braydon Coburn also had a goal and an assist each and Michael Leighton made 28 saves. The Flyers power play was also 2-for-6 while the Habs struggled on the man-advantage going 0-for-4. Jaroslav Halak also had a tough game too allowing four goals on 13 shots.
Third period, 5:55, Flyers 6-0: The Flyers are on another power play with a chance to score lucky seven. They're 2-for-5.
Third period, 6:28, Flyers 6-0: Claude Giroux just scored another Flyers goal and they are just pouring it on. Arron Asham and James van Riemsdyk had the helpers. This is UGLY.
Third period, 7:47, Flyers 5-0: Scott Hartnell has made it 5-0 Flyers and the Wachovia Center is going bonkers. The Habs look like the Bruins did in their pathetic Game 5 loss at TD Garden. Just flat and disinterested. Daniel Briere and Matt Carle got the helpers.
Third period, 10:05, Flyers 4-0: For the second time in this Game 1, Scott Gomez has lost his cool with Chris Pronger and nullified a Habs power play with a slashing call. The Habs need more discipline.
Third period, 11:43, Flyers, 4-0: Braydon Coburn is in the sin bin and the Habs are on their fourth power play.
To elaborate on the possible return of Jeff Carter, that would be huge for the Flyers and they would get another mid-series boost like they did when Simon Gagne returned to score the game-winner in overtime of Game 4 against the Bruins.
Third period, 17:12, Flyers 4-0: Underway in the final frame and the Flyers failed to convert on that power play. They're now 2-for-4.
John Boruk of CSN Philly is reporting that Jeff Carter could return from his foot injury for Game 2 and definitely for Game 3. That could be the Flyers' Simon Gagne spark of the third round.
End of second period, Flyers 4-0: Game 1 just wasn't Jaroslav Halak's night apparently as the goalie who has carried the Habs to this point had an off night allowing three second period goals and four on 13 shots giving the Flyers a commanding 4-0 lead after two periods of play.
The same guys that killed the Bruins are beating the Habs. Danny Briere and Simon Gagne have a goal each and Ville Leino has two helpers. Michale Leighton is also getting the job done between the pipes with 23 saves.
Second period, 49.1, Flyers 4-0: Tom Pyatt just got called for goalie interference and the Flyers will end this period and start the next period on the power play. Questionable call as it looked like Pyatt tried to avoid a collision with Michael Leighton.
Second period, 1:34, Flyers 4-0: Peter Laviolette just called a timeout despite being up 4-0. But after his timeout in Game 7 against the Bruins, no one is questioning the timing here.
Second period, 4:33, Flyers 4-0: The Habs need to get their power play going if they are to have a chance here. That was their strong point throughout the season but they're 0-for-3 in Game 1.
Second period, 7:19, Flyers 4-0: Daniel Carcillo just got called for roughing and the Habs are on their third power play. They're 0-for-2.
Either there are loads of Habs fans at the Wachovia Center or the Flyers fans are mocking Habs fans by chanting "Ole, Ole, Ole,".
Second period, 10:07, Flyers 4-0: Simon Gagne, the hero of Game 7 against the Bruins and in that series, continues his torrid pace as he just scored a power-play goal for the Flyers, making it 4-0.
That is also the end of the game for Jaroslav Halak who allowed four goals on 13 shots. Braydon Coburn and Ville Leino get their second points of the night with the helpers.
Second period, 11:33, Flyers 3-0: Andrei Kostitsyn just elbowed Ville Leino in the head and caused a major scrum by the boards. As a result the Flyers get their third power play. They're 1-for-2.
Second period, 14:24, Flyers 3-0: Chris Pronger is going off to the sin bin again and the Habs are on a power play they need to score on if they want to stay in this game.
Second period, 15:37, Flyers 3-0: Daniel Briere just made it 3-0 on a blistering slap shot up high, far side and we may see Carey Price soon between the pipes for Montreal. Matthew Carle had the lone helper.
Second period, 17:38, Flyers 2-0: The Flyers are on another power play as Maxim Lapierre was called for roughing.
Second period, 19:49, Flyers 2-0: Underway in the second period and the Flyers have padded their lead on a great play by Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk. Giroux won a huge faceoff from Scott Gomez and van Riemsdyk buried it past Jaroslav Halak 30 ticks into the middle frame.
That was van Riemsdyk's second goal in as many games as he scored the Flyers' first goal in Game 7 at Boston.
There was a scoring change on that first Flyers goal. It was as this scribe originally thought a power-play goal and the secondary assist now goes to Scott Hartnell, not Daniel Briere.
End of first period, Flyers 1-0: The Flyers look a bit worn down after fighting so hard to get here in their miraculous comeback against the Bruins but they still lead 1-0 after one in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. They were out-shot 13-6 but they made one of those six shots count and Michael Leighton was superb at the other end stopping all 13 shots by the Habs.
The Habs have done a great job of shot-blocking throughout the playoffs but the Flyers defensemen don't just get shots from up high, they drive to the net, pinching whenever they have the chance and that means the Habs forwards need to be more aggressive and help their own defensemen.
Jaroslav Halak can't really be blamed for that goal and he should be OK, but the Habs need to pick it up in front of him and slow down the Flyers as they come into the Montreal zone.
First period, 1:38, Flyers 1-0: Scott Gomez was just denied by Michael Leighton on a breakaway and the Flyers goalie continues to be stellar despite playing in only his third career playoff start.
First period,4:22 , Flyers 1-0: As mentioned before Mike Cammalleri and Chris Pronger will be a great match-up in this series. Cammalleri leads the playoffs with 12 goals and has been a Conn Smythe candidate thus far.
First period, 9:49, Flyers 1-0: The Flyers do a great job of activating their defensemen as witnessed by that Braydon Coburn power-play goal. CSN Philly reporter John Boruk just pointed out on Twitter that the Flyers first goal of each series now has been scored by a rear guard. Chris Pronger (vs. the Devils) Ryan Parent (vs, the Bruins) and Coburn this series.
First period, 12:32, Flyers 1-0: The Flyers did exactly what they did to the Bruins in their four straight wins to win that series. They are rushing the net with relentless tenacity and purpose and the Habs defensemen have not been able to match the wave of energy from the Flyers forwards. Josh Gorges and Hal Gill are going to have to be huge as they have thus far in the playoffs.
First period, 16:05, Flyers 1-0: The Flyers get a goal from Braydon Coburn and lead early 1-0. Ville Leino and Daniel Briere get the helpers.
First period, 17:56: Flyers captain Mike Richards does it again as he draws a penalty from Scott Gomez and the Habs' power play is gone.
First period, 18:47: Underway in the first period and the Habs get the first power play as Chris Pronger gets called for cross-checking Mike Cammalleri.
7:10 p.m.: Almost set for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals in Philadelphia as the Flyers host the Canadiens. Keep an eye on Chris Pronger and Mike Cammalleri. That should be a pivotal match-up.
11:46 a.m.: The eighth-seeded Montreal Canadiens and seventh-seeded Philadelphia Flyers continue their magical ride through the Stanley Cup playoffs in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia.
There won't be much brotherly love, but there will be a sea of orange awaiting the Canadiens in Philly. After Game 2 on Tuesday, the series will then shift back to Montreal and the Bell Centre for Games 3 and 4 Thursday and Saturday.
Both teams got to this point in dramatic fashion with the Habs winning back-to-back seven-game series over Alexander Ovechkin and the reigning President's Trophy winners the Washington Capitals and then knocking off the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins. They won both Game 7's on the road so being the road team should be no problem for this battle tested squad. Meanwhile, the Flyers just won a Game 7 on the road as well, capping off an historic comeback on the Boston Bruins. Philadelphia became only the third NHL team and fourth pro sports team to erase a 3-0 series deficit and win the series. They also erased the same deficit in goals during Game 7 to win 4-3 at TD Garden in Boston.
So now the question is which Cinderella team won't find their shoe — er, skate — before midnight? They could of course both be in trouble should any of these games go into multiple overtimes and that may very well be the case in what promises to be an exciting Game 1 and series in the 2010 Eastern Conference finals.
