Round 2
VS
PHILADELPHIA WINS 4-1
Game 5:
MAY 3, 2008 -- MONTREAL -- Scott Upshall redirected a Jeff Carter shot at 16:56 of the third period to break a 4-4 tie and send the Philadelphia Flyers to its first conference final since 2004.
The Flyers defeated the Canadiens 6-4 at the Bell Centre Saturday in a barnburner of a game.
Carey Price stopped Daniel Briere on a breakaway with eight minutes remaining in the third and the score tied 4-4. Minutes later, Guilliaume Latendresse of Montreal hit the goal post on a shot that beat Martin Biron. It would have extended the series to six games.
After Tomas Plekanec of Montreal and R.J. Umberger of Philly traded first period goals, the Alex Kovalev scored to make it 2-1 at the end of one period.
Montreal jumped to a 3-1 lead on a goal by Chris Higgins.
The Flyers came roaring back, however, as Mike Richards, Umberger and Scott Hartnell scored three goals just 2:58 apart at the end of the second to give the Flyers a 4-3 lead at the end of two periods.
Andrei Kostitsyn Scored at 2:13 of the third to even the game at four.
Montreal finished the regular season atop the Eastern Conference. The Flyers will face the winner of the Pittsburgh/Montreal series in the conference final.
PHILADELPHIA WINS 4-1
Game 4:
APRIL 30, 2008 -- PHILADELPHIA -- The
Philadelphia Flyers were outshot for the fourth straight game Wednesday
night at Wachovia Center, but again goaltender Martin Biron made the
saves which gave his club the chance to win. The Flyers topped the
Montreal Canadiens 4-2 and with a 3-1 series lead, have the Habs on the
brink of elimination heading back to Montreal for game five.
"Marty has never been in this situation, he never had a reference point,
and now he has a reference point that he can play at a very high level
and be the difference in a hockey game, and he was tonight,” said Flyer
Coach John Stevens.
"Biron is on top of his game right now," said Montreal Coach Guy
Carbonneau, who was named a nominee for the Jack Adams Trophy, given to
the NHL's top coach.
With 3:38 remaining in regulation and the score tied, 2-2, Biron's
former Buffalo teammate Daniel Briere scored the game winner,
capitalizing on a Steve Begin penalty that gave the Flyers a late man
advantage.
R.J. Umberger scored his second of the night into an empty net with two
seconds remaining. Umberger has scored at least one goal in each game
during this series and has scored seven postseason goals.
Jaroslav Halak started in net for the Canadiens in place of Carey Price,
and stopped 22 of 25 shots faced.
Philadelphia leads 3-1
Game 3:
APRIL 28, 2008 -- PHILADELPHIA --
Mike Richards, R.J. Umberger and Scottie Upshall all scored goals on the
first six shots of the second period.
Carey Price was pulled in favor of Jaroslav Halak at the start of the
third.
Flyers defenseman Derian Hatcher almost cost his team the game after
committing a major boarding penalty, ramming Habs defenseman Francis
Bouillon face-first into the boards. Hatcher was ejected. The Canadiens
seized the opportunity, scoring two power play goals during the
five-minute man advantage. Thomas Plekanec and Saku Koivu scored 72
seconds apart.
Martin Biron stopped 32 of 34 Montreal shots. Price stopped nine of
twelve before yielding to Halak, who stopped both shots he faced in the
third.
The Flyers were 0-3 on the power
play, the Canadiens, 2-8.
Philadelphia leads 2-1
Game 2:
April 26, 2008 -- MONTREAL -- The
Philadelphia Flyers blew 2-0 and 3-2 leads in game one, losing in
overtime. It was not going to be that way Saturday night and R.J.
Umberger saw to it, scoring two goals to pace the Flyers to a 4-2 win at
Bell Centre, tying the series 1-1.
Andrei Markov scored for the Canadiens at 1:26 of the third, drawing the
Habs to within one goal, 3-2. But Umberger put it away, batting the puck
out of Carey Price's glove, finishing the scoring.
Umberger opened the scoring at 5:53 of the first, then Jeff Carter
scored his fourth of the playoffs at 8:39. Saku Koivu scored for the
Habs to make it 2-1, at 16:18.
In the second, Daniel Briere scored his seventh.
Martin Biron of the Flyers was huge in the nets, stopping 34 of 36
Montreal shots. Price stopped 19 of 23 in the losing effort.
Montreal was 1-4 on the power play, Philly, 1-2.
Series tied 1-1
Game 1:
Canadiens need less than a minute of OT to ground the Flyers
April 24, 2008 -- MONTREAL -- Two goals in 76.6 seconds—Alex Kovalev’s with 28.6 left in regulation to tie the contest at 3, then Tom Kostopoulos’ OT winner just 48 seconds into the extra period were the difference as Les Habs take a 1-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
It was a power-play goal with netminder Carey Price on the bench for Kovalev that will be remembered, but one shouldn’t forget his short-handed marker in the second to tie it at 2 goals apiece. The goals were his third and fourth of the playoffs.
Flyers D Jaroslav Modry was not in the lineup for a third straight game and will return to the Czech Republic on Saturday to attend the burial of his father, who died last week after a seven-month battle with colon cancer.
MONTREAL LEADS 1-0