Flyers, Habs set for Game 2

Oh boo hoo. i just hope they try to even the score by playing good hockey, not by gooning it up.

1. www.flickeringpictures.com - not a hockey site, but still kinda neat
2. Josh Gorges on Montreal's attack: "They're comin', they're comin' and they keep comin'. Just line after line, wave after wave..."

After the goal the flyers got away with in game 7 of the capitals series it's hilarious to even consider that the flyer faithfull would be irate about this game. The hockey lords - in TO no less- viewed that Kovalev goal over and over and over and couldn't see a high stick making contact with the puck. So they rightly call it a goal. Maybe that's too confusing for philly folks but that is the way it's done. The ref saw Richards knee come out on Kovslev. So did I and everyone else. Whether Richards' knee come out first or the upper part of his body is kind of hard for a ref to distinguish. In any event the knee should not have come out. This whole song and dance is about getting some sympathy- or leverage some might say- for the next game. The,'you owe us one mentality'. Tell that to the last team you played philly when you guys got two big calls(including the overtime penalty) in game 7. The sad part is this ploy has been known to work in the past.
The Habs got all the breaks did they? You might say that
if you were an idiot who didn't watch the game. Anyone else is just a liar.

GO HABS.

Wow ... lot of whining in the Philly media. They didn't mind much when the refs turned a blind eye on that Philly "goal" against the Caps after they plowed Huet out of his crease. And they sure didn't object when Washington got that cheezy penalty in overtime.

The Kovalev goal? When it's that close, you have to call it a goal. I'd live with it if it happened to us.

The kneeing penalty? It was a kneeing penalty, what's the controversy? Each team got called for three penalties, and I thought they were all legit, yes, the Montreal ones too. Well-called game, as the refs kept it clean but let them play.

Here's hoping the Broadstreet Babies have more to whine about after tonight! GHG!!

If you're into stats history, you'll be encouraged that there is a 70% success rate of taking the second round of the playoffs if you've won game 1.

Hopefully Montreal fans will remain true to the team, the game, and the dignity & honor that goes with those two elements by acting in a civilized manner before, during, and after the game tonight.

My view of Thursday's game was that the teams both played decent, exchanging chances and mistakes, but that they could both play much better. While some of the calls may have been moderately controversial, the Flyers deserved that loss. They were very fortunate to pick up two goals on fluky plays (Brisebois scores on own net then goal goes in off funny bounce off a skate at side of net). Montreal's goals were all the result of skilled plays girded with hard work - no luck involved.

I hope Habs come out with lots of speed on offense, excellent positional defense, and many solid hits all over the ice.

Philly is lucky to be in the second round. I hope the Canadiens pound them hard tonight.

I would like to see O'Byrne get some game. And, Ryder should see some ice time, maybe with LaPierre. I think Dandy and Brisebois need some rest for a couple of games. I'm not sure about Latendresse... I don't think Carbo will change much based on his "don't mess with a winning lineup" philosophy. But, I think some tweaking ought to be considered.

Love our top two lines giving lots of speed and scoring opps. Love the 4th line grinders who make things happen. That 3rd line needs to find its game. Love the larger than life Price whose overall play has been great.

Here's to a compelling win tonight!!!

What a great piece on Price. Philly got to let go of the first game it's too early to use up all their excuses.

Go Habs Go

Roy McGregor's article on Price and goaltenders is great. I love this line:

"How would you like it," Montreal's great Jacques Plante once asked, "if you were sitting in your office and you made one little mistake — suddenly, a big red light went on and 18,000 people jumped up and started screaming at you, calling you a bum and an imbecile and throwing garbage at you?"

Hopefully the fans don't make jacka**es of themselves again tonight...
http://habsbros.blogspot.com/

I have no idea what Red Fisher's article is talking about (what is the new My NHL 3?) but I think he's quite on target with his assessment of John Steven's comment after the game:

Stevens: "from Martin Biron on out, I thought we played a pretty gutsy game."

Fisher: "So they did. Stevens knew it. Flyers players knew it. The Canadiens knew it and I suspect their fans also know their team dodged a bullet in the series start."

Amen. Now let's forget the dodge and start firing some more bullets of our own just the way Kovy and Tom the Bomb showed us how when it counts.

Very big game tonight. It will go a long way in determining whether this series goes the distance or not.

BTW, Downie took a number of liberties in the first game. I would love to see SK74 catch him w/his head down the way he did in the OHL.

Lets not have a repeat of the last series when we let Boston back in. Team should come out flying, sticking to the game plan and grabbing a 2 game lead. The Flyers are good but can be had in 5. I wonder if there will be any changes for tonight's game. Would love to see O'Byrne & Ryder back in allowing us to rest a couple of veterans.

I've a feeling things will be a little rougher tonight as Flyers will likely play the intimidation card to get our star players off their games. I wouldn't mind seeing OB in the line-up tonight to give Brisebois a well deserved rest and to give us that extra muscle to clear the crease. I imagine they will be giving Price the once over. Hopefully our PP gets back on track and we can make them pay for their bully tactics. Komi.... play smart buddy!

GO HABS GO!!!

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Vive le Bleu, Blanc et Rouge

Boo Briere Louder!