The Canadiens finally hit the wall against Philadelphia. They scored the first goal of the game but it was one breakaway and odd-man rush after another through the rest of the first period and then the Flyers took advantage of a mistake prone Canadiens defence to eventually wear the Canadiens down for a 4-2 win and a 4-1 series win. The Flyers will play for the Stanley Cup starting Sunday in Chicago. .

“Sandgate” or “strapgate”. Where do you want to start? Some Flyers are apparently still trying to accuse the Canadiens of pouring sand on the matting leading to the ice surface to the ice surface from their dressing room at the Bell Centre. As for “Strapgate”. Once burned, twice shy. Josh Gorges says he would rather risk a broken foot that have the strap on those plastic footguards come loose again

Face elimination for the sixth time in this year’s playoffs tonight in Philadelphia. After being a healthy scratch in games three and four at the Bell Centre, Mathieu Darche will be back in the lineup tonight. Tom Pyatt’s availability will be a gametime decision. He suffered an upper body injury late in the second period of game four Saturday night.

The Canadiens came up totally flat against the Flyers in game four of their Eastern Conference final series against Philadelphia. Claude Giroux scored two goals, one of them into an empty net as Philadelphia blanked Montreal 3-0.

The Canadiens dominated the Philadelphia Flyers with their speed in recording a 5-1 win in game three of the Eastern Conference Final. It was the first game of the series at the Bell Centre. Michael Cammalleri, Tom Pyatt, Dominic Moore, Brian Gionta and Marc Andre Bergeron scored for the Canadiens. Simon Gagner for the Flyers who were outshot 38-26 in the game. (Read More)

Ryan O’Byrne will be a seventh defenceman tonight in game three of the Philadelphia/Montreal series replacing forward Sergei Kostitsyn, who’s return to the lineup lasted one game. Benoit Pouliot returns , replacing Mathieu Darche on the fourth line.

Practice for the Canadiens was optional today. Five players took to the ice following forty-five minutes of meetings. Game three of the series, tomorrow (Wednesday) at the Bell Centre.

For the second straight night goalscoring dried up as the Canadiens were beaten 3-0 behind Michael Leighton’s second straight shutout, Not only has Canadiens goalscoring disappeared, so has the special teams play that was so important to them against Washington and Pittsburgh.
(read more)

When Scotty Bowman talks, everyone listens. After game one of the Philadelphia/Canadiens Eastern Final, Bowman had some theories on Flyers success and Canadiens failure. (Read More)

Is it time for Jacques Martin to make some roster moves in light of the 6-0 beating handed his team last night in Philadelphia.

The Flyers clearly dominated the Canadiens physically, but it seemed more a case of the Habs failing to offer any kind of push-back than any special Philadelphia gameplan. After all, it wasn’t until the second period that the Flyers realized they could have their way with impunity.

And if Martin elects to make adjustments, where does he start? His entire team did in game one was substandard in game one