Game Thread | Habs vs. Philadelphia | 03/06/06

SpiderManNL · Guru

Game Thread | Habs vs. Philadelphia | 03/06/06

SpiderManNL · Guru

SpiderManNL · Guru

Nil d · Guru

Well, I'd hate to jinx the boys, but with all the Flyers' injuries and the Habs' hot streak, this one's definitely winnable..............

Jedah · Guru

I would start Danis against Philly if I were Gainey. With 3 games in 4 nights, Huet needs a rest, and the game against Toronto is more important since they're chasing us for the 8th spot.

Johab · Guru

This is a tough one to call ( Who to start that is ) Huet has been hot of late, and we cant afford to lose ground because of a NHL rusty Danis. However, we cant lose against the leafs tomorrow and let them gain ground either. Easy way is to win BOTH games. So, with that said, these guys are professionals and the Leafs arent much better than the Flyers right now with all their injuries, so im going to go ahead and say Huet both nights and Danis takes Boston...

jeanthehabtiste · Senior Member

GO CANADAIENS. GIVER!

heet_150 · Guru

From Philly's web site:

http://www.philadelphiaflyers.com/scoresstats/previews/2472.asp

Flyers-Canadiens Preview

(AP)

If the Philadelphia Flyers are to avoid their first five-game losing streak in nearly four years, they'll have to do it against a hot opponent.

The Flyers host the Montreal Canadiens, who have won the first three games of a six-game road trip.

Philadelphia has lost its last four games after a 4-2 defeat to the New York Islanders on Saturday. The Flyers have not dropped five in a row since March 28-April 4, 2002.

"The game is on the line, and we took two poor penalties in the third period," said Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock of Petr Nedved's four-minute penalty for high-sticking and Joni Pitkanen's cross-checking minor. "We competed at a high level, we just got beat."

Mike Knuble scored his 26th goal of the season in the loss, snapping a personal six-game goal scoring drought. Knuble is only four goals shy of his career high of 30, set in 2002-03 with the Boston Bruins.

The Flyers also need to address a drought against the Canadiens. They have lost three straight games to Montreal for the first time since 2001, getting outscored 13-5 in the process.

The Canadiens scored four unanswered third-period goals in a 6-2 win over the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. Montreal has earned at least one point in eight straight games, going 6-0-2 during the stretch.

"We came out strong and ended strong," said Montreal's Richard Zednik, who started the scoring outburst with the game-winner. "You can't ask for much better hockey than that. I thought we really showed a lot of character tonight, by sticking to our guns."

The Canadiens' success has come with backup goaltender Cristobal Huet starting in place of former Hart and Vezina Trophy winner Jose Theodore, who is out for 6-to-8 weeks with a fractured right heel.

Huet has won four of his last five starts, the loss coming Feb. 11 in a shootout against Atlanta. He has a 1.67 goals-against average with one shutout and a .943 save percentage in the last three games.

Huet also made 25 saves in Montreal's 5-0 win over the Flyers on Feb. 5.

The Canadiens hold the eighth and final playoff spot in the East as they try to reach the postseason in back-to-back years since the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons.

Montreal is two points behind Tampa Bay for seventh, and leads ninth-place Atlanta by four points.

STANDINGS: Canadiens - 66 points, 3rd place, 19 PB, Northeast Division. Flyers - 76 points, 2nd place, 4 PB, Atlantic Division.

TEAM LEADERS: Canadiens - Michael Ryder, 24 goals; Saku Koivu, 29 assists; Alexei Kovalev and Koivu, 43 points; Steve Begin, 99 PIM. Flyers - Simon Gagne, 37 goals; Peter Forsberg, 49 assists and 64 points; Donald Brashear, 110 PIM.

SPECIAL TEAMS (through March 5): Canadiens - Power play: 18.3 percent (60 for 328), 11th (tied) in NHL. Penalty killing: 81.4 percent (301 for 370), 19th (tied). Flyers - Power play: 17.8 percent (63 for 355), 18th. Penalty killing: 78.6 percent (276 for 351), 26th.

GOALTENDERS: Canadiens - Huet (9-5-3, 3 SO, 2.26 GAA); Yann Danis (3-2-0, 1, 2.69). Flyers - Antero Niittymaki (18-11-6, 2, 2.99); Robert Esche (15-7-4, 0, 3.12).

SEASON SERIES: Canadiens, 3-0.

LAST MEETING: Feb. 5; Canadiens, 5-0. At Montreal, Ryder scored his first career hat trick and Kovalev had two assists.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Canadiens - 13-15-4 on the road; Flyers - 16-9-6 at home.

Monday, March 06, 2006

Copyright© 1999-2006 Comcast Spectacor, L.P.
All rights reserved.
Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form.

page printed from www.philadelphiaflyers.com

heet_150 · Guru

And: http://www.philadelphiaflyers.com/pressbox/archive/2471.asp

Gagne Expected to Return Monday

Flyers right wing nursing a bone bruise

Flyers left wing and leading goal scorer Simon Gagne is expected to make his return to the lineup on Monday when the Flyers host the Montreal Canadiens at the Wachovia Center (7:00 p.m., OLN). Gagne has missed the first three games since the end of the Olympic break, nursing a bone bruise in his right knee he suffered while playing for Team Canada in Torino, Italy. Gagne has skated at the Sovereign Bank Flyers Skate Zone on his own for the past three days.

Philadelphia did not practice on Sunday and will be trying to break a four-game losing streak on Monday after dropping a 4-2 decision to the New York Islanders on Saturday night.

Below are Gagne’s comments regarding his condition.

“I didn’t have a chance to practice with the team [Sunday], so it’s very tough to tell how I’m going to feel one-on-ones and stuff like that. It’s good to skate and take some shots and all that and turn around, and my legs feel very good, too. I’m ready to go. I may talk to Jimmy [McCrossin] first, and I was hoping to practice today but we have more issues than practicing. Hopefully tomorrow with the morning skate I can get some passes and do some stuff but right now, like I said, I feel very good.

“In my mind [Saturday] after practice, my target was Monday, but at the same time you want to have a good test in practice in one-on-ones and three-on-twos. It’s fine right now, skating like I was doing today, but it’s different in game situations. [Monday] I should be good.

“We’ve battled through so much this year with injuries, and it’s tough to take that as an excuse, but at the same time it’s a fact. Some guys are going to get back pretty soon and we’ll have a team slowly. Hopefully I can be back tomorrow and see what kind of team we have. I know there’s only 20 games [left] now, and it’s a short time, but it might be the best time of the year to get some guys back.”

Sunday, March 05, 2006

Copyright© 1999-2006 Comcast Spectacor, L.P.
All rights reserved.
Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form.

page printed from www.philadelphiaflyers.com

ray · Senior Member

I gotta say go with Huet until we see signs of fatigue or possibly put some room between us and ninth place. The guy hasn't played much in the last two years and just came off the Olympic break, so he must be well rested. Love to win both of these games, and its not impossible to catch the Flyers in the standings, with them playing so bad of late. Yeah I know im getting ahead of myself, but we can all dream can't we. One last thing, don't lose to the leafs on Tuesday thats all i ask. To win that game and tonight would leave them 11 pts out of eight and pretty much close their season off, which would make me a happy boy. I'll be at the game tuesday so come on boys beat the Bullies and then Buds.

NEWFIEHABSFAN · Senior Member

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

24 Rings · Guru

I agree that the one against the Leafs is the bigger of the two games because we are in the race with them and it is a 4 point swing. Still I would go with Huet because this one is very winnable: 1) We play a fast style that big Philly can't keep up with 2) They have tons on injuries 3) They are playing like sh*t!

Habtastic · Guru

From what I read and heard on the radio, Huet seemed a bit mentally fatigued near the end of Saturday's game, so with the two games after this one being 4pt ones, I would play Danis tonight and Huet against the Laffs and the Bruins.

Habtastic

SpiderManNL · Guru

0-0 after one period of play.

barry33 · Guru

SpiderManNL wrote:

0-0 after one period of play.

A good "road period" with chances at both ends. Huet looks a bit tired though.

barry33 · Guru

One thing is very clear to me..when we run into a GOOD GOALIE, we cannot score (see Luongo in Florida). When we play goalies who are weak or having off nights (see Grahame in Tampa, Snow in NY) we score in bunches. We are lacking finish. Maybe we need to go get Selanne (we are lacking "Finish")

-- Edited by barry33 at 20:29, 2006-03-06

SpiderManNL · Guru

The Flyers lead 2-1 after two periods.

superhab · Guru

Man Ribs is playing well, i don't usually like him but i gotta give him some credit, when he hit Gagne i couldn't belive it was him that was a huge hit, and clean too. Nice goal as well, I guess its a good thing we didn't send him to hamilton with his buddy Dags

plouf · Guru

Montreal has to feel like they can win this one. They outplayed Philly over two periods, especially at even strength, and only Esche kept them in. Then a couple of weird goals and they're down.

Both Kovalev and Koivu dumb penalties out of frustration from not scoring after getting so close. At least those two are playing well. Still, very dumb penalties. Kovalev has to learn not to take such long shifts. Zednik-Bulis-Ribeiro great combo where everyone contributed. Top 2 lines look dangerous but have to SHOOT the puck.

Also, I have to agree with And-o, Komisarek looks like a whole different player out there.

Nil d · Guru

barry33 wrote:

One thing is very clear to me..when we run into a GOOD GOALIE, we cannot score (see Luongo in Florida). When we play goalies who are weak or having off nights (see Grahame in Tampa, Snow in NY) we score in bunches. We are lacking finish. Maybe we need to go get Selanne (we are lacking "Finish")-- Edited by barry33 at 20:29, 2006-03-06

Pun intended?

plouf · Guru

Goaltending the difference again, except this time going the other way. That's two straight soft goals allowed by Huet, while Esche (and his posts) are looking good on the other end. 4-2 Philly, around 10 mins. left.

Nil d · Guru

Huet - 3 goals allowed on 17 shots so far in the game (save "%" .823). How is he playing?

Barry commented that he looked tired. Should he be rested tomorrow night?

Nil d · Guru

Nil d wrote:

Huet - 3 goals allowed on 17 shots so far in the game (save "%" .823). How is he playing? Barry commented that he looked tired. Should he be rested tomorrow night?

Damn! Make that 4 goals on 18 shots (SP .778)

Nil d · Guru

What the hell's with all these penalties at the end of the game? Are the refs trying to put on their best imitation of Don(ut) Koh-arse-ki? Are they all warranted?

Nil d · Guru

Listening to the game on NHL.com - sounds like an absolute barn-burner!

Nil d · Guru

Who's that whiz in Mike Ribeiro's old uniform?

Habtastic · Guru

Nil d wrote:

Huet - 3 goals allowed on 17 shots so far in the game (save "%" .823). How is he playing?
Barry commented that he looked tired. Should he be rested tomorrow night?

Yup, I have been saying since Saturday that from Radio and Reading that Huet seems tired. I think Danis should have played so Huet was rested for the Laffs and Bruins.

Habtastic

Nil d · Guru

F#$%^&%$# Nedved!

Still, great effort in the late third period, and a well-earned point!

AB Habman · Guru

I never want to see Ryder in another shootout this season. The guy is sooooooo predictable! Shoots way too high because the goalies know where he want to go.

Jedah · Guru

Would have been nice to get the two points, but I thought the boys really stole the point away from the Flyers. Being down 4-2 it's rare that you would come back, so I'll take it.

Let's hope for two tomorrow night!