PHILADELPHIA - Another series, two different approaches for the Montreal Canadiens and the Philadelphia Flyers, who meet tonight in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final.
For the Habs, they are going to be seeing a much more physical and grittier team in the Flyers than they saw in the Washington Capitals or the Pittsburgh Penguins, their upset victims in the first two rounds.
“It’s a different team than we faced in the first two rounds. If they have the chance, they are going to dump the puck in and go after us,” said Canadiens defenceman Jaroslav Spacek. “They’ll be finishing their checks much more than in the first two rounds.”
Contributing to the uncomfortable atmosphere for the visitors will be the crowd at the Wachovia Center which will be nasty and loud and you wouldn’t expect anything less here.
“They’re Flyers fans. They’re into the game. They’re like the team, loud, dirty and they’re involved. It’s a blue collar crowd. It’s not Toronto. They paid their money for tickets and they’re going to enjoy it,” said Canadiens defenceman Hal Gill.
The Canadiens also present a different puzzle for the Flyers after Philly eliminated the New Jersey Devils and the Boston Bruins in that epic comeback from 3-0 in the Bruins series.
“Because of their speed, they can create a lot of havoc and make turnovers,” said Flyers defenceman Kimmo Timonen. “We’ve got to play smarter. Not change much, just play smarter. The last couple of series against the Devils and Boston, they all play tight, they’re all looking for turnovers.
“Our game is to forecheck hard and create turnovers.”
The series pits the seventh (Philly) and eighth seeds for the first time since this format was adopted in 1994.
A key matchup to watch for tonight is Canadiens forward Mike Cammalleri, who has an NHL-leading 12 goals, going up against Flyers defenceman Chris Pronger. Cammalleri and the Habs haven’t faced a dominating defenceman like Pronger in the playoffs yet.
HEAR AND THERE: Canadiens forward Sergei Kostitsyn, who was in the doghouse for his pouting for not playing and leaving the ice before the rest of the Black Aces at one point in the last round, is back with the team and participated in the morning skate today. Canadiens coach Jacques Martin had a one-on-one with him at one point. “We’re going to help him be on the path he needs to be,” said Spacek of Kostitsyn...Flyers forward Ian Laperierre, out since taking that slapshot in the face, skated with his teammates today in a yellow non-contact jersey. “They guys were teasing me. I guess they’re glad to see me,” said Laperierre, who suffered a brain bruise and needed 90 stitches to close the cut in his right eyebrow. “You know if this were an elbow or a shoulder, I’d be playing. This has got to be 100%. We’re not going to take any chances for obvious reasons. The most frustrating thing is I feel normal, I feel great.”...Flyers forward Scott Hartnell has had his hair cut this season and is wearing it in a ponytail in the dressing room. “He looks like a guy on the evolution chain, maybe five or six guys deep,” joked Canadiens forward Glen Metropolit, a teammate of Hartnell’s with the Flyers in 2008-09.
 |
|
