Faceoff Factor

Canadiens v Flyers Game 3 Preview

Andrew Chiappazzi | National Hockey League

Apr 28, 12:58 AM | Hype this story!

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Canadiens (1) vs. Flyers (6) Game 3
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Series Score: Canadiens 1 – Flyers 1
Game Time: 7:00 EST
Location: Wachovia Arena (Philadelphia)
Television: Versus, CBC, RDS

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I called this a chess match in the last preview. So, in that vain, here’s what happened Saturday night: Montreal tried to bring out the Queen/Bishop/Rook vertical attack combination, but Philly castled and used a Knight to knock out the Bishop and Rook. Montreal’s Queen is left standing, but she’s shaking in her knickers and looking around her at the pawns, trying to decide which one to sacrifice next.

That’s what happens when you lose at home in the playoffs. Suddenly, it’s a five game series, and Philly has home-ice advantage.

I also called the Flyers an unintelligent hockey organization in the last preview. They showed that, for at least one game, they can be smart. They started strong with two straight goals from RJ Umberger and Jeff Carter before becoming the Flyers, briefly, and allowing the Canadiens back in the game with two straight penalties. Les Habitants converted on opportunity number deux, as Saku Koivu scored his first goal of the playoffs.

Koivu’s emergence will be key for the Habs to do anything in this series and beyond. He has to take pressure of Kovalev, because the Kostitsyn’s won’t be a scoring version of the Hanson Brothers all series. Indeed, they didn’t even register a point in Game Two.

The Flyers will take penalties – they took six Saturday night – but they need to do it in balance against the other team. Montreal took five, so both teams were in the box for about the same amount of time. Philly had just one 5 on 3 against them – usually their death knell – and two of the penalties against them occurred as joint penalties with a Montreal player going to the box as well.

Philly continues to be without Mike Knuble, who is going to try and skate today and see if he can be of service late in the series. Montreal did not have Patrice Brisebois on Saturday and he will not make the trip to Philly for Game 3. Game 4 is in question as well.
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Injuries
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Montreal: Brisebois (out, leg)
Philadelphia: Knuble (doubtful, torn hamstring)