The Flyers are in Montreal tonight, where they will face a 2008 playoff foe for the second consecutive game. They came up just short in Pittsburgh on Thursday, once again losing in a shootout. Still, they showed some resiliency in coming back from an early deficit, but they just couldn't finish.
On Thursday, the Flyers were looking for revenge after the Pens eliminated them from the playoffs last season. But tonight, Montreal is the squad looking to settle a score. Heavily favored as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, the Habs were no match for Philly, who saw outstanding play from Marty Biron and the now departed RJ Umberger. Their fans pulled some dumb shit with a certain piece of Philadelphia fine art, which obviously had a hexing effect.
This year, the Canadiens are 9-3-2 and in a tight early race in the Northeast Division; one of those Ws came in South Philly last month. Their dominant power play from last year has been quiet, with only 17.6% efficiency. Still, they're winning their games at even strength, doing a great job limiting opposing attacks, and they've only lost once in six games at home.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Philadelphia sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
If shootouts are the Flyers' kryponite, then short-handed situations are the earth's yellow sun. They've scored eight shorties this season, the most in the NHL, led by Simon Gagne's four. Gags is on fire lately, with 12 points in his last seven games.
Should be a good one in hockey's Mecca tonight. Marty Biron will be in net.