Canadiens Beat Flyers in Game One

Posted by Justin on April 25, 2008 at 6:54 am

One down, three to go. If tonight is any indication than it is going to be one hell of a series between these two teams. Philadelphia played stronger than even the Canadiens could have fathomed, especially for a team that has played three game in four days. The end result of this game was 4-3 for the Habs in overtime, after going down 2-0 in the first.

Goals by Andrei Kostitsyn and Alex Kovalev in the second period brought this game to even, but Joffrey Lupul scored a fluke off of his skate to take the lead in the third. With 29 seconds remaining in the third period Koivu won the draw to the left of Biron, which found Kovalev with a clear shot to the top right of the net.

Overtime was very short lived as the Canadiens dominated all 48 seconds of it. Some great defensive play in the Philadelphia end game Kostopoulos the opportunity with the puck in the front of the net, and ended up scoring on his own rebound.

This game also saw the Habs return to old form as their speedy selves. Philadelphia played a very neutral game with Downie putting in some nice hits when he had his chance on the ice. Other goals by Philadelphia were scored by R.J. Umberger and James Dowd. They kept it close, but we turned on the jets in OT.

Frankly, we stole this game, but their were a few chances early which rang off the post and beat Biron that may have drawn a completely different picture in this game. Kovalev’s shorthanded goal in the second was in danger of being taken away, but the referee’s were able to determine that he in fact, did not use a high stick to score the goal.