Briere’s Hat Trick Helps Flyers Crush Les Habitants

Four seconds into the game, Laperriere fought O’Byrne, dropping the bigger man (4″ height advantage) with a clean hook.  The knockout punch was just a precursor of how the game would go. The Flyers played inspired hockey from the get-go, taking a 3-0 lead into the first intermission. Leading the way were Briere, Carter and Richards.  In the second, Montreal got one back before a shorthanded breakaway goal from Betts, and Briere’s second extended the lead.Gomez cut the lead to 5-2, before Briere went on a breakaway and was tripped up.  He iced the penalty shot, completing the hat trick in front of 21,000 booing fans, and a few happy family members. Final scored, 6-2 Flyers.  Briere is from Gatineau, and when he was a free agent a few years ago, his decision to not sign with the Habs pissed off their fan base.  Since then, he’s been booed every time that he’s played there. Gatineau is much closer to Ottawa than Montreal, so why the Canadiens fans are angrier is a bit of a mystery to me.

Still, it’s fun having a Habs-killer on the team again.  John LeClair used to fill that role nicely after coming over in that trade in the mid-90’s.  Briere, who’s Flyers career hasn’t been everything the fans had dreamed it would be, showed a lot of his goal scoring prowess in this game.  One goal came from being at the right spot at the right time, when he pounced on a rebound and put it in.  Next, he showed some hand eye coordination by redirecting a shot that was going wide.  Finally, on the penalty shot, he should speed and agility when he deked out Carey Price.  All in all, it was a solid performance and an excellent way to head into the Olympic break.

Notes

• For the second game in a row, Plekanec was face-planted into the boards on a bit from Powe.  And just like the previous night, it was a result of him trying to turn away from a hit.  There’s a lesson in this: when you are near the boards, don’t turn your back to someone that’s going to hit you, it’s going to hurt.  I thought these professionals were taught at an early age how to take hits.  If your near the boards, and see it coming, get as close as possible, and let your shoulders absorb the hit, not your face.
• Leighton let up another softy, but it obviously didn’t matter.  Although I still don’t like him, he has improved and has a pretty good record.  However, when Emery is ready, I welcome him back.  There’s no goalie controversy in my mind.
• The Flyers will go into the break holding onto the 6th seed in the East, and are within striking distance of the next few spots.  Although it will be hard, it’s still conceivable for them go win the division. I don’t see this happening, but you never know.  I’m pretty happy with how they played down the stretch heading into this break, and that they were motivated enough to play hard in most of the games. They could have just looked ahead towards the break and mailed it in, but they didn’t, and I like that attitude.  I hope that mental state remains with them once March arrives.
• I’d love for the Flyers Olympians to remain healthy, and for them to get a break, but at least every other team in the league has to deal wit the same issues.

Thanks for reading!

Follow me on Twitter by visiting www.Twitter.com/BroadStreetBuzz