Philadelphia Flyers: Canadiens score early and often to even series

Montreal did not let up one bit as they scored early and often to even up the series against the Flyers.

The lines went unchanged from the previous game as the Flyers touted the same lineup. Don’t changed what worked for you, right? Michael Raffl did skate during the warmup, leading everyone to believe he will return soon.

The most important thing for the Flyers to do was set the pace of the game. Too often Montreal took control of the pace and skated all over the ice.

Well, it was the Canadiens who got this one started early. While having seven shots and no points in the last game, Brendan Gallagher set up the first goal. He sent in a shot from the side of the net. It bounced off the pads of Carter Hart right to Tomas Tatar who gave Montreal the lead just over a minute in.

It is the first time since coming to Toronto that the Flyers have given up the first goal. The Canadiens were once again all over the ice to start. They had a 5-0 shot advantage not even three minutes in. The Flyers could not get in on the forecheck and found it even harder to escape their zone.

It went from bad to worse as the Canadiens went up 2-0 before the Flyers even had a shot on net. It was another turnover as Montreal set up shop in the zone. Jonathan Drouin spun around to take a shot in front. Hart kicked the puck up but Jesperi Kotkaniemi was right in front to pop in the rebound.

The Flyers had no answer for the Canadiens and almost went the entire first period without a shot on net. It took until about three minutes left for them to finally send something Carey Price’s way. It turned into a 16-6 shot advantage for Montreal after the first.

It was in no way, shape or form the way the Flyers wanted to come out to start this game. And the second didn’t start well either.

On the tail end of a power play that probably shouldn’t have been, Tatar put the Canadiens up 3-0 with his second of the late afternoon. Off the feed from Victor Mete at the line, Tatar was able to skate in uncovered and blast one past Hart.

The Flyers were given a chance to come back into the game on a two-man advantage. But even when they got traffic in front, Price was there to shut them down time and time again. He’s been known to steal a game and he was trying his best to do that. Not that the Flyers looked all that dangerous.

If you thought it couldn’t get worse, it did. Despite the Flyers looking more like themselves as the period went on, the Canadiens were able to grab a fourth goal. And they didn’t even score it themselves.

Joel Armia was able to skate away from Justin Braun and fire the puck towards the front of the net. It deflected perfectly off the skate of Shayne Gostisbehere and past Hart. And that would end the young goaltenders night.

Brian Elliott came in for his first bit of action in the first round. And he was welcomed almost immediately by Max Domi. The forward barreled into the Flyers goaltender whine on a breakaway and earned himself an interference call. Well, after taking a few punches and shoves from both Elliott and Matt Niskanen.

The Flyers continued to look more and more like themselves in the early stages of the third. But it was the play of Price that kept them off the scoreboard. Even after a Shayne Gostisbehere blast was rebounded to Derek Grant. Price seemingly came out of nowhere to dive across and acrobatically stop the shot.

Frustration started boiling over on the Flyers end as Travis Konecny took a bad cross-checking penalty about five minutes it. It wasn’t the first time Konecny was visibly frustrated during the game. Montreal wouldn’t score on that but they did score on their next man advantage. It was Kotkaniemi with his second of the night.

It was an absolute laser of a shot from the young forward. And at this point, it was all about getting out of this game healthy and looking towards Sunday. Unfortunately, that may not happen either. Konecny blocked a shot off his foot and hobbled to the locker room over midway through the period.

He would end up needing help getting down the tunnel and would not return to the game. It could be a big loss for the Flyers if the injury is serious.

It was an all around bad game as Montreal outworked the Flyers in just about every facet of the game. And even when they had chances, Price was sharp to stop them.

So with the series not evened up at one game apiece, the two will meet once again on Sunday. The Flyers will be looking for a much better outcome.