After failing to end the series on Wednesday, the Flyers have another chance to send Montreal packing tonight.
Aside from the second game of the series, goals had been hard to come by for both sides. The flood gates finally began to open on Wednesday as the Flyers and Canadiens combined for eight goals. The three goals for Philadelphia were the most they had gotten past Carey Price in the series.
Montreal shot four past Carter Hart, tied for the most he has given up in a game. So both teams finally found a way to beat the other goaltender. And Philadelphia finally got their power play kicking as they grabbed three goals on the man advantage.
Things got chippy as the two combined for 14 penalties. Jesperi Kotkaniemi ended up with a major and game misconduct early in the second period. That’s where the Flyers grabbed two of their power play goals.
Matt Niskanen was also involved in a dangerous play where he ended up getting his stick up near the mouth of Brendan Gallagher. While no penalty was called on the play, the NHL announced late Thursday night that Niskanen would be suspended for tonight’s game.
It would come out during the day that Gallagher ended up with a broken jaw on the play. He won’t be available to the Canadiens for the rest of the series. He has to leave the bubble to get surgery. If Montreal somehow pulls it off, there’s no word on if he would be able to come back and play.
So the Flyers have to figure out how to replace Niskanen in the lineup. While Shayne Gostisbehere will almost certainly check in, there’s a few players who could take that top spot next to Ivan Provorov.
With the loss of Gallagher, Montreal will no doubt be just as chippy as they were in the previous game. They have everything to lose in this one so the Flyers have to be on their toes once again. They cannot let Montreal take this to a seventh game.
All the momentum will be on their side if they are able to force that win or go home game. While the Canadiens have stayed alive longer than anyone has expected, the Flyers are still the better team in the end. Price has been able to stand on his hand during this series, keeping it as close as it has been.
If the Flyers are able to close this one out, they will have the New York Islanders waiting for them. They closed out their series against the Washington Capitals on Thursday evening.
On the surface, that would be a tough matchup for the Flyers. Especially if you take a look at their season series. But first, the Flyers have to find a way to finish off Montreal once and for all.