Philadelphia Flyers: Moving on to the second round

With a second crack at sending Montreal packing, the Flyers did just that as they come away with the series victory.

The Flyers were forced to come out with a different look for this one. With the suspension of Matt Niskanen, it was Shayne Gostisbehere who checked into the lineup. He also took the spot on the top pairing as Alain Vigneault elected to not split up his second pairing.

Philadelphia came out like a team ready for move on to the second round. They scored on the first shot that came Carey Price’s way. It was a faceoff in the zone that was won by Kevin Hayes. Ivan Provorov went forehand to backhand and fired it from just outside the circle. It originally appeared to hit Shea Weber on the way in.

The goal would later get changed to Travis Konecny, giving him his first of the post season. Except it ended up going back to Provorov after another look.

The Flyers added to their early lead on their third shot of the game. Gostisbehere, while not getting an assist, made the play happen by carrying it all the way in from the defensive zone. Hayes took the original shot but it ended up along the boards where Tyler Pitlick got it to Derek Grant.

Grant, from behind the net, got it to Hayes in front. Hayes skated on an angle as it was another goal that deflected on the way in. It was his first goal of the series and of the playoffs as a whole.

So two goals on three shots is not a bad start. The Canadiens did come back with some pressure and grabbed a goal on their only power play of the period. It was a Joel Armia shot that hit a body in front and came to the stick of Nick Suzuki for his second of the series.

The Flyers had power play chances of their own that they were unable to capitalize on. And despite getting outshot, out hit and beaten in the faceoff dot, they had the 2-1 lead at the intermission.

The Flyers earned their two-goal lead back with a goal by Michael Raffl. He took the puck away from Ben Chiarot and found Travis Sanheim. Sanheim sent it right back, Raffl then finding Jakub Voracek in the zone. Voracek dropped the no-look pass to Sanheim. He then sent the puck on net. It may have hit a body, the post, Price and then went in.

The Canadiens answered back once again, though.

Not even two minutes later, Suzuki grabbed his second of the game. Jonathan Drouin was able to shrug off Sanheim at the end boards and send the puck across the goal mouth. From the awkward angle and almost behind the net, Suzuki found daylight behind Carter Hart.

And while the Flyers were on the right side of the scoreboard heading into the second intermission, they did not have control of the game. The Canadiens were the hungrier team, once again winning the board battles and making it tough for Philadelphia to set up.

Montreal continued to have the shot advantage, a 20-12 difference in shots. Hart had to once again be on his game in this one. It finally looked like both teams were breaking through on the scoresheet at the end of this series.

The Flyers were much stronger to start the third period. With a one-goal deficit, Montreal was certain to come out even more desperate to stave off elimination. Philadelphia had to make sure they were careful and getting the puck in deep and not simply chipping it out of their own zone.

With their final attempts at tying the game, Price came to the bench for the extra attacker with about 1:40 left in the third. A last ditch effort came after the Canadiens took a timeout with ten seconds remaining.

And for the first time since 2012, the Philadelphia Flyers have won a playoff series. They will take on the New York Islanders in the second round. It’s the first time the two will meet in the playoffs since 1987.