The Flyers, Co-Favorites with the Vegas Golden Knights to win Lord’s Stanley Cup, beat the Montreal Canadiens in game 1, 2-1. Three days after defeating the an elite Tampa Bay Lightning team 4-1, they came back and appeared to take their game to the next level. A lot of credit has to be given to Head Coach Alain Vigneault and his experienced coaching staff, as well as, Carter Hart and the overall team defense.
“ I’ve said this since I got to Philly,” Flyers Head Coach Alain Vigneault said yesterday, “I’m pretty sure I said it in my opening press conference and I’ve said it multiple times during the season. There’s only one way to play this game and that’s the right way. The right way is you have to read if you have room, do you have space and time to make play or if you don’t and the other teams’ got the gap, you got to get pucks behind, advance the puck. We’ve got to play the right way. When it’s time and we have space to make a play, let’s make that play. When you don’t have space and time and it’s time to defend, you have to be in the right position. You have to have your stick in the right position. You have to have numbers. Our guys have gone through this process. They understand the right way of playing. Now it’s up to us to go on the ice and show it. We’re playing against a very good. We’re a good team. Both teams want to win. We’re going to step on the ice and try to show it.”
The Flyers excelled today as they limited a Canadiens team to just five shots in the first period, where the Flyers team defense also limited prime scoring chances. The Flyers did a great job at taking away space from Nick Suzuki, Max Domi, Tomas Tatar, and Brendan Gallagher. This young Flyers defense was and has been quite impressive throughout the Round Robin Tournament, and they did a heck of a job in Game 1 in the first and third periods. Hart played well once again, and he just appears to be cool as a cucumber between the pipes, while making the tough saves look easy. The narrative that he won’t play well because he’s playing his childhood idol in Carey Price has been addressed in a good way tonight, and it should remain silent for the rest of the series. Vigneault said in his press conference before the game, “This is not Carter vs. Price. It’s Philly vs. Montreal.”
If it wasn’t for Hart after a lackluster second period the Canadiens could have easily been leading 3-1. Hart made 15 saves in the second period, and the Flyers were out shot 16-7 in the second. Fortunately, the Flyers blasted the Canadiens in the third period outshooting them 10-8, en route to the 2-1 victory.
Flyers Scoring:
Provorov (1)- Giroux, Konecny
Farabee (2)- Sanheim
What more could fans ask for in this tilt. It had a little of bit of everything including some rough stuff from Jakub Voracek, and Travis Konecny. Voracek was pissed in the first period as he was sticking up for Derek Grant. Grant slid into Carey Price, and had no way to avoid contact. Price took swipes at Grant, and that made Voracek mad so he tried to come to the aid of his teammate for Price taking liberty of Grant. The fans of Philadelphia and abroad can smell a Cup coming soon, rightfully so. This Flyers team is loaded with depth up and down the lineup. Ivan Provorov and Shayne Gostisbehere were solid, and it appears Provorov can play the whole game. Provorov is just so good at transitioning from defense to offense, that it’s hard to see him not have a good game, as it could be an average game for other defensemen. The Travis Sanheim-Philippe Myers pairing continues to be trusted by Vigneault in different types of situations, and they continued to play key minutes in critical situations.
Joel Farabee was phenomenal. He accounted for one of the Flyers two goals, and just had jump in his skates, his swagger is back. He played well defensively, and it lead to great offense. Ghost played an Ok game, but his partner Justin Braun struggled tonight. The Canadiens again took it to the Flyers in the second period. Moreover, Myers was phenomenal from puck drop. Myers broke up a 2-on-1 in the first, and transitions well to offense. Provorov tallied the Flyers first Power Play goal, finally right!!!! An absolute snipe.
A great second line in Laughton-Hayes-TK played very well again today, they had everything but the finished solely because of Price. Especially, in the third period. All in all, this game proved that the Flyers are ready to rock and roll, and are worthy of being noticed as they can definitely play better.
Hart was absolutely astounding. He was just so calm, and cool at the podium answering question after question. Hart just continues to answer the bell, and does is so calmly. The way he moves laterally post to post is a thing of beauty, as he robbed Brendan Gallagher and Lehokonen on multiple occasions.
Lastly, the Canadiens finished the game 1-1 on the Power Play, as Shea Weber cashed in on a goal in the second period. Teams, to include the Round Robin Tournament are now 2-14 with the man advantage against the Flyers. In addition, the Flyers Power Play finally struck Gold for the first time in the playoffs (To include the Round Robin Tournament, and 1-3 tonight) courtesy of a Provorov PP goal. This should give the Flyers some new found confidence moving forward with the man advantage. The Flyers PP is now 1-14 in the playoffs, and this is an area that the Flyers have focused on heavily in practices this week. It appears their hard work is paying off.
Ivan Provorov:
“He deserves to play on that line.” -Ivan Provorov on Joel Farabee
Carter Hart:
“Dilly has been awesome for me and Moose. It’s important to have a good relationship with your goalie coach.”
Sean Couturier:
“We can play better it will come.”
Let go Flyers! I’ve been waiting for this for 44 years!