Can you say, "Big Game"?

I think that the Habs will break this one wide open.

If they can start the game skating and earn a quick first goal, the pent up frustration of the last 4 games will be unleashed in an offensive onslaught of such finality that the Flyers won’t want to play games 6 or 7.

If the Habs win tonight and win convincingly, I think they can grab the series.

I’d like to see Michael Ryder in the line-up. I’m thinking back to the last game of last season – another must win game – and the Newfoundland native put three codfish into the Maple Leafs’ net. Looking at the lines I understand that it’s difficult to make room for him, but I think that I’d sit Mark Streit and have Ryder play with Maxim Lapierre and Guillaume Latendresse. The Higgins-Koivu-Ryder line could even be reunited for a few shifts.

Sergei Kostitsyn can take Streit’s spot on the powerplay. SK lined up well with Tenderness and Laps when they played a few games together a couple months ago, so mixing up the lines during the game wouldn’t be a big risk. The first line of AK-27, Pleks, AK-46 and the shutdown line of Steve Begin, Bryan Smolinksi, Tom Kostopolous can stay intact for the game.

I’m sure Ryder is done with the Habs after the playoffs and it would also be nice to see him in the bleu-blanc-rouge one last time.

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I think Carbo made the right decision going with Jaroslav Halak last game. Sure, we didn’t get the win, but Halak played well and it gave Price a chance to get some rest – both physical and mental. During the intros and the anthems last game in Philadelphia, the camera zoomed in on Price a few times and you could tell that it was the first time he was really taking a good look around. He’s only 20 years-old and is in the NHL playoffs as the number one goaltender for the storied Montreal Canadiens.

I’m glad that he got to be a fan for a game.

But the break’s over, kid – time to get back to work.

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Tonight’s standouts: Carey Price, Christopher Higgins, Bryan Smolinksi, Francis Bouillon, the Tie.