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Round 2, Game 4: Bégin penalty costs Canadiens
posted by Kevin Mio at 21h40 EST on Apr 30
And as has been the case all series, the Flyers again scored first when R.J. Umberger beat Halak under the blocker with a shot from the side boards during a power play with Koivu in the penalty box. It was Umberger's fourth goal of the series, and he has scored the first goal of the game three times this series.
Umberger added an empty-net goal with two seconds to go to seal the game.
Scott Hartnell made it 2-0 6:47 into the third period, marking the fourth time in the series that the Flyers have taken a 2-0 lead in the game. Hartnell gathered a rebound after Vaclav Prospal hit the post after picking up the puck in the neutral zone off a Bryan Smolinski turnover.
After the second goal, the Flyers were content with controlling the play and killing the remainder of the clock as the Canadiens tried in vain to find a way to beat Biron.
Halak, making his first NHL postseasin start, played well despite the loss, stopping 22 of the 25 shots he faced.
In the first period, the line of Sergei Kostitsyn, Tomas Plekanec and Andrei Kostitsyn had the Flyers dizzy as they controlled the play for a long time in the offensive zone, but they were unable to beat Biron. The line was also buzzing in the second period, but Andrei Kostitsyn missed two scoring chances in the frame.
The Canadiens were 0-for-4 on the power play as the NHL's best in the regular season has completely fallen to pieces in the postseason. The Flyers scored two of their four goals with the man advantage and that was once again the difference as Philadelphia took advantage of their opportunities.
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habs have played well? are you joking? If they were playing well, they wouldn't be down 3 games to 1. They're just a bunch of soft pussies afraid to get hit and do the dirty work it takes to win!
if you don't think they've played well you must be a) blind b) retarted or c) as blind and retarted as a Gay Leafs fan!!!! How does being "afraid" of getting hit get you 35+ shots a game? If that's a new user name that you switched to already you are the biggest donkey on earth, cause you'll be watching the same GREAT team next year with some minor adjustments so what will you change it to then? You'll probably have to change that back in a week and look as stupid as you sound.
GO HABS GO!!!!
Are you sure you are not a leaf fan, because with your attitude, I think so. or you couldnt make your plane fly.
Guys,
The Habs have played well in this series and unfortunately it hasn't worked out. A few of our defensive lapses have lead to goals and the Flyers to be certain, might be saying they are the better team, but I think, they are patting Biron's head for such a great series that he is having them. Saving them from what could be a very different story. I wonder how different these games would be if we could ever score first. That must be a priority going forward, because then Philly will have to play differently and we will be able to use our speed more. One thing we learned for sure in this series, is that we are a little small in the middle and I think this problem will be addressed in the off-season with people coming and going and perhaps a trade. I for one am not yet giving up on the dream. We can beat this team, the question is will we be able to. Beyond that, this team is very young and like Washington this year and Pittsburgh last year, young teams take time to learn how the playoffs are played, we will only get better for it, in the long run. The future is bright and the present has been really exciting.
GO HABS GO!!!
Kostopolous - yeah definately a soft player who's done nothing for us in the playoffs right?
Josh Georges - Not playing above and beyond his age and experience level, right?
Christobal Huet - Still in the playoffs, right?
Carey Price - Done nothing but shit the bed since being handed the reigns, right?
Sergei Kostitsyn - Did not benefit from Gainey setting him up with Mark Hunter in London with the Knights where he developed a more gritty physical style of play, right?
You - BIGGEST MORON ON EARTH.......CORRECT!!!!!!!
I strongly suggest that you apply for Gainey's job since you seem to know what to do and he doesn't.
Ali B.
good post as there is too much negativity.
saku has been 95% awesome - clearly the best hab on the ice... except he was in the box for a lazy penalty on the first goal.
putting on my positive hat (where the heck did it go anyway). habs win at home saturday by a good margin. then less than 24 hours later the puck is dropped again - and guess what???? HABS WIN.
Then game 7 BABY
GO HABS GO
its he same old situation.super hot flyers goalie.we go down 2 zip.desperation kicks in too late and begins dumb penalty didnt help for sure. look habs fans nothing short of a cup will do for us but lets be realistic here.before the start of the regular season our beloved habs were predicted to finish 13th place in the east.we finished 1st overall in the east!! plus weve made it to the second round of the playoffs!. not bad for a team predicted to finish 13th.give this team 2 more years to jell and stanley will be comming home where he belongs.as for now, get on ur knees and pray to the hockey gods that birons magic powers expires at 7pm saturday night. go habs goooo!!
Shhh, This is our year, We will come back to beat the Flyers!
I think it's unfair to solely blame Begin for the loss tonight; yes the penalty was dumb but the man gives his all day in day out for this club as he showed when he blocked a shot in the gut earlier and had to go to the rooms. We lost this game because Biron is on fire right now and turnovers are killing us - Smolinkski's in particular was awful. Hopefully we can get into Biron's head for the next 3 games (get in front of the net, rough him up a bit maybe... ;-D ) and make a brilliant comeback.
On a seperate note thank god for CJAD as I live in Australia and their coverage (plus this site) is keeping me sane!!!
COME ON HABS!!!! #1 IN THE EAST LETS SHOW 'EM WHY!
I totally agree. Begin was not the only reason the Habs lost... and I'm obviously a bit biased because I do love Begin. Although a VERY stupid penatly, there were alot of bad passes which also added to the loss. Plus, although it was a bad penalty, it's not Begin's usual style.
I was down last night like everybody else but it is difficult at times to witness how posters change their allegiances with the wind. Fair weather fans at best. However, I feel better this morning. Still very proud to be a Hab. Time to prepare for game five on Saturday.
The Original 24.4 Cups
"it is difficult at times to witness how posters change their allegiances with the wind. Fair weather fans at best"
No kidding!!! I've been making a point of that every time it comes up. People, there are 30 NHL teams and 1 gets to win the Cup, be thankful you're rooting for a young talented team with a future and hopefully many playoff runs! Otherwise, take your bandwagon and go join Leaf Nation!
You guys make me laugh and you're the ones that sound like Leaf fans. So what you're saying is that if someone criticizes his team then he's not a fan or better yet a bandwagon fan?
Plecks, Kovy, Kost
Koivu, Ryder, S. Kost
Lapps, Higgins, streit
Please!!
you know nothing
you're an idiot
I keep reading how Begin was caught up ice on that PP goal, but the odd man rush was a result of Gorges firing a hard shot (that missed) with three Flyers ready to jump up ice. Lapierre caught up to negate the 3 on 2, but then ran out of gas. Begin was the last Hab back, but still had two Flyers behind him. Begin was last back because he was at the crease looking for a redirect or rebound on Gorges shot. His play was neither stupid or reckless. The late game hit was a poor time to try to make Kapanen pay for his slewfoot on Plek, but that's the way Begin plays, and I hope he doesn't change.
The amount of slashing and filth the Flyers are getting away with has taken its toll on les boys, and there's going to be some payback where we take penalties. We just need to make sure our PK closes down their chances, and get our PP working down low.
Game 5 will be our vengeance time!
Bury it!
Do you not think Gainey tried to get grit? The Ryan Smyth types said "no thanks" to playing in Quebec so we settled for Kotsopolous and Smolinski... and the Patrick Marleau chase is still ongoing... and Kyle Chipchura is getting seasoned in the AHL... and so on.
If only he could pry Brenden Morrow out of Dallas.
Same excuse year after year?
You mean the excuses that are made after a 7th to 10th place finish followed by a first round elimination? Sounds like this year to me.
Last time I checked when Gainey took over the Habs hadn't won the division in 12 years, hadn't finished with 100 points in 11 years, hadn't won the Conference in 15 years and won 2 playoff rounds in 11 years.
In his 4 seasons at the helm they have won the same amount of playoff rounds, finished with 100 points and won their division and conference.
All with one of the youngest teams in the league and a ton of cap room coming up this summer.
What an imbecile that Bob Gainey is. Let's get rid of him for disgracing this franchise by bringing it back to respectability
thanks for that, don cherry
It's Begin's role to forecheck and to play physical. You often see that he is one of the last players back because he is the player who is pressing the other team when they have the puck in their own zone.
It is very typical for us fans to find a bad mistake by a player and make it seem like that player has been costing us all along. Begin has played a very good playoffs so far and at times he and Kostapolous have been this teams only pulse.
As for poorly coached, a few people connected to the NHL disagree as evidence by his nomination for coach of the year.
I dont care who carbonneau puts in just as long as they dont mind getting their noses dirty.
I would like to see Carbo make several changes for the next game,and that being to bring in the kids that have not seem any playoff action as of yet. Earlier this year they brought up the kids like that young Sergie Kos,and that put a sparke in the other guys.If you let Grab. Stewart, and Obryne, play. These guys are the future,so lets face it. I hope,but it seems unlikely,they come back,from being down 3 to 1. Something in this series must change, so why not make it. And maybe,even, put my buddy RYDER in. GOOD LUCK
Well, isn't AK46 snakebit? He pretty much could have won the game by himself with all the chances he had. He was too fine with his shots, ripping a lot of them wide. Lapierre played his best game of the playoffs. Halak was fine. My only question is why break up the Smo-Beg-Kos line? They were the only line that was consistent throughout the Boston series.
I see Guy (Balls of Steel) Carbonneau is up for coach of the year. Many posters only see his mistakes, but I see a guy (get it?) who has grown with the job.
Well, we're down 3-1. Do we have to resort to heart transplants or do we just need a defibrillator?
Gilbert
Remember '71? Remember '86?
I STILL BELIEVE. The Drive for 25 is STILL on! Go Habs Go!
Jim Halpert said: has anyone else noticed that the rebounds he gives up always go to the slot? No habs are in the slot.... seriously if someone was parked in the slot or in front of Biron then this series would be OVER.
Youre absolutely right Jim. And I have no idea why this hasnt been remedied... I also think its time to change the PP unit, and its time for the habs to sit back and concentrate on defense and counter-attack. Dictating the play with our speed isnt working, since we have too many of our 'skilled' players not going the extra mile.
Hmm Kevin Pollack one of Walken's riot refs decided this game with a call that happens dozens of times during the game with no call. I'm watching the game again and i'm just into the 2nd period and i noticed at least 10 similar incidents of late hits with no calls after the puck been passed ( it's the playoffs stupid ). Mr.Pollack will get to kiss Big Cheese Walken's ring as he determined another game for his chief Stephen W. as Bettman wants a Pittsburgh/Philly series for U.S. TV. Also why wasn't Upshall called for embellishment on Saku's penalty, he always dives but when he has the puck in the scoring area you have a hard time to knock him down. I knew these young ambitious refs would cost games on their road to the top.
Not to take any credit away for the flyers - they have played well, but they don't deserve to be in second round. Yeah ok they have neutralized our power play, but didn't Boston do that too? The book on our PP is out yet there have been no changes to it. The Habs are the better team out on the ice but they can't find the back of the net. It seems as though everyone can see what the habs are doing wrong except them. They habs need to crash the net and get in Biron's head, no one has gone to screen him, no one has sprayed him, and no one has trash talked him. All the shots he is stopping he can see, we have no one in the slot to pick up the rebounds.... has anyone else noticed that the rebounds he gives up always go to the slot? No habs are in the slot.... seriously if someone was parked in the slot or in front of Biron then this series would be OVER. If the habs don't adjust by next game then this series is donezo!
I will not fault Begin for taking a penalty of aggression. Too many times habs have pansied out and it is showing. This team needs some jam and sometimes penalties happen because you are trying.
The habs have played passive, no penalties hockey all year. It was good enough in the regular season but isnt working so good now.
I didnt see many Habs willing to take a shot to go to the net. Too much perimeter skating. Looks good but accomplishes nothing.
We need grit and we need it bad. Bye Bye Higgins for some power?
Streit is gonzo, Breezer too thank god, we need a tough, puck moving d-man for next year to go with some size up front.
Why does Streit have to be gonzo? He is a valuable two way player who can play D or forward and has a good shot and decent puck moving skills. He tied Kovalev for the lead in assist this season with 49 and had 63 points which was third on the team. He is only making 600k a year so even as an unrestricted free agent I don't think his numbers will be sky high and I wouldn't be surprised if he was willing to sign with the Habs at a reasonable price next season.
You can't just dump every player because they don't score 100 points.