PHI Flyers at MON Canadiens (May 03, 2008)
2008-05-03 06:43:00
PA SPORTSTICKER NHL PLAYOFF PREVIEW
(PHILADELPHIA-MONTREAL)
*Flyers look to eliminate Canadiens in Game Five*
-------------------------------------------------
Philadelphia at Montreal 7:00 pm EDT
Eastern Conference semifinals Flyers lead, 3-1
MONTREAL (Ticker) - The Philadelphia Flyers would prefer to
avoid another lengthy series.
Martin Biron and the sixth-seeded Flyers can secure their place
in Eastern Conference finals with win over the top-seeded
Montreal Canadiens on Saturday in Game Five of their
best-of-seven conference semifinal.
The Flyers needed seven games to close out their quarterfinal
series with Washington, but are in position to make quick work
of Montreal, which has lost three straight in the series.
Biron, once again, stood tall in goal during Game Four on
Wednesday - making 36 saves to lead Philadelphia to a
three-games-to-one lead with a 4-2 victory.
With every save Biron made, he was serenaded with chants of
"Marty, Marty," by the fans at the Wachovia Center.
"It's awesome," Biron said. "You feel like you have 20,000
people behind you. It's a great feeling. Throughout the whole
game, when the game is tight or when the game can go one way or
the other, it's great to have the fans behind you."
He will not be given the same courtesy in this one as the series
heads back to Montreal.
"Marty deserves a lot of credit," Flyers coach John Stevens
said. "He's set a standard of play for himself that he's been
able to consistently achieve. I think until you have success
this time of year, you really don't know what your standard is.
"He has never had a reference point, and now he has a reference
point that he can play at a very high level and be the
difference in the hockey game."
The Canadiens will switch their goaltenders again, giving Carey
Price the nod over fellow rookie Jaroslav Halak.
Price, 20, has looked brilliant at times this postseason with
two shutouts, but the grind of the season appears to be catching
up with him in this series.
|
|
|
|
|
