Canadiens And Flyers Do Battle In Eastern Conference

The Montreal Canadiens will try to draw even in the best of seven Eastern Conference semifinals when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers for Game 4.

Montreal won Game 1 in OT, but the Flyers took 2 in a row, earning a 2-1 series advantage. Philadelphia could move one step away from the Eastern Conference finals with another victory. After a 4-2 decision in Montreal, Philadelphia won a Game 3 match-up in South Philadelphia. The Flyers are trying to make it to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since losing to Tampa Bay in 7 games during the 2004 playoffs.

Martin Biron made 32 saves and the Flyers scored 3 times in the 2nd period as they held on for the 3-2 decision and a Game 1 lead in the series. In Game 7 of the Flyers' opening round series against Washington, Biron stopped 135 of 145 shots for a .931 save percentage. He's 6-4 with a 2.66 goals against average and .913 save percentage in 10 games during his first NHL postseason.

Price was solid in the Canadiens' conference quarterfinal series against Boston. However, he's had a difficult time in the 2nd round. He's allowed 10 goals on 68 shots in the series for a dismal .853 save percentage. Guy Carbonneau, Canadiens head coach, declined to name either Price or Halak as the starter in goal for Game 4. The are the only Canadian team remaining in the playoffs. No Canadian-based team has won a Stanley Cup since the Canadiens earned their NHL record 24th title in 1993.

The Canadiens are 3-1 all-time in playoff series against Philadelphia, including a win in the 1976 Stanley Cup finals. The last postseason encounter between the teams came in 1989, when the Habs defeated Philly in the Wales Conference finals. The Canadiens outscored the Flyers by a 15-6 margin in the regular season, but they were 8-0 against the Bruins this year and went 7 games with Boston in the 1st round.

Philadelphia had an average 21-14-6 record this season. The Habs posted a solid 25-12-4 mark as the visitors. The Habs are in the 2nd round for the first time since 2004 when they lost to Tampa Bay in the conference semifinals. Philadelphia was also last in the 2nd round that season. They made it to the East finals before losing to the Lightning.

The Canadiens were 9-1 all-time in playoff games in Philadelphia before their latest setback. It was their first postseason game at the Wachovia Center. Game 5 of this series is scheduled in Montreal. nnnn