Game 3 Preview: Philadelphia Flyers vs. Montreal Canadiens
In Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Montreal Canadiens will host the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night. The Canadiens still fell to the Flyers in Game 2, by a score of 3-0 despite improved defense from Game 1 of the series. Montreal will have to turn things around at home in order to avoid going down 3-0.
Goalie for Philadelphia, Michael Leighton, stopped 30 shots and earned his second shutout victory of this series in Game 2. In Game 1, his Flyers won 6-0. As three different players scored in that game, Philadelphia also showed off another of their strengths in Game 2, their depth.
The Canadiens are playing in front of their home crowd in Game 2 is one thing that is going for them. However, as they have compiled a record of 3-3 at home, that has not proven to be a huge boost for them so far this postseason. Although Jaroslav Halak, their Goalie, showed improvement in Game 2, he is going to have to be even better if Montreal hopes to make this series 2-1.
As Montreal has to feel like it is a must-win game, Game 3 should deliver plenty of thrills. They could have a legitimate shot of making this a close series, only if they are able to find a way around the razor sharp defense of Michael Leighton. If not, it will not be long before Montreal is watching the Stanley Cup Final from home, wondering what went wrong and how they could have lost so many hockey bets for their fans.