AS GOOD AS IT GETS

The Philadelphia Flyers held on to beat Montreal and tie the second round series and there is no doubt in my mind what so ever, this is where the best hockey on the planet is being played. It is too bad only one of these two teams can advance to the Eastern Conference finals. All we can do is enjoy this while it lasts and hope it does so for a full seven games. This, ladies and gentlemen, is as good as it gets.

The Candiens missed the oppurtunity to go 2-0 in the series against the Flyers much because of Martin Biron's stellar play last night at the Bell Centre. Game 2 of the series was just as close as the first one, only this time the Flyers managed to hold on for the win. Biron took 34 of the 36 shots he faced giving the Flyers a 4-2 win. R J Umberger scored twice and red hot Daniel Briere got one as well. But, even though the Flyers played a really solid game, beating the Habs in everything, it was Biron who made the biggest difference.

The Habs certainly aren't happy with splitting the two first games in their own building so expect them to want to do at least the same once the series turn to the city of brotherly love. The Flyers, though probably quite content with getting one game in Montreal, surely must feel they let Game 1 slip away and that they should be heading home leading the series 2-0.

Habs goalie, Carey Price, rated his own performance a 6 out of 10, stating he wasn't lucky with the bounces, but I'm not sure that many would agree with him. Coach Guy Carbonneau just said that great players create their own luck. Price gets a lot of praise for always looking so relaxed and composed in the net, but that means nothing if you don't stop the pucks. Sometimes his relaxed style borders on nonchalance like in Game 2 where he had major difficulties with his glove hand. I don't doubt that Price will get the start in Game 3 in Philadelphia because great players also bounce back.

Crunch time

The fact that the Montreal Canadiens won all eight games against the Boston Bruins during the regular season means very little in the playoffs, this is especially true now that their first round series has come down to a deciding Game 7. The Habs, heavy favourites at the start of the series, have seen a 2-0 slip away and at the chance of wrapping things up at 3-1 they lost two straight. Young Carey Price gave up five goals in each of those games, which were his first consecutive losses since being called up from the minors in February. Momentum is clearly with the B's even if stats still favour the Canadiens. The Bruins have never won a series in which they trailed 3-1. On the other hand, this is the first time they have forced a Game 7 in that situation. Be that as it may, I'm going to stick with my original pick. This will be the ultimate test to see if Price can perform at crunch time, I think he can.

* * *

The Philadelphia Flyers don't have their backs against the wall, at leaste not yet. Though the Washington Capitals took home Game 5 and avoided elimination, the Flyers still have two shots at clinching their first playoff series since 2004. Ovechkin didn't have any goals or assists in Game 5 but he did play perhaps his best game in the post season. Question is if the Caps can win the next one as well without his contribution the scoresheet. The Flyers will have to do without forward Mike Knuble, but they are more than familiar to playing without their stars, they have gotten through most of the season without several of them. I'm not changing my pick here either, Philadelphia look way too tough and if they lose tonight they will win in Game 7. There is something special about these Flyers and, much like those Canadiens of 1993, they will surprise a lot of people on their way through these playoffs.

* * *

Nice to see that Henrik Lundqvist got nominated for the Vezina Trophy. Early on in the season he carried the non-scoring Rangers on his back and, even though he lost his touch around the halfway pointone point, a late push by the Rangers saw him return to his old form. The nomination is his third in a row. Will the third time be the charm for The King?

The other two nominees are Martin Brodeur, who will try to win his fifth Vezina, and Evgeni Nabokov who posted a league leading 46 wins this season and was third in the league with a 2.14 goals-against-average and tied for third with six shutouts. Lundqvist, who despite his mid-season struggle, posted a 2.23 goals-against-average and a .912 save percentage, also led the league with 10 shutouts.

I would have to say that Nabokov looks like the favourite to win his first trophy as the best goalie in the NHL.

* * *

The Flyers - Capitals game just started so I'll have to wrap this up now.

Caps, Flyers and the Stanley Cup Champions

This season has been a rollercoaster for the Philadelphia Flyers. At one time they were at the top of their division, then later on they went on a ten game losing stretch. They have had myriad of injuries plauge their roster through out the year yet, through it all, they have looked like a playoff team. Because if there is one thing the Flyers don't lack it's heart, they have an abundance of it and they will need it in the post season because my guess is the Flyers will face Pittsburgh in the first round.

Buffalo still have a shot at a playoff berth, however, the Flyers need only two points to keep the Sabres out. Washington, who have left to play Florida and Tampa Bay at home, probably have the easiest remaining schedule and will probably snag third place overall away from Carolina who are on a two-game losing streak. Washington beat Carolina last night and are 9-1-0 in their last ten games and are looking strong after a slow start to the season.

Montreal will end up second and play Ottawa in the first round and eventually go all the way to the Stanley Cup. And I say this despite the fact that the Habs just lost their captain, Saku Koivu, for the season because there are to major factors that favor Montreal. The most important is Carey Price who is in a similar situation to that of Patrick Roy in 1986 and the Canadiens do have a pretty good track record when it comes to rookie goalies. The second reason is the fact that they made no major aquisitions at the trade deadline which, as history shows, is something most previous Cup winners also did not. Another, less fact based reason, is the names on the roster. Whith names like Latendresse, Bouillon, Brisebois, and Lapierre how can not go all the way?

That, along with the fact that they possess the best powerplay record in the NHL, is why I think the Montreal Canadiens will take home the Stanley Cup.