Habs, Flyers: It all comes down to destiny
Destiny – the only word that can be used to whole-heartedly describe the Eastern Conference Final match-up between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Montreal Canadiens.
What other word in the English language can encapsulate 2010’s edition of the NHL Playoffs and its uncanny ability to present jaw-dropping moment after jaw-dropping moment?
The best part is that destiny could not have set the stage in a more profound way. Somehow, someway, two historically unproven, yet stacked, playoff performers in the West will do battle, while the seventh and eighth seeds are facing off to capture the Eastern crown.
Then there’s the fact that the eighth seed took the proverbial rugs from underneath the league’s two poster boys in dramatic seven-game fashions. With that, mix in a once-in-a-generation playoff comeback series that saw the seventh seed come out victorious.
What is transpiring in these playoffs has been nothing short of remarkable, and the Flyers’ and Habs’ tenacious attitudes to overcome all odds deserve all of the credit.
With all the hoopla surrounding perhaps the greatest first two rounds in NHL Playoff history, many have forgotten that the post-season is only half over. The Atlantic’s Flyers and Northeast’s Habs resumed their quest for the heralded Cup on Sunday night.
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When one compares the playoff’s two Cinderella teams prior to this series, there is no huge discrepancy in their historical playoff record versus each other. Montreal has won 15 out of 26 games for a .577 winning percentage. There is also only a small margin between the two when looking at playoff special teams this year as Philadelphia’s power play (21.7) and penalty kill (83.6) percentages are almost identical to Montreal’s (21.6 and 85.5). Even in the regular season, the Flyers and Habs managed to split the season series at two games a piece.
So what will set them apart?
It likely won’t be momentum, considering both teams are riding incredible highs coming off a pair of remarkable – albeit, very different – seven-game series.
Instead, it will flat-out depend on Jaroslav Halak and his ability to keep his .933 save percentage through two rounds afloat; something he fell dramatically short of in Game 1’s 6-0 loss, in which he was pulled less than halfway through.
Sure, Mike Cammalleri and Brian Gionta have both seemed to have located their scoring touch as of late, however, the Canadiens’ scoring as a team has not been off the charts by any means. In fact, they have averaged less than three goals in their 14 games played this post-season.
With an offense that, at the surface, doesn’t seem to be much to boast about, the Habs will still have to rely on Halak’s brilliance – especially with an oft defensively-minded team like Philly in their faces.
The Czech goalkeeper has done everything under the sun to give his teammates a fighting chance at survival. The chants of “Conn Smythe” may very well be heard in the Bell Centre stands in mere days as Halak’s attempt to duplicate a Patrick Roy-esque Cup run may be in the making.
With all nostalgia aside, if goon Dan Carcillo and long-time grinder Ian Laperriere do what they do best and rattle Halak, the Flyers could jump to a demanding 2-0 or 3-0 lead in the series.
If that does indeed unfold the floodgates may open again like they did in Game One. One must not forget though that Halak has shown that he has a short memory this playoffs by recooperating quite nicely after a tough Game One loss to Pittsburgh by surrendering only a single goal. The 25-year-old will be the core component of the series in any case – saviour or not.
In the end, destiny will man the wheel.
After all, it would only be right; it has been destiny’s playoffs so far anyways.
John’s first round prediction: Philadelphia in 7 (Result: Philly in 5)
John’s second round prediction: Chicago in 6 (Result: Chicago in 6)
John’s Eastern Conference Final prediction: Montreal in 6
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