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Brendan Gallagher had a fast start to the night and the Canadiens never looked back.
Gallagher scored 58 seconds before scoring his first career hat trick as the Canadians defeated the Flyers in a 5-1 final on Thursday night at the Bell Center. The Flyers have done almost nothing. Carter Hart was eliminated after allowing three goals on nine shots, and the Canadians 'speed has taken their toll on the Flyers' defense without Radko Gudas in a two-game suspension.
Michael Raffl scored the Flyers' only goal late in the third period to break Carey Price's shutout, but it would be too little and too late for the Flyers tonight. Worse, it's the victory of the Hurricanes and a Sabers / Lightning game that earned the Sabers a point. The Flyers are the two clubs that the Flyers continue in the playoffs, just like those same Canadians.
Sure, everything went wrong tonight for Orange and Black.
FIRST PERIOD
Gallagher made a quick start in Montreal, scoring the first goal to give the Canadians a 1-0 lead at just 58 seconds. The 21st goal of the season for Gallagher was a powerful shot on the wrist, beating Carter Hart cleanly.
It was not exactly the beginning Scott Gordon wanted to score a goal in the opening minutes of a big game in the standings.
Things would get worse for the Flyers, as Jesperi Kotkaniemi extended the lead to 2-0 with a dazzling run over Hart. Paul Byron scored the goal with a clever move to beat a pair of Flyers at the blue line, then make a pass to the rookie pivot, who made no mistake.
Difficult look for our guy Travis Sanheim on this one, gang.
A penalty from Tomas Tatar would give the Flyers a chance to get back around the mark, but an auction by James van Riemsdyk found the iron and drove the visitors without altering the scoresheet.
There was only 9:27 left, but the Canadian has continued to flourish. Gallagher's second goal was raised to 3-0. It was a flashy glance that had dribbled through Hart's notebook and post. It would be the last time we would see Hart, who had been removed from office for Brian Elliott.
Fortunately, things would have calmed down after the Canadians sent the precious Flyers goaltender. Although the blitz was over, the Flyers still did not offer much danger for Carey Price's net at the other end.
Already suspended, Radko Gudas was suspended, scary moment for Robert Hagg at the end of the period while he was hit in the face by a shot from Jeff Petry who had deflected several times. This only added to the blood that the Flyers had already poured on the ice.
AFTER 20: Canadiens 3, Flyers 0
An early power play would give the Flyers another chance to punch Price, but a pair of very dangerous chances would not go for Wayne Simmonds then Sean Couturier as the second unit came on the scene.
Gallagher would charge the Flyers on the other end once again. His third of the night allowed him to make his first career hat trick and score 4-0 for the Canadiens just 2:56 into the second period, as the floodgates were completely open at the Bell Center.
The goals were going to continue for the Canadian, with Tatar ranking 5-0 with 13:12 to do in the second. After many setbacks at the Flyers, Tatar is away from Nolan Patrick and took a laser shot in front of Elliott.
Sometimes there is not much to say, and the way Canadians owned the Flyers throughout the first half of the game was pretty scary.
Late in the second second, a Flyers player finally showed his determination when Elliott stole Tatar with a huge glove break with 2:09 to go in the period. The veteran will probably audition before the trade deadline, as the Flyers now have Hart and Cam Talbot in the group.
What's sad is that Elliott seems to be using all the good mojo since Scott Laughton has a golden chance to spoil the white game at the other end, but Price has denied it.
AFTER 40: Canadiens 5, Flyers 0
Claude Giroux gave Travis Konecny the advantage of seeing Price well in the second, but the Montreal goaltender pulled the leather up on the shot to keep the Flyers scoreless. It was a quiet evening for most of the Flyers, but another for Giroux, now without points in four consecutive games.
Then, Wayne Simmonds had the opportunity to hit the Canadiens defense, but his shot from high up found the glass after a clever attempt to break the blue line. Simmonds is, of course, a hot topic in the trading bloc as the trade deadline approaches. He has only four goals in his last 20 games.
With 9:37 remaining, the Flyers would end Carey Price's candidacy for a fourth shutout, with Michael Raffl deflecting home and Shayne Gostisbe 5-1 on the Montreal goalkeeper. This is the fifth goal of Raffl's season. Reducing the lead to four may not seem like much. Something.
It would be good for the goals as the Flyers suffer a painful loss on the road, which hampers their hopes in the playoffs. The Canadians advance to a 5-1 final, the Flyers will return with a date against the Penguins in the Lincoln Financial Field Stadium Series game on Saturday.
Maybe the outdoor outings will give a different result for a Flyers team that desperately needs it now after being outclassed 10-3 in its last two defeats.
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