The Montreal Canadiens hope for a home boost tonight, Thursday May 20, against the Philadelphia Flyers who have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals. The Flyers have outscored the Canadiens 9-0. NHL oddsmakers at BODOG.com have the Canadiens as -120 moneyline home favorites over the Flyers (+105) with the over/under set at 5 goals. Be sure to get your 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Philadelphia Flyers vs Montreal Canadiens Game 3 Odds & Prediction in now at BODOG.com
The Flyers have won six consecutive postseason games and they don’t plan on slowing down anytime soon. The big story for the Flyers is the superb play of goalie Michael Leighton. He has kept his team in the playoffs since Brian Boucher went down with an injury in Game 5 against Boston. In that Game 5, Leighton combined with Boucher on the first shared playoff shutout since 1955, making 30 saves in a Game 6 victory, and then, after allowing three goals in the first period of Game 7, he shut down the Bruins over the final two periods as the Flyers became the third team in NHL history to win a series after trailing 0-3. Leighton's remarkable play has carried over to the conference finals, with back-to-back shutouts. Going back to that historic Game 7 against the Bruins, Leighton hasn't allowed a goal in more than eight periods, a total of 165:50 minutes. On offense their big guns are scoring. Danny Briere and Simon Gagne have scored in both games, but they're also receiving depth scoring as seven players have accounted for the team's nine goals. Philadelphia has been deadly on the power play, going 4-for-10 and scoring the game-winning goal in each game with the man advantage. On the penalty kill, Philadelphia is a perfect 8-for-8. Briere has goals in five of his past six games and has 18 points in 11 games after opening the playoffs with a three-game drought. Gagne has been in the lineup for six games since returning from a broken big toe suffered in Round 1. He has six goals in those six games, including a power-play tally in Game 2. Center Claude Giroux has a goal and two assists in the two games.
The Canadiens have been here before and aren’t panicking. They believe the goals are going to come and that going home to what should be an incredibly loud Bell Centre will give the Habs a mighty boost. The Canadiens are hoping to bag the first goal as Philly dictated the game because they never trailed. "It's easy to stay composed when you are winning," defenseman Hal Gill said. "We have to find a way to turn the tide and get some more scoring and we have to be more stingy defensively. Those things will make them more uncomfortable and we can take advantage of them that way." For the Habs to score their going to have to get tough and rough in front of the net, regardless of a hack or shot to the face, to beat a red hot Philly goalie. "If it's one of those ugly ones – off a (rear end) or deflected off one of their guys; we'll take it," defenseman Josh Gorges said. "They usually aren't pretty in the playoffs Occasionally, you get a nice goal; but it's usually throwing pucks at the net, traffic, he doesn't see it and it ricochets off a couple of bodies. That's playoff hockey. Those are the pretty goals in the playoffs." This postseason, Montreal is 5-0 in elimination games, but just 3-8 in non-elimination games.
Recent Trends to Consider:
- Flyers are 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
- Favorite is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
- Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Montreal.
- Flyers are 5-0 in their last 5 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Flyers are 6-0 in their last 6 vs. Northeast.
- Flyers are 5-0 in their last 5 games following a win.
- Flyers are 6-0 in their last 6 overall.
- Flyers are 5-0 in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Flyers are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Flyers are 6-0 in their last 6 vs. Eastern Conference.
Philadelphia Flyers vs Montreal Canadiens
When: Thursday May 20, 2010 7:00 PM ET
Line: BODOG.com
Pick: Flyers +105
Point-Spreads.com 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Philadelphia Flyers vs Montreal Canadiens Game 3 Odds & Predictions
The Bottom Line: The Canadiens will rebound, at home, that’s what they do. But I can see another great appearance from the Flyers. Be sure to get your 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Philadelphia Flyers vs Montreal Canadiens Game 3 Odds & Predictions in now at BODOG.com and receive a 10% Deposit Bonus and start winning today!
