Montreal won this playoff game for its absent coach.
Kirk Muller and the rest of the Canadiens just had to dedicate the Game 2 victory to Claude Julien.
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Montreal won this playoff game for its absent coach.
Tomas Tatar and Jesperi Kotkaniemi each scored twice, Carey Price stopped 30 shots and the Canadiens rebounded without Julien to rout the Philadelphia Flyers 5-0 on Friday and tie the series at a game apiece.
Julien was rushed to St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto overnight Wednesday with chest pain. He had surgery Thursday. Because Julien left the NHL bubble in Toronto, he will have to follow quarantine protocol if he wishes to re-enter it. Muller will serve as interim head coach for the rest of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.
The Canadiens roughed up Flyers goalie Carter Hart, who turned 22 on Thursday, and scored four goals through two periods to send him to the bench.
“At this time of the year, with the importance of the game, we certainly don't expect that,” Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said.
Hart allowed four goals on 26 shots. He allowed just two goals on 59 shots in the round-robin series that helped the Flyers go 3-0 and clinch the top seed in the East. His .914 save percentage was tied for eighth in the regular season.
“You can’t win the series by winning one game,” Hayes said. “They handed it to us pretty badly tonight.”
Montreal Canadiens center Jesperi Kotkaniemi (15) scores against a stickless Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart (79) during the first period of NHL hockey Eastern Conference Stanley Cup first-round playoff action against the Montreal Canadiens in Toronto, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi (15) celebrates his goal against the Philadelphia Flyers with teammate Jonathan Drouin (92) as Flyers defenceman Shayne Gostisbehere (53) skates away during first period of NHL Eastern Conference Stanley Cup first round playoff action in Toronto on Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens left wing Tomas Tatar (90) celebrates his goal against Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart (79) as Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) and Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim (6) battle in front of the net during first period of NHL Eastern Conference Stanley Cup first round playoff action in Toronto on Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens left wing Tomas Tatar (90), foreground, starts to celebrate his goal against Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart (79) as Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) and Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim (6) battle in front of the net during the first period of an NHL hockey Eastern Conference Stanley Cup first round playoff game in Toronto on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2020. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Philadelphia Flyers centre Claude Giroux (28) falls to the ice as he battles Montreal Canadiens centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi (15) for the puck during first period of NHL Eastern Conference Stanley Cup first round playoff action in Toronto on Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi (15) celebrates his goal on Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart (79) who lost his stick on the play during first period of NHL Eastern Conference Stanley Cup first round playoff action in Toronto on Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
“To Claude, I’m sure you’re listening, this win’s for you,” Muller said.
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price (31) makes save against the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period of an NHL Eastern Conference Stanley Cup hockey playoff game in Toronto, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Tomas Tatar and Jesperi Kotkaniemi each scored twice, Carey Price stopped 30 shots and the Canadiens rebounded without Julien to rout the Philadelphia Flyers 5-0 on Friday and tie the series at a game apiece.
“We have a job and he would expect that as well,” forward Max Domi said. "So we were just trying to stay focused here and get ready to go. And I think we did a great job of that.”
Julien was home in Montreal a day after a stent was placed in a coronary artery. The team said doctors expect a full recovery.
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price (31) makes save against the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period of an NHL Eastern Conference Stanley Cup hockey playoff game in Toronto, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Julien was rushed to St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto overnight Wednesday with chest pain. He had surgery Thursday. Because Julien left the NHL bubble in Toronto, he will have to follow quarantine protocol if he wishes to re-enter it. Muller will serve as interim head coach for the rest of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.
“Claude steers the ship for us and he guides what we do out there," defenseman Ben Chiarot said. "We’ll just play as hard as we can for him.”
Game 3 is Sunday night.
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price (31) stops Philadelphia Flyers right wing Nicolas Aube-Kubel (62) during the second period of an NHL Eastern Conference Stanley Cup hockey playoff game in Toronto, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
The Canadiens roughed up Flyers goalie Carter Hart, who turned 22 on Thursday, and scored four goals through two periods to send him to the bench.
The Canadiens continued their sensational surge through Toronto hockey and bounced back fine after a 2-1 Game 1 loss. Montreal was the last team in the East to qualify for the expanded playoffs, and then needed four games to win its best-of-five series over Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Hart grew up in Alberta and was a long-time fan of Price, who dazzled in the NHL restart. Price had a shutout against the Penguins and had an elite series that keyed the series win. Hart was just 6 years old when the Canadiens made Price a first-round pick in the 2005 draft. He was 22 for just a day when he got benched against idol.
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price (31) stops Philadelphia Flyers right wing Nicolas Aube-Kubel (62) during the second period of an NHL Eastern Conference Stanley Cup hockey playoff game in Toronto, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
“At this time of the year, with the importance of the game, we certainly don't expect that,” Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said.
Tatar needed only 1:02 into the game to score, and Kotkaniemi connected later in the period. Tatar again just 1:30 into the second period. Joel Armia knocked out Hart with his fourth goal.
"I think we really played the right way from the get-go. We jumped on them right out of the gate," Tatar said.
Montreal Canadiens coaches and players looks as they play the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period of an NHL Eastern Conference Stanley Cup hockey playoff game in Toronto, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Hart allowed four goals on 26 shots. He allowed just two goals on 59 shots in the round-robin series that helped the Flyers go 3-0 and clinch the top seed in the East. His .914 save percentage was tied for eighth in the regular season.
The Flyers continue to get little production from their top stars. Travis Konency, Kevin Hayes, Sean Couturier, Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk -- their top-five goal scorers - have yet to score in the Toronto bubble.
Kotkaniemi beat backup Brian Elliott in the third for a 5-0 lead.
Montreal Canadiens center Max Domi (13) picks up a goaltender interference penalty as he is driven into Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Brian Elliott (37) by defenseman Matt Niskanen (15) during the second period of an NHL Eastern Conference Stanley Cup hockey playoff game in Toronto, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
“You can’t win the series by winning one game,” Hayes said. “They handed it to us pretty badly tonight.”
Notes: Konency was helped off the ice with an unspecified injury in the third period. ... Tatar scored 22 goals and had a career-high 61 points in 68 games headed into the NHL break. He had yet to score in the playoffs. ... The Canadiens took the first 12 shots. ... Hart was pulled from a game for the first time since Jan. 4.
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Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans (71) and Alex Belzile (60) celebrate teammate Montreal Canadiens right wing Joel Armia, not shown, scoring on Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart (79) during the second period of an NHL Eastern Conference Stanley Cup hockey playoff game in Toronto, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens center Jesperi Kotkaniemi (15) scores against a stickless Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart (79) during the first period of NHL hockey Eastern Conference Stanley Cup first-round playoff action against the Montreal Canadiens in Toronto, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi (15) celebrates his goal against the Philadelphia Flyers with teammate Jonathan Drouin (92) as Flyers defenceman Shayne Gostisbehere (53) skates away during first period of NHL Eastern Conference Stanley Cup first round playoff action in Toronto on Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens left wing Tomas Tatar (90) celebrates his goal against Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart (79) as Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) and Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim (6) battle in front of the net during first period of NHL Eastern Conference Stanley Cup first round playoff action in Toronto on Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens left wing Tomas Tatar (90), foreground, starts to celebrate his goal against Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart (79) as Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) and Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim (6) battle in front of the net during the first period of an NHL hockey Eastern Conference Stanley Cup first round playoff game in Toronto on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2020. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Philadelphia Flyers centre Claude Giroux (28) falls to the ice as he battles Montreal Canadiens centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi (15) for the puck during first period of NHL Eastern Conference Stanley Cup first round playoff action in Toronto on Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi (15) celebrates his goal on Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart (79) who lost his stick on the play during first period of NHL Eastern Conference Stanley Cup first round playoff action in Toronto on Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)