Montreal could use a new rule. The creation of a game-long, five-minute major.
Monday night in Philadelphia, the Flyers beat the Canadiens 3-2 in a very interesting hockey game. Now, even though the Habs outshot Philly 34-14 overall, the fact they outshot the Flyers 17-2 in the third period says a lot about the importance of a five-minute major penalty. Philly’s Derian Hatcher picked up that penalty at 5:17 of the third after Hatcher hit Francis Bouillon from behind — for absolutely no reason. See the Hatcher-Bouillon hit in the middle of the video below.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXej6dYRaWI]
It’s great to be aggressive. Aggressive teams win hockey games. But to hit an opponent from behind when you’re ahead 3-0 is about as stupid as it gets. To hit an opponent who plays on a team with the best power play in the NHL is even more stupid (stupider???). The Flyers had this game in the bag and they almost let it go.
Still, give the Flyers credit. They lost all four meetings with the Habs this season and they struggled mightily down the stretch, but they’ve been terrific in the playoffs and despite the lopsided shot number, they deserved to win last night’s game.
However, at some point, Flyers head coach John Stevens is going to have to take Hatcher aside and ask politely to grow a brian cell. Hatcher’s hit was illegal, dangerous and dumb. And while Bouillon will certainly be expecting big Derian to hit him again at some point, he can only hope the Flyers’ giant (Hatcher is 6-foot-5, 235 pounds) uses a little discretion next time.
Hatcher is a tough player. He’s also a 35-year-old who has been in the NHL for 15 seasons. He knows better. Still, he made an emotional play and that play nearly cost his team a Stanley Cup playoff game.
The Flyers deserve a great deal of credit for holding on Monday night. They also have to feel fortunate that Carey Price didn’t play particularly well.
We might have underestimated the Flyers — or overestimated the Canadiens — but based on last night’s outcome, this series will probably go seven.