Playoff series with the Canadiens and Flyers usually lead to the Stanley Cup Final
The Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers have a historical tendency of their series, leading to a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.
It’s interesting that the Montreal Canadiens are going to get both sides of the Philadelphia Flyers in these Stanley Cup Playoffs. Even though the Habs are the historical leader for Stanley Cups in an organization, the Flyers have been able to dip their toe in the championship pool. Unfortunately, it’s been a while.
Philadelphia only has two cups to Montreal’s 24, and the first time they won was in 1974. Bobby Clarke, Rick MacLeish and goaltender Bernie Parent were big parts of that first Stanley Cup rISING, and the Flyers went on to win it again in 1975. But it’s been a barren shelf since then. The closest the franchise got to another victory was 2010; unfortunately, they ran into the Chicago Blackhawks and their Chelsea Dagger.
Again, the Montreal Canadiens are in no place to pass judgement despite having 22 more championships. The Habs haven’t won since 1993, and the closest they’ve gotten since was an Eastern Conference Finals series against the New York Rangers in 2014.
Even though both the Habs and Flyers are desperately looking for their next win, both organizations have an interesting link in history when it comes to the playoffs.
The two teams have met in the post-season tournament six times in the NHL’s history. And for the most part, whenever the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers face each other in the playoffs, one of them goes on to the Stanley Cup Final.
It’s a fascinating trend and one worth looking into, and perhaps it could spell for some success down the line for whoever comes out of this first-round series.
Series 1: Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers in 1973
I mentioned earlier that the Philadelphia Flyers won their first Stanley Cup in 1974, but they felt they could get it done the season before.
The Flyers finished third in the West Division behind the Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota North Stars with 37 wins and 85 points. The Montreal Canadiens, on the other hand, dominated the regular season, ending with the most points of any team at 120 to lead the East Division.
Montreal’s first-round series saw them take on the Buffalo Sabres while Philadelphia faced the North Stars. The Habs started out hot, winning the first three games, making it look as if they were going to sweep the Sabres but unfortunately allowed them to make a series out of it. Buffalo won the next two, including an intense overtime winner in Game 6. But before they could force a Game 7, the Canadiens did away with them winning 4-2 and advancing.
The Flyers had a tougher time with Minnesota getting shutout in Game 1. The two teams then traded wins for Games 2 and 3 before Philadelphia grabbed the series by the horns winning three straight to move on.
It was the Habs and Flyers for the second round. Fortunately for the Canadiens, it wasn’t as tasking as a series save for the start of it. They were on their heels early with the boys in orange taking Game 1 in overtime 5-4. It looked as if Game 2 would end the same way in Philly’s favour, but the Habs came out on top 4-3, setting them off for three more wins to take the series.
The Montreal Canadiens then went on to face and defeat the Blackhawks to grab their 18th Stanley Cup.
Series 2: Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers in 1976
The 1975-76 regular season was similar to the 1972-73 season for the Montreal Canadiens. They led the league in points with 127 and were the top team to come out of the Norris Division. But the Flyers had some drive as well coming off back-to-back Stanley Cups and won their Patrick Division with 118 points. It was a clear race to the top for those two teams, so it wasn’t shocking to see them meet up in the Cup Final.
Montreal got off to a hot start sweeping Chicago outscoring them 13-3 while Philadelphia had a battle with Toronto that went the distance. Next for the Habs were the New York Islanders who made it more of a challenge, but they got through them all the same, and with the Flyers beating the Boston Bruins in five games, they knew who their opponent would be.
It was a highly anticipated series, one who many thought would be a battle. However, it was child’s play for the Montreal Canadiens.
All it took was four games for the Habs to do away with the Flyers and claim their 19th Stanley Cup.
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Series 3: Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers in 1987
By this point, 10 years have passed, and the NHL has a lot more teams meaning a lot more competition and the need for an extra round in the playoffs.
The Habs and Flyers remained among one of the best squads in the league, heading into the playoffs off 92 and 100-point campaigns. Philadelphia led the Patrick Division once again while the Canadiens were one point off behind the Hartford Whalers.
The Montreal Canadiens whipped out the broom doing away with the Bruins in four games. Then came a fiery series against the Quebec Nordiques, which took all seven games after the Habs failed to end the series in Game 6. While this was happening, the Philadelphia Flyers took on both ends of New York in the Islanders and the Rangers. They were relatively long series,’ but the Flyers were able to win and advance to the Conference Finals.
Once again, it was the Habs vs. the Flyers. The two teams exchanged wins in Games 1 and 2, making it a best-of-five to start the third match. Unfortunately, Philly was too much to handle, and despite winning Game 5, Montreal would be eliminated in Game 6.
There was some schadenfreude revenge, though, as the Flyers ran into the Wayne Gretzky and the 80s Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final.
Series 4: Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers in 1989
All eyes were on the Montreal Canadiens and the Calgary Flames this season. Many had those two teams heading to the Stanley Cup Final as they dominated their respective divisions.
The Flyers were hanging around in their group, but with the likes of the Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers on the scene, they were being looked off. That said, it was foolish to do so, given what they accomplished once the playoffs started.
Philly slew both dragons in the Capitals and Penguins making their way to the Conference Finals once again. There definite highs and seething lows, including a 10-7 loss to Pittsburgh in Game 5, but they were able to stick with it and win the next two to advance.
The Montreal Canadiens had another brooming start this time to the Whalers in the first round. Games 3 and 4 were close as both went overtime. Fortunately, Stephane Richer and Russ Courtnal came up big for the team scoring the winners.
It was another six-game series between the Habs and Flyers with the latter taking Game 1. But Montreal fought back winning three-in-a-row before getting the final decider in Game 6 to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since winning the championship in 1986.
Philadelphia got their turn at witnessing revenge. The Montreal Canadiens only won two games in that series, and despite getting the series win after a double-overtime victory in Game 3, the Calgary Flames won three straight to take the Cup.
Series 5: Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers in 2008
It wouldn’t be for another 20 years before we saw the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers face off in the playoffs.
The NHL is even more different with the league now having 30 teams while both the Habs and Flyers were hoping to hoist the Stanley Cup again. Some things remained the same, though, as Montreal led their division in points off strong performances from Alex Kovalev, Tomas Plekanec and a 20-year-old Carey Price who platooned the net with Cristobal Huet.
The playoffs began, and the Habs had a fiery seven-game series with the Boston Bruins. Montreal was able to avoid the collapse though despite allowing the Bruins to even up the series. Next up: the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Habs took Game 1 as Kovalev tied the game in regulation on the power play with 29 seconds to go. And it then only took Tom Kostopoulos 48 seconds to get the OT-winner for the Canadiens. It was exciting, energetic, and the only positivity fans would get from the team in that series as the Flyers would win four straight to advance.
Fortunately, the historical trend between the two teams decided to take a break. The Flyers beat Montreal, but they couldn’t get past the Penguins losing in five games.
Series 6: Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers in 2010
It’s ironic that the end of this link between the Habs and Flyers coincides with the beginning of the Blackhawks dynasty.
Both teams had similar 2009-10 seasons finishing third and fourth with 88 points apiece. There wasn’t much expectation for the Canadiens who snuck into the playoffs as the eighth seed. And to make matters worse, they had to take on the highly lethal Washington Capitals who made the regular season look like child’s play.
That didn’t stop the Habs from getting the upset. Their overtime win in Game 1 was the start of something special as they fell 3-1 in the series but won three in a row to end it. Montreal wouldn’t get a break in the second round as the Pittsburgh Penguins off their Stanley Cup win the year before were eager at a second.
It took another seven-game series for the Habs to advance to the Conference Finals, and who would they meet? Their good Conference Final buddy in the Philadelphia Flyers.
And this is when our story meets its tragic end. The Montreal Canadiens lost in five games not able to score a goal until Game 3 and their first two games were brutal, giving up 10 goals. That was a breakout game for the Habs, starting with Mike Cammalleri, which saw Montreal put five goals past Michael Leighton.
That was all the team had to give as two more losses – including another shutout – sealed the deal.
History was Philadelphia’s side, and they went on to face Chicago in the Stanley Cup Final. And we all know how that ended.
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It’s a fascinating trend to follow between these two teams, especially as they’re set to play again for the first time in 10 years. Perhaps history kicks in, and one of them makes the Final. It wouldn’t be surprising for the Flyers considering the team they are this year. And as for the Montreal Canadiens, well, who had them beating the Penguins?