Playoff series with the Canadiens and Flyers usually lead to the Stanley Cup Final
By Omar L
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.