Canadiens Done; Flyers Look Ahead to Conference Finals

Tonight marked the end of the top-seeded Habs run in the 2008 NHL playoffs.

Heading into their semi-finals match up with the Philadelphia Flyers, the Habs were favored and fans felt it was the "destiny" of the team to bring the first Stanley Cup back to Canada since 1993.

It wasn't so.

The Habs came out more inspired than they have all series, but it wasn't enough to turn aside the red-hot Flyers.  Carey Price, who was kept out of Game 4, got the nod for the Habs in Game 5.

Price looked brilliant one moment and quite pedestrian the next.  In the end, he just couldn't out perform Martin Biron.

So where do both teams go from here?

Well, Montreal heads home to think about what went wrong and how to make a deeper run next season.

I feel a bit more toughness would serve them well. Perhaps a spark plug sort of player would really go a long way in helping this team advance.

As up and down as Price was, this kid can play and is clearly the future of the Habs.  A full season under his belt should do nothing but good for him.

As for the Flyers, well they appear to have a date with in-state rivals Pittsburgh.  The Pens have been juggernauts thusfar in the playoffs, save for their Game 4 defeat to the Rangers, their first of the playoffs.

Everyone, including this guy, have basically written off the Flyers in the playoffs.  Many picked Ovechkin and the high flying Caps to win their first round date.  An OT goal by Joffrey Lupul changed that.

In the second round, many had the top-seeded Habs advancing thanks to a balanced, speedy attack and the game's most potent power play.  It appears, however, that the Flyers just wanted it more.

They out-hustled, out-hit and out-skated the Habs as Marty Biron out-dueled Carey Price, ending the series with a 5-4 Philly win.

Now, who do I have advancing to the Finals out of the East? Not the Flyers, of course.  It's hard to pick the inferior team.  The Pens have everything going for them in addition to looking hungry and being the more talented club. 

How will the Flyers feel about the lack of respect? I'm sure they wouldn't want it any other way.