MTL vs PHI
Posted on April 27, 2008 02:40 PM | Permalink
Montreal Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau either isn’t aware of it, or simply doesn’t care about providing bulletin board material for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Carbonneau was asked for his reaction to Flyers coach John Stevens qualifying a late-game incident involving Tom Kostopoulos as “cowardly” when he blind-sided Kimmo Timonen in the face after Philadelphia scored to make the game 4-2.
After R.J. Umberger’s second goal of the night put the game out of reach the Flyers were celebrating their
goal – perhaps a bit too enthusiastically for the Canadiens’ liking – and Kostopoulos caught Timonen with a slap or a punch to the jaw from behind, a shot Timonen never saw coming.
Kostopoulos was given a roughing minor on the play, but Stevens obviously didn’t feel after the game that was enough of a sanction.
“Hey, he’s a tough kid and I’ve got a lot of respect for him and [Steve] Bégin,” Stevens said. “But to go up and blindside sucker Kimmo Timonen on a play at the end there, that’s cowardly, in my opinion.”
Those comments provided all the fodder Carbonneau would need Sunday to launch several volleys back towards the Flyers camp, words that are sure to make their way into the Philadelphia dressing room prior to Game 3 at the Wachovia Center on Monday night.
“That’s one team that shouldn’t talk,” Carbonneau said of Stevens’ comments. “They played 82 games and had the most suspensions in the league.”
Carbonneau, in a clear effort to protect Kostopoulos, said in no uncertain terms that the way the Flyers were celebrating Umberger’s goal was unbecoming of a classy team, even though Philadelphia didn’t appear to be overly exuberant in the celebration.
Just after the goal, Timonen turned and smiled at Kostopoulos and may have even said something (though he insists he didn’t), but it was nothing that’s not seen dozens of times in a normal hockey game.
Carbonneau obviously disagreed with that assessment.
“They started taunting our players. When you score you go to your bench, take the two points and go home, don’t start [needling] our players,” Carbonneau said. “I think [Timonen] deserved it.”
Ouch.
That will definitely not sit well with Timonen or his teammates, but from the sounds of it the Canadiens are plenty hot about how the incident went down as well, and Carbonneau says he plans on using it to motivate his guys for Game 3.
“I’m sure we’re going to talk about it,” Carbonneau said. “We’ll try to use everything.”
When asked if he feared a suspension for Kostopoulos, Carbonnneau got a case of very selective memory.
“He didn’t get a penalty,” Carbonneau said, even though Kostopoulos got a roughing minor. “I mean, all he did was a face wash. He didn’t cross-check him in the face.”
Granted, Kostopoulos’ punch or slap wasn’t exactly Todd Bertuzzi-like in its viciousness, but it was definitely more than your everyday, run of the mill facewash.
Kostopoulos faced the music Sunday and, unlike his coach, showed some remorse and apologized for what he did.
“I think I just let my emotions take control,” he said. “I was upset that we were about to lose the game, and I shouldn’t have done that.”
Kostopoulos said he appreciated Carbonneau’s effort to attract the attention to him (mission accomplished), but that he was ultimately responsible for what transpired on the ice.
“Maybe he’s sticking up for me,” Kostopoulos said, “but we’ve talked a lot about controlling our emotions in the playoffs.”
In non-Kostopoulos related Canadiens news, defenceman Patrice Brisebois did not accompany the team on the flight to Philadelphia, and will visit with doctors Monday regarding the leg injury he suffered during Saturday’s morning skate. Brisebois had taken the warm up before Saturday’s game but decided he couldn’t go, and he was replaced by Ryan O’Byrne.
In Voorhees, New Jersey, the Flyers didn’t practice Sunday, but got some good news on the Mike Knuble front. Knuble skated on his injured hamstring and said he could be ready to return to the Flyers as soon as Wednesday, and if not he would be very likely to play in Game 5 on Saturday in Montreal.
Stevens had cooled down from a night earlier regarding the hit on Timonen, calling it a “little bit cheap,” which isn’t nearly as scathing as “cowardly.” As for Timonen himself, he insisted he had moved on from the incident and that it would have no bearing on how he approaches Monday’s Game 3.
In any case, it’s impossible to avoid the sense that the intensity will be at a whole other level Monday night.
Stay tuned.
Comments
YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME!!!! The Flyers complaining about an unsportmanlike incident like the Kostopolous retaliation. Wow, the Flyers really don't have a clue do they! This is the DIRTIEST team around. They have very limited talent and they know it. At one point during the pre-season, I thought the League was going to act like any profesional organisations should and severly reprimend the Philiadelphia organistion for standing by all the dirty, vicious and yes career threathing hits that was thrown around which was either from behind and after a play. But the Broad Street Bullies, once again, just received some suspensions and fines which seemed to be enough for the league. It's like the league said listen here we have noticed your antics but hey, what the heck it's hockey ... you know what! this is the reason why hockey is loosing all it's glamour because of retatrded ACTIONS from teams like the Flying FOLLIES Philadelphia Flyers.... C'mon give me a break ... Yeah, Ok, T.K. went after Timonen, who cares. Because if you are tauting a team after a goal you better get ready to get invited to a dance "blindisided or otherwise". If you can't take the heat stay out of the kitchen. At least T.K. didn't pulled a McCsoarley on him.....LOL..... oh yes that's right that guy was even allowed to come back to the NHL after his attempt ... I guess it was considered just part of the game ... Man oh man, where are you guys heading .....no wonder hockey is loosing it's popularity ...DO SOMETHING !!!! ...
p.s. let me know if I can help!
Carly
Posted by: Sylvain "Carly" Desjardins Calgary,Alberta | April 27, 2008 04:44 PM
na na na na na na hey hey hey .....goodbye....The Flyers are going to lose the game tonight
Posted by: Charles Marion Canada | April 28, 2008 06:43 AM
The Flyers have definitely had a few egregious checks this season, some of which should have received longer suspensions. However, I do not understand how one can rationalize a dirty hit on someone as acceptable just because he plays for a perceived dirty team. When reading Carly's message and Carbonneau's comments, I read exactly that. A cheap shot is a cheap shot is a cheap shot and the NHL should protect all of its players not just those who play for a team that has never committed a transgression.
Posted by: Sean | April 28, 2008 11:19 AM
If it was a Flyer player who had done that to a Canadiens player I guarantee that the other bloggers would be up in arms about this sucker punch. I don't like the Flyers but I cannot stand the Canadiens and their fans...
Posted by: Randy Ontario | April 28, 2008 12:03 PM
Wah wah wah wah, wah wah wah wah, hey hey grow up! Sorry Habs fans, a cheapshot is a cheapshot is a cheapsot. This was a cheapshot by Kostopolous. Live with it.
Posted by: RbndesBois Montreal | April 28, 2008 12:27 PM
Is it me or was i dreaming on saturday? I believe there were two goals by the flyers that should have been disallowed. The first was Briere's goal, I did not see it clearly cross the line and the ref pointed to the net signalling a goal that means the play should have been dead right then??? The second was the 4 goal when umberger used a high stick to knock the puck away from price now there are two possible scenarios; one he hit price's glove with a high stick that should have ended the play, the second scenario was that he hit the puck with a high stick and then was the first to touch the puck again which should have meant the play was dead??? Can somebody tell me otherwise. Those were two big goals which won the game. I am not sure but it seamed weird that there was no long discussion or analysis by the commentators at the time.
Posted by: Derek K Whitehorse | April 28, 2008 12:34 PM
Claiming that another team is "the dirtiest" to justify a cheap shot is ridiculous. As for celebrating a goal, I guess Koivu's reaction to his goal wasn' the least bit juvenile. But it mirrors the whole Montreal experience: the siren blows for a solid minute after a Habs goal, the fans riot after a first-round win... I expected more class from the fans of such a legendary franchise.
Sounds like you're all a little insecure about just how good your team is, and you should be. It took you seven games to beat the no. 8 seed. The series with Philly could go either way, but there will be no Cup in Canada this year.
Posted by: Andrew Heffron | April 28, 2008 12:53 PM
Who wrote this article?? What's the deal with CBC - the Habs are the only remaining Canadian team in the playoffs and they continue to be dealt with as though they are an abomination !!! Outright favouritism maybe not, but the CBC has not been behind the Habs since the beginning of the playoffs - at least slant your coverage Canadian!! The Americans do it. In fact, I believe everyone does it except for the CBC and anything related Canadia(e)n !!! Step up and be honest about it and don't give a Cherry excuse!! It's beginning to stink like envy from a Toronto based network.
Posted by: francesco toronto | April 28, 2008 01:02 PM
Timmonen knew it was coming, after laughing he turned his back as Kostopolous was approaching. He has the nerve to laugh and rub it in and not the 'cajoles' to face the angry Canadien skating towards him. Cry baby coach and team so far all series. Suck it up Flyers.
Posted by: Nathan Boeyman Winnipeg | April 28, 2008 02:20 PM
This was not that cheap a shot. Timonen did infact see it coming, he only stopped moving his lips and taunting the Habs because he saw TK coming for him with the left hook. Open your eyes people!! And hey this Habs fan is not complaining, it's just tit for tat as far as I'm concerned. The Whyners of Philadelphia will and in fact have already done some questionable antics this series. But HEY, it's the playoffs!! Enjoy everyone. :)
Posted by: shaun barbeay | April 28, 2008 02:27 PM
Just like Lennon and MaCartney and Orbison put it in song one day, the Flyers are too saying: "I'M CRYING, CRYING, CRYYYYYYYING!"; well then, give them some freeking tissues to wipe their eyes, noses, ears and tears and let us get on the freeking ice tonight and settle the scores, for goodness sake. Go MONTREAL CANADIANS! No pity for those "animals"!
Posted by: MAURICE (MOMO) SYLVESTRE MONTRÉAL | April 28, 2008 02:48 PM
If I hear anymore comments about "how the CBC is picking on the poor Montreal Canadians" - sheesh. Want some cheese?
I have yet to see a Montreal fan waving a "Candian" flag at the game or anywhere else - you know the one, red with a maple leaf on it.....
Hopefully , it will be golf season soon in Montreal, and the rest of us can enjoy what will probably be the "Keystone State Series".
Go Pens Go Flyers
Posted by: PitCrew44D Winnipeg | April 28, 2008 03:57 PM
this is all a joke.... it was a cheap shot but who cares... look back thru the playoffs and check out some of the goals that have been scored... why is it that montreal fans cry when they feel they are not getting every advantage... the rest of the teams in the league have been complaining about montreal homer calls for years... play the freaking game and quit whining or go burn a cop car
Posted by: tom schmied sault | April 28, 2008 06:38 PM
Clearly one would have to be blind, not to be able to see that there was enough white space between the puck and the goal line to drive a semi truck through. The other goal where Umberger made contact with the puck(not Price),was an example of superior, eye hand co-ordination. Some people need bigger screen sets and more coffee.
The new Flyers feel bad about the old image that still stigmatizes them but they are changing. Give them time. Enjoy. What about Biron? Conn Smythe anyone???
Posted by: 2020 | April 28, 2008 06:48 PM