From idol to now series foe. Carter Hart as a kid idolized Carey Price, wanted to be as good and as consistent as Price. This is Harts first playoff series and it will come as a real test facing a young and hungry Montreal Canadiens team. The Habs average age is 27 being led by Shea Weber and looking for their first Stanley Cup since 1993. The Flyers also equally as young with an average age of 26 and equally as hungry if not hungrier as the Flyers haven’t won a cup in 45 years.

Team stats wise the Flyers have the Habs beat in every category. The Flyers also won the season series against the Habs 2-1-0. By no mean does this mean that Montreal will be a push over. Montreal just took the Sidney Crosby led penguins out in just 4 games in a best of five series. The key factor in that series was Carey Price playing lights out in net only allowing 6 goals on 134 shots for a SV% of .955. The Flyers will have their work cut out for them while trying to solve Price.

Key for this series will be with out a doubt the special teams. The Habs went 0-12 in the entire series with the Penguins. With this Flyers PK I expect the Flyers to control the defensive zone even with being a man down I’d even look for a couple short handed opportunities going the other way. The Flyers on the other had put up an 0-11 on the man advantages in 3 games. I wouldn’t read into it too much but if the special teams units are a wash and it comes down to 5 on 5 hockey, Price very well could be the difference maker.

Three players to watch in this series are:

Carter Hart Carey Price Kevin Hayes

I sincerely believe the Flyers will take this series in 5 games.