The Montreal Canadiens hosted the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at a lively Bell Centre, aiming to strengthen their position in the Eastern Conference Wild Card race. With forward Josh Anderson absent due to family obligations—he and his wife are expecting a newborn—Oliver Kapanen was called up to fill the lineup gap. Kapanen took on fourth-line center duties, playing alongside Michael Pezzetta and Joel Armia, while Jake Evans centered the third line with Christian Dvorak and Brendan Gallagher.
The Canadiens stumbled out of the gate, reminiscent of their previous matchup against the Flyers. Their passes were sloppy, and energy levels were disappointing. To make matters worse, former Hab Ryan Poehling opened the scoring just over four minutes into the first period, putting the Flyers ahead 1-0.
However, the Canadiens are no strangers to adversity. Despite their slow start, veteran Brendan Gallagher found his stride, scoring his 20th goal of the season to tie the game at one. Gallagher’s goal was set up by Evans, who delayed just long enough to draw the defense's attention, allowing Gallagher the space needed to make his shot count. "Make that 20 goals for Brendan Gallagher! He was ready for that one, haha!" exclaimed Marc Dumont, a local sports analyst.
As the game progressed, the Canadiens began to find their rhythm. Lane Hutson, a rookie defenseman who has been making waves in the league, took matters into his own hands. Hutson scored a stunning end-to-end goal, showcasing his remarkable skill and confidence. "WOW! End-to-end beauty!! It’s Lane Hutson’s world, we’re just living in it," tweeted Dumont, capturing the excitement of the moment.
With the Canadiens leading 2-1, Nick Suzuki, the team captain, capitalized on a defensive lapse by the Flyers, scoring a crucial shorthanded goal. This marked Suzuki's 27th goal of the season and further solidified his role as a leader on the ice. "Nick Suzuki takes advantage of the defense-optional situation in Philly to score a shorthanded goal. A big goal that gives the Habs a 3-1 lead," noted Dumont.
Despite a late push from the Flyers, including a goal from Tyson Foerster with just 40 seconds left in the game, the Canadiens held on to secure a 3-2 victory. This win was pivotal for Montreal, as it increased their chances of making the playoffs to 72.4 percent, putting them in a strong position to capture the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Head coach Martin St-Louis expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, particularly highlighting the contributions from Gallagher, Hutson, and Suzuki. "Every big Habs win tends to include two things: a great play by Hutson, and a great play by Suzuki. They’re running the show, and that’s exactly what you want to see from the best players in the lineup," St-Louis remarked.
The Canadiens will be back in action on Sunday, April 6, 2025, as they travel to Nashville to face the Predators, with puck drop scheduled for 7 PM ET. Fans are eagerly anticipating how the team will build on this momentum as they strive for a playoff berth.
Meanwhile, the Flyers' loss officially eliminated them from postseason contention, marking the fifth consecutive season without a playoff appearance. Interim head coach Brad Shaw had hoped to play the role of spoiler, but the team was unable to capitalize on their early lead. Poehling's first-period goal was his career-high 12th and eighth in the last 11 games, but it wasn't enough to secure a win.
As the game concluded, the Canadiens celebrated their hard-fought victory while the Flyers faced the reality of their season's end. With only five games remaining, the Flyers are looking to finish strong, but their focus now shifts to potential draft lottery positioning.
In the final analysis, this matchup highlighted the contrasting trajectories of both teams. The Canadiens are on the rise, fueled by young talent like Hutson and established leaders like Suzuki and Gallagher, while the Flyers are left to regroup and reassess for the future.
As the Canadiens gear up for their next challenge, fans remain hopeful that this victory is just the beginning of a successful playoff push. Can they maintain this momentum against the Predators? Only time will tell.
