It's Easier to Believe it was Cricket: Habs/Flyers Game Review

Human beings are adaptive creatures. We draw on various defence mechanisms to cope through pain, to overcome obstacles and shield ourselves from the reality of life. We are self-avowed con-artists.

So I can sit here and type away about that awful performance by the Habs in Philly yesterday afternoon and deal with the reality of that game on its face. Or I can deny it ever happened, entertain the lie for a few more moments and quarantine the memory of the last 40 minutes of yesterday's game.

And I could pretend that it was a cricket match.

Philadelphia finally reached 3 all out in reply to Montreal's and left-arm spinner Claude Giroux sent back Carey Price and Petteri Nokelainen early to raise India's, er... the Flyers hopes of an unlikely victory,

Nokelainen gave the Habs reason for hope early on however, Giroux (34 not out) and Hartnell (27 not out) then thwarted the visitors to take Montreal to 3 for one at the close.

Despite injuries to key players, Giroux who took five wickets in the second and third periods, scored 2 to bring the smiles back to the faces of the Philadelphia crowd. The second period which lasted 7 and a half hours was an example of Philadelphia's dedication to excellence.

Jakub Voracek hit 15 boundaries and two sixes in his 118-ball knock and steered paceman Kimo Timmonen to the third man boundary to bring up his century. He departed to the next puck, miscuing a pull shot to leave Montreal trailing by 2 goals and wondering how much worse it could have been if Jaromir Jagr and Chris Pronger had been in uniform.

PK Subban, who forged a crucial partnership with Carey Price to save the West Indies, er Montreal, from following on, said: "He came out and started playing shots...he was pretty relaxed, the confidence from his bowling rubbed off. That boy can bowl good.

"He has taken wickets in the series, getting a hundred is always special for a bowler. But what's the point in getting a hundred if coach Martyin wants you to do more? And make chicken curry. It was good to have Noki scoring from one end, I could bat myself in and spend more time in the middle. But coach Martin insists that I stay back and let others bat in the middle."

Master batsman Pacioretty, unbeaten on 67 overnight, hit three boundaries and a six in the session and looked set to secure the coveted ton that has eluded him since he last made three figures in the 50-over World Cup.

With the whole of Philadelphia celebrating every run charge Montreal's second period came to an abrupt end on when Giroux edged Price to Canadiens captain Gionta at second slip.

Price trotted off the pitch furious, he was batting out of his crease trying to get the ball a little fuller.

"So I realised that and pulled back my length a little bit. So it was just the right ball at the right time. It's unfortunate, things like this happen.

"We had our plans to unsettle him a little bit. We are fast bowlers and our bouncers are our armoury and we tried to use them as much as possible. We tried to attack Philly a little more and tried to make them uncomfortable."

The visibly frustrated goalie trudged back to the pavilion, slowing down briefly to catch a replay of his dismissal.

Subban had a better game and the only other false shot in the game had come on Thursday, during the first period, when he edged leg-spinner Daniel Brière, on 58 but wicketkeeper Yannick Weber failed to hold on to the tough chance.

Erik Cole, playing his 184th Test, has scored 51 centuries in Tests and 48 in one-dayers.

The right-hander displayed a wide range of attacking shots in the morning against the second new ball, including an upper cut six off the paceman over the third man, before he fell in the 90s for the second time since his last ton.

Scott Gomez is unlikely to bat again in this Test after Montreal avoided the follow-on and will either have to wait for the one-day series against the Bruins, if he opts to play, or the four-Test series in Toronto.

Meanwhile, Mathieu Darche (52) brought up his maiden half-century in Tests, and with Mike Cammalleri took Montreal past the follow-on mark.

Unfortunately captain Gionta did not last long either, clean bowled by Giroux for eight to expose the visiting team's tail.