Canadiens vs. Flyers game recap: Empty building, full effort

Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty ImagesThe Montreal Canadiens’ game against the Philadelphia Flyers took on a much different tone a few hours before puck drop as the Habs announced that the game was going to be played behind closed doors due to rising COVID cases in the area.

Montreal’s lineup didn’t look much different from its previous game, with the biggest changes being Cayden Primeau called up to start for the Habs, and Mathieu Perreault was absent due to a lower-body injury. For the injury-laden Flyers, they had called up a few reinforcements from the AHL as well, in addition to giving Carter Hart the start at the Bell Centre.

The Flyers pushed the pace early on in the first period,…