HABS DOWN THE FLYERS & MOVE UP TO 2ND IN THE EAST

GOAL SCORERS

PHI:   D. Briere (13:56 - 2nd) 

MTL:   B. Gallagher (08:53 - 1st) , D. Desharnais (01:15 - 2nd) , T. Plekanec (04:32 - 3rd) , R. Bourque (EN, 18:56 - 3rd)

GOALIES

PHI: B. Boucher (L)

 MTL: P. Budaj (W)

          Earlier tonight in Montreal, the Canadiens took on the Philadelphia Flyers. Going into the game, the Flyers had a record of 2-7-1 on the road. Before the game, the Habs announced that Carey Price was out with the flew, so Peter Budaj would make his 3rd start of the season. The Flyers game plan going into the night was to play a physical game. On their first shift they did just that registering 3 hits. But Montreal had other plans, those plans involved using their speed.

        9 minutes in, Pacioretty centred the puck to Gallagher and he wristed a shot past Boucher to make it 1-0.  That was the only goal of the period as the Habs out shot the Flyers 12-2.  Just over a minute into the second, Pacioretty came flying down the right wing and took the puck behind the net and centred it to Desharnais and he scored to make it 2-0. Then with under 8 to play in the second, Budaj came out to play the puck in behind his own net and he gave it right to Couturier and he had a empty net, but Subban dove to block the shot.

      A few minutes later, Briere got the puck in the slot and ripped it past Budaj to cut the lead to 1 on just the Flyers 7th shot of the game. 2-1 after 2 was the score and the shots in the second were 8-6 Flyers. 4 minutes into the third, Bourque centred the puck to Plekanec and his shot was blocked and he got his own rebound and scored to make it 3-1. Late in the period, Schenn nailed Gallagher into the boards and he left the game and didn't return. Shortly after, Timonen sent Pacioretty into the net and he left the game as well and didn't return.

      Bourque would add an empty net goal as the Habs win 4-1. The shots in the third were 11-9 Montreal and 29-19 overall. In the win Budaj made 18 saves. In the loss Boucher made 26 saves. After Montreals 6-0 loss to the Leafs last Saturday, most people wonder if Montreal could ever get back to their winning ways and they have as they currently hold a 3 game win streak."I thought the way we handled that game, with (Erik) Cole getting the guys together, guys talking and coming back to work the right way. ... You can lick your wounds and feel sorry for yourselves and point fingers, but instead of doing that we decided to look in the mirror, and be accountable and get better," Gorges said. "We had a good week."

      The Montreal Canadiens now hold a 1 point lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs for 2nd in the Eastern Conference. If the Habs plan on being a top team all they have to do is continue to do what they do best and that's to use their speed. Montreal is one of the fastest teams in the NHL and if they are going to win hockey games they must use their speed going up the wings and get the puck to the slot and drive the net for rebounds. That's Montreals style and if they play like that they will no doubt win hockey games.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo