|
 In a mere sequence of four minutes and 52 seconds of the second
period, Gostisbehere blasted two shots from the point resulting in a
goal and an assist to help flip a tie into a comfortable 3-1 lead
and eventually Philadelphia's first victory since Dec. 21.
"We had a tough West Coast trip -- we didn't really play our
hockey," Gostisbehere said. "But we got back to it tonight."
After dropping three in a row -- all on the road while being
outscored 10-5 -- the Flyers (16-15-7) received multi-point efforts
from centers Brayden Schenn (one goal, two assists) and Sean
Couturier (one goal, one assist), as well as Gostisbehere (one goal,
one assist).
Philadelphia entered with the second-fewest goals in the NHL at 78.
"We need all four lines going on a consistent basis," Couturier
said. "If we can get everyone going on the same page and pushing in
the right direction, we'll be tough to beat."
For the Canadiens (22-16-3), their disappointing eight-game road
swing ended with a 2-6-0 record thanks to being outscored 27-18.
Montreal coach Michel Therrien was not pleased with Tuesday night's
game.
"Emotionally, we were not there," he said. "There are some guys on
our team in the second half that are going have to really start to
pick up their game."
Montreal, which comes home for three straight, is 3-12-0 since Dec.
3 but has stayed afloat in large part because of nine consecutive
wins to start the season.
"We just have to be better," Therrien said. "We didn't skate today."
Flyers goaltender Michal Neuvirth (9-5-2) needed to make 21 saves
for the win, while goalie Ben Scrivens (0-2-0) denied 27 shots in
his second start for Montreal.
With the Flyers holding a 3-2 lead in the third period, Philadelphia
defenseman Nick Schultz's shot from straightaway bounced directly
off the back boards and right to Couturier, who batted it in before
Scrivens could react to provide insurance.
In desperation time, Montreal pulled its goalie and got a goal from
left winger Daniel Carr with 57 seconds left, but the Flyers
prevailed.
"Everybody has to chip in and do their part," Philadelphia coach
Dave Hakstol said. "We have to get contributions from everybody."
Couturier sparked the game's scoring by creating a turnover and
dishing an outlet pass to Schenn, who finished with a breakaway goal
5:06 into the first period to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead.
The Canadiens got it back with 5:46 left in the opening stanza when
center Alex Galchenyuk fought his way in front and deflected a shot
by defenseman Mark Barberio into the back of the net for his 10th
marker of the season.
[to top of second column] |
In the second period, Gostisbehere changed the game with his
powerful slap shot.
At 3:20 into the frame, Gostisbehere rocketed one home from the
point for his seventh goal in 22 games.
Then he did it again on the power play nearly five minutes later,
but this time right winger Wayne Simmonds slightly nicked it to
cushion Philadelphia's advantage to 3-1.
"(Gostisbehere is) the guy that can hit one-timers and has the
confidence to do that," Hakstol said. "He has that patience and
moxie to find the shooting lanes up top."
However, Montreal pushed back with 2:57 remaining in the second.
Right winger Brendan Gallagher, in his second game back after
missing 17 with two broken fingers, brought the Canadiens within one
on a tip-in goal for his 11th of the season.
Montreal got off to a 16-4-2 start thanks to a red-hot Gallagher,
but when the 23-year-old went down, the Canadiens endured a 5-11-1
skid.
This time, he couldn't save them.
"We have to be better," Gallagher said. "We made too many mistakes,
and they made us pay."
NOTES: The Flyers put top offensive threats C Claude Giroux, RW
Wayne Simmonds and LW Jakub Voracek on their first line.
Philadelphia entered the game 29th in the NHL with 2.1 goals per
game. ... Canadiens RW Devante Smith-Pelly returned to the lineup
after sitting the previous three games as a healthy scratch. He
replaced RW Dale Weise, who suffered an upper-body injury in the
Winter Classic on Jan. 1 and will miss two to three weeks. ...
Flyers LW Matt Read was back in the lineup after being a healthy
scratch on Jan. 2 for the first time in his career. ... Canadiens G
Ben Scrivens received his second start since being acquired in a
Dec. 28 trade with the Edmonton Oilers. Starting G Carey Price
remains out with a lower-body injury. ... The Flyers went with six
defensemen, electing to sit D Brandon Manning and D Evgeny Medvedev.
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