Following a dismal California road trip that saw the Flyers go without a poing, play nowhere close to 60 minutes a game and get torched on the penalty kill, it was absolutely imperative to come home and beat a playoff-caliber Montreal Canadiens club.
Considering how tough their upcoming schedule is, a win was crucial.
Thanks to multi-point efforts from Brayden Schenn (one goal, two assists), Sean Couturier (one goal, one assist) and Shayne Gostsibehere (one goal, one assist), the Flyers (16-15-7) were able to deliver. They were also able to drive puck possession in one of their more complete efforts this season, as they held the Canadiens to a mere seven shots through the first 30 minutes of gameplay.
Schenn, who was previously demoted from the first to the second line earlier this week, got the Flyers started at 5:06 of the first period, beating Ben Scrivens on a breakaway on what was just the Flyers' second shot of the game. The Flyers appeared to be able take their 1-0 lead into the dressing room, but they were thwarted by a fluke Alex Galchenyuk deflection at 14:14 to tie the game at 1.
Gostisbehere and Wayne Simmonds scored within five minutes of each other in the second stanza, giving the Flyers a two-goal advantage. Simmonds' 10th goal of the season came as Canadiens' impact defenseman P.K. Subban was sitting for an ill-timed hooking minor, and was the Orange and Black's lone power play goal on three chances.
As the second period was winding to a close, the Canadiens (22-16-3) were able to generate much of the offensive pressure, thanks in part to a Ryan White interference minor. Though the Habs were not able to score on the ensuing man-advantage, they were still able to keep steady control of the puck, and punctuated that with Brendan Gallagher's second goal since his return from broken fingers last week.
At 5:41 of the first period, Nick Schultz unloaded a shot from the blueline that sailed wide to the right of Scrivens. But as the puck caromed off the boards behind the net, Couturier was able to bury home the rebound and put the Orange and Black back up by 2.
With 3:21 to play, Couturier found himself in the box for a high-stick. Yet again, the Flyers managed to hold off the Canadiens' power play, even as Scrivens headed to the bench for a 6-on-4 chance.
It looked like the Flyers would have the win wrapped up as Couturier left the box, but alas, it was not that simple. A scramble in front of Michal Neuvirth appeared as though he had the puck covered. Video review showed otherwise, and Daniel Carr was credited with the goal that brought the Canadiens within one.
The Flyers' penalty kill, which was dreadful in their three-game trip, held steady against the Canadiens' quick-moving power play. Neuvirth also stopped 22 of 24 pucks, while Scrivens — in his second NHL game this season — saved 27 of 31 shots.
They outshot the Canadiens by a 31-24 margin — the first time since Dec. 19 that they recorded 24 or less shots, and their seventh game all season where their shot total didn't exceed 25.
With the win, the Orange and Black snap a three-game losing streak against the Canadiens. Jan. 8, 2014 was their most recent win over the Habs, coincidentally at Wells Fargo Center.
The Flyers next travel to Minnesota on Thursday, for the first of two meetings this season with the Wild.
Rob Riches is a contributor to Flyerdelphia and Sports Talk Philly. Follow him on Twitter @Riches61
