(Kate Frese/Sports Talk Philly)
By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Coming off another embarrassing effort against the Carolina Hurricanes, the Flyers responded with a quality win over the Montreal Canadiens.
This was your typical game against the Canadiens. Chances were hard to come by, Carey Price was on his game and the Flyers needed an extra push to get the two points, but they managed to get those critical points.
Here are 10 Postgame Points from Flyers-Canadiens.
- The first point comes from before the game. Dave Hakstol's lineup was interesting to say the least. Scratching Shayne Gostisbehere and Travis Konecny was certainly going to be met with criticism. So naturally, the night two youngsters and fan favorites sit, the Flyers get a win. Go figure.
- Matt Read's goal in the third period was his first in 27 games, going back to Nov. 3. The unlikely source for a goal used a great shot, firing a puck that was on edge and rising over the shoulder to beat Price.
- Read's goal seemed to wake everyone up as well. Nothing against the goals from likely sources like Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds or Jake Voracek, but when a player snaps a goalless drought that lasts months, it can certainly provide a jolt to the rest of the team.
- It took the Flyers almost 38 minutes to solve Price and the Canadiens defense. Naturally, it was a power-play goal by Giroux that did it. If there's one thing the Flyers rely on most in their successes this season, it's goals while on the power play. And while Read's goal at even strength was a welcome sight, the Flyers really had chances coming at a premium at even strength.
- A big key to Giroux's goal was Wayne Simmonds positioning. The most effective way to solve elite goalies like Carey Price is to take the eyes. Simmonds is one of the best at doing that, especially on the power play, but for most of the game to that point, Price saw everything coming his way. Price was leaning trying to see around Simmonds when Giroux unleashed a wrist shot that caught part of his glove and found the net.
- Give the Flyers a lot of credit defensively. They held the Atlantic Division leaders to 16 shots on goal, and while one of the early chances went in, the Canadiens were extremely limited for the remainder of the game.
- The Flyers had 34 hits in the game, and while the number is high and indicative of a physical game, which it was, the Flyers were dishing out quality hits. The Flyers always play better when they have a physical edge, but in this day and age, hits are as much about timing and effectiveness over strength and brutality. A quality hit wins a puck battle, separated a forward from the puck and leads to a clear. The Flyers made effective use of their physicality, something reminiscent of their play from the 10-game winning streak earlier this season.
- While his presence in the lineup may not have been a welcome sign with Konecny and Gostisbehere out, Dale Weise actually played a very strong game, one of his best this season. He had a breakaway that drew a penalty, took three shots, had three hits and blocked a shot.
- While the Flyers played a strong game overall and came away with a good win, let's not sugarcoat this as the best game the Flyers have played. It was far from that. For two periods, the Flyers really struggled to get much going offensively either. They turned up the tempo as the game went on and did start generating chances and got a pair of shots past Price, but for the majority of the first 30 minutes, this was a relatively lethargic game from the Flyers again. With their speed not quite up to par with the Canadiens, they struggled to make their way through the neutral zone and to create space to get those effective chances offensively.
- But the result is what matters, and the response to get back in the win column after another pathetic performance was another sign that this team is starting to bounce back from the extended slump they were in throughout January. Yes, Tuesday's game resembled a team that isn't playoff material, but if the effort of Thursday's win is consistent, the Flyers are still in good shape in the playoff race, given their current position.
Bottom Line
Anytime you can get two points, it's a good win, but this was a particularly good win because it served as a follow-up to Tuesday.
Tuesday's game presented the doubts that this team could play the quality level of hockey needed to make the playoffs again and continue growing in experience as they get closer to welcoming more prospects. And while the game was not perfect by any stretch, the Flyers delivered a performance deserving of two points in the standings.
Funny how things work out that way when the Flyers are on home ice and playing a team that is considered more of a contender in the Eastern Conference. The Flyers get two West opponents in their next two home games, but if they can replicate the effort and results of Thursday's game against teams below them in the standings and within their own division, and even better if they can take that act on the road, they could be a team that heats up at the right time. But that's a big if after one game, even if it was a quality victory.
