Konecny, Giroux Lead Flyers Past Canadiens, 5-3
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Travis Konecny scored twice and Claude Giroux had a goal and an assist to help the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-3 on Thursday night.
Jakub Voracek and Ivan Provorov also scored, and Shayne Gostisbehere had three assists. The Flyers kept their hold on a playoff spot in a crowded race in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia entered in seventh place, but just one point ahead of Columbus and the New York Islanders, and only four in front of 10th-placed Carolina.
Logan Shaw, Artturi Lehkonen and Brendan Gallagher scored for Montreal.
The game ended a historic day in Philadelphia that featured the victory parade for the Eagles' first Super Bowl championship. The Flyers congratulated the Eagles on the video board and played highlights from the parade to the delight of the crowd, which unleashed a loud "E-A-G-L-E-S! E-A-G-L-E-S!" chant.
The parade also altered both teams' normal routines. The Flyers held their morning skate at their practice facility in Voorhees, New Jersey rather than on their home ice in Philadelphia. They also had players who live in Philadelphia stay at a hotel in South Jersey on Wednesday night to ensure they could make the morning skate.
The Canadiens switched hotels from their normal spot in downtown Philadelphia to a place near the airport to avoid the crowds while also canceling their morning skate.
Voracek broke a 2-all tie and made amends for an earlier turnover that led to a Canadiens goal 27 seconds into the third period when he roofed a wrist shot over Carey Price's left shoulder for Philadelphia's second power play goal of the contest.
Konecny made it a two-goal advantage 1:01 later when he pounced on a rebound after Gostisbehere's shot from the point trickled out of the grasp of Price. It was his 13th tally of the season and seventh in the last 10 contests.
Gallagher's power play goal with 2:54 left brought Montreal within a goal.
Provorov iced the win with an empty-netter with 55.9 seconds remaining.
The teams each scored a pair of goals in the second period.
Konecny opened the scoring by finishing a great passing play 42 seconds into the period.
Lehkonen stripped Voracek near center ice and whizzed a shot past Brian Elliott's glove side with 10:51 left in the second. It was the ninth short-handed goal the Flyers have allowed this season.
Philadelphia answered 28 seconds later on the power play when Giroux's wrist shot got through traffic and past Price.
Shaw sent the teams into the final period tied at 2 when his wrister went off Elliott and in with 1:11 left.
Elliott made 25 saves in his second game back from a lower body injury after missing four games. The Flyers lost all four contests without their top goalie, who got an assist on Provorov's tally.
Notes: Montreal D Shea Weber and C Phillip Danault did not make the trip to Philadelphia but skated prior to Wednesday's practice. Weber (foot) has been out since Dec. 16 and Danault (concussion) has been sidelined since Jan. 13. ... The teams play the second of three contests Feb. 20 in Philadelphia before finishing the season series Feb. 26 at Montreal. ... Philadelphia's power play had been 4-for-30 over the 10 previous games before scoring twice against Montreal.
UP NEXT
Canadiens: Host Nashville on Saturday night.
Flyers: Play at Arizona on Saturday night.
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