National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Philadelphia 5, Montreal 3
When: 7:30 PM ET, Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Referees: Dean Morton, Stephen Walkom
Linesmen: Scott Driscoll, Pierre Racicot
Attendance: 19882

Flyers 5, Canadiens 3: Wayne Simmonds and defenseman Erik Gustafsson scored 90 seconds apart late in the third period as host Philadelphia rallied for its season-high third straight victory.

Sean Couturier snapped a 27-game goalless drought, Simon Gagne also scored and Jakub Voracek added an empty-net tally for the Flyers, who ended a five-game homestand with points in their last four (3-0-1). Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 14 shots while making his 20th consecutive start.

Defenseman Alexei Emelin and David Desharnais each had a goal and an assist and Brandon Prust also scored for Montreal, which fell to 0-8-0 at Wells Fargo Center in the last three years. Carey Price made 29 saves as the Canadiens saw their three-game winning streak come to an end.

Philadelphia, which trailed by two goals in the third period of a 5-4 overtime victory against Washington on Sunday, trailed 3-2 entering the final 20 minutes after goals 20 seconds apart by Prust and Desharnais. Simmonds tied the game after a shot by defenseman Bruno Gervais glanced off his skate at the edge of the crease and around Price.

Gustafsson drove down the left side from the point and sent a centering pass toward Matt Read that hit a Montreal player in the slot and bounced into the net to put the Flyers ahead. For Gustafsson, it was his second career goal and first since Feb. 16, 2012. Philadelphia outshot the Canadiens 26-6 over the final two periods, including 14-2 in the third.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Gagne and Voracek each finished with a goal and an assist. ... Simmonds and Prust were both involved in fights early in the second period. Simmonds and LW Travis Moen dropped the gloves at 2:13 before C Zac Rinaldo challenged Prust two seconds later. ... Philadelphia is four points out of a tie for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Top Game Performances
 
Montreal   Philadelphia
David Desharnais 2 Points Simon Gagne 2
David Desharnais 1 Goals Simon Gagne 1
Max Pacioretty 2 Assists Simon Gagne 1
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Carey Price .879 Save Percentage Ilya Bryzgalov .824
Carey Price 29 Saves Ilya Bryzgalov 14
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Montreal 17 3 0-3 3-3 18 25
Philadelphia 34 5 0-3 3-3 18 31
Upcoming Games
  • Philadelphia will play their next game on the road against Toronto. The Flyers have a W/L % of .400 after a win and .500 after a loss.
  • Montreal will play their next game at home against Winnipeg. The Canadiens have a W/L % of .609 after a win and .750 after a loss.