FLYERS NEWS

The Flyers traveled to Montreal tonight to complete a home and home with the Canadiens and their schedule before the Olympic break. Coming with 3 straight wins they had all the momentum in the world and used it to rollover the Habs in this one. Just 4 seconds into the game Ian Laperriere set the tone by picking a fight with Ryan O'Byrne and beating him up pretty badly. From there the Orange and Black simply put the hammer down. Danny Briere, Mike Richards on the power play, and Jeff Carter all scored in the opening period for a quick 3-0 lead. After Brian Gionta finally got the Habs on the board to start the 2nd period, Blair Betts scored shorthanded, and Danny Briere added his 2nd tally of the night, this time on the power play, to push the lead to 5-1 and all but erase any Canadien's comeback hopes.

Late in the 3rd period Briere scored unassisted to complete a hat trick, fittingly in his home town, and put the Habs away for good 6-2. This was about the best the Flyer's have played all season and it is shame they now have only an Olympic break to take all this momentum into. Hopefully when the break is over in a couple weeks they'll be able to pick up right where they left off here and keep rolling. As usual playing in his home town, brought out the best in Danny Briere. Hopefully this isn't the last time we see that kind of play from him. Micheal Leighton continued to make a case the Flyer's number 1 goalie, saving 26 of the 28 shots he faced tonight. For whatever reason the Flyer's just play well in front of him and that's all you need to be successful in the NHL, a goalie the team plays well in front of. Anyway so the Flyers now have 67 points and sit a little more safely in 6th in the East. Hopefully they'll stay there long after the break is over.