Dec 13, 2007 - 9:23 AM
0 shoutsMontreal (14-11-5) at Philadelphia (16-10-2) 7:00 pm EST
PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) - The Philadelphia Flyers have shown a great deal of improvement this season, but lately consecutive wins have been hard to come by.
The Flyers will look to win two in a row for the first time in more than a month when they host the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.
After an impressive 8-2 victory over the Penguins on Tuesday, Philadelphia has 34 points through 28 games and is one point behind the Atlantic Division co-leaders - New Jersey and the New York Rangers.
Last season, the Flyers managed just 56 points in the entire campaign - by far the worst mark in the league.
An improved offensive effort has been the key to Philadelphia's success as the club ranks first in the division with 89 goals. Both Joffrey Lupul and R.J. Umberger recorded hat tricks in Tuesday's win and Mike Richards, who leads the team with 34 points, tallied three assists.
Despite the high-scoring attack, the Flyers have not recorded back-to-back wins since November 10 and 12 against Pittsburgh and the New York Islanders.
The Canadiens have dropped two straight and five of six after suffering a 3-2 shootout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday. Offense has been the root of the problem for Montreal, which is averaging just two goals per game over its last nine contests.
The Canadiens earned a 5-2 win over the Flyers in the lone meeting between the teams this season. Montreal captain Saku Koivu tallied a goal and an assist in that meeting on November 1.
From the Bleachers
-
MONTREAL: 4
PHILADELPHIA: 1
Final
Dec 13 9:30 PM -
MONTREAL: 4
PHILADELPHIA: 1
End of 2nd
Dec 13 8:40 PM -
NHL
MONTREAL 4
PHILADELPHIA 1
2ND PRD: PHI - (PP) MIKE KNUBLE 10 (MIKE RICHARDS, DANIEL BRIERE)
15:52
Dec 13 8:33 PM -
NHL
MONTREAL 4
PHILADELPHIA 0
2ND PRD: MON - MARK STREIT 4 (TOM KOSTOPOULOS, MAXIM LAPIERRE) 9:58
Dec 13 8:20 PM -
NHL
MONTREAL 3
PHILADELPHIA 0
2ND PRD: MON - (PP) MARK STREIT 3 (ALEXEI KOVALEV, TOMAS PLEKANEC)
5:01
Dec 13 8:09 PM -
NHL
MONTREAL 2
PHILADELPHIA 0
2ND PRD: MON - ANDREI KOSTITSYN 5 (TOMAS PLEKANEC) 0:21
Dec 13 8:01 PM -
MONTREAL: 1
PHILADELPHIA: 0
End of 1st
Dec 13 7:42 PM -
NHL
MONTREAL 1
PHILADELPHIA 0
1ST PRD: MON - (PP) CHRIS HIGGINS 13 (ANDREI MARKOV, SAKU KOIVU) 8:17
Dec 13 7:23 PM
