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Richards, Flyers looking for sixth straight win

Dec 18, 2008 - 11:23 AM Philadelphia (17-7-6) at Montreal (16-9-5), 7:00 pm EST

MONTREAL (Ticker) -- Everything appears to be going the Philadelphia Flyers way - even the bounces.

Captain Mike Richards and the Flyers seek their season-high sixth consecutive victory Thursday when they face the Montreal Canadiens.

Benefiting from an advantageous bounce, Richards scored a goal and set up two others as Philadelphia posted a 5-2 triumph over the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday.

The 17th captain in franchise history, Richards extended his career-high points streak to eight games with his second consecutive three-point performance as the Flyers improved to 13-1-3 in their last 17 games.

After the 23-year-old set up Mike Knuble with a brilliant feed to the doorstep in the first period, Richards then netted his 13th goal of the season - thanks to a rather fortunate bounce.

With 7:18 remaining in the second period, Simon Gagne alertly slipped the puck to Richards in the slot. The Ontario native unleashed a shot that sailed over the net, but the puck caromed off the glass, off both the top of the net and goaltender Peter Budaj before trickling down into the crease.

In an attempt to clear it out of harm's way, Colorado defenseman Scott Hannan inadvertently knocked the puck past Budaj and into the net.

"I don't how it went in, but it did," Richards said. "When you're playing well, you are getting bounces. If it hit the glass, I don't think that it is going to go in, but that is what happens when things are going well.

The Canadiens are hoping to snap a three-game losing streak. Alexei Kovalev's shorthanded goal ended a 19-game drought, but Montreal still suffered a 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.

Kovalev has six goals and 23 points.