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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Flyers come out firing, rout Canadiens

Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA – James van Riemsdyk, Danny Briere and Simon Gagne scored in a span of 9:23 in the second period against playoff star Jaroslav Halak, and the Philadelphia Flyers routed the Montreal Canadiens 6-0 in the Eastern Conference finals opener on Sunday night.

There would be no comeback necessary this time for the Flyers, who rebounded from a 3-0 series hole against the Bruins and a three-goal deficit in Game 7 in Boston on Friday night. Philadelphia has won five straight overall and is 5-1 in the playoffs at home.

Halak was easily outplayed by Flyers fill-in goalie Michael Leighton, who is unbeaten since replacing the injured Brian Boucher in Game 5 of Philadelphia’s win over Boston. Leighton made 27 saves in his first NHL postseason shutout.

Game 2 of the NHL’s first final four matchup between a No. 7 and No. 8 seed, will be Tuesday night in Philadelphia.

Defenseman Braydon Coburn scored his first NHL playoff goal during a first-period power play, van Riemsdyk pushed the lead to 2-0 just 30 seconds into the middle frame, and Briere and Gagne – on another power play – beat Halak 5:30 apart to finish the spurt.

Scott Hartnell and Claude Giroux added third-period goals against Carey Price.