The Flyers are once again in the postseason and they hope that Danny Briere is officially back as a goal-scoring threat.
Briere broke a long offensive drought with two second period power-play goals as the Flyers defeated the Montreal Canadiens, 4-1, on Saturday in a playoff-clinching win at the Wells Fargo Center.
So with seven games left, the Flyers, who have 96 points, will attempt to earn the highest possible seed while Briere, notorious for his postseason success, looks to round into form.
Briere had not scored a non-empty net goal in his previous 29 games. (His only other goal during this span was an empty netter on March 13 against New Jersey).
"Obviously it's nice confidence-wise," Briere said. "The last three weeks personally I thought my game was turning around, I felt a lot stronger, faster, and I was creating a lot of chances but I couldn't get the bounces going my way."
Briere broke a 1-1 tie by tipping in a wrist shot by Matt Carle with 12:03 left in the second period.
"It's been a little rough on the power play, not getting the bounces," Briere said. "I just wanted to find the puck and redirect it."
Briere scored his second power-play goal and the Flyers' third with the man advantage in the game with 2:22 remaining in the second period.
It was a play started by none other than goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, who is 10-1-1 in March. As if he hasn't been strong enough goal, Bryzgalov earned an assist after making a long clearing pass to Jaromir Jagr, who found Briere skating toward the net. Briere then beat Canadiens goalie Peter Budaj to the short side for his 16th goal of the season.
The Flyers led 3-1 after two periods but it almost was worse for the Canadiens. Zac Rinaldo had a goal nullified when it was ruled it came after time had expired.
The Flyers took a 1-0 lead on Kimmo Timonen's power-play goal with 8:53 left in the first period. Claude Giroux drew the faceoff back to Timonen, who bought himself some room by faking a pass and then blasted a slap shot from the point for his fourth goal of the season and second in four games.
Red-hot Bryzgalov continued his torrid play, making several key stops from close range in the first period.
This was Fan Appreciation Night and in addition to a playoff-clinching win, the Flyers fans got to show their support for injured defenseman Chris Pronger.
During a break in the first period, Pronger received a standing ovation when he was shown on the big screen.
"We didn't know he was here and it was great to see him," Giroux said of Pronger. "We just hope he is getting better."
Montreal got the equalizer when Tomas Plekanec scored on a breakaway after receiving a long pass from Lars Eller with 16:16 left in the second period. Shortly after, Bryzgalov made a sensational save on an Erik Cole backhand.
The Flyers would assume control with Briere's two goals.
In the third period, Briere almost got a hat trick when his wrist shot was stopped but went behind Peter Budaj before the Montreal goaltender was able to fall on it.
This came shortly after the Flyers had to withstand a two-man Montreal power play advantage.
The Flyers then added an insurance goal on a crisp passing play. Carle from the point fed Sean Couturier, near the goal. Couturier then passed to Matt Read skating in on goal. Read tapped it in for his 21st goal.
