Instant Replay: Flyers 3, Canadiens 1

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BOX SCORE

Win three in a row, and then look terrible on the road in their first game after the All-Star break. That was the story for the Flyers entering Thursday night.

The Flyers benefited from an improved defensive effort Thursday to grind out a 3-1 win over the Canadiens at the Wells Fargo Center Thursday to kick off a five-game homestand.

Matt Read broke a 1-1 tie early in the third period with his first goal in 27 games, while Michal Neuvirth started and turned in another solid performance with 15 saves.

Claude Giroux added his 12th goal of the season on the power play in the second period, his second goal in his last 17 games.

The Flyers improve to 26-20-6, while the Canadiens are now 30-15-7. 
 
Scoring first

Montreal scored first. The Habs came into the game just 8-11-2 when that happens. Neuvirth was screened on Nikita Nesterov's point shot early in the game. The Flyers have allowed the first goal 34 times in 52 games.

Notable goals
What were the odds Read could beat Canadiens goalie Carey Price from the circle with a show Price saw the entire way?

Goalie report
Neuvirth had a couple of strong saves in the second period, including a glove stop on Jacob De La Rose's breakaway. He had two stops on Andrew Shaw in the third period in succession.

Power play
Passes were far too slow on their first attempt — actually slower than practice speed and therefore, there was no quality shots on net. The Habs had too much time to adjust.

And while some of the passes were off on their second power play, the Flyers scored on Giroux's shot that hit Andrei Markov's stick and deflected off Price's glove.

The Flyers were 1 for 3.

Penalty kill
Montreal had one power play and didn't get a single shot off.

Scratches
Defenseman Michael Del Zotto (leg bruise) and Shayne Gostisbehere (healthy); forward Travis Konecny (healthy).

Up next
The Flyers practice at Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey, on Friday and will host the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday afternoon in the second game of this five-contest homestand.

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