Canadiens Confound Flyers

Traverse`s second-period goal, his fourth of the season, started Montreal to a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday night.

Traverse, acquired from Boston on Feb. 21, also assisted on Saku Koivu`s 12th goal and Canadiens goalie Jose Theodore stopped 33 shots as Montreal beat Philadelphia for the second time in five days to extend its winning streak to three.

The Canadiens are 11th overall in the Eastern Conference and virtually assured of missing the playoffs for the third straight season.

"When I came here last week the atmosphere wasn`t that great," Traverse said. "Then we started to win. Even when you`re far behind in the standings, it`s still fun to play when you win."

Traverse scored unassisted 17:51 into the second for his first goal with the Canadiens.

"It`s a great feeling, especially a big goal like that," Traverse said. "It was important for the momentum it gave us in the game."

Koivu tapped in Traverse`s rebound with 12:21 gone in the third after the Canadiens defenseman`s shot beat goalie Brian Boucher and hit the post.

"As long as we get the goal, that`s the important thing," Traverse said.

Daymond Langkow scored his 13th of the season on a power play with 3:17 left in the third to draw Philadelphia within one.

Montreal forward Martin Rucinsky ended an 18-game goalless drought when he scored an unassisted goal for his 10th of the season with 1:14 left in the third. It was his first goal since Nov. 30.

"It`s been a long time," Rucinsky said. "I was out two months with a knee injury and I worked really hard to keep myself up to the NHL level and all of a sudden you find yourself in a slump like that."

The Canadiens were outshot 34-25 overall as the Flyers held a 10-3 edge in the first. Montreal was outshot 31-13 in a 3-2 win in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Boucher made 22 saves in his first start since losing 4-3 in Boston on Feb. 6 in Philadelphia`s first game following the All-Star break.

The Flyers` starting goalie last season, Boucher has been relegated to backing up 30-year-old Czech rookie Roman Cechmanek.

"I`ve got to get used to it because it`s the only way it`s going to be for me," Boucher said. "I can`t use that as an excuse. I felt pretty good tonight and I felt confident. It`s just one of those things where they got a few breaks, and that`s the way it was."

Traverse, who also played for Anaheim this season, opened the scoring with 2:09 left in the second as he drove to the net and fired a wrist shot that went in off Boucher`s right arm.

Montreal forward Chad Kilger crashed into the Flyers` net moments before Traverse`s goal after losing an edge. Kilger, who lay on the ice for several moments after his helmet struck the post, needed assistance to leave the ice and did not return.

The Canadiens had to play two men short for 1:42 of the last 5:06 of the game after Sheldon Souray was given a double minor for high sticking with Dainius Zubrus already in the penalty box.

"It`s not the best situation," Theodore said. "They were only down two goals and a team like Philly can make a couple of goals really quick."

Langkow scored moments after Zubrus came out of the box to draw the Flyers to 2-1.

Rucinsky, who hadn`t scored since Nov. 30, caught a break when his flip shot at Boucher found its way into the net with 1:14 left to put Montreal up by two.

"At this point, I`ll take anything," Rucinsky said. "I`m just happy to get that one."

Notes: Flyers coach Bill Barber called a timeout immediately following Langkow`s goal. ... Boucher hadn`t played since relieving Cechmanek and allowing three goals in a 9-4 loss to Pittsburgh on Feb. 7. ... ... Montreal recalled defenseman Francis Bouillon from a three-game conditioning assignment with Quebec City of the AHL. Bouillon, who didn`t dress for the game, missed 23 games due to a sprained ankle.

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News(AP)