Frost scores twice, Flyers defeat Canadiens

PHILADELPHIA -- Morgan Frost scored twice for the Philadelphia Flyers in their fourth straight win, 3-2 against the Montreal Canadiens at Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday.

"I didn't feel that great going into this game," Frost said. "But once we started playing, I started to get going."
Owen Tippett scored, and Felix Sandstrom made 27 saves for his first win since Nov. 8 for Philadelphia (29-32-12), which extended its point streak to six games (5-0-1) and finished 5-1-1 on a seven-game homestand.
"I think we have supported the puck really well, [but] I don't think we were that good at that tonight," Flyers coach John Tortorella said. "I thought it was a game that for both teams it was kind of low event. But for the most part in this homestand, I think the puck support and our decision-making through the neutral zone has been really good and it's given us an opportunity to win."

Brendan Gallagher and Rafael Harvey-Pinard scored for Montreal (30-39-6) which was eliminated from contention for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Cayden Primeau, in his first start since Feb. 10, 2022, made 24 saves.
The Canadiens won 4-3 in a shootout at the Buffalo Sabres on Monday.
"We just didn't have the jump that we needed to create a little bit more," Gallagher said. "Give them credit, they were sound in their structure, making it really tough on us, and they made a play at the end."
Frost gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead at 3:41 of the second period. As a power play was expiring, Kevin Hayes circled behind the Canadiens goal and passed through the slot to Frost, who settled the pass and scored short side, past Primeau's blocker.
His second goal put Philadelphia ahead 2-1 at 17:45 of the third period when he finished a 2-on-1 rush with Joel Farabee. Frost skated up the wing, cut from the right face-off circle to the slot and beat Primeau high to the glove side.
"I was thinking pass like I usually do most of the way, and then I saw the second guy was going to over-backcheck," Frost said. "So, I switched it up last minute and ended up shooting."

It was Frost's first two-goal game since the season-opener Oct. 13. But he had eight points (four goals, four assists) during the homestand, and since Jan. 1 leads the Flyers with 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) in 36 games.
"He's getting more and more consistent," Tortorella said. "The goals are the goals, that's great. We're looking for that. But I think he's improved away from the puck, which is a very important part of his game.
"We know he has skill. We need to keep on seeing the skill. But for a coach to put a player on the ice that he's still not sure of, that other stuff has to be sound, and I think he's really improved there."

Gallagher tied it 1-1 at 9:39. Scott Laughton fanned on a clearing attempt and Gallagher one-timed the loose puck past Sandstrom. It was his third straight game with a goal.
Tippett scored an empty-net goal at 18:14 of the third period to make it 3-1, and Harvey-Pinard scored from the side of the net at 19:37 for the 3-2 final.
"We know where we are in the standings," Canadiens forward Jonathan Drouin said. "It's tough to see the playoffs starting and you're not in it. But guys are working, we're having a positive attitude. The veterans are doing a good job of making sure we're not wasting any games, any periods. It was one of those games today where there's just not much going on."
NOTES: The four-game winning streak ties the Flyers' season best, set Dec. 29-Jan. 5. It's also their longest point streak since a seven-game run (5-0-2) from Dec. 10-30, 2021. ... Frost has seven points (three goals, four assists) in the past five games. … Flyers goalie Carter Hart missed the game because of a lower-body injury. Samuel Ersson was recalled from Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League to back up Sandstrom. Tortorella said Hart was injured during the morning skate but did not say how long Hart could be out. ... Farabee had his five-game point streak (four goals, three assists) end. ... Canadiens forward Sean Farrell, who signed a three-year, entry-level contract Sunday, had one shot attempt and one takeaway in 13:03 in his NHL debut. ... Primeau was recalled from Laval (AHL) on Monday.