MONTREAL -- This time of year, it doesn’t have to be pretty. And when it comes down to a shootout, where the Flyers routinely struggle, it never is.
But two points are two points in the standings. And on this night, the Flyers limped off the ice at Bell Center with that similar shootout feeling, the one which leaves them feeling like they should have had that much-needed second point.
Paul Byron’s wrist shot beat Michal Neuvirth in the shootout’s fifth round to put the Canadiens ahead, and then Brayden Schenn couldn’t beat Mike Condon to extend the game any further, handing the Flyers a crushing 3-2 loss.
Nick Cousins, who also scored in regulation, put the Flyers ahead early in the shootout. But after stopping the first two Canadiens shooters, Neuvirth couldn’t stop Max Pacioretty’s wrist shot to even the shootout in the third round.
Then Wayne Simmonds and Jake Voracek both missed their breakaway attempts.
The Flyers, who entered Friday six points out of the playoffs, fell to 25-21-11, while Montreal improved to 28-27-4.
NHL
Notable goals
The first two goals of the night, scored 10 seconds apart, were neither pretty nor notable, especially not for either goalie.
But Michael Raff’s tip-in goal to put the Flyers up 2-1 was a beautiful, tic-tac-toe finish early in the third period. But just over five minutes later, Pacioretty evened the score at two.
The streak lives
Flyers rookie defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere continued his record-setting point-scoring streak with a third-period assist, upping the streak to 14 games.
Scott Laughton spun the puck back to Gostisbehere in the Flyers’ offensive zone, and Gostisbehere then quickly fired a cross-ice pass to a waiting Raffl in front of the Montreal net for an easy tap-in goal to put the Flyers up, 2-1, 3:15 into the third period.
Gostisbehere, who has four goals and 13 assists during the streak, is now the first defenseman with a 14-game point streak since Brian Leetch had one of an equal game length while playing with the New York Rangers in 1996.
Per the Elias Sports Bureau, Gostisbehere’s run is tied for the third-longest streak by any rookie since 1987-88. Joe Nieuwendyk (Calgary, 1988) and Joe Juneau (Boston, 1992) each had streaks of 14 games. The longest in that time frame is Paul Stastny’s (Colorado) streak of 20 games in 2007.
Goalie report
Coming off of Tuesday’s win in New Jersey, Neuvirth got the call in a crucial game in Montreal.
Neuvirth, who has played better than starter Steve Mason for portions of this season, had no chance on Montreal’s first goal of the game, a centering feed from Dale Weise that found its way through Neuvirth’s legs after redirecting off of Flyers defenseman Nick Schultz.
Neuvirth, who dropped his record to 12-6-4, made 29 saves on the night, but probably wanted Pacioretty's game-tying goal back the most. Montreal’s captain had time and space at the top of the right circle and fired a shot that Neuvirth got a piece of with his pad, but not enough to keep the Flyers ahead at the time.
His best work, however, came in the overtime session. A mad scramble in front of the Flyers' net ended with a sprawling save from Neuvirth on Alex Galchenyuk, who he then stopped to open the shootout.
Condon, winless in six straight entering Friday night, made 35 saves in regulation and overtime.
Power play
This was arguably the worst area of the Flyers’ game Friday night, despite having only a few chances.
Three opportunities on the man advantage produced little offensive output and sloppy play around the blue line. The Flyers were 0 for 3 on the night while putting just six shots on Condon.
Penalty kill
The Flyers’ kill was strong through their first three man-down situations, but Claude Giroux’s second penalty of the night allowed the Canadiens a power play seven minutes into the third period with the Flyers ahead, 2-1. Montreal took full advantage, tying the score at two apiece with 11:25 to play in the game.
The Flyers’ kill was 1 for 4 for the game, surrendering one goal on five shots allowed.
Scratches
Jordan Weal (upper-body) remained out of the lineup with an injury. Both Sam Gagner and Brandon Manning sat out as healthy scratches.
Up next
The Flyers fly to Toronto immediately after the game and play the Maple Leafs at Air Canada Center Saturday night at 7 p.m.