Flyers advance to Stanley Cup finals

Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA

Led by players who stormed back this postseason from injury and a colossal deficit, the Philadelphia Flyers have rekindled some of their old “Broad Street Bullies” championship days and can win their first Stanley Cup since 1975.

Mike Richards scored an empty-netter in a most bruising fashion, Arron Asham and Jeff Carter scored goals 84 seconds apart in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals and the Flyers beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 on Monday night to advance to their first Cup finals since 1997.

The Flyers, who needed a shootout win in the last game of the season to clinch a playoff spot, will play the Western Conference champion Chicago Blackhawks in Game 1 on Saturday.

Michael Leighton allowed a goal 59 seconds into the game, then shut down the Canadiens, who showed a resilient comeback spirit in the first two rounds.

“I was counting down the clock the last 2 minutes, I couldn’t wait for it to wind down,” Leighton said. “Last couple of minutes we did a great job.”

Once Carter scored the empty-netter in the final seconds, the crowd exploded in a championship frenzy.