Flyers score 6, defeat Canadiens in Shaw's debut as coach

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Flyers won their first game under coach Brad Shaw, 6-4 against the Montreal Canadiens at Wells Fargo Center on Thursday.

Shaw was promoted from assistant coach after John Tortorella was fired Thursday.

"Really good friend of mine lost his job," Shaw said. "Been a real mentor to me in my career as a coach, so very bittersweet. But once the day starts rolling, you're prepping. ... I thought the guys played hard and played smart. Obviously, we finished more plays at the net and reaped the benefits and got a big enough lead that we could take it home and get the win."

Sean Couturier and Matvei Michkov each had two goals and an assist for Philadelphia (29-36-9), which ended a six-game skid (0-5-1) and won in regulation for the first time since Feb. 25. Nicolas Deslauriers and Tyson Foerster scored, and Samuel Ersson made 26 saves.

The Flyers are eight points behind the Canadiens for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.

"Tough day today, so for the guys to show up the way they did tonight, feels pretty good," defenseman Travis Sanheim said. "Happy to be on the winning side."

Alex Newhook, Cole Caufield, Christian Dvorak and Patrik Laine scored, and Lane Hutson had two assists for Montreal (33-29-9), which lost its fourth straight (0-2-2). Jakub Dobes made 24 saves.

The Canadiens remained one point ahead of the New York Islanders and New York Rangers for the second wild card.

"When you're in the spot you want to hold it and you want to chase the next spot," Hutson said. "Right now, we're in a position where we have to stop the bleeding and try to just win some games."

Michkov made it 1-0 at 1:55 of the first period, one-timing a pass from Travis Konecny from the left side.

Newhook scored off the rush to tie it 1-1 at 7:55. Hutson had an assist on the goal to become the fifth NHL rookie defenseman with 50 assists in a season, and the first since Gary Suter in 1985-86.

Deslauriers put the Flyers ahead 2-1 at 10:13 with his first goal since March 16, 2024.

Couturier made it 3-1 at 11:15 when Michkov's shot went off of his glove in front of the Montreal net.

"We're giving up too much right now," Montreal forward Brendan Gallagher said. "When we're at our best we don't give up many scoring chances, we don't give up many rushes. Right now, that's not the case. We're asking too much of our goaltenders. It's not the way we win hockey games. We have to tighten up."

Caufield scored from along the goal line to make it 3-2 at 2:15 of the third period.

Foerster scored his first goal in 15 games to make it 4-2 at 10:09. The goal was upheld after the Canadiens challenged for goaltender interference.

Couturier scored on the power play to put the Flyers ahead 5-2 at 11:43. It ended Philadelphia's 0-for-34 drought on the man-advantage and was their first power-play goal in 14 March games.

Dvorak scored at 13:34 to pull Montreal within 5-3 but 18 seconds later Michkov made it 6-3 at 13:52 on a breakaway after a giveaway by Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson.

The Flyers forward leads NHL rookies with 22 goals.

"That play in front of the bench, where he picks it off and goes down for the breakaway, that's an exceptional little cat and mouse game that he plays with that guy, and he wins it," Shaw said. "Huge goal. They get back within breathing distance, and he puts one five-hole. Really smart shot."

Laine closed the scoring at 16:47 for the 6-4 final.

"Maybe not the way that we draw it up," Couturier said. "We had some good looks, just can't finish. Maybe it'll kind of loosen us up a little bit for the upcoming opportunities we get.

NOTES: Flyers defenseman Cam York was on the bench but did not play because of a disciplinary issue. Shaw said he expected York to play his usual complement of minutes when the Flyers play the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. … Shaw coached his first game since April 18, 2006, with the New York Islanders against the Flyers. He's the third head coach to go at least 18 years between regular-season games, along with 20-year spans for John Muckler (Jan. 19, 1969, with Minnesota North Stars to Oct. 5, 1989, with Edmonton Oilers) and Al MacNeil (April 3, 1982, to Dec. 3, 2002, with Calgary Flames). ... Couturier has eight points (four goals, four assists) during a season-high five-game point streak. ... Michkov has seven points (two goals, five assists) during a four-game point streak. ... Canadiens forward Nick Suzuki had an assist on Laine's goal to give him five points (two goals, three assists) during a five-game point streak. … Hutson leads NHL rookies with 56 points (five goals, 51 assists).