Why The Flyers Are Leights Out

Michael Leighton recorded his second straight shutout and made 30 saves as the Flyers abused the Canadiens 3-0 in Game 2 of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Final series Tuesday night at the Wachovia Center.

I’ll change this one up a bit, after the Flyers manhandled the Canadiens 6-0 in Game 1 and shut out the Habs again in Game 2, I have done lots of research and have read lots of surprising and unbelievable stats; so here they are.

Conn Smythe wannabe Jaroslav Halak has given up seven goals on 36 Flyers’ shots.

Montreal is now 0-7 in the playoffs when their opposition records fewer than 31 shots.

The Canadiens power-play is 0-for-8 in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Philadelphia has out hit Montreal 54-41 through the first two games.

Philadelphia is 16-0 all-time when going up 2-0 in a series and the Flyers have made the Eastern Conference Finals 16 times. They’ve had a 2-0 series lead three times; 1974, 1975 and 2010.

The Flyers are outscoring their opponents 13-0 since Peter Laviolette called ‘The Timeout’ in the first period of game seven against Boston after the Bruins went up 3-0, a franchise record.

Philadelphia has now won six consecutive playoff games for the first time since 1995.

The Flyers are 6-1 at home in these playoffs.

The Flyers power-play in the first two games is a staggering 4-for-10 and the Flyers have scored two goals a second after PP time has expired.

Today is not only the anniversary of the Flyers first Stanley cup, but it is also Michael Leighton’s 29th birthday.

Michael Leighton is 4-0 in the playoffs and owns a 0.87 goals-against average, .969 save percentage with two and a half shutouts.

His shutout streak is at 165:50 (eight-plus period of shutout hockey) is the second-longest in team history behind Brian Boucher’s 184:45 and he’s stopped all 70 shots he has faced since ‘The Timeout’.

Leighton has stopped all 58 shots Montreal has fired his way.

Leighton becomes the first goalie to post back-to-back shutouts for the Flyers since Bernie Parent in 1975.

Leighton is the first goaltender to post back-to-back shutouts vs. the Canadiens in the playoffs since Sabres’ keeper Bob Sauve did it in 1983 in Montreal, and is the last goalie to post back-to-back playoff shutouts against Montreal on home ice since Terry Sawchuck in 1952.

Ville Leino – 6 goals and 5 assists for 11 points in 55 regular season games; 3 goals and 8 assists for 11 points in 10 playoff games.

Michael Leighton and Ville Leino were both acquired by General Manager Paul Holmgren during the regular season.

Danny Briere sits only behind Ken Linseman and Eric Lindros for most points per game in the Playoffs in a Flyers uniform. In 37 post-season games for the Orange-and-Black Briere has 38 points.

Briere leads the Flyers in post-season scoring with 9 goals and 9 assists in 14 games. He has a six-game point streak and 19 points in his last 11 games (five points in his last three games).

Briere leads the NHL with game-winning-goals in these playoffs and 7 of his 8 goals have won, or tied the game for the Flyers.

For his playoff career Briere has 32 goals, 43 assists for75 points in 77 games.

The Flyers are 9-1 with Simon Gagne in the line-up in these playoffs.

Six goals for Gagne in six games since his return from his toe injury; six Flyers wins.

This post-season, Mike Richards has 18 points in 14 games, Claude Giroux has 14 points in 14 games, Chris Pronger has 12 points in 14 games, Gagne has 9 points in 10 games, Matt Carle has nine points in 14 games, Scott Hartnell has eight points in 14 games and Kimmo Timonen has six points in 14 games.

The last two teams Pronger has played on, has made a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Flyers are two wins away.

The Flyers are 84-22-4 when Kate Smith/Lauren Hart sing God Bless America before home games.

NOTES: Jeff Carter and Ian Laperriere have both been cleared to practice and to hit but neither are ready to return yet. Game 3 will be Thursday night in Montreal at 7 p.m.