The every-other-day, back-to-back pace of the first two playoff rounds has made resting and video review a priority over working out on the off days.

But with 2 days between Games 4 and 5 with Montreal, the Flyers were on the ice yesterday, and happy to be there.

"It was nice [Thursday] not coming to the rink, and just kind of recharging the mind and doing what you've been meaning to do away from the ice," Scott Hartnell said. "It's been a long time now since we've been able to do that it seems.

"But [yesterday] it was nice to practice and just get out there, have some line rushes, work on the defensive zone, get some shots. You don't get a chance when you're playing every second day to do that. I know I like it; it was good just to get out there."

That was the general feeling as the Flyers prepared to board a charter flight to Montreal to try to close out the Eastern Conference semifinal tonight in the Bell Centre.

The practice kept them from thinking back to the first round when they were in an exact situation, traveling to Washington on a Friday for a Saturday Game 5 closeout opportunity, one that they missed.

No one in the Flyers' locker room yesterday wanted a repeat of that. They say they are heading to Canada with a Game 7 mentality.

"We don't want to fool around and come back here for Game 6," Hartnell said. "We want to win just as bad as they want to stay alive in the series. We want to finish it off. It's a tough building to go into to play. We knew that from Game 1; it's going to be a battle."

For coach John Stevens, who made it a point to say he is a "practice kind of guy," having a day to rest and then come back for a practice instead of just going into another game should help his team focus on what he wants.

"I'm a big believer in practice. I think your preparation in practice goes a long way to help you be ready for games," he said. "Your puck skills, your execution, even Tiger Woods needs to go back to the swing coach once in a while.

"I think it's important to just get back to the fundamentals, get your support back, your timing back. It wasn't long, but it was a very important day of practice."

Stevens said he wants his team to take charge and set the pace instead of letting Montreal bring it to them the way the Flyers let Washington.

"We sat back and waited a little bit. We have to get after this game harder than any other game yet," he said. "Montreal is a very good team, their fans are behind them, and we're going to have to come out ready to go and get after the game from the drop of the puck."

More rested

"They're veteran guys. We'll skate [today] up in Montreal, so it's just preventative maintenance more than anything else," Stevens said.

Modry back

Some eager to keep playing

"I personally would have liked to have been playing [yesterday] just to keep things rolling," he said. "While it was a rest for us, it gives [Montreal] an opportunity to try and clear their schedule and clear their minds and kind of refocus a little bit. But I think the rest will do us well, too."

Back from the dead

Detroit finished last overall in 1986 and played Edmonton in the Campbell Conference final in 1987, losing in five games.

Canadiens paying the Price

"He deserves a second shot," Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau said. "I think in the last few days he had time to calm down and refocus and get ready for another long stretch."

"It was a rough time, you always want to play but you have to respect the coach's decision," Price said. "I'm just looking forward to getting back in there." *