Another 2-0 lead had evaporated in the span of 37 seconds in the third period tonight at the Wachovia Center.

"That's three of four games they scored two goals in like 40 seconds; it should be in our scouting report," Knuble said. "It's not easy for us, ever. We've done this many times with two-goal leads. But we've become a playoff-savvy team."

The Flyers were savvy enough to strike back against the Montreal Canadiens as Danny Briere scored a power-play goal that lifted them to a 4-2 victory and a three-games-to-one stranglehold in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The series could end Saturday with Game 5 in Montreal.

"Right now, we can't be sorry for ourselves, and try to make excuses for every situation," said Montreal's Saku Koivu. "But in reality, we've got two days to regroup and get back on home ice for Game 5."

Briere's game-winner came at 16 minutes, 22 seconds. He leads all NHL playoff scorers with 14 points and is tied with Detroit's Johan Franzen with eight goals.

"I'm not going to lie: It's a very good feeling, especially after being on the ice for those two goals that let the Canadiens back in the game," Briere said. "Our line didn't play much last game with all the penalties. We wanted to come back with a strong game, and I thought we were until that point. When they scored those two goals, all we kept thinking was, 'We have to get that lead back.' "

Goalie Marty Biron was the defensive hero again with 36 saves.

He made a number of tough ones, including a sliding save on Andrei Kostitsyn in the second period off a two-on-one rush and a big save on Steve Bégin during a Canadiens power play that preserved momentum for the Flyers. R.J. Umberger scored soon after on the power play.

"It's fun, it's intense," Biron said. "We're in the same position we were in, and I think we learned from the first series. We have to get our game going in the right direction. We played a really good game."

It's starting to look like a Pennsylvania conference final between the Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Pens have yet to lose a game in the playoffs and are one win away from sweeping the New York Rangers off Broadway.

In the last round, the Flyers needed a seventh game to finish off Washington after getting a 3-1 series lead.

"The hardest work is ahead of us in the series," said Flyers coach John Stevens. "We're a young team that had to learn how to win the last time. Now we're in a situation where it's 3-1, but by no means is it over. Every game is tight. Every game has been pull and tug. The next game will be the toughest."

The Flyers had a 1-0 lead in the final period when Montreal's Bryan Smolinski turned over the puck to Vinny Prospal at center ice. Prospal rushed up the left side and fired a shot off the right post. Jaroslav Halak, the Habs' 22-year-old goalie, did not have a chance. The rebound dropped right to Scott Hartnell, coming in from the right side, and he made it 2-0 at 6:47.

Much like they did in Game 3, however, the Canadiens scored consecutive goals, this time by Tomas Plekanec and Koivu, to tie it. An interference penalty on Bégin at 15:52 gave Briere his chance to be the offensive hero, and he answered. Umberger added an empty-netter.

Habs coach Guy Carbonneau took a big gamble by yanking rookie goalie Carey Price in favor of Halak in a move that smacked of desperation. It was Halak's first playoff start.

It didn't take long for the new goalie to feel the pressure as Jeff Carter escaped for a shorthanded breakaway six minutes into play. Halak made a pad stop on a backhander.

As usual, Biron had some gems, especially a glove snare of Andrei Markov's rocket from between the circles on Montreal's second power play of the first period. The Habs again failed to convert rebounds against Biron, although they outshot the Flyers, 14-7, in the period.

Stevens pulled Umberger, who has six goals in the series, off Jeff Carter's line to get Knuble back in the lineup as he recovers from a left hamstring injury. No matter where he plays, Umberger has an impact. He made his presence felt at 7:47 of the second period with a power-play goal.

Briere "gave me a great saucer pass that landed flat on my stick," Umberger said.  "All I wanted to do was release as quick as possible to the short side because I knew the goalie had to go side-to-side."

The dreaded 2-0 cushion seemed comfortable until the third period.

"I guess it's because we've had it all happen to us the entire season, giving up goals in the last minute and such," Knuble said. "But we keep going."

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