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Jake Voracek's late heroics lift Flyers past Canadiens, 3-2, in OT

The Flyers moved to within three points of first-place Washington in the Metropolitan Division. They are now 12-0-1 at home against Montreal since April 2, 2010.

Jakub Voracek left celebrates his game-tying goal against the Canadiens with teammates Sean Couturier (14) and Nolan Patrick (19). Voracek scored in overtime to cap the Flyers’ 3-2 victory.
Jakub Voracek left celebrates his game-tying goal against the Canadiens with teammates Sean Couturier (14) and Nolan Patrick (19). Voracek scored in overtime to cap the Flyers’ 3-2 victory.Read moreSteven M. Falk / Staff

And the beat goes on.

Never mind that the Flyers were missing their two top goalies and one of their leading scorers.

Never mind that they trailed with less than two minutes left in regulation and that the opposing goalie, Montreal's Carey Price, was resembling his old, dominating self.

Nothing seems to bother the surging Flyers these days.

Jake Voracek scored late in regulation and early in overtime Tuesday as the Flyers stunned Montreal, 3-2, and increased their overall points streak to nine games (7-0-2) at the Wells Fargo Center.

"Jakey," center Scott Laughton said, "took over the game."

[Box score, three stars]

The Flyers moved to within three points of first-place Washington in the Metropolitan Division. They are now 12-0-1 at home against Montreal since April 2, 2010.

Voracek won it with a shot from the high slot with 3:34 left in OT.

"You know what, we stuck with it," Voracek said after scoring his 12th and 13th goals. "I think we were a little bit tired, to be honest. Got to find a way. It wasn't the prettiest, but it was in overtime and that's when it counts."

With 1:25 left in regulation, just as goalie Alex Lyon (25 saves) was pulled for an extra skater, Voracek scored from above the right circle to tie the game at 2-all.

Late in the second period, Voracek and Claude Giroux had a two-on-none but made too many passes and didn't get off a good shot.

"It's always easier to say we're overpassing," Voracek said with a smile. "On the ice, it's completely different. I hear 'shoot the puck' every time I touch it. If I did that, I would have 500 shots at the end of the season."

The Flyers have won their last seven games decided in overtime.

[NHL Standings | Flyers schedule]

The one negative: Right winger Travis Konecny, who has 11 goals and 24 points in his last 25 games, injured a foot blocking a first-period shot by Jeff Petry. He returned to the game but appeared to be in pain and was being examined after the win.

The Flyers said they would have a medical update Wednesday.

The Flyers became the second team in NHL history not to allow a power play in three straight games. Somewhere, the Broad Street Bullies are grumbling.

"I think we've done a good job of staying disciplined and holding onto pucks, and when you have the puck, you can't have penalties," Laughton said.

Before Voracek's heroics, Montreal took advantage of some sloppy defensive play as Paul Byron scored from out front to give the Habs a 2-1 lead with 11:15 left in regulation.

No matter. Price lost his 10th straight road game since a 3-2 victory in Calgary on Dec. 22.

Lyon registered his second straight win. He has beaten two of the NHL's marquee goalies for his first two wins: Price and the Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist.

"Those are two pretty good guys that I've watched. I've watched hundreds of Carey Price videos every year," Lyon said.

Rookie Nolan Patrick replaced the injured Wayne Simmonds on the Flyers' first power-play unit, and as he skated through the slot he redirected a sweet left-circle pass by Giroux past Price, tying the game at 1-1 with 12:42 left in the second. It was Patrick's seventh goal – and second in the last two games — and the first power-play tally of his young career.

Later in the period, the Flyers had great puck movement on their second power play but failed to connect. Voracek came close but hit the post.

Montreal, which dropped a 5-3 decision to the host Flyers on Feb. 8, took a 1-0 lead when Karl Alzner's point drive deflected off his defensive partner, Petry, and past Lyon with 2:13 left in the opening period.

Left winger Oskar Lindblom made his NHL debut Tuesday and played well on a line with Laughton and Michael Raffl.

"I was a little nervous in the beginning, but after a couple shifts it felt normal again," he said. "It was fun out there."

Especially the ending.