Philadelphia, which won four straight elimination games to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, eliminated the Montreal Canadiens in a mere five games with their 4-2 win Monday at Wachovia Center. The Flyers will face the Chicago Blackhawks – who swept the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference Finals – for the first time in a championship series.

 

“It’s been great so far. It’s been great along the way,” Flyers captain Mike Richards said. “Hopefully we have a little bit of a Cinderella story at the end, too.”

 

Jeff Carter, who returned from a foot injury in Game 4, sealed the victory by following Richards up the ice to score into an empty net with 23 seconds left. It was Carter’s second goal of the game.

 

Richards and Arron Asham also scored for the Flyers, who got 25 saves from Michael Leighton. Jaroslav Halak made 22 saves for the Canadiens, who were vying to reach the Finals for a record 27th time. Philadelphia will make its eighth Finals appearance.

 

Brian Gionta opened the scoring 59 seconds into the game, beating Leighton five-hole on a breakaway.

 

Richards evened the game at the 4:25 mark with a dramatic short-handed goal. Halak ventured far out of the crease to chase down a loose puck with Richards bearing down in the opposite direction and Habs defenseman Roman Hamrlik also in pursuit. Halak and Hamrlik collided, and the puck squirted loose for Richards to score into a vacant net.

 

Asham and Carter scored 1:24 apart in the second period, breaking free from the Montreal defense for open looks in the offensive zone, to make it 3-1.

 

The Canadiens pulled within 3-2 at 6:53 of the third period when a blind backhand pass into the slot by P.K. Subban found the stick of Scott Gomez, who beat Leighton to the top shelf.

 

Philadelphia weathered a four-minute high-sticking penalty to Chris Pronger with 10:48 left in the third period. After killing the first 2:37, Ian Laperriere blocked a shot, then drew a tripping penalty on Glen Metropolit to end the Habs’ power play.

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