Flyers halt three-game losing streak with 4-1 win over Canadiens

Montréal Canadiens' Alexandre Texier (85) scores on Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar (80) during first period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press)

MONTREAL — Carl Grundstrom and Bobby Brink scored goals in the final minute of the first and second period, respectively, leading the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night at Bell Centre.

Trevor Zegras, playing in his 300th career NHL game, ran his goal streak to a career-high four straight games for Philadelphia (17-9-6), as the Flyers snapped a season-long three-game losing streak (0-0-3).

Travis Konecny added an empty-net goal to cap off the scoring for Philadelphia.

Dan Vladar made 21 saves in the winning effort. The 28-year-old has won both of his starts this season against the Canadiens at the Bell Centre.

Alexandre Texier scored his second goal in as many games for Montreal (17-12-4). The Canadiens have now dropped four of their last six outings.

Rookie goaltender Jacob Fowler made 17 saves in his first career start on home ice. The Melbourne, Fla., native has started three of Montreal’s last four games since being called up from the Laval Rocket of the AHL on Dec. 9.

Fellow goaltender Samuel Montembeault was assigned to the Rocket earlier Tuesday on a conditioning assignment.

The Canadiens played without defenceman Mike Matheson for the first time this season. The 31-year-old, who leads all Montreal skaters with an average ice time of 24 minutes 54 seconds, is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Takeaways

Flyers: Philadelphia’s power play woes continued. The Flyers failed to score on their three power-play opportunities, running their drought to 0-for-13 with the man advantage dating back to Dec. 7.

Canadiens: The Bell Centre has not been friendly to Montreal so far this season. The Canadiens boast an 8-9-1 record on home ice.

Key moment

The Flyers took advantage of a costly error by Fowler in the final minute of the second period to double their lead. The Canadiens netminder misplayed the puck behind his own net, allowing Matvei Michkov to recover it and find Brink in the slot for the goal.

Key stat

Zegras’s second-period goal was his team-leading 14th on the season. Zegras’s 33 points so far this year have already surpassed the 32 he collected across 57 games last season with the Anaheim Ducks.

Up next

Flyers: Visit the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.

Canadiens: Host the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 16, 2025.

By Jordan Stoopler, The Canadian Press