Stanley Cup Playoffs : Hextall Has 36 Saves as Flyers Win, 4-3

The Philadelphia Flyers were outshot, 39-18, by the Montreal Canadiens Friday night--but because of goaltender Ron Hextall, they were not outscored.

“He was the game’s outstanding player and won the game for us,” Flyer Coach Mike Keenan said after Hextall’s spectacular 36-save effort and Brian Propp’s goal with 3:09 left gave the Flyers a 4-3 victory in Game 3 of their NHL semifinal playoff series.

The Flyers lead the best-of-seven Wales Conference finals, 2-1, with Game 4 at Montreal Sunday night.

“Ron certainly won the game for us tonight, both during the first period when we didn’t play so well, and later when he got back in it,” Keenan said.

Hextall faced 21 shots in the first period when Montreal dominated the game. The Canadiens took a 2-0 lead after 5:13 had elapsed by scoring twice within a 50-second span.

The Flyers came back as Pelle Eklund scored two second-period goals to tie it.

Eklund also set up Rick Tocchet, whose goal at 8:29 of the third period gave the Flyers a 3-2 lead.