MONTREAL - It was Martin Biron's night to shine in goal for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Biron made 34 saves and his good friend Daniel Briere got the game-winner as the Flyers downed the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 in the NHL playoffs on Saturday night.
The victory evened the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series at 1-1 with the next two games in Philadelphia on Monday and Wednesday.
"It felt good," said Biron. "A couple of bounces went against us in the last game and this time a couple went our way - that was the difference."
R.J. Umberger, with two, and Jeff Carter also scored for the Flyers, who beat Montreal for the first time in six meetings this season.
Saku Koivu and Andrei Markov each had his first of the playoffs for Montreal.
The Canadiens outskated the Flyers and outshot them 36-23, but between a handful of excellent saves by Biron and their own shooters' inability to hit open nets, they let the Flyers leave town with what they wanted - a win at the Bell Centre to snatch away home ice advantage for the series.
"We're just glad to get a split out of here," said Flyers coach John Stevens. "I knew Montreal was going to play better.
"Marty was probably going to have to be our best player - and he was."
Rookie Carey Price had a shaky start in the Montreal net, allowing three goals on his first 13 shots. Price admitted he could have been sharper, but also said the Canadiens could have won 8-4 if the shooters had converted their numerous chances.
"I think Carey said he could have played better," said coach Guy Carbonneau. "Three goals on 13 shots, that's not what we've seen from him in the past.
"But those first two goals were good shots. We had open nets and missed them, but a good player makes his own luck and Biron was good."
