Top-seeded Canadians nearly toast

PHILADELPHIA -- Benching goalie Carey Price couldn't spark Montreal. Now Danny Briere and the Flyers are 1 win from ending the Canadiens' season.

Briere scored the winner on a rebound with 3:38 left to lift Philadelphia to a 4-2 win over the Canadiens on Wednesday night and a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Flyers, the worst team in the NHL last season, can eliminate the top-seeded Canadiens in Game 5 on Saturday night in Montreal.

The Canadiens gave Philadelphia a scare when Tomas Plekanec and Saku Koviu tied the score at 2-2 on goals 37 seconds apart late in the third period.

Briere's eighth goal of the postseason was enough to send to Flyers to Montreal with a chance to win the series.

R.J. Umberger scored into an empty net in the final seconds, his second goal of the game.