FLYERS IN COMPLETE CONTROL

The Montreal Canadiens advanced to the Eastern Conference finals because their goalie was humbling opponents and now they are in trouble in the series because the Philadelphia Flyers' goalie is humbling them. Michael Leighton posted his second consecutive shutout to give the Flyers a 3-0 win and a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. "Everyone wants a great story, and (Leighton) is the perfect example," Flyers center Blair Betts said. Leighton has been a vagabond goalie as a pro, with five American Hockey League cities and five NHL stops. But he has stopped 58 of 58 shots in this series and 124 of 128 (.969 save percentage) since replacing injured Brian Boucher. Going back to Game 7 in the second round, Leighton hasn't given up a goal in 165 minutes, 50 seconds. "He's very loose, very relaxed," Betts said. "You can feel a confidence and strong mentality about him. He doesn't seem nervous." Leighton is the first goalie to post back-to-back shutouts against Montreal in a playoff series since the Buffalo Sabres' Bob Sauve in 1983 in Montreal. The last goalie to post back-to-back playoff shutouts against Montreal on the road was Detroit's Terry Sawchuk in the Stanley Cup Finals in 1952. The series heads to Montreal for Games 3 and 4 Thursday and Saturday with the Canadiens wondering what they have to do to put pucks past Leighton. "He's unbelievable," Philadelphia left wing James van Riemsdyk said of Leighton. "He made big stop after big stop and he really helps change the momentum of the game. He kept us in there all game long and he's unbelievable." Coming into the series, Montreal goalie Jaroslav Halak was expected to be a difference-maker, but he has given up seven goals on 36 shots. While Leighton is the spotlighted player, the Flyers' power play (4-for-10 in this series) has also been the story. Daniel Briere and Simon Gagne had power- play goals, with Gagne's tally giving him six goals in six games since coming back sooner than expected from a foot injury. "We are shooting the puck more," Philadelphia right wing Claude Giroux said about the power play. "Any time you shoot the pick more you obviously get a better chance of scoring and the pucks are just finding the holes." The Canadiens are hoping they get a boost from the loud crowds at the Bell Centre. "We got to go back and make sure (our home arena) makes a difference," Montreal defenseman Hal Gill. "We can't just go out back and expect it to all change, we have to work at it. They're a good team, they're playing well, they have momentum, and we have to find a way to break that momentum and make it go our way." Montreal's most dangerous forwards, Michael Cammalleri and Brian Gionta, combined for 12 shots Tuesday, but couldn't solve Leighton who was acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes earlier in the season. The Flyers, who have won six in a row for the first time since the 1995 playoffs, are hoping they play better in Game 3 and become less reliant on their goaltending. "We are at our best when we are at our simplest," Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger said. (USA Today)