Flyers pour it on in Montreal

Scott Hartnell, right, celebrates his third goal of the game in Montreal on Monday night.
Credit: Getty Images

It’s probably too little, too late, but the Flyers found their offensive touch in Montreal on Monday night.

Scott Hartnell recorded his sixth hat trick as a member of the Flyers in the 7-3 rout of the Canadiens. It was his first hat trick since Jan. 22, 2012.

The struggling Flyers had scored a total of three goals in their previous four games — all losses.

They got four goals in the second period of Monday’s game alone, with Hartnell putting home two to help bury the home team. Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek also scored goals for the Flyers in the decisive second period.

The Flyers (18-21-3) are now seven points behind the New York Rangers, who currently hold the eighth and final playoff spot in the NHL Eastern Conference.

The Flyers jumped out to a 2-0 lead on first-period goals by Wayne Simmonds and Erik Gustafsson. After Montreal (26-11-5) tied the game at 2-2 with goals late in the first and early in the second, the Flyers jumped to a 4-2 lead on goals by Voracek and Hartnell.

Alex Galchenyuk kept it close with a goal less than two minutes after Hartnell’s first of the night. But then Giroux scored to put the Flyers back up by two goals less than a minute and a half later, and Hartnell got his second of the night in the final minute of the second period.

The Flyers host the Rangers tonight at 7:30.