The Philadelphia Flyers recorded a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night to take a 3-1 lead in their playoff series. The Flyers raced out to a 2-0 lead before the Canadiens tied the game up with two goals in the third period. With four minutes left in regulation, Danny Briere scored his eighth playoff goal on a power play (assisted by Mike Knuble and Vaclav Prospal) to give Philly the lead once again. Philadelphia added a game-sealing goal with just a few ticks left on the clock when R.J. Umberger found the net after Montreal pulled goalie Jaroslav Halak. Marty Biron saved 36 shots in the win, helping keep the Flyers in control for a majority of the contest. Game Five will be Saturday night in Montreal.

The Anaheim Ducks announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed left wing Matt Beleskey, right wing Jason Bailey, and defenseman John de Gray to three-year, entry-level contracts. Per club policy, financial terms were not disclosed. Beleskey, 19 (6/7/88), appeared in his fourth season with Belleville of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 2007-08, scoring 41-49=90 points with a +32 rating and 106 penalty minutes (PIM) in 62 games. Beleskey led the Bulls in points, assists and PIM, ranked tied for first in goals and second in plus/minus, power play goals (13), and short handed goals (3). Among league leaders, he finished sixth in plus/minus. Selected by Anaheim in the fourth round (112th overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Beleskey has also appeared in 14 playoff games for the Bulls this year, collecting 8-14=22 points with a +9 rating and 13 PIM. The Bulls' captain leads his team in playoff scoring, assists, and power play goals while tied for the lead in goals scored. Belleville begins the best-of-seven Rogers OHL Championship Series against the Kitchener Rangers tonight. In four seasons with Belleville, Beleskey scored 98-123=221 points with a +23 rating and 467 PIM in 257 games. The 6-0, 206-pound native of Windsor, Ontario has appeared in the OHL playoffs in each of his four seasons with the Bulls, collecting 13-26=39 points with a +15 rating and 59 PIM in 40 games. Bailey, 20 (6/4/87), played in his second season with Ottawa (OHL) in 2007-08, scoring 8-9=17 points with 78 PIM in 34 games. The 6-0, 209-pound native of Ottawa, Ontario also appeared in four playoff games for the 67?s this year, collecting 0-2=2 points with 11 PIM. Selected by Anaheim in the third round (63rd overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Bailey split his amateur career between Ottawa and the University of Michigan. With the 67?s, Bailey scored 15-18=33 points with 166 PIM in 69 games over two OHL seasons. In 46 games with the Michigan Wolverines, he collected 5-2=7 points with 85 PIM. De Gray, 20 (3/14/88), played in 67 games for Brampton (OHL) in 2007-08, scoring 4-13=17 points with a +8 rating and 140 PIM. The 6-4, 213-pound de Gray tied career highs in goals, assists and points while setting a career high in penalty minutes. He also appeared in five games during the 2008 OHL Playoffs, going scoreless with 12 PIM. Selected by the Ducks in the third round (83rd overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, de Gray played four seasons with Brampton from 2004-08. In 253 games all-time with the Battalion, the Richmond Hill, Ontario native scored 10-44=54 points with a +27 rating and 369 PIM.

The Penguins' Max Talbot could have a broken right foot, according to a report on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette web site Wednesday. Talbot is believed to have suffered the injury blocking a shot during the team?s win over the Rangers on Tuesday. He had the foot in a walking boot when he reported to MSG for practice Wednesday, according to the newspaper.

Bruins' captain Zdeno Chara underwent successful shoulder surgery on Tuesday, according to The Boston Globe. The newspaper reported on its web site Wednesday that Chara is recovering at his downtown home after having a procedure to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that forward Sean Avery suffered a lacerated spleen in last night?s game, and will be sidelined for the remainder of the season. He was taken to St. Vincent?s hospital after the game, and was admitted following a CT scan. He is expected to make a full recovery during the off-season

The NHL and its players? union have formed a group to examine the size and configuration of goalie equipment. They will meet June 11 in Toronto. There is a belief that reducing the size of goalie equipment would increase scoring, according to an Associated Press report.

The Stars signed center Steve Ott to a two-year deal worth $2.85M on Tuesday night, as reported by the Associated Press. Ott?s contract was set to expire after the season. He is signed through the 2009-10 season.

Evgeni Malkin looked every bit like an MVP and pushed the Penguins to the brink of the Eastern Conference finals. He scored two power-play goals and added an assist in the Penguins? 5-3 win over the Rangers on Tuesday night that gave Pittsburgh a 3-0 lead in the playoff series, as reported by the Associated Press.

Mattias Norstrom?s goal 4:37 into overtime Tuesday night gave the Dallas Stars a 2-1 home victory over the San Jose Sharks and a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinal series, as reported by the Associated Press. The Stars will host Game 4 on Wednesday night, with the Sharks facing elimination.

Pavel Datsyuk scored twice and Johan Franzen picked up his sixth goal of the series, putting the Detroit Red Wings on the cusp of the Western Conference finals with a 4-3 win Tuesday night over the ailing Colorado Avalanche, as reported by the Associated Press. The Red Wings can wrap up the series with a win in Game 4 on Thursday night.