PHILADELPHIA | Typically, barometer matches are used to measure our progress compared to a better opponent. The main thing we wanted to know on Sunday night was where the Habs stood in relation to the Flyers, a team that is also in the process of rebuilding.

“We may be a year behind the Canadian,” Daniel Brière, the author of these lines, said Saturday afternoon during the Wild’s visit to Philadelphia. Their young players are a little older than ours. »

There were undoubtedly delays on the ice at the Wells Fargo Center this year, as the Habs were barely troubled in this 4-3 win, except in the latter part of the third period when the Flyers scored two goals in a 25-second span.

Of course there is Matvei Michkov, who has a great career ahead of him. He has the talent, he is hardworking and he is dedicated. Along with Lane Hutson, he was the rookie with the most potential on the ice.

But what we will remember more from this Russian game is his lack of precision on the breakaway and his clashes with Brendan Gallagher. We don’t know what the Canadiens veteran said to him, but he seems to have hit the right button.

The Canadian not only annoyed his rival, but also added a goal and an assist.

“We’re looking for each other right now,” Sean Couturier said after the meeting. We have to learn from our mistakes and turn the tide quickly enough, otherwise we will be eliminated from the series in December. »

A constant adventure

It’s a disaster in front of the Flyers’ goal. A refrain that has been playing since Ron Hextall’s heyday. Maybe even from Pelle Lindberg. Samuel Ersson and Ivan Fedotov have been so erratic since the start of the campaign that the Flyers recalled Aleksei Kolosov late Saturday night.

The 22-year-old made his first NHL start. Every shot a Canadian shot in his direction was an adventure. And like Offenbach’s song, we didn’t really know if it would end well.

Martin St-Louis’ team therefore took the opportunity to win their first away game and achieve two wins for the first time this season. It was also Cayden Primeau’s first win of the season.

A great way to bounce back after Tuesday’s soap opera against Rangers.

“Before these two victories, we suffered a tough defeat. Fortunately, we had time to work on our game and correct certain aspects. It paid off tonight,” said Gallagher.

Already eight for Caufield

Once again, the Canadian’s powerful attack stood out, scoring a goal in the eighth of nine games. This time it was Cole Caufield who found the net with his eighth goal of the season.

Additionally, it was a questionable goal missed by the Flyers goalie to say the least.

Caufield won’t make a fuss about it. After all, the underdog needed 30 games to score eight goals last year.

Meanwhile, the penalty unit was perfect three times. Even Hutson did a good job when used without a man. In a threatening sequence, he managed to contain Travis Konecny ​​​​and prevent him from grabbing a return that fell at Primeau’s feet.

Speaking of defensive play: The Montrealers look better. Of course we’ll have to wait until we see him against a tougher opponent, but near Primeau we were a lot less mixed.

Except at the end of the game, when the Flyers made a desperate push.