I like having a second writer from our newspaper come to the Flyers game to offer some commentary. My editor, Rob Parent, was here tonight to write a column.

As it turns out though, he stole my idea that I was going to use for this blog.

But, I decided to go with it anyway - I'm sure his spin will be a lot more whimsical in tone as opposed to my normally blunt style. So, with that in mind, here's hoping you read both, but here's my take:

The Flyers are now 16-7-1 dating back to Dec. 23. In those 16 wins, they have allowed just 28 goals, or 1.75 per game. Actually, if you include the eight losses, it's 55 goals in 24 games which isn't too shabby either at a 2.29 goal-per-game clip.

And while goaltending - mostly Michael Leighton - has been superb in that time, something has been even better - the defense.

It has really come into shape in the last six games since the addition of Lukas Krajicek. Not that he's been the be-all end-all defenseman, but he has brought stability to the corps.

Pairing him with Kimmo Timonen has allowed for Braydon Coburn to play with Oskars Bartulis to make a solid third pair that matches up well with third lines from around the NHL.

As a result, the Flyers are in a lot more games and are playing a style that proves effective in the playoffs.

They're still going to need some scoring, and every game might be edge-of-your-seat, but things are starting to look up for the Flyers, thanks in large part to a consistently strong defensive game.

Here's some notes from the game:


* AT HOME, the Flyers own an 18-11-2 record and have won nine of their last 11 games at the Wachovia Center.



* The Flyers improved their record to 8-3-0 in the first game of games on back-to-back nights and will take on the Canadiens tomorrow night in the second half of their home-and-home, back-to-back series… The Flyers own a 5-5-0 record in the second game.



* Tonight is also the Flyers first victory at home against Montreal since Mar. 6, 2006, a 5-4 shootout victory… They went winless in their previous six games at the Wachovia Center entering tonight (0-5-1).



* The Flyers also posted their first regular season victory over Montreal goaltender Carey Price, who was previously 5-0-0 against the Flyers. Of course, they torched him in the playoffs a couple seasons ago, so this is all relative.



* Jeff Carter has recorded at least a goal in each of his last three games and remains the team leader in points (51), goals (26) and shots (253).



* Leighton earned his third straight win and 11th victory for the Flyers this season and owns an 11-3-1 record, with a 2.20 goals-against average and .920 save percentage since joining the Flyers. If he qualified for the league leaders based on his work solely with the Flyers (he's short by four starts at the moment) Leighton would be fourth in GAA.