THE CANADIAN PRESS

PHILADELPHIA -- James van Riemsdyk, Daniel Briere and Simon Gagne scored in the second period and Michael Leighton made 27 saves for his first career playoff shutout as the Philadelphia Flyers opened the NHL Eastern Conference final with a 6-0 rout of the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night.

The Flyers chased goaltender Jaroslav Halak midway through the second after four goals on only 13 shots, which had the orange-clad Flyers fans mocking the Canadiens by chanting "U-S-A" and singing the "Ole Ole" celebration song, a favourite of Montreal fans.

Scott Hartnell and Claude Giroux added goals in the third against back-up goalie Carey Price, who faced 12 shots.

Braydon Coburn opened the scoring in the first period.

The Flyers lead the best-of-seven series 1-0 with Game 2 set for Tuesday night at the Wachovia Centre.

"You win 6-0 or 13-0 or 1-0 it's doesn't matter," Giroux said. "It's one win. We have to put this behind us and be ready next game."

As in their 6-3 loss to Pittsburgh in the opening game of the conference semifinal, the listless-looking Canadiens were outhustled, and they did not get their usual stellar goaltending.

The Flyers ended up looking much like Montreal did through two rounds -- blocking shots, allowing few clear chances on Leighton and making the most of the chances they got.

The Canadiens outshot Philadelphia 27-25 overall, but the Flyers were in control al the way.

"I don't think we had the compete level we needed," Canadiens star forward Michael Cammalleri said. "This team cares, the guys want to do the right things, but we weren't sharp tonight as we need to be on a lot of levels. But it's only Game 1. We need to regroup."

Both teams were coming off emotional Game 7 wins in the previous round, but neither showed much cohesion early on.

Chris Pronger was sent off only 1:13 into the game, but the Canadiens power play had little time to work before Scott Gomez took a roughing call.

Philadelphia opened the scoring on the ensuing power play. Ville Leino shot and the Flyers attacked the crease, with Coburn banging the puck in at 3:55.

Even though Montreal had a 13-6 edge in shots in the period, it was the Flyers who nearly made it a two-goal lead when Gagne hit a post with a backhander late in the period.

The floodgates opened in the second period. Just 30 seconds in, Giroux pushed the puck to the net off a faceoff and van Riemsdyk was there to score on his second crack at the puck.

Briere made it 3-0 when he walked off the left wall and picked the far corner one second after a power play ended at 4:23. Gagne then ended Halak's night with a power-play goal, as he came off the right board to find the far corner with a wrist shot at 9:53.

Gagne's fifth goal in five games since returning from a toe injury chased Halak in favour of Price, who saw his first action since relieving Halak in Pittsburgh in the opening game of the second round.

Hartnell put one in off a post at 12:13 and Giroux scored on a backhander at 13:26 of the third to compete the rout.

The Flyers had only one day of rest after their victory over Boston in which they became only the third team in NHL history to erase a 3-0 series deficit to win.

"They came out hard," Price said. "They were coming off an emotional game seven and it showed. They were ready."

Montreal completed its second seven-game series by defeating the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins.

Notes: Montreal moved rookie defenceman P.K. Subban to pair with veteran Roman Hamrlik, but they were on for Philadelphia's first three goals... Linesman Steve Miller was clipped behind an ear in the third period, but after getting treatment, stayed in the game.