Montreal Canadiens head coach Claude Julien, left, keeps an eye on practice as support staff wearing protective equipment look on as they hold their first NHL hockey practice in Brossard, Quebec, Monday, July 13, 2020. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)MONTREAL, QUE – The struggling Montreal Canadiens fired head coach Claude Julien and associate coach Kirk Muller on Wednesday following a three-game skid. Assistant coach Dominique Ducharme was appointed interim coach, and Alex Burrows was added to the Canadiens’ coaching staff. Muller took over the head coaching duties and the Habs extended the top-seeded Philadelphia Flyers to six games before bowing out. Ducharme joined the Canadiens' coaching staff in April 2018 after 10 seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

TORONTO, ONT Nick Suzuki buried the winner 22 seconds after Philadelphia tied it in the third period, Brendan Gallagher snapped a goal drought and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Flyers 5-3 on Wednesday night in Game 5 to stave off elimination in the first-round playoff series. Joel Armia scored twice for the Canadiens, Phillip Danault sealed it into an empty net, and Carey Price made 26 saves. "They want to keep playing.Jakub Voracek scored twice for the Flyers both on a five-minute power play in the second period and added an assist. Kevin Hayes then had a partial break, leading to a tripping call and Farabees goal that briefly drew the Flyers level before Suzuki responded. Philadelphia made the Canadiens pay 50 seconds later when Voraceks shot struck the stick of Montreal's Ben Chiarot and beat Price.