PHILADELPHIA — Mike Richards said the heck with superstition and had his hands all over the conference championship trophy.

Some teams refuse to as much as touch one until they have a firm grip on the Stanley Cup.

Not these Flyers.

"It took a lot to get here. It's not the trophy we want, but we haven't done anything conventional all year especially in the playoffs," a laughing Richards said. "So we'll go against the grain one more time.

Richards had a goal early, Arron Asham and Jeff Carter scored 84 seconds apart in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals, and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Montreal Canadiens, 4-2, last night.

"I don't want to say destiny or anything, but we have a great team," Richards said.

The Flyers, who needed a shootout win in the last game of the regular season to clinch a playoff spot, will play the Western Conference champion Chicago Blackhawks in Game 1 on Saturday.

The Flyers are back in the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in 13 years.

They have not won the Cup since consecutive titles in 1974 and 1975.

"This is one of the most, maybe the most exciting season ever since the first Stanley Cup," team chairman and founder Ed Snider said. "What these guys have done, what they've been through, I mean it's incredible."

Michael Leighton allowed a goal 59 seconds in, then shut down the Canadiens, who showed a resilient comeback spirit in the first two rounds.

"It's a great feeling. We got a great team here, a great bunch of guys. I'm proud of every one of them," Leighton said.

MONTREAL 1 0 1—2

PHILADELPHIA 1 2 1—4

First Period—1, Montreal, Gionta 9 (Gomez, Hamrlik), :59. 2, Philadelphia, Richards 6 (Giroux), 4:25 (sh). Second Period—3, Philadelphia, Asham 3 (M.Carle), 3:07. 4, Philadelphia, Carter 3 (Richards, Timonen), 4:31. Third Period—5, Montreal, Gomez 2 (Subban, Gionta), 6:53. 6, Philadelphia, Carter 4 (Richards), 19:37 (en).

Shots on Goal—Montreal 9-6-12—27. Philadelphia 6-12-8—26. Goalies—Montreal, Halak. Philadelphia, Leighton. A—19,986 (19,537). T—2:25.

CONFERENCE FINALS

Sunday

Chicago 4, San Jose 2, Chicago wins series 4-0

Yesterday

Philadelphia 4, Montreal 2, Philadelphia wins series 4-1

STANLEY CUP FINALS

(All Hawai'i times; x-if necessary)

Saturday, May 29

Philadelphia at Chicago, 2 p.m.

Monday, May 31

Philadelphia at Chicago, 2 p.m.

Wednesday, June 2

Chicago at Philadelphia, 2 p.m.

Friday, June 4

Chicago at Philadelphia, 2 p.m.

Sunday, June 6

x-Philadelphia at Chicago, 2 p.m.

Wednesday, June 9

x-Chicago at Philadelphia, 2 p.m.

Friday, June 11

x-Philadelphia at Chicago, 2 p.m.