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Flyers Shoot Down Jets, 5-2 |
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FLYERS SHOOT DOWN JETS, 5-2
The Wells Fargo Center has been a home sweet home to the Philadelphia Flyers for the majority of the 2014-15 season. On Thursday night, the Flyers skated to a 5-2 win on home ice against a Winnipeg Jets team that entered the night with the NHL's best road record.
The win was Philadelphia's third straight on a five-game homestand bookending the All-Star break. For the season, the Flyers are 14-7-3 at home.
The Flyers and Jets traded off two goals apiece -- one even strength and one power play -- in the first period. Thereafter, Philly went on to score once in the second period and twice in the third.
Wayne Simmonds took over the Flyers' team goal-scoring lead with his 18th goal of the season. Philly also got even-strength tallies from Chris VandeVelde, Nick Schultz, Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier (empty net).
Jakub Voracek recorded one assist in the game. Claude Giroux had numerous scoring chances as did Matt Read, but neither got on the scoresheet.
Steve Mason provided the Flyers with another quality game in goal. He finished the night with 36 saves on 38 shots, including stops on all 24 shots he faced after the first period,
Mathieu Perrault scored both Winnipeg goals. Michael Hutchinson played better than his stats would suggest, making numerous tough stops.
Philadelphia was strong on breakouts in this game and back-pressure and was able to turn it into numerous odd-man rushes: one of their best games of the season in terms of turning defense into offense. Overall, the Flyers were up on their skates and matched Winnipeg's speed in a rather fast-paced game.
The Flyers got solid games from many of the supporting cast players in the lineup. Not only did defensive defenseman Nick Schultz score a rare goal for the game wnner, he was very strong in his own end of the ice. Fourth liners VandeVelde and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare continued a run of strong games, and recent callups Ryan White and Petr Straka both contributed as well.
The Flyers had only two power plays in the game, going 1-for-2. They were 4-for-5 on the penalty kill.
1ST PERIOD
Winnipeg came out attacking and racked up three quick shots in the game's first 90 seconds. The shot total grew to 5-0 before the Flyers got their first scoring chance -- but not shot -- at 5:09 when Brayden Schenn went in alone on Hutchinson but could not get off a shot as he cut right.
Philly's first shot came at 6:24 on an unscreened center point shot by Luke Schenn. At 7:02, the Flyers made their second and third shots count for a gritty-but-good goal to make it a 1-0 lead.
Chris VandeVelde outworked Mark Scheifele went to the net and stuffed in the rebound of a Michael Del Zotto (12th assist) shot for VandeVelde's seventh goal of the season. Luke Schenn (6th assist) earned the secondary assist.
It didn't take Winnpeg long to tie up the game. After a turnover by Philadelphia's Andrew MacDonald, Michal Frolik (17th assist of the season) put a shot on net. The rebound went directly to Perreault in the slot, and he deposited home from the doorstep for his 16th goal of the season.
Note: Upon seeing a replay of the goal, it looked like Perrault partially deflected the initial Frolik shot before the rebound came over to the eventual goal scorer.
At 9:45, Brayden Schenn drew an interference penalty on Zach Bogosian. About 36 seconds into the advantage Schenn had a point blank chance with Giroux and a Jet sliding into the net. Schenn could not got the puck over Hutchinson.
With six seconds left in the power play, however, the Flyers cashed in to make it 2-0. On a line rush, Voracek took a pass from Brayden Schenn and carried up the left wing with all Winnipeg eyes on him. The Art Ross Trophy race leader found Simmonds speeding down the slot. The pass was on the mark and Simmonds buried the shot to make it 2-1.
Simmonds' 18th goal of the season and 11th power play goal was assisted by Voracek (41st assist) and Brayden Schenn (20th assist) at 11:39.
Schultz got a hooking penalty at 16:22. The Flyers had two opportunities to clear the puck and failed. Finally, Perrault shot the puck through a screen from the left circle high to the glove side over Mason for a power play goal to tie the game at 2-2.
Perrault's second goal of the period and 17th of the season was assisted by Dustin Byfuglien (21st assist of the season) and Scheifele (20th assist) at 16:57.
Shots in the first period were 14-10 Winnipeg. The Flyers dominated in faceoffs, going 20-8.
2ND PERIOD
Couturier went to the box on a slashing minor as he tried to break up a Bogosian scoring chance at the 28-second mark. The Flyers killed off the penalty without a shot or scoring chance.
Simmonds was denied one-on-one by Hutchinson on a line rush. Shortly thereafter, the Flyers scored on a scramble around the net to make it 3-2 at 3:18.
It was a trio of firsts: Schultz, who skated in from the point to deposit the still-loose puck on the doorstep, scored his first goal of the year and as a Flyer. Straka's primary assist after taking three cracks at the puck near the crease was his first NHL point and Ryan White's secondary assist was his first as a Flyer.
Hutchinson denied Giroux shortly thereafter as he got open over the middle and went in alone. Later on the same shift, the Flyers captain was stopped on a shot from the slot.
Shortly passed the seven-minute mark, Straka stole a puck behind the Jets net and attempted a backhanded wraparound. The puck didn't get on net but it was a good play.
Voracek got a roughing penalty at as he and Matt Halischuk went to war in front of the Philadelphia net at 8:54. The Jets got a pair of good chances in close early in the power play,
When Voracek exited the box, the Flyers went to the attack. Giroux once again had a near-miss scoring chance off the rush. This time, he deflected a puck just wide with Hutchinson moving in the other direction.
Tobias Enström got a holding penalty for latching onto R.J. Umberger on a Flyers rush. Time of the penalty was 12:00. The Flyers could not convert this time.
With about 3:30 left in the period, the Flyers had a 3-on-1 rush and Matt Read got the puck in point blank range in the slot off a pass from Mark Streit. Hutchinson made a spectacular save on a play where Read had a lot of net at which to shoot.
Shots in the second period were 15-11 Flyers (25-25 apiece through two periods). Faceoffs were 11-9 Flyers (32-17 Flyers through two periods).
3RD PERIOD
At 1:51 there were off-setting penalties to Winnipeg's Evander Kane (high-sticking) and the Flyers' Simmonds (holding the stick). The teams skated at 4-on-4 for the next two minutes. Couturier had a good chance, making a sharp inside cut from the right circle.
At 4:12, the Flyers took a 4-2 lead. Simmonds got stuffed in close, stayed with the play behind the net and found Brayden Schenn in the deep left slot. Schenn wired home his 11th goal of the season. Simmonds (13th assist) got the lone helper.
Shortly after the Schenn goal, the Jets made a push in the Flyers' end (Mason lost his stick in the battle) and the Flyers grabbed the puck for a 2-on-1 counter attack. Couturier took a pass from Matt Read but was not able to slide a backhander past Hutchinson.
Lecavalier went to the box on a high-sticking minor at 5:26. The Flyers killed it off.
Shortly thereafter, the Flyers ran into trouble with two failed clears in their own zone. Mason finally hung onto a shot for the stoppage. A scrum broke out after the whistle with Lecavalier and Anthony Peluso getting offsetting roughing minors at 8:16.
With 5:53 left in the third period, Voracek returned to the penalty box for a "hit (elbow) to the head" as he was being interfered with behind the play. The Flyers once again killed off the penalty with Mason making a pair of saves.
Read had a good look at the with a chance to seal the game with 2:34 remaining. Hutchinson made the save.
The Jets pulled their goalie with about 2:30 left. Couturier iced the 5-2 win with an unassisted long distance empty net goal at 18:19 . It was Couturier's 11th goal of the season.
Shots in the third period were 13-7 in the Jets' favor (38-32 Jets for the game). Faceoffs were 11-9 in the Flyers' favor (43-26 Flyers for the game).
POSTGAME NOTES AND QUOTES
* The Flyers will hold a noon practice at the Skate Zone in Voorhees on Friday.
* For the season, the Flyers are 14-7-3 on home ice. They have outscored opponents by a 72-59 margin (3.00 GFA, 2.46 GAA) in home games this season. The team also enjoys an excellent 109.4 special teams index (28.7 percent power play, 80.7 percent penalty kill) on home ice with a positive 5-on-5 goal differential as well.
* Unfortunately, the Flyers road record of 7-15-4 reflects the flip side of the coin. in 26 road games this season, the Flyers have been outscored by a 87-65 (2.50 GFA, 3.35 GAA) margin. They have an atrocious road special teams index of 87.3 due to their 69 percent penalty kill in away games.
* Philly's current three-game winning streak is the fourth time they've accomplished that feat this season. Dating back to their win in Buffalo, the Flyers have won four of their last five overall (the exception being the 7-4 loss in Long Island).
* Schultz's goal snapped a personal 125-game goalless streak.
* In his pregame media availability in the afternoon, Flyers head coach Craig Berube said of Kimmo Timonen's situation, "I'm excited for him to be healthy and also excited for him to be coming back. He’s been a good player for this hockey team and this organization for a while. … It’ll definitely be a big boost.”
* Shortly before the game, Flyers general manager Ron Hextall denied that there is a definitive decision yet on Timonen's return.
* The Flyers entered the game with a significant on-paper edge in the faceoff department over Winnipeg and it played out in the game: Ryan White won nine of 10 faceoffs. Claude Giroux went 14-for-23.
* R.J. Umberger and Chris VandeVelde were each credited with six hits apiece. For the game, Winnipeg was credited with 53 hits to 41 credited hits for Philly.
* Michael Del Zotto led the Flyers with 25:21 of ice time over 21 shifts. It was his second-highest TOI game of the season.
* Steve Mason on his performance and how he feels physically: “I feel really good. The injury hasn’t been a problem which is great. More importantly I thought my game felt sharper than last night or the night before rather, which is obviously a positive sign as well.”
* Petr Straka on how he feels after earning his first NHL point: "“Great! It’s something you dream about for a long time. I felt like I should’ve scored the goal myself. I had the rebound there. It was unfortunate that I couldn’t get the rebound above the glove. Fortunate that Schultzy was there to bury it for me.”
* Straka on whether he feels comfortable on the ice in the NHL: "I am. What can I do? I just get out there and try to enjoy my time here. Do my best to make them think about sending me down next time. I’m happy that we’re winning games and that’s all that matters."
* Craig Berube on the keys to the team's home success: " I think our starts have been good. Physical, skating, getting everybody involved right away. The physical play and the skating are noticeable.”
* Berube on Brayden Schenn's season and criticism he's taken from the media and fans: I don’t just look at stats; you guys do. You guys can write what you want but, I talked to Brayden about his game and he knows where he’s at."
* Brayden Schenn on whether the physicality of the game brought out the best in him: "Yeah. I mean, I feel when I’m physical I’m at my best and that’s when I get involved. Obviously Winnipeg is a big team and they’re hitting us, so it’s up to guys like me and Simmer and tons of other guys of this room to hit them back and play a physical game.”
* Chris VandeVelde on his goal: “I think it was a good cycle shift. We got the puck up to the D and they went D to D. I think all three of us were in front. I kind of won a battle, kicked the puck to my stick and had an empty net.”
* VandeVelde on his recent goal scoring streak: "I just think I am a little more hungry around the net lately. As a line we have been playing pretty good and we have to keep it up.”
* VandeVelde on the team's transitional game against Winnipeg: "Good defense leads to good offense and it showed tonight. We did a good job shutting them down being physical. Like I said put pucks towards the net and you’re going to find goals."
*Nick Schultz on how the team can build on its current win streak: "You want to get better obviously in some areas in our game we need to keep improving. Penalty kills are coming along. They got one on us tonight but we’re getting better. That kind of hurt us this year there’s always aspect of our game. Every team has a part they need to improve. We’re trying to grind along and get some wins."
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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