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Wrapup: Flyers Lose 2-1 to Devils in OT, Lose Del Zotto Long-Term |
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In dire need of two points to gain ground in the Eastern Conference standings, the Philadelphia Flyers managed only to rally for one point as dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to the New Jersey Devils at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday afternoon.
Power play goals by Joseph Blandisi and Adam Henrique lifted the Devils, who dominated the opening period and then saw the Flyers throw heavy pushes at them in the second and third periods. Cory Schneider was excellent in goal, stopping 31 of 32 shots.
Making his first start since the All-Star break, Michal Neuvirth struggled early -- Blandisi's goal was an ugly one, and Neuvirth had some early rebound issues -- but settled in as the game went along. He stopped 22 of 24 shots in a losing cause.
Shayne Gostisbehere scored the lone Flyers' goal, tying the game at 1-1 in the third period as he blasted a center-point shot through traffic for his 10th goal and sixth power play tally of the season. In so doing, Gostisbehere established a new NHL record point streak for a rookie defenseman and also established a new Flyers rookie point streak record at 11 straight games. He eclipsed a 10-game streak by forward Mikael Renberg in the 1993-94 season.
Ultimately, however, the biggest news of the game was that the Flyers lost top pairing defenseman Michael Del Zotto to a long-term upper body injury that appeared to be a left wrist injury. It happened as Del Zotto took Devils forward Kyle Palmieri to the net and they collided w/ Neuvirth at the 12:30 mark of the of 3rd period.
After the game, Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said Del Zotto's injury was an ongoing issue he's been dealing with and that the player would miss "weeks" from the lineup. The team plans to make a call-up from the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms; possibly veteran Andrew MacDonald.
Every goal in the game was scored on special teams. The Devils went 2-for-2 on the power play, while the Flyers went 1-for-4.
Neither team had a shot on goal through the first five-plus minutes of the first period. Neuvirth erased a Jordan Weal turnover with a good save on Reid Boucher from the left slot. At the 6:01 mark, Nick Schultz got called for interference for setting pick as the Flyers attempted to break out of the defensive zone.
The Devils power play -- which is how the otherwise offensively weak team scores most of its goals -- struck on a leaky short-side goal near the right post. Blandisi shot off Neuvirth's body and the puck found room under Neuvirth's arm and dropped over the goal line at the 6:43 mark. Neuvirth's feet were behind the goal line and he did not have the post sealed. Travis Zajac and Jacob Josefson earned the assists as New Jersey took a 1-0 lead.
The Flyers got their first power play at 8:51 as Jon Moore cross-checked R.J. Umberger at the New Jersey net. A Shayne Gostisbehere shot from the left point hit a screening Wayne Simmonds in front and went wide. The second unit generated no pressure.
The Devils turned over a puck in close and Voracek had a bang-bang opportunity from below the right circle for Philly's first bonafide scoring chance, and just their second shot of the first period. Shots were 8-2 in New Jersey's favor. On the bright side for Philadelphia, the Flyers won eight of 10 faceoffs in he opening period.
The Devils took an icing on the first shift of the second period. However, Giroux lost the ensuing faceoff and the Devils swiftly exited the defensive zone.
Philadelphia got its second power play as Bladisi was called for holding on a Flyers rush at 4:06. The Flyers generated their best pressure of the game thus far, including a Brayden Schenn left hash mark opportunity and a rebound follow-up attempt by Simmonds. Schneider then took a Voracek right circle shot in the breadbasket for a stoppage. The second unit created no pressure.
Near the eight minute mark, Nick Cousins put a perimeter shot through traffic that Shneuder fought off. The Giroux line followed it up with heavy pressure on the next shift, started off by Gostisbehere pulling off a spin-o-rama in the neutral zone and carrying the puck in with the Devils scrambling for coverages.
Unfortunately for Philadelphia, the momentum did not carry over after a TV timeout. After several quiet minutes, the Devils had the next push. Neuvirth recovered from leaving out a fat rebound on a deflected shot with an excellent second save on Blandisi at 12:46.
With 6:20 left in the second period, Gostisbehere made a gorgeous pass from the right half wall to find a wide open Giroux moving into the slot. Schneider made the save. That chance was followed up by good pressure from the Cousns line. There was another TV timeout with 5:15 left in the period.
Shots were 16-9 Flyers in the second period; 18-17 Flyers through the second period.
Giroux went right up the tunnel after being high-sticked by Sergei Kalinin, who received a high-sticking double minor at the 36-second mark of the third period. Thirty-five seconds later, Simmonds got an interference penalty near the New Jersey blueline. Giroux returned to the ice.
As the power play resumed for Philadelphia Simmonds was not able to jam home a Giroux rebound in tight off an initial set up by Gostisbehere. Next time around, there was no missed opportunity.
Gostisbehere hammered a scorching center point slap shot through traffic -- a screening Simmonds jumped high out of the way -- and Schneider was helpless to stop it at 3:49. Giroux, who made the set up pass, got the lone assist.
The Flyers continued to apply the pressure. Through the first 12:30 of the period (TV timeout), shots were 10-1 in the third period in Philly's favor. At the 12:30 mark, Del Zotto got injured in a collision with Neuvirth as he and Kyle Palmieri went to the net.
After a push-back the Devils, Ryan White made a nice between-the-legs chipout but then Manning took a silly icing by not getting to the red line. It forced the Flyers to call timeout.
Gudas, struggling all game with the puck on his stick, turned it over in the neutral zone and the Devils nearly scored with 4:50 left in the period. There was a heavy collision at the net for the stoppage.
With 2:00 left, Bobby Farnham and Gudas got coincidental roughing minor after Farnham pushed the defenseman into Neuvirth. With 41.7 seconds left, Neuvirth cleanly gloved a Zajac wrister from the high slot.
Shots in the third period were 13-3 Flyers; 31-20 Flyers through regulation.
In the 3-on-3 overtime, the Giroux line had a dominant shift without a shot then Neuvirth made two tough saves. With 2:41 left on the clock, Schenn was denied from the left circle on a 2-on-1. Neuvirth made a brilliant save on Andy Greene at the 2:31 mark but Voracek was called for hooking, giving the Devils a 4-on-3 power play.
The Devils scored on the power play to win the game, using quick puck movement. Henrique hammered home a right circle shot on New Jersey's fourth shot of the extra frame. Final shot toals were 32-24 in the Flyers' favor.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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