1ST PERIOD NOTES
Simon Gagne is back in the line up for the first time since abdominal surgery, which caused him to miss 24 games. The Rangers press into the Flyers end right from the opening faceoff. There are a noticeable number of empty seats in the lower level, not something you see very often at the Wachovia Center, probably indicative of the Flyers losing and the 1pm start to today’s game or more likely, is the nasty weather outside, probably being the biggest factor. Chris Drury scores after a Flyer turnover by Claude Giroux in the Flyers end at 5;16, giving the Rangers a 1-0 lead. At this stage, the Rangers have outshot the Flyers 6-1,early in the period. Peter Laviolette took a time out after the goal to address his players on the bench.Sean Avery gets clobbered by Chris Pronger in a shoving match and Pronger’s stick accidentally struck Avery.Chris Pronger scores on a shot from the point at 8;13, on the power play, with Enver Lisin in the penalty box after getting called for boarding at 7;45, to tie the game at 1.Brian Boucher makes a good save on Ryan Callahan from the slot. The Rangers continue to press the Flyers while playing 5 on 5. Philadelphia finally applies some sustained pressure on New York. Gagne gets a good scoring chance on Henrik Lundqvist, but he covers up the puck, about 14 minutes into the period. Eric Christensen gets penalized for high sticking at 13;51. The Rangers kill off the penalty without any trouble.An interference call is made against Artem Anisimov of the Rangers at 19;39.
2ND PERIOD NOTES
Braydon Coburn shoots on the Ranger net and the deflection on the power play just misses an open net. As soon as the penalty expires , Vaclav Prospal gets called for hooking at 1;54. Jeff Carter hits the post. Marion Gaborik gets a good shorthanded opportunity but Boucher makes the save. The Rangers score after Artem Anisimov circles behind the Flyer net and centre's the puck, where it deflects off Ryan Parent’s shin into the Flyers net, to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead at 4;46. Vaclav Prospal hits the crossbar on a close shot. Lundqvist makes a good save on Aaron Asham and then Mike Richards, about 9 minutes into the period. Boucher makes a good save on Christopher Higgins on the Rangers power play with Mike Richards in the penalty box for holding at 11;39. Simon Gagne gets penalized after trying to get to the puck on a forcheck, and accidentally tripping Daniel Girardi and gets called for interference at 14;17. The Rangers apply pressure in the Philadelphia end with 3 minutes to go in the period. Jeff Carter forces Lundqvist to make a good save close in to the net.
3RD PERIOD NOTES
Jeff Carter forces Lundqvist to make a good save on a wrist shot early in the period. The Flyers blew a 4 on 2 break with Gagne and Pronger, as Gagne’s pass gets picked off by the Rangers. Carter presses Lundqvist again into making a good save.James van Riemsdyk gets a very scoring chance on Lundqvist. Flyers with a 9-3 shot advantage halfway through the period. Lundqvist with another good save on Mike Richards. Hatrnell with a tough shot on Lundqvist, with about 5 minutes remaining in the period. Carter,Scott Hartnell and Danny Brierre maintain the pressure in the New York end. James van Riemsdyk appears to hit the crossbar on a close chance in front of the net, with less than 3 minutes to go. Gagne and Richards get good chances in front of the Rangers net. The Flyers pull their goalie with 1 minute to go. Marion Gaborik gets penalized for hooking at 19;40, with a faceoff in the New York end. The Rangers hang on to win 2-1 over the Flyers.
GAME SUMMARY
The Flyers applied all kinds of pressure in the Rangers end throughout the 3rd period, but Henrik Lundqvist was outstanding. It was a good third period effort by Philadelphia, and it’s hard to believe with the talent on their roster, that they have struggled as much as they have this season. The Flyers lost for the 13th time in 16 games, despite outshooting the Rangers 37-24.In the third period, the Flyers outshot the Rangers 16-5.