There was nothing wrong with the competitive effort but the Philadelphia Flyers got outplayed by the New York Rangers and fell by a 3-1 score at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night. For a second straight weekend, the Flyers took only one of four critically needed points from back-to-back divisional games.
With 14 days left until the NHL trading deadline and missing both Sean Couturier -- the Flyers are now 3-9-3 without the two-way center in the lineup, as opposed to 21-12-7 when he plays -- and Michael Del Zotto from the lineup, the Flyers' playoff hopes seem to dwindle each day. The team has used up the games in hand it previously held on most of the teams they were chasing and are now six points out of wildcard race.
The Rangers were faster to pucks for much of the game and limited Philadelphia's time and space. Philly had opportunities to draw even in the game but could not convert their first four power play opportunities, including a four-minute advantage in the first period. The Rangers converted their fourth power play chance of the game to put the game out of reached, which the Flyers countered in the final 10 seconds with an otherwise meaningless power play goal that served only to break up a shutout bid.
Steve Mason (27 saves on 30 shots) held the Flyers close in the game for two-plus periods as the Rangers had the better of the scoring chances but he was ultimately outplayed by Henrik Lundqvist (21 saves on 22 shots). Even so, Mason was the primary reason why the Flyers were a shot away from drawing even through 50-plus minutes.
The Rangers got a Derick Brassard wraparound goal at 5:08 of the first period. Moving to his left, Mason was not quite able to seal off the post before Brassard jammed the puck between Mason's left skate and the post. Keith Yandle and Dan Girardi got the assists on Brassard's 19th goal of the season.
That was where the score stayed as the Rangers complied a 21-15 shot advantage through two periods. Midway through the third period, at the 10:34 mark, the Rangers got some insurance.
With Mason drawn far out of the net on the right side, Mats Zuccarello threaded a pass to a wide open Derek Stepan, who had all sorts of time to stop the puck and wrist it into the vacated cage. Girardi got another secondary assist on Stepan's 11th goal of the season.
Philly did a good job of killing off the first three New York power plays but the Blueshirts made quick work of their fourth. Zuccarello made a perfect centering pass from behind the right side of the net to Stepan on the left side. Before Mason could get over, Stepan elevated a shot home to the short side at 13:54. Zuccarello and Brassard got the assists on Stepan's second goal of the period and 12th of the season.
The Flyers pulled Mason for an extra attacker with about three minutes left in the game. As with a first-period four-minute power play, the Flyers heavily pressed the attack and kept the Rangers hemmed in deep for virtually the rest of the time on the clock but could not score while there was still the faintest glimmer of hope of a miracle.
Finally, with the Flyers on their fifth power play, Brayden Schenn potted a loose rebound of a Jakub Voracek shot with 9.7 seconds left to end Lundqvist's shutout bid. Shayne Gostisbehere got the secondary assist to extend his franchise rookie record and NHL rookie record among defensemen point streak to 12 consecutive games.
Entering the game, much of the focus was on the Rangers seeking revenge on Wayne Simmonds for the retaliatory gloved punch KO that left New York defenseman Ryan McDonagh with a concussion after McDonagh cross-checked Simmonds in the head moments earlier.
Hulking Rangers defenseman Dylan McIlrath jawed with Simmonds during the pregame warmup and was sent out by Rangers' coach Alain Vigneault to fight Simmonds on his first shift of the game. Simmonds obliged, handling himself well in a long and spirited fight with the 6-foot-5, 220-pound defenseman. Simmonds sustained a cut on his eyelid but the fight itself was even.
On the next shift, Rangers' forward Tanner Glass landed a big hit on Radko Gudas. Ryan White skated over in response and fought Glass. The fight was even early but Glass rallied at the end.
That did it for the fighting in the game but there was periodic after-the-whistle animosity over the rest of the game. Of greater importance was the fact that the Flyers -- who often struggle to get shots on net against the Rangers -- once again saw 20 attempts blocked by the Rangers.
At 12:53 of the first period, Zuccarello was incorrectly assessed a high-sticking double minor as Gostisbehere got clipped in the face behind the Philadelphia net. It was actually Dominic Moore (one of New York's top penalty killers) who was the guilty party and the infraction looked more like a two-minute rather than four-minute penalty.
Gostisbehere was not allowed on the ice to start the power play, so Mark Streit joined the top unit. The Flyers spent the first 1:50 of the first half of the power play working the puck around but not finding the net. At one juncture, Lundqvist did not get the left post sealed off and left a fair amount of room open but Simmonds' did not put the puck where he wanted it to go. When the second unit -- which has generally been an offensive black hole for the Flyers except for the first week of this season-- came out after Lundqvist got a desperately needed stoppage, the edge switched to the penalty killing side.
The Flyers' lineup featured several changes from Saturday's game against the Devils. With Del Zotto on the shelf, veteran defenseman Andrew MacDonald (17:40 TOI, minus-two) was called up from the AHL. Evgeny Medvedev (19:38 TOI) rejoined the lineup, while Brandon Manning was a healthy scratch. Up front, Matt Read and Scott Laughton re-entered the lineup after being healthy scratches in back-to-back games. Sam Gagner and Jordan Weal were scratched.
Just before the final buzzer, McIlrath blasted a slap shot that struck Read, who was in considerable distress. Reportedly, Read could not put any weight on his left leg in the locker room after the game.
The Flyers will take a complete off-day on Monday. On Tuesday night, they play the second game of a five-game road trip; a rematch with the New Jersey Devils.
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FLYERS ALUMNI: UPCOMING GAMES
The Flyers Alumni Team has a series of fundraising games upcoming around the Delaware Valley. Here are the next six games on the schedule.
Feb. 20, 2016: 4th Annual Center for Autism Winter Classic (Ice Works, Aston, PA, 8:15 p.m.). Each year, the Flyers Alumni Team takes on the CFA Puzzlers to raise money for the work the Center does on behalf of autism education and support. Last year, the event raised $28,428. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For more information,
click here.
Feb. 27, 2016: Checkmates IBD Benefit (University of Pennsylvania Class of 1923 Arena, Philadelphia, PA, 7:30 p.m.) The Flyers Alumni Team will once again raise money for the support of the department of gastroenterology and hepatology at Thomas Jefferson University. For more information,
click here.
March. 6, 2016: Willis Foundation Benefit (Flyers Skate Zone, Voorhees, NJ, TBD). Last year's game and meet-and-greet at the Skate Zone raised proceeds for the Willis Foundation and Historic Philadelphia. More information to come.
March 12, 2016: Junior Achievement of Delaware Game (Fred Rust Ice Arena, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, TBA). Last season's game was a big hit, raising approximately $125,000. For more information,
click here.
March 26, 2016: Benefit for Police Officer Jesse Hartnett (N.E. Philadelphia Flyers Skate Zone, Philadelphia, PA, 3 p.m.): The Alumni will take on the Philly's Finest hockey team will raise money on behalf Philadelphia police officer Jesse Hartnett who, on Jan. 7, was traveling in his police cruiser when a lone shooter approached and opened fire on the driver's side of the vehicle, firing 11 shots; three of which struck officer Hartnett. The Alumni recently added this game to the schedule to show support and raise funds to provide assistance for the officer's needs.
April 3, 2016: 12th Annual Goals for Giving Benefit: The Power of the Game (Northeast Philadelphia Flyers Skate Zone, Philadelphia, PA, 1:30 p.m.): Last year's event alone raised over $107,000. Over the past 11 years, the NHS Goals for Giving Hockey Benefits have raised about $506,000 to directly support the programs and services. For more information,
click here.
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