Flyers Outwork and Shut out Rangers, 4-0
A hungry and aggressive Philadelphia Flyers team put a halt to a four-game winless streak with a 4-0 win over the New York Rangers in the annual Black Friday matinee at the Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers ended a four-game stretch in which they yielded the first goal and never led at any point. They also had a much-needed strong day on the penalty kill.
The Flyers top line led the way offensively. Travis Konecny recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick with a first period goal (6th), second period fight with Ryan Strome and third period assists (7th and 8th) on insurance goals by Sean Couturier (9th and 10th). Claude Giroux collected three assists (18th, 19th and 20th). Additionally, Jordan Weal scored an empty net goal (3rd) assisted by Wayne Simmonds (4th).
Cal Pickard earned a 30-save shutout for the Flyers. His best saves came in the third period while the game was still 1-0.
Henrik Lundqvist stopped 42 of 45 shots in a losing cause. The team in front of him had turnovers galore and yielded multiple odd-man rushes but Lundqvist kept his team close until nearly the end.
The Flyers went 0-for-1 for on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill against a Rangers team that had been on a tear on the man advantage.
Philly dominated the first period, posting a 15-8 edge in shots and a wide disparity in their favor in terms of quality of chances.
The Flyers benefited from a lucky bounce on the game's first goal at 13:21 of the first period. Konecny put it on the net from the right circle. Lundqvist made the save but the rebound bounced off Skej and into the net. If Sean Couturier had not gone to the net against Skej, the Flyers would not have gotten that bounce. The assists went to Claude Giroux (18th) and Couturier (8th).
The Rangers made a few more plays in the second period but the Flyers remained the hungrier team in a workmanlike middle frame. Lundqvist came up big to keep the New York deficit at one goal. A couple of good late saves by Pickard with the Rangers on the first half of a carryover power play enabled Philly to take a 1-0 lead to the third period.
Both goalies were called on several times to make tough saves in the third period. Finally, the Rangers allowed one too many odd-man rushes and paid dearly for it.
Shortly after Anthony DeAngelo hit the post in the Flyers' end, the Flyers scored on an odd-man rush with Konecny setting up Couturier and the center finishing it off to the short side. Giroux earned his second assist (19th overall) of the game. That was followed by a Weal empty-netter and a Couturier tap-in of a Konecny rebound.
On Saturday, the Flyers (10-10-2) are in Ontario to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs.