|
 The Flyers lost their ninth consecutive road game, falling 5-4 in
a shootout to the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center.
Right wingers Jakob Silfverberg and Corey Perry scored in the
shootout for the Ducks, while goaltender Frederik Andersen stopped
two of the three shooters he faced to record the win.
Center Sean Couturier was the lone shootout goal-scorer for
Philadelphia (8-13-4). The Flyers lost their ninth consecutive
shootout, including all four this season.
Center Ryan Getzlaf, left winger Patrick Maroon and defensemen Cam
Fowler and Sami Vatanen scored in regulation for Anaheim (16-6-5).
Flyers right winger Wayne Simmonds scored twice, including a goal
with 1.8 seconds remaining that sent the game to overtime. Left
winger Michael Raffl and center R.J. Umberger added a goal each.
Andersen turned aside 31 of 35 Flyers shots, while Philadelphia
goaltender Steve Mason made 29 saves.
Philadelphia blew a lead and lost for the second time in as many
nights. The Flyers fell to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, allowing
the winning goal in the waning seconds after two players collided
with Mason in his crease.
"There's a really sour taste in our mouths after these last two
games," Mason said. "We were close, but close doesn't cut it."
Five goals were scored in 5:29 of frenetic action in the second
period after a scoreless first period.
"They're probably not the best defensive team in the East, and we've
been playing with a lot of young guys as well," Ducks coach Bruce
Boudreau said. "I thought there were going to be chances on both
ends, and consequently, there were."
Philadelphia struck first as Raffl's wrist shot slipped through
Andersen's five hole 5:46 into the second period. Center Claude
Giroux had the primary assist on Raffl's seventh goal this season,
which came off the rush.
Anaheim drew even at 8:14 during a four-on-four situation.
Silfverberg left a drop pass for Fowler, who powered a slap shot
past Mason for his third goal of the season.
Philadelphia responded 32 seconds later to take a 2-1 lead. Simmonds
came off the right-wing boards and beat Andersen to the far side
with a wrist shot.
The Flyers went up 3-1 when they capitalized on a power play two
minutes later. Defenseman Nick Schultz's 60-foot shot ricocheted to
Umberger, who pushed the puck into the net on his backhand for his
second goal this season. Umberger failed to record a point in his
previous 17 contests.
"It probably felt better than the first goal I ever scored in the
NHL," Umberger said.
The 3-1 lead lasted a mere 28 seconds before Getzlaf lifted a snap
shot over Mason's glove on the short side for his eighth goal of the
campaign.
"Obviously, you're up 3-1, you want to put your foot on the
accelerator and really pin them in," Umberger said. "We allowed them
back in the game, and that was probably a big mistake for us."
[to top of second column] |
The Ducks tied the game at 3 with 53 seconds remaining in the second
period. Vatanen drove the puck through heavy traffic and generated a
rebound, which Maroon dished back to him for a close-range goal.
Vatanen has goals off similar plays in two consecutive games.
"The creativity is all in his hockey sense and his mindset, in all
those things, his desire and drive to do well is right there,"
Boudreau said, praising the timing and effectiveness of Vatanen
joining the rush.
The Ducks took their first lead of the game at 14:58 of the third
when a puck came off the rear boards, between Perry's legs and
directly to Maroon on the power play. Maroon's wrist shot led to his
second goal of the season.
With an extra attacker on and the goalie pulled, Simmonds corralled
a loose puck in front, generated a rebound and scored on the
follow-up bid for his 10th goal of the season.
Overtime saw several scoring chances, including a breakaway for
Philadelphia right winger Matt Read, but both netminders stood their
ground, sending the game to a shootout.
"You look at the overtime, that's what hockey's all about. Great
plays, good saves and nice passing," Mason said. "Then you go to the
shootout, and it's a skills competition."
NOTES: D Eric Brewer, acquired Nov. 28 because of injuries to
multiple Ducks defensemen, will be out four to six weeks due to a
broken foot. ... Anaheim D Clayton Stoner (mumps) returned to action
and took Brewer's place. ... Ducks D Mark Fistric (back) was
available but did not dress. ... D Ben Lovejoy (finger), D Francois
Beauchemin (finger), G Josh Gibson (groin) and LW Dany Heatley
(groin) remain out of action for Anaheim. ... Ducks G Jason
LaBarbera will miss two to three weeks with a hand injury. Veteran G
Ilyz Bryzgalov, a former Duck, was brought in for a tryout. ...
Flyers D Shayne Gostisbehere (knee) and D Kimmo Timonen (blood
clots) continue to deal with long-term injuries. ... Flyers C
Vincent Lecavalier was a healthy scratch for the second straight
game. He had not been a healthy scratch previously in his career,
which began in 1998. D Michael Del Zotto was also a healthy scratch.
... Anaheim returned D Jesse Blacker and C/RW Rickard Rakell to AHL
Norfolk on Tuesday.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
