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 Center Claude Giroux and right winger Jakub Voracek scored in the
shootout to give the Philadelphia Flyers a 2-1 come-from-behind win
against the Detroit Red Wings Sunday night at Joe Louis Arena.
"It's a big win for us," Voracek said. "We're playing very well over
the past two months. ... For two periods, I thought they were the
better team. But we started skating in the third period."
Giroux scored for Philadelphia in regulation and goaltender Michal
Neuvirth made 29 saves in the first 65 minutes.
"It's an important win for our team," Flyers coach Dave Hakstol
said. "Our guys have continued to battle hard for one another and
that's what this one was to help us find a way."
The Flyers have the NHL's worst all-time shootout record at 32-66.
Defenseman Niklas Kronwall scored for Detroit in regulation and
goalie Petr Mrazek made 30 saves. Center Pavel Datsyuk scored in the
shootout.
"It's not the result we want, from a process standpoint," Red Wings
coach Jeff Blashill said. "I thought we did lots of good stuff. I
think we need more net presence and we obviously need more results
in terms of scoring goals."
Kronwall gave Detroit a 1-0 lead with 1:35 left in the second
period. His shot from the point deflected off Philadelphia
defenseman Radko Gudas and tumbled over Neuvirth's shoulder and into
the net. It was Kronwall's third goal of the season.
"(Forward Darren) Helm was a great net-front presence so the goalie
didn't see anything. We got a lucky bounce there," Kronwall said.
Hakstol challenged the goal, claiming that Helm interfered with
Neuvirth.
"Nobody really touched me. The puck never got to me," Neuvirth said.
"I lost it in the bodies and it bounced over my shoulder."
Giroux tied the game 1-1, 4:24 into the third period on a one-timer
from the bottom of the right circle off a pass from Voracek, on the
rush.
"We tried to keep our composure ... We were down a goal and kept on
battling in the third," Giroux said.
An apparent winning goal by Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere
with 1.6 seconds left was waved off because right winger Wayne
Simmonds, in front of Mrazek, jumped up and his rear end hit Mrazek
in the head, knocking the goalie down.
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Philadelphia was on the power play but Simmonds was called for
goaltender interference and overtime began 3-on-3.
"It's a fast game and a tough game to officiate," Hakstol said. "A
lot of things happen. All night long, we moved onto the next play."
Detroit center Pavel Datsyuk hit the crossbar with a little under
seven minutes left in the third period.
The Red Wings killed off a 1:36, 5-on-3 Flyers power play in the
middle of the third period.
Mrazek made a difficult glove save on Flyers defenseman Mark
Streit's shot from the bottom of the left circle with 7:37 left in
the period and Neuvirth stopped Riley Sheahan, who was in alone,
with his glove seconds later.
Mrazek made a pad save on Simmonds' tip attempt from just outside
the crease 3:27 into the second period.
Philadelphia center Ryan White got a game misconduct 2:20 into the
game from a match penalty from a five-minute elbowing major against
Detroit forward Tomas Jurco after Jurco got off a shot from the
right circle. White's elbow caught Jurco in the face.
NOTES: Detroit RW Teemu Pulkkinen returned after missing 18 games
with a dislocated shoulder. He replaced Joakim Andersson on the
fourth line with C Luke Glendening and Tomas Jurco on left wing. ...
Scratched for Philadelphia were C Jordan Weal and D Scott Manning.
... Andersson was a healthy scratch for the Red Wings along with D
Alexey Marchchenko. ... G Michal Neuvirth started for the Flyers
after G Steve Mason played Saturday in a 3-2 shootout loss against
the New York Rangers. ... It was Detroit's first home game since
completing a six-game road trip on which it went 5-1-0. ... The Red
Wings last played at Joe Louis Arena on New Year's Eve.
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