Drew
December 5th, 2007, 11:21 PM
FLYERS TAME THE WILD
http://www.flyershive.com/pgh/PGH1205.jpg
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -Jeff Carter had a goal and an assist and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Minnesota Wild 3-1 on Wednesday night for their fourth straight road win.
Minnesota, riding a four-game winning streak, was kept in check by the Flyers despite a decided advantage in power-play minutes. The Flyers, behind 28 saves by Antero Niittymaki, held Minnesota to just one power-play goal in eight opportunities, including a pair of extended two-man advantages.
The win moved Philadelphia into a tie with the idle New York Rangers atop the Atlantic Division.
Pavol Demitra scored for the Wild, and Niklas Backstrom made 22 saves.
Carter scored four goals in the Flyers' first five games of the season, but had only one goal since Nov. 8 prior to Wednesday.
His shot on goal in the first period started a scramble in front of Backstrom that ended when the puck bounced off Backstom's leg and into the net. Scottie Upshall was credited with the goal.
Midway through the first period, Carter scored on a backhander after he was left uncovered in front of Backstrom, giving the Flyers a 2-0 lead.
After NHL officials put the Flyers on notice for hard hits earlier in the week, the referees seemed determined to reinforce that message early in the game. Within 86 seconds of the opening faceoff, the Flyers two leading scorers, Daniel Briere and Mike Richards, were in the penalty box and Minnesota had more 5-on-3 power play for more than a minute.
The Wild appeared to have taken the lead when Aaron Voros' shot from the top of the crease disappeared beneath goalie Antero Niittymaki. The referee closest to the play signaled goal, but a video review couldn't find evidence that the puck had crossed the goal line.
Minnesota got on the board for real in the opening minute of the second period, when Pavol Demitra deflected Brian Rolston's shot past Niittymaki on a power play. It was Demitra's first goal since Nov. 1, and his first since returning from missing nine games in November with a groin injury.
Defenseman Braydon Coburn, who recently signed a contract extension, scored his first goal of the season to put Philadelphia back up by two. His slap shot from outside the blue line fooled Backstom, sailing into the upper right corner of the net. It was Coburn' first goal since March 31 against the Rangers.
Notes: Flyers forward Jim Dowd was one of the original members of the Wild, and played nearly 300 games for Minnesota before being traded to Montreal in 2004. The Flyers are his 10th NHL team. ... Wild captain Mark Parrish missed his third consecutive game because of a hip injury. ... Nick Schultz started the game on defense for Minnesota, but left the ice after taking a puck to the throat in the first period. He didn't return.
http://www.flyershive.com/pgh/PGH1205.jpg
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -Jeff Carter had a goal and an assist and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Minnesota Wild 3-1 on Wednesday night for their fourth straight road win.
Minnesota, riding a four-game winning streak, was kept in check by the Flyers despite a decided advantage in power-play minutes. The Flyers, behind 28 saves by Antero Niittymaki, held Minnesota to just one power-play goal in eight opportunities, including a pair of extended two-man advantages.
The win moved Philadelphia into a tie with the idle New York Rangers atop the Atlantic Division.
Pavol Demitra scored for the Wild, and Niklas Backstrom made 22 saves.
Carter scored four goals in the Flyers' first five games of the season, but had only one goal since Nov. 8 prior to Wednesday.
His shot on goal in the first period started a scramble in front of Backstrom that ended when the puck bounced off Backstom's leg and into the net. Scottie Upshall was credited with the goal.
Midway through the first period, Carter scored on a backhander after he was left uncovered in front of Backstrom, giving the Flyers a 2-0 lead.
After NHL officials put the Flyers on notice for hard hits earlier in the week, the referees seemed determined to reinforce that message early in the game. Within 86 seconds of the opening faceoff, the Flyers two leading scorers, Daniel Briere and Mike Richards, were in the penalty box and Minnesota had more 5-on-3 power play for more than a minute.
The Wild appeared to have taken the lead when Aaron Voros' shot from the top of the crease disappeared beneath goalie Antero Niittymaki. The referee closest to the play signaled goal, but a video review couldn't find evidence that the puck had crossed the goal line.
Minnesota got on the board for real in the opening minute of the second period, when Pavol Demitra deflected Brian Rolston's shot past Niittymaki on a power play. It was Demitra's first goal since Nov. 1, and his first since returning from missing nine games in November with a groin injury.
Defenseman Braydon Coburn, who recently signed a contract extension, scored his first goal of the season to put Philadelphia back up by two. His slap shot from outside the blue line fooled Backstom, sailing into the upper right corner of the net. It was Coburn' first goal since March 31 against the Rangers.
Notes: Flyers forward Jim Dowd was one of the original members of the Wild, and played nearly 300 games for Minnesota before being traded to Montreal in 2004. The Flyers are his 10th NHL team. ... Wild captain Mark Parrish missed his third consecutive game because of a hip injury. ... Nick Schultz started the game on defense for Minnesota, but left the ice after taking a puck to the throat in the first period. He didn't return.