Flyers win streak ends with shootout loss to Rangers

The Flyers had already been handed the challenge of playing a difficult back-to-back without their best defensive forward with the news of Sean Couturier's injury on Friday.

Just over halfway through the first period of Saturday's game with the Rangers, they were forced to play without their offensive force of late.

Wayne Simmonds was given a match penalty for in throwing a punch at Ryan McDonagh, leaving the Flyers shorthanded for the remainder of the game.

The Flyers were 12 seconds from keeping the train moving when Keith Yandle scored to tie the game.

The Rangers went on to win with two goals in the shootout to end the Flyers three-game win streak with a 3-2 loss on Saturday afternoon at Wells Fargo Center.

The first 20 minutes were sloppy for both sides and while there were scoring chances for both teams, it was more about the physical play. One play in particular stood out.

Simmonds' match penalty and game misconduct for intent to injure on a hit on Ryan McDonagh came at the 10:46 mark of the first. After jousting with McDonagh, who earned a slashing and high-sticking double minor out of the incident, Simmonds delivered a jab to McDonagh's head. McDonagh went down with an injury and did not return to the game.

Shots were 7-7 after one period of scoreless play.

The Flyers amped up the pressure in the second period, getting three more power play opportunities and firing 20 shots on Henrik Lundqvist. On their second power play of the period, they finally beat him.

A nice passing play between Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek kept play alive when Voracek spotted Shayne Gostisbehere at the point. Gostisbehere out-waited the defense before firing a shot toward the goal that appeared to be deflected in by Ryan White. The goal was credited to White but later changed to Gostisbehere's, his ninth of the season.

The goal also marked the seventh straight game the Flyers have scored a power-play goal.

The Flyers outshot the Rangers in the second, 20-8.

The Rangers tied things up early in the third as Chris Kreider deflected a Dan Girardi shot past Steve Mason at 3:16.

The Flyers wasted no time getting the goal back. Gostisbehere connected on a cross-ice pass to White who got his goal back with a wrist shot from the slot past Lundqvist at 5:46.

Mason stood tall on a couple of scoring chances in a defensive third period that featured limited opportunities as the game entered the final minute.

In the final minute, the Rangers managed to tie the game with 12.9 seconds remaining as Yandle's point shot beat Mason to even things up and force overtime. The Flyers were outshot in the third, 11-1.

Overtime came and went without much of a scoring chance for either side, and the game proceeded to a shootout.

Mason made 26 saves in taking the loss. Lundqvist also made 26 saves and one more in the shootout for the win.

The Flyers recorded just two shots in the final 30:15 of regulation and overtime. The Flyers had just one shot in the third, the first time since Feb. 10, 2010 that the Flyers have had one shot in a period of play.

Gostisbehere's two points brought his points streak to seven games, the longest in franchise history for a rookie defenseman passing Dick Cherry's streak of six in 1968-69. Gostisbehere's season points total is up to 26 in 32 games.

Giroux and Voracek also extended their points streaks to six games each with assists on Gostisbehere's goal.

The Flyers return to action on Sunday afternoon when they face the Washington Capitals. Game time is at 12 p.m.

Scoring Summary

• 1st Period
  • No Scoring
• 2nd Period
  • PHI Shayne Gostisbehere (9) PP (Jake Voracek, Claude Giroux) – 7:16
• 3rd Period
  • NYR Chris Kreider (11) (Dan Girardi, Mats Zuccarello) – 3:16
  • PHI Ryan White (6) (Shayne Gostisbehere, Chris VandeVelde) – 5:46
  • NYR Keith Yandle (4) (Jesper Fast, Dan Boyle) – 19:47
• Overtime
  • No Scoring
• Shootout
  • PHI Sam Gagner – Miss
  • NYR Mats Zuccarello – Goal
  • PHI Claude Giroux – Save
  • NYR Derek Stepan – Goal

Penalty Summary

• 1st Period
  • NYR Ryan McDonagh – 2:00 slashing – 10:36
  • NYR Ryan McDonagh – 2:00 high-sticking – 10:36
  • PHI Wayne Simmonds – 5:00 match penalty – 10:36
  • PHI Wayne Simmonds – game misconduct – 10:36
  • NYR Viktor Stalberg – 2:00 tripping – 17:52
• 2nd Period
  • NYR Jesper Fast – 2:00 hooking – 0:46
  • NYR Dominic Moore – 2:00 hooking – 6:17
  • PHI Matt Read – 5:00 fighting – 12:49
  • NYR Oscar Lindberg – 5:00 fighting – 12:49
  • NYR Oscar Lindberg – 2:00 cross-checking – 12:49 
  • PHI Scott Laughton – 2:00 hooking – 14:05
• 3rd Period
  • No Penalties
• Overtime
  • NYR Keith Yandle – 2:00 holding – 4:15
  • PHI Michael Del Zotto – 2:00 roughing – 4:15

Game Statistics

Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.