Matt Read got the monkey off his back. Sean Couturier played another solid game. Ray Emery made 17 saves and the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the New Jersey Devils, 4-1, on Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center.
After a slow start to the first period by both teams, Sean Couturier got the Flyers going. With Jakub Voracek in the box for tripping, Matt Read intercepted a pass at the blue line. Read was then hauled down but got up quickly and kept the play going.
Once inside the Devils zone, Read fired a beautiful pass to Couturier for his 6th goal of the season at 6:12. It was the first shorthanded goal the Flyers have scored all season. .
Couturier would return the favor at 13:37 of the first as he made a great pass from just outside the circle and Read slammed it home for his first goal since mid November at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
The lone goal of the second period came on a New Jersey power play. Nick Schultz was in the box for tripping at 12:47. Less than 20 seconds later, Martin Havlat got the Devils on the board. It was Havlat's 3rd goal of the year. Scott Gomez and Damon Severson got the assists.
It would be the only goal Ray Emery would allow.
The third started with the Devils applying pressure but Emery was able to keep them at bay. Mike Cammalleri took a tripping call at 15:05. The Flyers capiatalized as Wayne Simmonds scored his team leading 12th goal of the season.
Claude Giroux and Mark Streit got the assists. Those two would team up one more time setting up Jake Voracek for the empty net goal less than two minutes later for the 4-1 lead.
Ray Emery stopped 17 of 18 shots improving to 5-4-1 on the season. The Flyers next game is Saturday afternoon at 1:00 against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Bill Minchin is a contributing writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow Bill on Twitter @wtfd103074
