Flyers Blanked by Schneider, Devils

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

After 13 straight competitive games, with points earned in 12 of them, the Flyers were due for a clunker. It came on Thursday, as the New Jersey Devils took advantage of a ragged Flyers team.

Two goals in a first period full of extra-curriculars and another in the second and one more for good measure in the third was more than enough in a 4-0 win over the Flyers on Thursday night at Prudential Center. 

The Devils struck for the first goal of the game on the power play at 7:40 of the first. A shot by Michael Cammalleri hit off the leg of PA Parenteau and skittered past Steve Mason to open the scoring.

A net-mouth scramble allowed the Devils to extend the lead to two. Adam Henrique cut to the net and attempted to put a shot on goal that Mason stopped, but the rebound sat in the blue paint for Miles Wood to jam home for his fourth goal of the season.

A collision at center ice between Brandon Manning and Sergei Kalinin started a wild end to the first period. A scrum of players broke out following the collision, leading to two roughing penalties for each team. Moments later, Dale Weise and Seth Helgeson dropped the gloves. As the period came to a close, a late hit by Wayne Simmonds triggered another scrum, with Nick Cousins and Cammalleri dropping the gloves. The teams combined for 46 penalty minutes in the first period.

The Flyers put Anthony Stolarz in goal in relief of Mason in the second, presumably to try to provide a spark. The Flyers had the energy briefly, and came inches away from scoring. Michael Raffl had an empty net, but needed to corral the puck from the side of the net. By the time he did, his attempt to tuck in a weak shot was gloved down by Cory Schneider right along the goal line.

The Devils had the one chance that mattered in the second, as Henrique took a pass from Taylor Hall in the slot and lifted a shot over Stolarz to make it a three-goal lead for the Devils.

From there, the Devils focused on the defensive play and allowed minimal chances to the Flyers. The Flyers were held to just 16 shots in the game and two in the third period, as Schneider easily made all 16 saves for a shutout.

Late in the game, Kyle Palmieri deflected an Andy Greene shot for a power-play goal to make it 4-0.

The Flyers goalies didn't fare particularly well, with Mason making six saves on eight shots and Stolarz stopping nine of 10.

Michael Raffl left the game during the second period and did not return. GM Ron Hextall announced that Raffl will be out for one-to-two weeks with a lower-body injury.

The Flyers now go on a five-day break, three of those days being the annual Christmas break for all NHL teams. They return to the ice in St. Louis against the Blues on Wednesday at 8 p.m.

Box Score

Scoring Summary

1st Period

• NJ PA Parenteau (8) PP (Michael Cammalleri, Damon Severson) 7:40
• NJ Miles Wood (4) (Adam Henrique) 13:26

2nd Period

• NJ Adam Henrique (8) (Taylor Hall, Parenteau) 13:49

3rd Period

• NJ Kyle Palmieri (5) PP (Andy Greene, John Moore) 18:38

Game Statistics