Image Courtesy Amy Irvin – 38Photography.net
Claude Giroux took an errant Toronto pass near the blue line and ripped a wrist shot passed Leafs goaltender Jonathan Bernier early in the third period to give the Flyers a 3-1 lead over the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs and would propel the Flyers to a 4-2 victory Friday night at the Wells Fargo Center.
Vincent Lecavalier got the scoring started for Philadelphia, potting his 16th goal of the season on the power play. Scott Hartnell also scored on the power play while Kimmo Timonen and Claude Giroux assisted on both power play goals. Wayne Simmonds scored late to add an insurance goal for the Flyers. Steve Mason was strong in net for the Flyers, stopping 32 of 34 shots. Philadelphia ended their two game losing streak and face Boston on Sunday.
James van Reimsdyk and Dave Bolland scored for Toronto. Toronto netminder Jonathan Bernier kept the Leafs in the game, stopping 25 of 29 shots. Toronto has now lost seven in a row.
In a battle for playoff positioning, the Flyers struck first and early. Just 5:35 into the game, Lecavalier, using his new role as “power play specialist,” scored from the right circle on a one-time blast passed Toronto goalie Bernier. Giroux won the faceoff back to Timonen who quickly fed the demoted center, who scored just three seconds into a five-on-three power play.
Following the Flyers goal, Philadelphia appeared to slow down as Toronto took control of the game. Although the Leafs went without scoring in the first, they would quickly even up the game in the second.
Just four seconds into the period, van Riemsdyk, the former Flyer, would net his 29th goal of the season and set a Maple Leaf record for fastest goal to start a period.
The Flyers continued to play on their heels as Steve Mason needed to “stand on his head” to redirect the Toronto. The tide would eventually turn for Philadelphia, as Maple Leaf center Dave Bolland would go to the box for interference and the Flyers potent power play would take the ice.
In a matter of seconds, Hartnell would give the Flyers the lead off a redirected shot from Timonen. Hartnell’s 20th of the season would give the Flyers a 2-1 lead that they would take into the third period.
The Flyers would continue to strike early as Claude Giroux took a Scott Hartnell pass and cashed in his 25th goal of the season to give the Flyers a 3-1 lead.
Philadelphia would not hold onto the lead for long, as Toronto scored on a delayed penalty just 1:21 later as Dave Bolland deposited a rebound passed Mason.
The Flyers, normally strong in the third period, continued that trend as they put Toronto away for good with 7:21 remaining in the game as Wayne Simmonds netted his 25th goal of the season to give the Flyers a 4-2 victory.
Game Notes: Claude Giroux is now 3rd in the league in scoring…The Flyers scored two power play goals…Hartnell reached the 20th goal plateau for the 7th time in his career . . .Lecavalier is one goal shy of 400 for his career…
Hal Greenblatt covers the Flyers for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter: @HMGreenblatt
