Flyers shut out Devils in brutal affair

By Jesse Larch, Sports Talk Philly staff writer 

PHILADELPHIA – Bodies laid strewn across the ice at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday night as the Flyers shut out the New Jersey Devils by a score of 3-0.

The game begun with celebration, but immediately faces of joy became faces of concern. 

Brayden Schenn scored for the Flyers on their first power play at 7:28 in the first period when a Claude Giroux shot missed the net and ricocheted out on to the other side of the net where Schenn had a wide open goal to shoot at.

Almost immediately after Schenn's goal, Flyers goalie Michal Neuvirth collapsed on the ice during a faceoff in the neutral zone. The Wells Fargo Center crowd waited with bated breath to see if Neuvirth was okay. Neuvirth began to move his extremities and the crowd roared in support of their goaltender. Neuvirth saved all six shots that he faced in the first period. It is speculated that Neuvirth contracted an illness. Steve Mason missed tonight's game with an illness that he could have transferred to Neuvirth. Neuvirth was taken to a local hospotal and there will be an update on his condition tomorrow.

With Mason ill, Anthony Stolarz was called up from Lehigh Valley on an emergency basis. Stolarz did not make it to the arena in time for warmups but arrived on the bench shortly after the opening puck drop before promptly being inserted into the game for his fifth career game and second against his hometown team.

Stolarz teammate and captain from Lehigh Valley, Colin McDonald, was also called up earlier today and played on the fourth line with Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Chris VandeVelde. McDonald made his presence felt, scoring a beautiful goal on Cory Schneider a few minutes after Stolarz entered the game. McDonald beat Andy Greene to a loose puck before cutting to the goalmouth and maneuvering around a diving Cory Schneider. It was McDonald's first NHL goal since Nov. 27 2015 against the Nashville Predators.

McDonald scored a goal last night in a 3-1 Phantoms defeat, while Stolarz made 34 saves in the same game. Stolarz could play three games in three nights if Mason and Neuvirth are both unable to play.

The Flyers outshot the Devils 16-10 and won 81% of their faceoffs to follow up their dominant five-goal first period against the Islanders two nights ago.

Things got chippy in the second period, with 24 penalty minutes dished out and both teams taking cheap shots on the other. It all started when Radko Gudas leveled John Quenneville with a clean open ice check. Shortly after Dalton Prout went high on Gudas, knocking him out of the game. Wayne Simmonds came to Gudas's defense and dropped the gloves with Prout. 

On the ensuing power play, Dale Weise hit Kyle Palmieri with a vicous elbow that was clearly intentional and left Palmieri in a heap on the ice. Travis Zajac confronted Weise following the play. Weise and Prout both received major penalties and game misconducts.

The Flyers would have a 4-on-3 power play opportunity after all of the penalties were settled from Weise's actions. The Flyers would find the net when a Michael Del Zotto shot was blocked and Jake Voracek got the loose puck over to Jordan Weal, who scored his fifth goal in the past seven games. Weal now has goals in four consecutive games.

The Flyers led 3-0 heading into the third period.

The Flyers threatened often in the third, and managed to keep the Devils at bay in what was a complete 200 feet effort. John Quenneville appeared to put the Devils on the board, but Dave Hakstol challenged that Quenneville entered the zone offside and won the challenge to have the goal overturned.

The Flyers would continue their strong play throughout the third period en route to their fourth straight victory. Neuvirth (six saves) and Stolarz (26 saves) combined for the shutout. The second that Stolarz has been a part of this season. 

Eric Semborski, who appeared as the emergency backup for the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this season, was called to the stadium as the fourth goaltender in the event that Stolarz was unable to play.

Dave Hakstol attempted to put Semborski into the game, but Semborski was sent back to the bench as an emergency goaltender, which Stolarz was, can only be pulled in the event of an injury. Semborski received a standing ovation from the Wells Fargo Center crowd in his brief appearance on the ice. Semborski is a Temple University Graduate.

With the victory, the Flyers playoff chances are still alive, albeit improbable.

The Flyers will play again tomorrow night when they visit the New York Rangers at 7:30p.m.

Scoring Summary

1st Period:

• PHI Brayden Schenn PPG (24) (Claude Giroux, Shayne Gostisbehere) 7:28
• PHI Colin McDonald (1) (Chris VandeVelde, Radko Gudas) 11:28

2nd Period

• PHI Jordan Weal PPG (8) (Jake Voracek, Michael Del Zotto) 10:06

3rd Period

• None

Game Statistics