Flyers Shut Out by Sharks for 3rd Straight Loss

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

For the third straight game, a lack of energy and overall lifeless hockey did the Flyers in. From the start, the Flyers were handed their third straight loss and fifth in the last six games, their worst six-game stretch of the season.

This loss was very much like the first one, right before the holiday break. The Flyers couldn't solve Aaron Dell and the Sharks in a 2-0 loss on Friday night.

The Sharks put a ton of pressure on the Flyers early and often in the first.

San Jose was finally able to cash in on a power play as Patrick Marleau jammed home a rebound out of a net-mouth scramble.

Moments before the goal, Steve Mason was hooked by Joe Thornton's stick and remained down on the ice for a few moments. He finished the first, but exited the game. GM Ron Hextall announced that Mason was "nicked up" and an update would be made known on Saturday.

The Sharks outshot the Flyers, 12-7, in the first.

The second period saw the shot totals even out, but the chances still heavily favor the Sharks. There was no scoring in the period, as Anthony Stolarz stopped all nine shots he saw in the period in relief.

In the third, it was more of the same. The Sharks controlled the play and peppered Stolarz with shots early. The rookie was up to all of them.

As the third drew closer to an end, a hard shot by Claude Giroux hit the crossbar on what would be the Flyers best chance of the period. Moments later, Joe Pavelski set up a cutting Justin Braun, who beat Stolarz on the odd-man rush to make it 2-0 San Jose with 4:37 to play.

The Sharks outshot the Flyers, 34-21, in the game. Stolarz made 21 saves in relief.

Dell stopped all 21 shots by the Flyers to pick up his first career shutout.

The Flyers return on New Year's Day against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night at 8 p.m.

Box Score

Scoring Summary

1st Period

• SJ Patrick Marleau (10) PP (Kevin Labanc, Marc-Edouard Vlasic) 16:29

2nd Period

• No Scoring

3rd Period

• SJ Justin Braun (2) (Joe Pavelski, Patrick Marleau) 15:23

Game Statistics