Mason, Flyers spoil Timonen’s return

Wayne Simmonds, Ryan White, Claude Giroux and Michael Raffl all scored. Steve Mason made 34 saves and the Philadelphia Flyers dominated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 in their return to home ice on Wednesday night.

It was a good pace to start the game. Both teams went back and forth during the opening five minutes. Steve Mason and Corey Crawford each made a few nice saves early.

Wayne Simmonds ended the scoreless tie at 7:20 of the first. Matt Read set up Simmonds in front who buried it into an open net behind Crawford. It was his 29th goal of the season and 100th as a Flyer. Nick Schultz added the second assist.

Andrew Shaw had the best chance for Chicago. Shaw was set up alone in the slot but missed a wide open net about halfway through. Mason would stop all 11 shots he faced in the period.

Other than the one goal by Simmonds, Crawford played a solid first 20 minutes. He made two ten bell glove saves. He flashed the leather early on Jakub Voracek and late in the period on a three on one break. 

Chicago started the second strong. They held the territorial advantage for much of the first five plus minutes and had pulled ahead in shots. Mason made a few nice stops including a tough shoulder save on Patrick Sharp from the circle.

Ryan White would extend the Flyers lead at 7:09. White deflected a Carlo Colaiacovo shot in front for his fifth of the season. Nicklas Grossmann picked up the second assist. 

Just over six minutes later Claude Giroux would make it 3-0. Giroux deflected a Voracek pass behind Crawford for his 22nd of the season and first even strength goal at home of the season. Michael Del Zotto had the second assist.

Steve Mason shut the door on Chicago in the second stopping all 14 Blackhawks shots. Chicago out shot Philly 14-9 for the period an led 25-22 through two periods but trailed 3-0.

Philadelphia would take the game's first penalty at 2:10 of the third as Carlo Colaiacovo was whistled for high sticking. It took Chicago just 14 seconds to score as Andrew Shaw beat Mason on a deflection from the slot to make it 3-1. Duncan Keith and Antoine Vermette had the assists.

The Penalty kill would be called upon again at 6:03 when Del Zotto got called for slashing. Unlike on the first Blackhawks power play, the Flyers penalty killers were much better and were able to get the job done.

Philadelphia would finally get a chance with the man advantage at 9:06 when Chicago was whistled for too many men. The first unit held the puck in the offensive zone for much of the power play but were unable to beat Crawford. 

Philadelphia would get another chance on the power play as Jonathan Toews got called for hooking at 14:44 of the third. This time the Flyers made it count. Michael Raffl scored his 19th goal of the season to make it 4-1.

That would be all the scoring for this one. MAson made 34 saves on 35 shots for the win. With his assist on Claude Giroux's goal, Voracek is once again tied for the NHL lead in points. The Flyers will host San Jose on Saturday.

Bill Minchin is a contributing writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow Bill on Twitter @wtfd103074