Image courtesy of foxsports.com
It may have not been exciting, but the end result was a pair of points for the Philadelphia Flyers, as they edged out a 2-0 win against the Kings today in Los Angeles. Wayne Simmonds and Claude Giroux each had a goal and two-point performances, as Steve Mason produced 35 saves for his second shutout in his last three starts. Jonathan Quick suffered the loss for the Kings, as he allowed two goals on 13 shots against.
It was a meeting between a team that couldn't score goals in the Kings and a team that has struggled recently to prevent goals in the Flyers, but Mason was able to lead the Flyers to a tight two-goal win thanks to just enough effort from the defense in front of him. Mason didn't see that much action until the final few minutes of the second period, but his play in the game's final 25 minutes or so was the difference today. It didn't hurt that the Kings hit the post a few times and missed the net on a few chances.
After a mundane opening stanza, where the Flyers were outshot 8-4, it was a former King that handed the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Giroux forced a turnover in the Kings' defensive zone as the hosts were trying to exit their own end before he tossed a cross-ice pass to Vincent Lecavalier. With possession of the puck in the circle to Quick's left, Lecavalier was able to draw Los Angeles' netminder out of the crease before he found Simmonds at the side of the net. Simmonds pounded him his 100th NHL goal into a wide-open net, as Jake Muzzin helped to keep Quick from sliding back across the crease to stop Simmonds' attempt. The former King's 18th of 2013-2014 turned out to be the game-winner just 7:48 into the second period.
Philly entered the third period with the 1-0 lead despite the Kings' ability to dominate play late in the period. The Flyers received a few scares late in the middle frame including a huge scramble in Mason's crease that featured three saves from the former Columbus Blue Jacket, several players dropping to the ice, and a delayed whistle as the puck was free at the side of the net for many seconds.
Although they had the one-goal advantage after 40 minutes, the Flyers were outshot 22-9 in the first two periods.
Giroux made it a two-goal game late, as he converted on a power-play chance with 1:58 left in regulation. As Matt Greene sat in the box for interference after he nailed Jakub Voracek away from the puck, Scott Hartnell caught a pass from Simmonds and possessed the puck along the goal line to Quick's right before he dealt it across the slot to Giroux. The captain beat a sprawled out Quick for his 17th tally of the season to secure the win for the Flyers.
The Orange and Black will look to make it two straight wins on Monday, as they visit the San Jose Sharks.
Notes: The Flyers' 13 shots on goal tied their franchise low for shots on goal in a single game. It's also the franchise low for shots on goal in a win…Philly's minus-22 shots on goal differential today is their biggest margin in a win this season…The Flyers ended a two-game losing streak to the Kings with today's win and are now 4-0-1 in their last five games out in Los Angeles…Kimmo Timonen missed today's game with a lower-body injury. Simmonds wore the A in his absence and Andrej Meszaros took part in today's game. Meszaros had a shot on goal and blocked a shot in 14:45 TOI…Mason recorded his third shutout of the season today. The Flyers as a team now have four shutouts on the season…Mason's 35 saves is his highest save total for any of his shutouts this season. It's the most saves Mason has had in a shutout since his 45-save blanking of the Detroit Red Wings as a Blue Jacket on 4/9/10…With the primary assist on Simmonds' goal, Lecavalier now has 896 points in the NHL…Robyn Regehr played in his 1,000th NHL game today. He had one shot on goal, four hits, and one blocked shot in 20:33 TOI…The Flyers improved to 9-8-2 against the Western Conference and to 6-4-0 against the Pacific Division…Philly improved to 27-23-6 on the season. They were 31-18-7 after 56 games in 2011-2012 and 37-14-5 after 56 games in 2010-2011.
