Photo: Amy Irvin/38 Photography
The Flyers fell to New York 4-1 on Tuesday night, giving the Rangers a 2-1 series lead in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Derek Stepan, Marty St. Louis, Dan Girardi, and Dan Carcillo scored for the Rags, while Mark Streit had the lone Flyers goal. Ray Emery did not have a good night between the pipes, as he gave up four goals on 20 shots faced. Steve Mason came in with a little over seven minutes to go in the third period and stopped three of three. Over on the Rangers’ side, Henrik Lundqvist was in his usual form, only allowing one goal on 32 shots.
Poor puck handling and undisciplined play plagued the Flyers in the first period. They came out quick against the always-speedy Rangers, but seemed to be knocked off of their game some after the Rangers got on the board first. Stepan’s goal came just about four minutes into the first period, after Emery lost control of a rebound. The Flyers looked sloppy for most of the remainder of the first period, and the Rangers took advantage of that. St. Louis’ goal came off of a deflection after he all but Kimmo Timonen all but fell down near the net and allowed room to open up. Scott Hartnell took a boarding penalty – some argued it was unnecessary – right after St. Louis’ goal, showing that lack of discipline.
Thankfully, the Flyers’ penalty kill was strong in the first, killing off three separate penalties. New York took two penalties as well, killing off both. Streit’s goal in the final minutes of play – the third goal in the series scored by a Flyers d-man – seemed to wake the Flyers up a bit, but they were not able to tie the game up before the period ended. Despite the difference in how New York and Philadelphia came out, the period ended with the Rangers leading in shots by just one, 13-12. Flyers led in even-strengths shots 10-9.
Philadelphia largely dominated in the second period, evidenced by the shot totals – 13-4. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for the Flyers to tack another goal onto the board. Meanwhile, the Rangers regained the 2-goal lead thanks to Dan Girardi, another brutal goal given up by Ray Emery.
The pushing and shoving that had gone on for the majority of the game finally came to fruition at 11:37 into the second period, when Jakub Voracek and Carl Hagelin got into it off of a faceoff and Voracek absolutely destroyed his opponent. Dan Carcillo was also in the mix (surprise, surprise) and the Flyers ended up going on the power play after all three men were charged with roughing calls. The Flyers got another power play opportunity about five minutes later when Derek Dorsett took a charging call upon going after Claude Giroux, but the Rangers were able to kill it off. Boos rained down on the ice as the period ended with the Rangers up by two.
The Flyers came out quick and strong in the third period, but still were unable to get the puck past Lundqvist and the Rangers’ defense. By game end, New York had 28 blocked shots, which was a huge part of their win — or, moreso, the Flyers’ loss. Carcillo, who had been the thorn in the Flyers’ side all throughout the game, delivered the final nail in Philadelphia’s coffin with less than ten minutes left in the third, just after coming out of the penalty box. That fourth goal seemed to take the wind out of the Flyers’ sails.
Mason came in with 7:15 left in the game, more of a chance for him to get some time in net before he’ll more than likely start Game 4 on Friday night. Emery had a rough night; two of the Rangers’ goals, Stepan’s and Girardi’s, could’ve easily been avoided. This is not to discount how well he’s played for the Flyers as a backup, but Tuesday was not his night.
The Flyers and Rangers will meet again on Friday night for Game 4, where the Flyers will aim to tie the series before it returns to Madison Square Garden.
Scoring summary:
Derek Stepan, NYR – 3:54, 1st – Rick Nash (A), Marty St. Louis (A)
Marty St. Louis, NYR – 10:24, 1st – Dan Girardi (A), Rick Nash (A)
Mark Streit, PHL – 17:18, 1st – Jakub Voracek (A), Claude Giroux (A)
Dan Girardi, NYR – 5:17, 2nd – Brad Richards (A), Carl Hagelin (A)
Dan Carcillo, NYR – 10:53, 3rd – Brian Boyle (A)
Penalty summary:
Wayne Simmonds, PHL – 5:35, 1st – high-sticking
Benoit Pouliot, NYR – 6:49, 1st – cross-checking
Scott Hartnell, PHL – 10:49, 1st – boarding
Kimmo Timonen, PHL – 16:52, 1st – delay of game
Benoit Pouliot, NYR – 16:57, 1st – holding
Dan Carcillo, NYR – 11:37, 2nd – roughing
Carl Hagelin, NYR – 11:37, 2nd – roughing
Jakub Voracek, PHL – 11:37, 2nd – roughing
Derek Dorsett, NYR – 16:02, 2nd – charging
Dan Carcillo, NYR – 8:36, 3rd – hooking
Wayne Simmonds, PHL – 16:18, 3rd – roughing
