Dec 17 2008
Streaking Flyers win fifth straight
The Flyers fell behind early on against the Colorado Avalanche, but it didn’t stay that way for long. By midway through the second period, the game was all but over as the Flyers cruised to a 5-2 win. It was the Flyers’ first win over the Avs since 2002 and their first win over Colorado in Philly since 1999. The Avalanche had won five straight over the Flyers heading into last night, including a 5-2 win back in October as part of Philly’s 0-3-3 start.
Paul Stastny opened the scoring with a power play a little less than halfway through the first that put Colorado up 1-0. “Mr. Power Play” Mike Knuble knotted the score at 1-1 a couple of minutes later with a power play goal of his own. The goal was Knuble’s seventh on the power play this season and his third power play goal in his last two games. Late in the first, Jeff Carter untied the game with a shorthanded goal that put Philly on top 2-1. It was the Flyers’ league-leading 12th shorthanded goal of the year, three of which have been scored by Carter. The goal was also Carter’s 22nd of the year, which puts him second overall in the league.
In the second, the Flyers poured it on even more. Joffrey Lupul scored his tenth goal of the year a little over halfway through the period and Mike Richards scored his thirteenth goal of the season 78 seconds later to make it a 4-1 game. David Jones found the net late in the second to cut Colorado’s deficit to 4-2, but it would not be enough. Simon Gagne deflected Kimmo Timonen’s shot past Peter Budaj for a power play goal early in the third that made it 5-2. The Avs couldn’t get any offense going in the third as the Flyers held on for the win.
Antero Niittymaki, who got the start after Martin Biron was sidelined with the flu, was stellar in net, stopping 29 of the 31 shots he faced. His Colorado counterpart Peter Budaj was not as fortunate, only making 19 saves out of the 24 shots he faced.
The win keeps the Flyers firmly in fourth place overall in the Eastern Conference and they continue to stalk the division-leading New York Rangers, who they trail by only four points despite playing four less games.
The Flyers return to the ice tomorrow to begin a tough three game in four days stretch when they travel to Montreal. With equally red-hot teams on deck for the weekend in Washington and New Jersey, the Flyers may have a tough time keeping this current win streak alive. However, these upcoming games should be very exciting.
Let’s Go Flyers!
