FLYERS NEWS

After 3 straight losses the Orange and Black were desperate for a win this afternoon against the rival New Jersey Devils. They did not play their best, with only 34 shots on goal and again 0 success on the power play but ultimately in the end they just enough to win. Sergei Bobrovsky was solid in goal with 23 saves out of 26 shots as was the Flyer's defense which held New Jersey to just 26 shots on goal. The Flyer penalty kill did have an uncharacteristically bad day though, allowing 2 goals on 3 penalty kills. Jeff Carter was the real Flyer hero of the afternoon with a goal and 2 big assists. Mike Richards also had a goal and an assist, and Matt Carle had 2 important assists early in the 3rd period.

Things started a bit sloppily for the Flyers as New Jersey took the early 1-0 lead with a power play tally just 3 minutes into the contest. Just 17 seconds later Mike Richards setup James Van Reimsdyk with the equalizer, but the tie was short lived as Travis Zajac with 8 minutes left in the period to put New Jersey back up 2-1. Just 58 seconds into the 2nd period Jeff Carter and Daroll Powe assisted as Claude Giroux jabbed home a rebound to tie it at 2. A little over 3 minutes into the 3rd period Carle assisted as Chris Pronger blasted one on net and Richards slapped in the rebound to give the Orange and Black their first lead at 3-2.

Just 5 minutes later Carle fed an open Carter who was stopped on the breakaway by Johan Hedberg, before a trailing Danny Briere knocked in the rebound for a 4-2 lead. After that the Orange and Black seemed to have things in control, before a late penalty on Scott Hartnell gave New Jersey new life. Patrick Elias took advantage of the ensuing power play to cut the lead to 4-3. New Jersey then pulled Hedberg in search of the equalizer, but instead Carter slapped one into the empty net to close out an important 5-3 victory. With the win the Flyers snap their mini losing streak and stay at least 4th in the Eastern conference and 2nd in Atlantic division.