Steve Mason was outstanding for the Flyers, shutting out the Red Wings and leading the Flyers to a 5-0 win. Mason made several highlight reel stops on the way to 33 saves and the win.
Scott Hartnell had two goals and an assist, including a power play goal in the first period, which turned out to be the game winner for the Flyers. Claude Giroux added a goal and two assists for the Flyers. Adam Hall also potted his third goal of the season in the second period. Sean Couturier finished the scoring for the Flyers with his ninth of the season. Mark Streit added two assists for the Flyers. The Flyers win ended a four-game losing streak and they have now won eight straight at home versus Detroit.
Detroit netminder Jonas Gustavsson had 23 saves for Detroit in a losing effort. Detroit has now lost two straight and finds themselves on the outside looking in on the Eastern conference playoff landscape.
After an embarrassing effort at home Saturday versus the Boston Bruins, the Flyers reversed their fortunes against an undermanned Detroit Red Wings team.
Detroit, playing without stars Pavel Datysuk, Henrik Zetterberg, and Johan Fransen, tested the Flyers and Steve Mason early and often, but Mason was up to the task.
In the first period alone, the Flyers goaltender was able to make every save including a highlight glove save on Gustav Nyquist.
An up-and-down first period began with the Red Wings and Flyers playing almost the first seven minutes without a stoppage in play.
The Flyers would eventually get on the board with the power play on a Scott Hartnell directed shot passed Detroit netminder Jonas Gustavsson.
Hartnell, stationed in the slot, was able to redirect a Kimmo Timonen one-time point blast from Claude Giroux. The puck went off the heel of Hartnell’s stick, under the skate of defenseman Niklas Kronwall, and through the five-hole of Gustavsson.
The Flyers would head to the locker room after killing off a Detroit penalty and holding their 1-0 lead.
The second period featured more fast-paced action for both teams including highlight reel saves by both goaltenders.
Early in the second period, Gustavsson managed to stone Scott Hartnell on a one-time attempt with a pad save. The “Monster” would follow that up with a glove save on Vinnie Lecavalier, who came in alone on the goaltender.
After Hartnell was stopped for his second goal of the game, he would have the opportunity to net his 14th goal of the season, as Giroux fed Hartnell with a cross-ice pass, which Hartnell scored, passed a sliding Gustavsson.
The Flyers would strike again less than three minutes later, as the fourth line pressured Detroit deep in their zone, and resulted in Adam Hall’s third goal of the season.
Hall flipped a backhand shot over the Detroit netminder after a big rebound from an Erik Gustafsson point shot. Michael Raffl was also credited with an assist on the play.
For the rest of the second period, it was the Steve Mason show.
Detroit came in on a two-on-one that saw Detroit center Luke Glendening rejected by a kicksave from the Flyers goaltender. Kyle Quincey then saw an open net, but shot it high to keep Detroit off the score sheet.
The Flyers again had to kill a late penalty as they took a 3-0 lead into the third period.
Mason refused to allow Detroit to get back into the game in the third period as he came up with save after save. Mason, playing perhaps his best game of the save, was strong with the glove as his defense was able to clear out rebounds.
Giroux was able to record his 16th goal of the season midway through the third period, as he ripped a wrist shot off the glove of Gustavsson. Hartnell recorded the primary assist, and his third point of the game on Giroux’s goal.
Sean Couturier sealed the game with his ninth of the season on a wraparound goal that saw Gustavsson out of position. Couturier was able to use his reach to deposit the goal.
After the Flyers final goal, Mason continued to be stellar in net. The goaltender was faced with many challenging shots that he turned away to record his second shut out of the season.
Game Notes: Mason recorded his 21st career shut out…The Flyers killed off all four Detroit power plays…Detroit outshot Philadelphia 16-8 in the third period…The Flyers only had three giveaways…
(Image Courtesy Amy Irvin – 38Photography.net)
